The Testosterone Driven Life

Two Posts In One Night? - I'm all man I am!

A comment on my previous blogspot “religion or lifestyle”, got me thinking about an amusing thing I had filed away on my haunted fishtank. I can't remember where I found it so I appologise to the author, although I doubt they'll ever read this so on second thoughts...... stuff 'em.

I said : "So if indeed our faith should be a lifestyle, surely those wishing to promote a particular flavour e.g. christian should a) know how to “sell” their product to a 21^st century audience by using language and illustrations recognisable and relevant to them in their communities and a wider society (just as Jesus did) - and b) actually believe in the product and practice what they preach".

The following is not what I had in mind concerning Christian Marketing and Commercialism

Because somebody somewhere decided that it was OK to sell Jesus all over again...

The Ten commandments (revised):

1. Thou shalt wear no WWJD bracelets nor adopt other shitty acronyms (like FROG and PUSH)
   
   ... 2. Thou shalt not be in possession of stickers such as 'Eternity: smoking or non-smoking?' - a) it's idiotic and b) what an effective way to share God's love...
   
   3. Thou shalt not stick fish symbols on cars
   
   4.Thou shalt not touch anything by Rick Warren or bearing the words ' Purpose Driven Life' - except to burn it...
   
   5. Thou shalt abhor Christian celebrity and tele-evangelism and rebuke their lack of grammar e.g. Joyce Meyer's 'Start your day right'
   
   6. Thou shalt not partake of Christian self-help - what the feck is this? (masterbation?)
   
   7. Thou shalt not display nor admire posters with pictures of cute puppies and kittens with Bible verses
   
   
   8. Thou shalt not listen to nor recommend Christian 'rock' music
   
   9. Thou shalt not attempt to convince others that one is 'pure' through jewellery.
   
   10. Thou shalt not attempt to evangelise atheist friends with hideous Christian greeting cards.
   
   Rays additions:
   
   
   Neither shall ye ever vist The Holy Land (an amusement park in Florida). Purchase Holy Water (bottled water). Eat a Bible Bar (a snack bar)
   Thou mayest however buy a bobble head Jesus Buddy (from Dogma), but not a "Jesus is my homeboy" T-shirt. 
   
   
   
    
   Do not take on The Bible Diet, or suck, TestiMints (mints with Bible verses on it), nor wear shoe inserts with Bible verses on them, etc
   
   
   And finally I've been trying to think of a place to use the following Athiest Motivational Poster for ages:
   
   
   
   
   

Hitler, Mussolini & Spastic Fat Men Trying To Get To Heaven

CHRISTIANITY: "Religion or a Lifestyle?"

It's a cliché to ask such a question really. However, as with all clichés there is a element of seriousness and reality. Such a question is not the reserve of Christianity either. In fact most major faith groups would concur that their religion is indeed a lifestyle.

As a cheap and clichéd opener then, lets use the illustration of Hitler and Nazism. Few would argue that Hitler was a fervent follower of Nazism. Nazism being the ideology and the practice of an extremist form of fascism that Hitler promoted and dictated in Germany. It is a particularly evil belief system that incorporates biological racism and anti-Semitism. It is said that the Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, said, “Fascism is a religion”. History has shown that many died under this religion. Many continue to do so in the name of other religions, including the one we call christianity. Hitler wrote in his book, Mein Kampf: ". . . I am convinced that I am acting as the agent of our Creator. By fighting off the Jews, I am doing the Lord's work."

As a child I grew up with the knowledge that christianity is a religion. Possibly if you ask most people both inside and particularly outside churches, they would say that a christian, a Jew, a Moslem, a Hindu etc is a religious person. I often get asked if I am religious; I usually answer “no”. Simply because for many the connotation of religious is negative and I can't be arsed to listen to the clichés of how “religion is the the cause etc, etc”. I do tell people though that I believe in God and primarily that I have have a faith that Jesus is God and that I try to follow Jesus teaching and example.

I suppose that people get pigeon holed as to their “religion” when we are often asked to fill a form, and there is this provision to state your religion; we are always tempted, and we write Christianity.

As I continue to study the life and the teachings of Jesus I have more and more come to the conclusion that he did not come to establish a religion; but to reveal a lifestyle.

