Somethin' to Believe In

I confess, I am a fan of the 80's glam-metal band Poison. Quite frankly, I think they are are world class when it comes to the power ballad. But, that's just me. One of my favorite songs from Poison is "Something to Believe In." It is an almost pop perfect song about the search for signs of life on the planet. The opening lyrics, which are about disgraced minister Jim Bakker (at least, I assume that is who they are about since he is featured in the video), are really an indictment of the terrible witness to the love of Christ that the church provides. "Well I've seen him on the TV preaching about the promised land. He tells me believe in Jesus while he steals the money from my hand. Some say he was a good man. But, Lord, I think he sinned. Give me something to believe in...if there's a Lord above." What?! If there's a Lord above. Most Christians I know that hear this lyric would be appalled by the doubt. If...if...are you kidding me? But, then I look around. I see a church that is in bed with secular power (money), I see a church that defines success as more butts in the seats than it does genuine transformation. I see a church more interested in the "ticket to heaven" than it is the kingdom of heaven on earth. I am a pastor, and sometimes I find myself asking, "give me something to believe in." That is why I celebrate the little things. While the rest of the world thinks that whatever pastor they see on TV is the real deal, I see normal people - people that go to work everyday happy to have a job, people who are not celebrities, just regular people - and they come to church and seek to know God. And in the midst of all else that is going on in their lives, they seek to serve Christ. They work to free those who are enslaved. They visit people in prison. They take food to the hungry, clothes to the naked. They seek to share God's love with people they meet. They, to quote St. Francis, "preach the gospel wherever they can; and when necessary, they use words." When the make-up wearing, Harley-riding rock star (or anyone else, for that matter) pleads "give me something to believe in," I point to these good people. They may not be interviewed by Larry King. They may not be well-known. But, they are quiet disciples, living out the love of God in tangible ways. And that is reason to believe.