Creepy Love Isn't Love at All

Psalm 36:5-9 (NRSV)

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgments are like the great deep;
you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

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Into this night I wander
It's morning that I dread
Another day of knowing of
The path I fear to tread
Oh into the sea of waking dreams
I follow without pride
Cause nothing stands between us here
And I won't be denied

And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after, I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes...

"Possession" by Sarah McLachlan, from Fumbling Towards Ecstacy

There's something about creepy love songs. First, they aren't love songs at all. They are stalker anthems. They are about obsession and possession and abuse. This is not a light use of the word abuse. Second, they are seductive. In the same veinThe Police had a tremendous hit with "Every Breath You Take." It's such a big hit that people still say "it's our song" without realizing how creepy it is.

Sarah's "Possession" is a great song. The lyric, the vibe, the tune, especially the performance makes this a great song. But like the ocean, wonderful, glorious, and dangerous as a storm or rip tide; there is an undercurrent to this song that is just plain creepy.

Nobody knows that better than Sarah who in another performance said this song was her attempt to get into the head of the 1% of fan letters that comes off this way. Yes, she says almost all fanmail is wonderful and encouraging, but there is a tiny sliver that is not right.

In fact, a fan stalked Sarah, writing these words in letters to her. While awaiting trial, the man sued her for using his words in her song. Creepy and creepier.

Our God is all knowing, all creating, all powerful. In the hands of someone with evil intent, these are not good qualities. It is with thanks to the Lord that we come to know God as a wonderful and caring Lord; the Lord of our refuge and strength; the Lord of plenty by whom our hunger is satisfied and our thirst quenched. In the Lord, we live in the light of God's love.

It is said that when a door is opened, the light spills into the closet, the darkness does not spill into the room. We live in your light, we live in the warm glow of your love.

Love that is not obsessive. Love that is self-giving, even unto the point of the Son's death on the cross.

Belonging

John 18:8-9

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.”

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You belong to me
Can it be, honey, that you're not sure

"You Belong to Me" written by Carly Simon and Michael McDonald recorded by The Doobie Brothers on "Livin' on the Fault Line" and a year later by Carly Simon on "Boys in the Trees." This version recorded by Michael McDonald.

Belonging is a wonderful thing unless it becomes terrifying, and the line between the two can be very, very narrow. There are many songs that eerily straddle this line. Sarah McLachlan's "Possession" was written about a fan who stalked her. She used some of the words from his own letters that takes creepy to a whole new level. The Police's "Every Breath You Take" creepy and the number of people who use it to describe their own relationships have either failed to look hard at the lyric or are themselves frightening stalkers.

"You Belong to Me" belongs in this group. Like the other songs, the melody is wonderful and lilting with just a bit of menace. It also has that one little lyric that when stretched becomes evidence at the trial. What this song is about is a singer who has been dumped by their lover. The other has found someone new in their life and is on their way to the "happily ever after." This isn't good for the singer. The singer wants their lover back. Shoot, you can't be someone else's lover, you belong to me.

You belong to me, can it be that you're not sure?

What's different about Jesus is that first of all, we do belong to him. We belong to God. The difference is that God is not a possessive lover. In Jesus, God emptied himself. He did not use his holy status to lord over us. He used it to save us. He gave himself so that not one of us was lost.

Yes, we belong to God, but it is God who gave himself for us. It isn't that God hoards us, God gives himself to us and everything to our life.

Misundertanding and Sin and Special Music

Judges 2:11-13

Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and worshiped the Baals; and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes.

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Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

"Take Me to Church" written by Andrew Hozier-Byrne from Hozier's "Take Me to Church" EP

The Israelites weren't the most faithful of people before, during, or after the days of the Judges. They wanted a Judge to keep them in line. Maybe that's so they wouldn't have to keep themselves in line. Well, when a bad Judge ruled, the people strayed. They would worship the Baals, the Astartes, and the Asharas. Nothing like a good fertility god or goddess to keep the spirit fruitful.

Hozier's song isn't about church as the Body of Christ. According to him it's about institutions that undermine natural parts of being human, though he adds that the church has a pretty big legacy about doing just that. As for the video, Hozier didn't want to make the direct visual connection to the church and violence against humanity, thus the anonymous hooligans. But let's face it, from the worship of the Baals to crucifying people for being who they are, the church's reputation is less than sterling.