Orthodox christian teaching tells us that Jesus message to all mankind is the mechanism by which they have to live to be saved. “Saved” is one of the cannon of words and phrases that I have come to cringe at. It's christianese at it's best. Patronising to those who don't believe as it puts forward a concept that few today can begin understand nor appreciate. “Saved!? Lost? I didn't know I was lost!”

So if indeed our faith should be a lifestyle, surely those wishing to promote a particular flavour e.g. christian should a) know how to “sell” their product to a 21^st century audience by using language and illustrations recognisable and relevant to them in their communities and a wider society (just as Jesus did) - and b) actually believe in the product and practice what they preach.

In promoting the brand “Christian” as opposed to the real thing “Jesus” (in my opinion) we have come to accept a religion and its rituals and set down dogmas that must be followed instead of personally accepting our responsibilities to follow the god we believe in and adhere to the lifestyle he suggested.

But unfortunately being human we have different opinions about the same thing and we have ended up dividing ourselves. We've ended up creating denominations. Different clubs who purport to believe in the same god but who in certain cases certainly don't follow the same God that I believe in. It's all too confusing to the non believer and the hypocrisy perceived by those whom non believers observe not to living the lifestyle of their “religion” is the smell that keeps folk away from churches.

I've no beef with different styles of churches, it's a horses for courses thing but until there is some radical agreement in the big issues of the doctrines and beliefs for example in The C Of E and The Roman Catholic Church (and many others) then it's really difficult for people to begin to explore their spirituality as opposed to their willingness to follow one set of rules and regulations compared to another.

So if my personal answer is that “Christianity is a Lifestyle” - how am I doing? Am I living that lifestyle?

The man who started the movement of churches that I used to belong to was a brilliant teacher. He was loved and hated in equal measure – a bit like Jesus eh? His name was John Wimber and you should check out his stuff. I love it's practicality. I love Wimber's realistic approach and his honesty. He once said “never trust a man who walks without a limp”.  A wonderful illustration to indicate that no one is perfect.  I try to follow Jesus in my own limited way but the reality and honesty in my case is that I am so ill equipped. I've spent years in churches thinking that I was following Jesus when I think I should have spent more time getting to know God better. If Jesus is God as I suspect he is, then instead of worshipping the man I should have been aiming higher and honing in on the big boss.

Once my God realisation is truly sharpened then I reckon I'll be able to walk in Jesus footsteps with a much more steady gait. Until then may I apologise to you in advance for anything I may say or do that is not in keeping with the stereotype you may expect of me and my chosen lifestyle.

Who's God : Who's gospel?

There Can Be Only One

Mikhail Gorbachev said:"Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences"


I've recently bought and am thoroughly enjoying Rob Bells "Love Wins" book published earlier this year.


I often like to get some idea of folks reviews before reading stuff to give me an idea of the kind of ride I'm going to get when the reading begins. It's been interesting to look at these reviews as an "outsider", as a christian who no longer conforms to the norms of christian behaviour like going to church or believing in the plenary truth of the Bible.

Bell is something of a hot potato - some love him - some despise him and go as far as condemning him as an evil subversive. He gets the heretic label too. Such polar differences are nothing new in reviews whether it's a new book, play, film or record. You can't please everyone goes the saying.

However, one review that caused me to itch was titled "why does Rob Bell have such weird theology?" It was actually an old review and nothing to do with Bells new book. I think what the reviewer was saying is "why is Rob Bells theology different to the hermeneutic that I believe in"
Each to their own is another saying but the person who posted the critique didn't even have the nous to disguise his attack. His review was nasty and personal. Nothing more than a self righteous bigoted rant. No substance, no class. It exposed the failing in his own traditional theology and would stink of hypocrisy to any neutral exploring 2 sides to a discussion. To the outsider, Bell would win any argument by default regardless of his different opinions due to the crass arrogance of the reviewer. The arsehole by the way was called Todd Friels an American DJ on a now defunct god radio station- enough said.

One of the major concerns of the negative reviews was the probability as they see it that Rob Bell is professing Universalism or salvation for all regardless of your faith, flavour of that faith or indeed lack of it. Personally I don't have a problem with that concept. I don't necessarily embrace it either. The fact is that I just don't know where I stand on the argument as I reckon it's God's job to worry about judgement of believers and non believers, or good people and bad people not mine. It's certainly not the church's place to be judge and jury and certainly not theologians or big gobbed DJ's. What I do believe in is a Universal God of Love not a god of damnation. I'm hanging onto that.

