***Angry Vent Ahead. Read With Caution***
I’m a Christian. I’ve been one since I was four years old. Being a Christian isn’t easy, because not only do you have to be a human being in the hard world, you are also supposed to live holy. Set apart. It’s a process and a struggle. I wouldn’t have it any other way, of course, because I love God above all else. I’m very plain about that.
That’s why this Pure Life Revolution stuff is really bugging me today. I’ll be honest. I hadn’t heard about it until yesterday, when it came to my attention as I blogged for Nashville Is Talking. At the time it didn’t sound like any big deal. I’m used to churchish things where groups of us get together to pray for this or that. I think of these deals as mostly exercises for us to have fellowship with some of the other billion people on the planet who believe in Jesus Christ. They’re kind of like family reunions with Rich Mullins songs instead of potato salad.
But here’s what gets me about this Pure Life Revolution. It seems to be founded by a guy who lives here in Nashville called Matthew Stark. If you read his Bio, there’s great detail in there about how he spent many years as a drug-running thug with all kinds of addictions and rap sheets and whathaveyou. He apparently took a break from his heathen ways to get a TV Production degree from Oral Roberts University. Funnily enough, his heatheny ways continued as he persisted in cussin’ and drinkin’ and druggin’ and runnin’ round with wimmin until he found Jesus amen.
Now, I’ll just ignore how much of this bio sounds like A Million Little Pieces (For Jesus) [Come off it, dude. Seriously. The MAFIA??!? Just. Please.] and go right into what is bugging me enough to bang out a blog post on a holiday.
Mr. Stark claims that
The Church must have her voice back, and Matthew is purposed in seeing this happen.
See. This is where we have a problem. I AM THE CHURCH. So is my husband. So are my parents, siblings and the millions of believers who worship alongside us in pews and chairs. The Church is in prison in China. The Church is John Carney on his mission trip. The Church is Erin H. working for the Peace Corps in South America. (Forgive me, guys, I’ll add links in later. I’m writing fervidly.) The Church is a bunch of people who are trying hard to make a difference. Who are not capitalising off tantilising tales of temptation in order to have a ministry that has a fully-designed website with a “click here to donate” button. The Church is several hundred million people getting out of bed one day at a time, taking up their crosses daily and loving others as Jesus commanded. It isn’t perfect, but it is a living, breathing organism.
I know that the dramatic testimonies have always been the stuff of revival meetings. I know that The Baptism of Jesse Taylor style of personal redemption where Satan loses “a good right arm” are stirring in their drama. They make better stories for bored church attendees than the dull “I was saved at VBS when I was six, went to Christian School and became a pastor. But I did drink a beer this one time….”
But you know what gripes me? When dudes like Stark who (may or may not have actually) run with the mob, drink, and have sex with hookers get all saved at the last minute and then come back to the Church to tell us how we all need to be better Christians. Christians like them–on bright shiny fire for Jesus.
Give me a break. While you were out prodigal son-ing it up and down the free countryside some of us have been hopelessly devoted to this cause and labouring away in a world without drugs and porn. Look, I’m glad you’re back in the fold and all, but don’t come in a nippin’ at the other sheep. We’re ALL here under the eye of the shepherd, thanks. And He ain’t you.
Just Another Pretty Farce 
“I’m glad you’re back in the fold and all, but don’t come in a nippin’ at the other sheep”
I am with you 100%. I am the Church as well. I try to live a life that shows what I believe and am not as successful as I would like to be. Thank you for sharing this vent.
Amen!
Aunt B passed along a tip on how to get rid of the unwanted avatar invasion. Go to Dashboard, then Presentation, then Widgets, then click on the Recent Comments appearance menu and they have an option for “no avatar.” I’ve fixed mine easy-peasy.
The standing-outside-of-Hustler’s-with-blindfolds-on thing has raised a question for me. This is a genuine, non-snarky, no-agenda-here question and not meant to poke fun at Pure Life, which I like to do in other ways. But really: accepting for the sake of argument that the Hustler store represents something sinful, even something so extremely sinful that it endangers society generally, not just the people involved in the sin — accepting it as the important symbol/target that Pure Life says it is, doesn’t blindfolding oneself suggest that one can’t see and confront the evil? I understand that Pure Life maintains that the gaze/sight ought to be pure, but how does one rebuke what one can’t see? I think there’s meant to be an important theological point being made here, but I’m not getting what it’s supposed to be.
which I like to do in other ways.
I can only imagine. It’ll all be fine when you come back to Yerhimayhu or whatever his name was–that college boyfriend of yours.
doesn’t blindfolding oneself suggest that one can’t see and confront the evil?
