I have been describing my clubbing experiences as a sort of spiritual awakening, and for me, this is not an exaggeration. I am, as I mentioned to someone who has become very special to me, in the process of "becoming" something--of realizing whatever it is I was put on this Earth to do, and as ironic as it may seem to some of you who have (as I did) come from conservative Christian backgrounds, these (currently weekly) clubbing excursions have become a vital part of that process.
I mentioned last week that the live electronica performances (and rave that developed in their wake) constituted an exhibition of human sexuality I had never imagined possible in a public place before--what I didn't mention was that this exhibition was also an event of spiritual significance--positive spiritual significance. As crazy as things became that night, I walked in (and walked out) knowing that I belonged to a community, a cause, and a God that were at once accepting, primal, and pro-creative (not "procreative" in the sense of breeding and bearing children but pro-creative in the sense of exhibiting wondrous joy in the creation of something beautiful and new, whatever that something may be). These were, to use the vernacular of our times, my "peeps"--I was blood kindred to them, and they were blood kindred to me.
It is this tie (and bond) of fellowship and (for lack of a better word) "oneness" that causes the age-old Christian exhortations toward men and women of like belief to knit their hearts and souls together . . . to ring hollow. Do Christians knit their hearts and souls together? I have seen very few Christians who did. In churches, and on Christian radio, I hear far more about "propriety," "obedience," and "accountability" in relationships than I do about "sharing," "love," or "friendliness." The Christians who exhibit these latter qualities, without prioritizing the former, are generally seen as "weird" or "flirting with the [gasp] world."
I will ask a question that I once asked about Christian radio: What is wrong with a Christian having a beer with good friends, or celebrating a special occasion with someone through nightclubbing or dancing, or having honest conversations about his/her sexuality (and sexual urges) with others?
I could even see (and I know this will shock some) a Christian going to a strip club with a friend or two (or, as is usually the case, twelve or so :)) in good conscience. (I personally wouldn't do it--but not because of some antiquated belief about what Christians "do" or "don't do". I just simply know my limitations, having gone clubbing a few times now, and know what I am equipped to handle.)
I know . . . some of you are saying to yourselves (and probably can't wait to say to me), "well, then, if you believe that, you probably believe (or should believe) that a Christian can rob banks with his/her friends in good conscience, snort cocaine with loved ones in good conscience, and engage in drive-by shootings with lifelong buddies in good conscience."
I never said anything about doing harm to people--or doing harm to yourself.
All I said is that a Christian can go to strip clubs (or drink, swear, and carouse) in good conscience--not every Christian can, however, or should. For example, there are people I know who would be horribly (and perhaps irreparably) damaged if they went to a college party with their friends--some because they carry bitter memories of what came before, and some because their personalities and character do not fit the occasion at hand. For some people, attending a strip club, or a sex club, or even a neighborhood bar, would be a horribly terrifying and traumatic experience which would, regardless of their experiences, leave them feeling violated--and that's okay. The fact is, God made us all different, with different capacities to handle different challenges, and there is nothing wrong with our accepting that in ourselves and in others.
I went to a club for 3 weeks in a row and (for personal reasons) never drank, never smoked, and never approached a woman--it wasn't because I was prudish, or "against" any of these activities, but because I was there for something else. I was there for the music, the dancing, the fun, the experience--nothing else.
I may have been weird (to some :))--but I was me.
And in the end, isn't that what counts most of all?
I mentioned last week that the live electronica performances (and rave that developed in their wake) constituted an exhibition of human sexuality I had never imagined possible in a public place before--what I didn't mention was that this exhibition was also an event of spiritual significance--positive spiritual significance. As crazy as things became that night, I walked in (and walked out) knowing that I belonged to a community, a cause, and a God that were at once accepting, primal, and pro-creative (not "procreative" in the sense of breeding and bearing children but pro-creative in the sense of exhibiting wondrous joy in the creation of something beautiful and new, whatever that something may be). These were, to use the vernacular of our times, my "peeps"--I was blood kindred to them, and they were blood kindred to me.
It is this tie (and bond) of fellowship and (for lack of a better word) "oneness" that causes the age-old Christian exhortations toward men and women of like belief to knit their hearts and souls together . . . to ring hollow. Do Christians knit their hearts and souls together? I have seen very few Christians who did. In churches, and on Christian radio, I hear far more about "propriety," "obedience," and "accountability" in relationships than I do about "sharing," "love," or "friendliness." The Christians who exhibit these latter qualities, without prioritizing the former, are generally seen as "weird" or "flirting with the [gasp] world."
I will ask a question that I once asked about Christian radio: What is wrong with a Christian having a beer with good friends, or celebrating a special occasion with someone through nightclubbing or dancing, or having honest conversations about his/her sexuality (and sexual urges) with others?
I could even see (and I know this will shock some) a Christian going to a strip club with a friend or two (or, as is usually the case, twelve or so :)) in good conscience. (I personally wouldn't do it--but not because of some antiquated belief about what Christians "do" or "don't do". I just simply know my limitations, having gone clubbing a few times now, and know what I am equipped to handle.)
I know . . . some of you are saying to yourselves (and probably can't wait to say to me), "well, then, if you believe that, you probably believe (or should believe) that a Christian can rob banks with his/her friends in good conscience, snort cocaine with loved ones in good conscience, and engage in drive-by shootings with lifelong buddies in good conscience."
I never said anything about doing harm to people--or doing harm to yourself.
All I said is that a Christian can go to strip clubs (or drink, swear, and carouse) in good conscience--not every Christian can, however, or should. For example, there are people I know who would be horribly (and perhaps irreparably) damaged if they went to a college party with their friends--some because they carry bitter memories of what came before, and some because their personalities and character do not fit the occasion at hand. For some people, attending a strip club, or a sex club, or even a neighborhood bar, would be a horribly terrifying and traumatic experience which would, regardless of their experiences, leave them feeling violated--and that's okay. The fact is, God made us all different, with different capacities to handle different challenges, and there is nothing wrong with our accepting that in ourselves and in others.
I went to a club for 3 weeks in a row and (for personal reasons) never drank, never smoked, and never approached a woman--it wasn't because I was prudish, or "against" any of these activities, but because I was there for something else. I was there for the music, the dancing, the fun, the experience--nothing else.
I may have been weird (to some :))--but I was me.
And in the end, isn't that what counts most of all?
posted by Brian Bly at 9:36 AM
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