This Sunday is the 4th of July, God and Country Sunday for us here @IOHUMC. The problem that comes from using media in a service such as this, is that one must be VERY intentional and VERY careful about the message that is being given via the images and music. In a place where imagery is painted by our words, it's is easier to make the message clear... but when pictures and music are involved together, our emotions, beliefs, and logic are stirred in different ways. They often create conflict within us. For me, "freedom" is something that gives hope. As a Christian, Jesus taught us that we should love our neighbors, and our enemies... our neighbors have caused ridiculous amounts of pain and suffering for America (and I understand that America has also caused the same for it's neighbors). But I just don't feel comfortable putting up an awesome song about America with images of war and 9/11 stuff. It paints a picture of the enemy in our subconscious. SO, I hope very much that I can use media and music to focus our hearts on the hope and light that we can offer our enemies and our neighbors by way of Love. It is hard to have our hearts lifted right now, even when we swell with pride... for our losses are still mounting and we are still counting, and that is a hurt that affects us individually and as a community. God can bring unity, but we must be good stewards of our freedom! There is a brighter future, and people shouldn't feel like they have to either immigrate to America to find it, nor should they feel like we are "inflicting" our freedom upon them. We can meet others where they are to offer them to hope that we have found because our our liberty and freedom, Jesus.
Lindsay
No comments:
Post a Comment