Yes. It also suggests that these folks are like Justice—there to determine the Right and Wrong ways and to pass judgement. Or so I have inferred.
I understand that Pure Life maintains that the gaze/sight ought to be pure
I do not think this is a theological position so much as an outright Brand Statement. Yes, years in marketing and PR have made me a cynic. But frankly, they’ve also taught me the way These Things work. And the whole “blindfolded at the porn store” strikes me as their version of the Promise Keepers’ “Real Men Love Jesus” bumper stickers. It’s an easily-digestible Brand Identifier which makes this Ministry® stand out.
I must confess that I’m from a background and belief which stresses that outreach should be self-funded. And not necessarily “outreach”, but just folks being kind to each other and loving their neighbour. Not “loving their neighbour while wearing a sloganed t-shirt which announces that you’re loving your neighbour in the name of Jesus.” So I’m in general pretty uncomfortable with any Ministry® which has it’s own “Click Here To Donate” button on a website.
But anyway, the Blindfolded In Front Of Porn strikes me as their schtick. And it must work, cause here we are talkin’ about it.
Kat,
Amen, Sister! Well said.
NM,
I always found the blindfolding themselves outside the Hustler store funny because they sell blindfolds inside the store.
Irony abounds.
Ha, Sharon, I never thought of that. Next time I’m there and they are too (which hasn’t actually happened yet) I’ll have to ask them if they’re getting their kink on. And if I can donate some handcuffs.
Kat, I think you’re saying that I’m not really missing anything in their message. Hmmmm.
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” – St. Francis of Assisi
One of my favorite quotes ever……
“I AM THE CHURCH. So is my husband. So are my parents, siblings and the millions of believers who worship alongside us in pews and chairs.”
i don’t know if you have heard of the hymn before, i have used my name link to a post i shared about it. but in going around to various churches, i rarely if ever find it in hymnals. thus, i wonder if this type of theology and understanding is taught or learned.
to address some more of your rant.
i don’t get why most folks feel they need a damascus road conversion experience to quantify their faith. stephen (the first martyr) was spoken of as having great faith through his family.
as for mr. stark. while he was being prodigal, the church was still being the church (it was good then) welcoming all people and now just because you are here and you see something wrong don’t assume that you are bigger than the church. we will wait while you figure this one out. shalom
Gavin,
I’d never heard of that hymn. Funny, though, since I basically “stole” its lyrics.
Nah, I grew up in an anabaptist background. Ours of this same theme was:
I’m so glad
I’m a part
of the family of God.
I’ve been born of the spirit,
Washed in His blood.
Joint Heirs with Jesus
as we travel this sod.
I’m a part of the family.
The family of God.
Same basic principle, I guess. It’s a kind of hokey ditty, but I LOVE the “Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod” line.
some time ago i looked through a baptist hymnal (could have been fbc), it’s not in there. shameful, it’s a wonderful hymn. a great ecclesiology & one i have childhood memories of my mom singing.
Sounds like you’re being one of those “Christians [who] think themselves well-suited to pass judgement on the spending, lifestyles and habits of other Christians?” You know, the kind you don’t like.
Christians [who] think themselves well-suited to pass judgement on the spending,
How is saying “don’t judge us” the same as judging?
I’m sorry, I just don’t see it.
Regardless, I’ve explained some of my philosophy in the other comment conversation.
[…] Pure Life Aggravation – Just Another Pretty Farce Love a good rant. […]
I know some of the kids involved in this group, and I’ve got to say, as much as I do agree with you that this “I’ve got THE grand master plan directly from God, handed only to me” attitude can be very put-offish coming from the founder of this thing, I wouldn’t be so quick to judge and put down the actual kids doing this. Many of the participants are really high caliber young people, standing strong in their faith, going counter-current in their schools, and even sometimes in their church youth groups by being unashamedly passionate about living for Christ without compromise; a fairly staggering feat in today’s modern teenagehood. On top of all this, most of them seem to have learned to love other people surprisingly well. I’ve honestly never met anyone who’s had conversation with the PLR crowd who didn’t speak highly of them, even if they didn’t agree with what they were promoting.
These are kids who love Jesus heart and soul, and while I’m sure there are all kinds of things about their methods that are silly or less than perfectly thought out, I really believe that God has blessed the efforts of their honest and steadfast hearts anyway. There have truly been people set free from pornography, addictions and other impure things through their prayer and ministry. Some of these people are those they aim to serve, and others are the kids themselves. Highschool is an unsavory jungle out there these days.