But what does Hozier mean by "natural parts of being human." The song lyric begins with a woman singing about worshiping in the bedroom. Presumably lovers worshiping one another. As for me, I say let love rule! There is no law against love. "Worship" without God is a step too far, but within a holy, committed union, let lovers worship one another for in this God who is love rejoices.

The video though shows two men, no woman. What does God say about a committed gay relationship. Scholars split. I lean toward love. I reject pedophilia and pederasty, force is not love. A partner who is not old enough to know about a committed adult relationship cannot agree to be a part of an adult loving relationship. But as it pertains to gay or lesbian lovers, as for me, I say let love rule! There is no law against love. "Worship" without God is a step too far, but within a holy, committed union, let lovers worship one another for in this God who is love rejoices.

Recently, some youth have sung this song in church during worship. To what end? Praise is the only answer, but why this song? Is it the melody. I get that. It's a haunting song. Play it on the piano, sing it well, maybe a cello like he did on Saturday Night Live, and it's a great song. No wonder it was a killer on the charts. Is it the lyric? I hate to say it, but I may be one of the last people on earth who listens to lyrics so probably not. The video is gripping too, but does this video get shown in church? Do people love the chorus, the lyric you hear several times? The first line and the last two are worshipful in a traditional sense, but when you sing "I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies/I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife," the point of that knife is pretty sharp. Is it as an act of shock or defiance that escapes a congregation filled with old people? Petulance will get you no where. (Believe me, I've tried.)

Well, here's a way to look at this within the Body of Christ, it's a sideways look at the lesson of Joseph. The lesson of Joseph was what his brothers meant for bad, God used for good. Hozier didn't mean ill for the church. That wasn't his point. So the lesson of Joseph doesn't apply. So whatever the singer intended, whether Hozier or the Youth Chorale, whatever they intended, use it. Hozier's "Take Me to Church" was never intended to be theology. It's a scathing indictment of people, humans who treat others violently, including the church. It's an indictment of sin, individual and corporate! If that works, use that. Is it a discussion on how gays and lesbians are treated? If you want to consider the video, use that. Is it something else, find it and use it.

Never forget, Israel kept being enslaved because they kept following bad Judges. Maybe that's a place to start. Violence in the name of the Lord is a lousy way to present the Lord to creation.

If Life Isn't about Our Stuff...

Luke 12:14

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

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Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team

"Money" by Roger Waters recorded by Pink Floyd from "Dark Side of the Moon"

Hasn't anybody figured out yet that the love of money is the root of all evil. It isn't money itself, it's loving money above everything else. There's a theological word for that, its idolatry. Idol-a-try. When we put money, when we love money more than we love God, the we to quote another Pink Floyd song, are skating on the thin ice of hot life.

Jesus warns us, be on guard against all kinds of greed. Then Roger Waters gives us a primer on conspicuous consumption, and he does it with a look at wealth and poverty. Beware, watch out. Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.

But look in your garage... A good part of my garage is filled with the things that don't go in the house. America has actually created a business where we have invented a place where we can rent an extra garage! Some people put extra cars there. Others put their boats there. Some have recreational vehicles there. Others use it as a spare garage. I know I did.

So, if life doesn't consist of our stuff, then what? Take a moment, look around and see. Your family? Your Lord? Even your dog! Life is built around relationships, that's what makes life. Wanting a relationship with a jet ski is the most pathetic thing I could imagine. No, it's people. It's friends. It's even that black lab who barks at strangers (when I wish he wouldn't).

I can't possess them. Or their love. Or their time. Those things are given, freely. Just as God gives and gives freely. Just as God in Christ gave himself freely on the cross so that we may have what does not spoil or rust, life eternal. Life to spend with family, friends, the dog, and of course God's own self.

That's better than anything money can buy.

Love that Waits

Song of Solomon 3:1-3

Upon my bed at night
I sought him whom my soul loves;
I sought him, but found him not;
I called him, but he gave no answer.

“I will rise now and go about the city,
in the streets and in the squares;
I will seek him whom my soul loves.”
I sought him, but found him not.

The sentinels found me,
as they went about in the city.
“Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

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But if you loved me
Why'd you leave me?
Take my body
Take my body
All I want is,
And all I need is
To find somebody.
I'll find somebody like you.

