Iron Bowl and Masculine Identity.

*Warning this post contains subjective introspective speculation.

I have lived and continue to live in the Birmingham Al, area. Thus yesterday was as I tweeted "the one day of the year that everyone in state is equally belligerent." There are exceptions to this, like my history prof. who could really care less.

I have worked on saturday this entire football season, on top of this I have schoolwork and business as a Student leader when I'm not working. So when it came to be football time this season, I was nowhere to be found. Till yesterday. I watched the game, well the first half of the first quarter. As an Auburn fan I felt nauseous. I asked myself, why? As some pregame I will tell you that when I was younger I was physically upset by football sometimes. So I had thought about this recently and not experienced it. Till yesterday.

I had thought that the nausea may be caused by the fear of dealing with obnoxious Bama fans. Or by being emotionally tied to the game. Recently on the way back from Toccoa falls Ga with my campus pastor and close friend, I participated in discussion about why men did not come to Church. Identity was one of the ideas tossed about. Here is where I think my football insecurities come from, ultimately I think in the back of my head the fear of being ostracized from Bama fans or others because of my Auburn fanship has the direct correlation with my nausea. My identity and acceptance are on the line for a year, a year of shrugging saying next year, of being really annoyed and on edge. I really don't care about football, it is not important, not to me at least. But this game one game a year has myself and others visibly upset. I think we need to find health in sports. As spectators, we can't let a game ruin our weeks, months, or year if it does, I think you may have issues.

I think often we tie our identity with media consumption, as my pastor would say how repulsive is it to be called a consumer, your designated as someone who consumes things, and that is all you are in some peoples' minds'. So don't add to it by actually finding your identity in media. Find it in Jesus, he who gave his life and gives his righteousness.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Worship & Community

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NET) 

Paul is speaking to a Church here, a messed up Church, one that doubted his apostleship. His point is that he doesn't need a letter of commendation. This is because the Corinthian Church is his letter, their existence is authenticating his work. Their existence communicates something. Their existence was communication. 

I was worshipping this morning and I noticed that people were shut off, eyes closed, it was them and Jesus, no one else. The thought popped into my brain that in this passage it was the people who communicated a needed truth. 

It is our brothers and sisters who warm our hearts and attest the truth of the Gospel. My brothers are there because of God's grace, my sisters are there because of Christ's faithfulness, I am there by the Spirit's prompting and conviction. This is an attestation of a beautiful truth; the gospel is so much bigger than me and Jesus, it is for God's glory and encompasses many others. 

To shut ourselves off from others in worship is to deny a communication by God. One that authenticates the gospel, one that nourishes the Church.

Christ is also seen as the writer, they are Christ's letter. He communicated something through his faithfulness, through his choosing, through his gathering a Church together. We are his, we see his faithfulness while we worship in others.

Now is there an aspect of individuality in Christianity? Yes. In Christian worship? Yes. Is there an aspect of Church in Christianity? Yes. Is there an aspect of Church in worship? Yes. 

There is a balance don't abuse it.