http://www.everythingfromheretothere.com/2009/11/09/forgiveness-is-the-key-that-unlocks-the-door/
That's so awesome...
For those who aren't sure who Billy is, he is basically the smashing pumpkins... writing, composing, recording... you name it. If you are familiar with any of the Smashing Pumpkins music, you know that he was a very troubled soul who seemed to be adamantly against anything Christian.
Lyrics from "Zero" (from SP)
Emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness
And cleanliness is godliness, and god is empty just like me
Intoxicated with the madness, I'm in love with my sadness
Bullshit fakers, enchanted kingdoms
That's just one example. From that mindset to this mindset:
When you are attacked, forgive your attackers, for they know not what they do. When you mess up, forgive yourself, even if you know that you shouldn’t be doing what you are doing. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door....
I forgive myself for not meaning more, being more, saying more, doing more. I AM that I AM. If I choose happiness in this moment, it also means I accept my long list of limitations: I do not have the ability to fly thru the air, I cannot save all the babies from dying, I can’t sing a high A note, no matter how hard I try. There are, of course, many more limitations, but those are the ones that come to mind at the moment.
I forgive myself for all the dumb, silly things I have done. I forgive myself for all the dumb, silly things I haven’t done. I could explain each mistake to you point by point, but it would only attach me to your judgment and forgiveness. I could defend myself of all I stand accused of, but that would only make me guilty. After all, why would I defend myself at all? The act of defense alone would indicate some form of acknowledgment, wouldn’t it? That is the way it works in a system that knows no justice and no forgiveness. You stand accused for crimes against humanity, and they barely have the time to tell you why.
God knows my heart, just as God knows your heart. So, what if God is nothing but a cold computer, calculating nothing but raw physics and karma? Wouldn’t you rather be worthy of Love than demanding of it? If you answer no to that last question, then you are in the wrong place. You would be better served going to your door, because there is a big wolf waiting for you there, and he is known to be quite impatient.
That's just plain awesome in my book. That's so... REAL. So much MORE real than those who once were what i thought a Christian was supposed to be. I myself was once a hypocritical Christian. I didn't even see it. But by my actions at that time (sinful as they were and as ashamed as I am about them), being shunned by "Christians" from my inner circle of friends, and my plea to God for forgiveness, I finally saw that hypocrisy. I don't think I would have saw it without this succession of events.
Am I where I want to be with my relationship to God? NO. But I don't think one ever does totally get there... to get there would be complacent. I think the struggle to TRY to get there is what brings one closer to God. That act of real tears... of real pain from real remorse.
But I'm at a much better place now. I'm happy, but I still struggle with guilty feelings from past sins... which leads me to struggle to get closer to God.
Hell - if Billy can do it, I can too!! :D
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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7 comments:
I'm with you Brian. Another example of the paradox of a "real" christian would have been Johnny Cash. We all have a dark side because we are broken and struggle through sinful lives reaching out to Jesus. He doesn't hesitate to reach back. He knows we're dirty...but it won't rub off on him. wherever he touches leaves a clean spot...so we just need to keep reaching out.
I love hearing about awesome musicians that turn out to be Christian. I'm not sure, but I think John Frusciante might be. If he is he is my favorite guitarist for just one more reason.
Corinthians 5:17 says that we become a "new creature" in Christ. I think a lot of people misunderstand that. If you look at the heroes of the Bible, you see that their faults did not dissapear just because they were faithful. No, they were faithful despite their faults, except when they weren't. That is the way with all Christians. Every church is full of hypocrites. I, myself, am one. We ALL are because we say one thing and do another. If we have a problem with "old-fashioned" "narrow-minded" traditional Christians who try to tell us how to behave; who are unaccepting of certain types of music, or worship, or clothes, or whatever, then the problem is ours. They want to impose their standards on us, and we want to impose ours on them. I am a youth leader at a small, very traditional church, currently fighting a slow, quiet battle to incorporate modern Praise music into our services. My battle goes both ways, against the "church ladies" with their stiff hairdoos and stiffer attitudes, and with the impatient youth who want everything NOW and are sure that anyone past the age of thirty is a complete idiot. The battle is for each to overcome our own faults and to see every situation through Jesus' eyes. I tell my kids "You cannot choose what anyone else says or does. You can only choose what you do." We must not get hung up on anyone else's attitudes or prejudices. Just love them as a Christian should. Peter failed repeatedly, and every time Jesus calmly reassured him and welcomed him to try again. Jesus' invitation was simply, "Follow me." I fail. We all do, including those who think their traditions are the only correct behavior. When the "Church Ladies" of the world get to you, don't focus on their sin. Just love them, and follow Jesus.
Here's something really interesting (and quite challenging) to any given person of the Christian persuasion:
A Course In Miracles
Google that and read a bit. It throws a real twist on Biblical teaching - without the need to discount, nor discredit, anything contained in what Christians refer to as Scripture.
My beautiful daughter introduced me to it over a year ago, and I am mesmerized by the approach to sin and guilt. Accept the gift from Jesus and there is no sin or guilt. It is the ONLY way I have been able to accept the gift of His freedom without reverting back to the Christian-based sin/guilt thought process. True Joy awaits on the "other side" of the cross, where Jesus awaits ... pain and suffering on this side...
Billy has said that the "God is empty" lyrics wasn't anti God but instead was describing God as being extremely lonely. Just like him
Thanks anonymous - I wasn't aware of that! :)
Nice post. It is so shocking to see Corgan change like that.
I am a long-time Christian, and it sounds to me like Corgan is off on the most important part of Christianity.
No one can be made right with God through their works. Rather, it is only by belief in Jesus as being the Son of God and resurrected from the dead that saves (and makes a person right with God). This is laid out in numerous places, including Romans 3:20-25b below:
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
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