Conquering Vertigo

Thena's America

My friend Thena recently compiled a video montage for a song she has written -- America.



I am moved by her America video on a couple of levels. One of the things I have come to believe is that America lacks a true prophetic voice -- America as a nation and the prevailing culture of American Christianity.

Remember in the beginning of Acts when the disciples ask Jesus "is it now, Lord" that your are going to set up your kingdom here on earth? Jesus had to tell them again "you still aren't getting it" -- this is a kingdom of the heart, not an earthly kingdom where you're justified and empowered to tell others how to live and what to do.

I feel as though the bulk of America's churches are led by those disciples, who disregarded Jesus' words and keep trying to create something here that doesn't look at all like the true kingdom of the heart. Instead it looks like them instituting God's rule among mankind, with them in charge.

And because we as the Church are off track, because we don't have healthy leadership, we are failing (much of the time) to be the salt and light in our world -- with three consequences -- among many -- being:

* the body of Christ is broken, disconnected, and doesn't function in basic unity with the holy spirit or itself,
* the lack of the true, pure, humble, honest prophetic voice,
* people don't see the true beauty and freedom and joy of faith in Christ.

Not to mention that we don't do the simplest things that would help the poor, bring justice, feed the hungry, heal the sick, visit those in prison, etc.

Thena's song touches this intertwined bunch of things for me -- it feels like a piece of the voice crying out in love and compassion, not in judgment, and calling us to wake up, unite and change.

I love America and want our country to be the best it can, and I want the Church in America to discover her true calling from the Spirit and stop making up a religion out of our own ideas of God's Kingdom.

posted by Woman In Love @ 9:22 AM