Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Consistency.



Consistency matters.
It matters because without it, what you say (and do) means nothing.
If you say one thing, and do another, you're a hypocrite.
If you advocate for a policy, and vote against it, you can't be trusted.
And all too often, consistency can't be felt, seen, or heard.

Specific to politics and faith, I find an increasingly inconsistent pattern among right-wing-voting-christians (which is how the majority of christians vote - Republican).  This inconsistency is branded across the Church and perception becomes reality - that christians are either ill-informed, can't make a consistent and intelligent argument, or are just plain hypocritical.

On one hand, christians will overwhelmingly support other christians in politics (usually right-wing), so that politics resemble the ways of Jesus, biblical truths, etc.  They believe that electing more christians will make our nation christian once again (essentially that christian leaders will enact christian laws).

And most christians will also agree that Jesus came to earth, and lived his life to show grace and mercy to those that didn't deserve it (i.e. sinners, the sick, etc.), and that he came first for the marginalized, the poor, the blind, and "the least of these." 

However, when the government enacts policies and social programs that extend similar grace and mercy to the least of these, christians overwhelmingly call them "entitlements" and say that the government has no business in these matters.  So either the government is or isn't in the position to act and dispense policy, based on the christian faith.  They cannot have it both ways, because consistency matters.

In the same light, liberals (which most overwhelmingly support our President, and democrats) cannot remain consistent in their anti-gun/violence messages, while also remaining silent when the government is using drones attacks at an alarming rate and when our policies place assault rifles into the hands of Mexican drug lords.  The liberal message of non-violence has no backbone.

My point is this...there must be a true separation between church and state.  This is a good thing.  Because when the perceived "christian" candidate on one hand argues for life in repealing abortion rights, yet funds the military and supports capital punishment on the other, there is no consistency.  Likewise, when a liberal fights to pass laws that control the sales of arms (to "save even one life"), but systematically places these same weapons into the hands of Mexican drug lords, there is no consistency.  In both scenarios, I believe that arguing for life and saving life most closely represents the way of Jesus.  And in both scenarios the politics of the state become the voice of the church - either in support or criticism.  By separating faith and politics, the United States is not the mouthpiece of Christianity; and when it behaves in less than Christ-like manners, one is not co-opted by the other, and consistency is not in question.

Because no matter which side you find yourself, consistency is lacking - and when left unchecked, both sides become impotent to truth-telling and agenda.  Consistency matters because without we nullify any resemblance of intellectual honesty and debate.  And without consistency, we all become hypocrites.

Peace,
Ross

Monday, January 28, 2013

Upcoming...

Just wanted to let all y'all know that I'm currently working on a series of blogs, concepts, and prompts that I hope will stir some discussion and forward-thinking.

Here's what you can look forward to...

Consistency Is Everything
Knowing > Believing
Light & Shadows

Wind
How We Read & Why It Matters
 

Peace,
Ross

Thursday, January 24, 2013

There's A Sound {LIVE VIDEO}

If you missed my concert last Friday night in St. Louis, here's the live video (& debut performance) of 'There's A Sound.'  A big thanks to Dear Genre for playing some percussion on the tune! 



Peace,
Ross


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

You Can Only Love God As Much As You Love ________.


**I'm RE-POSTING this today, because I believe it needs to be said.  In light of demonizing politics and demonizing prayers (gun control, the election, the fiscal cliff, and yesterday's inauguration), its timely - for ME and for you.  I first need to admit that I did not come up with this thought.

You can love God only as
much as you love ______________.
(fill in the blank w/ terrorists, antagonists to your faith, your boss, George W. Bush, President Obama, Pat Robertson, or Mark Driscoll; whoever you cannot stand, and wished ill)
 *I can thank Katie Schultz for that nugget of inspiration.

Nor can I claim this statement as my own:
"I believe in the Trinity, so I believe God exists as a community of ecstatic love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God names not merely a thing but a relation. God is a relational God bound together by love. Before God is anything else, God is love. It’s not that first God exists and then God decides to love. It is love which constitutes God’s very existence. Moreover, God’s love is not self contained, but it extends to all creation. God’s mission is to love creation. That’s straight up missional theology...If we want to know God (and if we want to be able to say something substantive about God), we have to participate in the mission of God. Without engaging in mission we can possess knowledge about God, but we can never truly know God. To know God is to participate in God’s mission."
*That was written by Tim Suttle, and it sums up a lot of background text.

In Matthew 5 & 25, we read that how we love our enemies and the least of these, is also how we love God.

Consider that the next time you post a nasty (or backhanded) Twitter or Facebook comment regarding your disdain for the President (or potential candidate), political party affiliation, or laws passed.  Because how you love, determines how you love...

Peace,
Ross 

Monday, January 21, 2013

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Thanks so so very much to ALL that came out on Friday night to the EP release show at Cicero's!  It's always humbling to play in front of a sold-out crowd, and you guys did it!   It means the world to have your support.  If you weren't able to pick up a copy of the new EP on Friday, here's a link to grab it via iTunes: CLICK HERE TO BUY THE EP






Peace,
Ross

Friday, January 18, 2013

TONIGHT!

Hey St. Louis folk...
I'm playing a CD RELEASE CONCERT tonight at Cicero's (on the Delmar Loop) at 8:30PM.  I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see you there!!!



Peace,
Ross

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

US/MEX.

I have a heart for our brothers and sisters in Mexico.  Every story I hear, I hope to pass along to others.  Here's one that's worth telling...



Peace,
Ross

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY CORA!!!

Its hard to believe that Cora turned 5 today!  She woke up to cake, flowers, and a princess balloon (per her request)...Happy birthday Cora!!!






Peace,
Ross

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

BEST OF 2012 {MOVIES}

Once again I thought it'd be fun (and part obligatory) to start 2013 by looking back at the best of 2012.  Today we'll look at movies...only with the restriction that I had to have actually seen the movie in the theatre (which is rare with babysitting fees).  That being said, here's my list (in no particular order):








Peace,
Ross

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

BEST OF 2012 {MUSIC}

Happy twenty-thirteen!

I thought it'd be fun (and part obligatory) to start 2013 by looking back at the best of 2012.  Today we'll look at music...only with the restriction that I had to have purchased a physical copy of the album.  That being said, here's my list (in no particular order):







Peace,
Ross