I've recently acquired a new good friend. A Catholic Priest called John. He's got a great view of life and where his faith fits in. He tows the party line in terms of how he leads his catholic flock but he's got a wonderful certainty of a God of Love and his compassion for all. He turned me onto a book by the late Roman Catholic leader Cardinal Basil Hume - “One in Christ: Unity & Diversity in the Church Today”. I've looked through some of the stuff he's selling and above all there's a great quote: "Christian unity is a gift from God ... It is also a process of growth. I would distrust anybody who tries to indicate to me what the end of that process will be. One step at a time...".
That resonates with me because it contains a great honesty in admitting that his church is on a journey and although they have an ultimate destination, they don't have all the directions yet.

Will they or any of us ever get to the prize?


I used to criticise the catholic church a great deal, I'm embarrassed to admit. There's still loads I don't necessarily agree with (and one or two major issues that could bring the whole church crashing to their knees in my opinion),nor do I profess to understand much about their practices but that doesn't give me the right to crash their party. I do actually think that in terms of ecumenism and their desire to see christians unfied in diversity they should be applauded.


“There Can Be Only One” is the tag line from one of my all time favourite films “Highlander”.


I'm not going to give any clever illustrations on how it helps to support my faith as in the main I just love the story and the action, despite the terrible accents of Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery.

There can only be one God. Whether it is Jesus or Allah or who ever - There can only be One supreme “being” right?

If it is the God that I believe in as a Christian, then there can only be One Christian God – not a job lot of demi gods of Methodism or Anglican or Presbyterian.

One God – One Love

Criticism from one brand of christians to other kinds of christians gets on me tits – These people are spending too much time on the defence of their flavour of religion than in practising what they believe. There is far too much scaremongering, too much finger pointing too much hysteria , too much fear and pseudo do-gooding in warning the world against the heretics who dare to espouse something different to their own beliefs.

I believe that in Jesus there is Universalism, there is a universal gospel. It is practised in different ways by different types of believers but ultimately there is a Gospel that comes from and points to Him.

As an aside. The patron of my charity  Codia, Tony Campolo has often been attacked and critiqued for his "alternative take on the bible". He was even tried in a Christian court ( is there legally such a thing?) for being a heretic! He was cleared of "the crime" but people were warned that he is dangerous because he takes the Bible too literally. Bloody Hell! What's a lad to do? You are damned if you do you are damned if you don't.
A couple of years ago we were able to host an event for Tony and his lovely wife Peggy. I found them to be wonderfully normal. Wonderfully flawed (and aware of this), and totally inspirational as agents of the message of Jesus. I couldn't give a toss that many of their enemies criticise their crusade of Social Justice or their support of the rights of homosexuals to be part of the church family. I only trust what I saw and listened to first hand and in them I saw and heard Jesus.
My wife, a non christian also spent some time with them and although she didn't get off on the “god stuff”, she couldn't help be touched by their genuine spirituality. That meant a lot to me. You see, well meaning folk have been telling me for years that “God is on Audrey's case”. I clung to that with dreams of how we would make a great team in leading a church together one day. We had a lucky escape.

However, I do believe that Audrey is on a spiritual journey and that is possibly more important to me now than she believing in the same things that I currently do.

A spiritual awareness that God IS (and that if He or She IS), is far more important as a starting block to meeting with the creator than a shed load of doctrine, dogma and hypocritical arrogant rhetoric ie my God's bigger than your God.

It saddens me that we live in a society where our differences of opinion (even amongst professing believers of the same god) are seen as primary reasons to keep us apart. What happened to inclusiveness? What happened to tolerance? What happend to Love, Acceptability and Forgiveness - No strings attached.?

I suppose my question is; "do we have to be compatible? do we have to be all conforming to believe in God.

Another friend (the Naked Pastor) posted on his blog recently; "compatibility can be the counterfeit of unity". That's a great statement.
I'd love for us Jesus believers to be unified in our acceptance that There Can Only be One. But until we all realize that it doesn't have to be the one that I personally choose to follow (i.e. "I COULD be wrong" ) then we'll never convince non believers that we have even got have our own shit together never mind that we might have an amazing story to tell that might just change their lives!

Like Mikhail Gorbachev said "Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences" - would that there was real peace between not only different faiths but peace between different christians. Then we might all learn to see the same Jesus who does not see the different badges we all wear.Shalom.  And Rave On Rob Bell.