"All I Want" written by James Oliver, Richard Flannigan, Mark Daniel Prendergast, Stephen Joseph Garrigan, Vincent Thomas May, recorded by Kodaline from "In a Perfect World"

The lament of missing love. If you loved me why'd you leave me? Upon my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves.

We seek our lost love in the city streets. We seek our lost love in our memories. While on the streets, we even seek our lost love lost in our own thoughts. This passage from the Song of Solomon and from Kodaline's "All I Want" are both about romantic love. Lovers wander the streets. Praying for deliverance. The woman from the Song finds the King's sentinel's, but not her King. Kodaline can't find the object of their desire either. In the end they sing "All I need is to find somebody. I'll find somebody like you."

Have you ever noticed that "somebody like you" is never as good as "you?" Substitutes never substitute for the real thing.

I'm not saying you can never find true love again, I am saying finding a "substitute" is no substitute for the real thing. Hold out for the real thing.

This is love. This is the love God has for us. God wants us. God seeks us. God desires us. God knows our second best, our substitute selves aren't good enough for love.

Love is patient. How's that for the good news of the gospel in Jesus Christ, the love of God is patient. The love of God is unconditional. The love of God never leaves.
"

More Wisdom and Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (NRSV)

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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But what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
There's nothing at all
But what a fool believes he sees

"What a Fool Believes" written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins and recorded by The Doobie Brothers from "Minute by Minute"

What a fool believes no wise man has the power to reason away. The wisdom of this world is rooted in what we see. "I'll believe it when I see it" has become the cry of a new generation. So much is this so that many won't believe the most obvious of truth without seeing it through the wisdom of their own eyes.

If the mysteries of our own world, like if the light goes off when you close the fridge, if these are questioned constantly, the mysteries of the eternal are well beyond our understanding. Yet, we seek to understand, we seek to see it with our own eyes.

Paul writes, "Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles." There is no human sense to be made, no earthly wisdom to come from the wisdom of Christ crucified. Yet, "God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe."

"What a Fool Believes" is that love is real if only in the mind of the fool. The sentimental fool don't see, tryin' hard to recreate, what had yet to be created. Yes, maybe the man is delusional, but what if he is not? What if this is a love that may be real one day?

Casey, mighty Casey at the bat struck out. But he swung at the pitch. He went down swinging.

The fool for Christ has hope, not optimism. Optimism is based on what is possible for people. True hope is based on what God does with people. The hope of transformation, the hope of redemption. This is the foolishness of Christ crucified. Frankly, it's better than all the wisdom found on earth.

You Can't Judge a Book...

1Samuel 16:1, 6-7

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is now before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

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You can't judge an apple by looking at a tree
You can't judge honey by looking at the bee
You can't judge a daughter by looking at the mother
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover

"You Can't Judge a Book by Looking at the Cover" by Bo Diddley

How many times have we heard it, you can't judge a book by looking at its cover. How many times do we look at the Call of David from 1Samuel and realize that this is one of the lessons?

Jesse's eldest son is named Eliab. His name means "God is my Father" in Hebrew. Now that's a name suitable for the King of Israel. On top of his appropriate name, he's Jesse's eldest son which makes him a prime candidate for Kingship. On top of that, He is tall and good looking. Appearance meant as much then as it does today when selecting a leader. But the Lord is not picking the new king on these criteria.

David is Jesse's eighth son, not even the seventh son who in numerology would have been a special birth. He's not the oldest. He's not the seventh. He is the selected.

The Lord will use his own criteria to select the leader of Israel, not human tradition or customs. It's the Lord's choice and the Lord does not judge a book by the cover. Then David is ordained, covered in oil by the old prophet.

So what happened next? What comes after the anointing? The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David and Samuel takes off. Really, nothing happens for a while and that too is God's plan.

We have to beware our expectations. It's not uncommon for us to have preconceived notions about people, notions which prove to be baseless. We rely on our customs and traditions to help us make decisions, customs and traditions which might have outlived their usefulness. We want to get up and go, we want to do something when the Lord wants us to wait.

It's not easy to break the molds of our automatic behaviors, but that is what the Lord calls us to do. David's selection and ordination break the expectations of his family. Soon he will do the same through the world.