“You don’t have to break the earthly rules, but break through the molds of what people think Christians are.” Pillar frontman Rob Beckley said this to me yesterday in a conversation about recklessly pursuing God. He is a man who in the course of his life as a rock ‘n roller has had to face down the expectations and judgments of many Christians who don’t understand his path. And somehow feel they have the right to comment on it. This dynamic has forced the thoughtful believer to come to terms with his own understanding of the role God has for him as an artist and a follower of Christ. While he might not have enjoyed the process, I’d guess that he has moved far enough out of it to recognize it as a blessing. One of those painful blessings you’d like to do without, but a blessing nonetheless.

Actually our conversation was something along the lines of a blessing to me in my own quest to find my way. I don’t have the masses watching and questioning me the way the Pillar guys do, especially now that they’ve been nominated for a Grammy. But we all have a circle of influence in our lives, made up of friends, family members, and work relationships that have a front row seat to view our spiritual development or lack thereof. Maybe they feel free to question, doubt, or examine our choices, our behaviors, or our fruit as believers. And maybe you feel the need to break free of a few molds constraining you in the same ways that Rob felt restrained.

He makes a wise point in mentioning the earthly rules we’re called to honor. We cannot clamor for freedom to express ourselves on one hand and show disregard or a lack of respect for others in the same breath. Rob’s personal frustration came through as he talked of different occasions on which he felt unfairly judged by Christians, but his tone never revealed anything but a tender sadness at the cost to their own souls. He has processed these memories into fodder for his daily expression of Christ’s love. He has determined that rather than forcing him down into negativity, he will allow it to push him further into aggressively loving. He will actively pursue opportunities to display his hope and his peace as he does so will speak volumes to those who judge him, if they take the time to listen. But he leaves it in God’s hands. He is free. Free of the Pharisee’s molds, free of the prison of other people’s expectations. It’s a beautiful thing.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am and is filed under Staff Blogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.