It's Hard to Argue When You Won't Stop Making Sense

Just was listening to my I-tunes collection, and ran across this song. Not sure why it never stuck out to me before. I know snow patrol is far from inspired and I don’t believe they even claim to have anything to do with Christianity, but this isn’t the first time I’ve seen their lyrics as able to be dialogue with God.

Tonight's song was "Hands Open" by snow Patrol:

It's hard to argue when you won't stop making sense
But my tongue still misbehaves and it keeps digging my own grave with my

Hands open, and my eyes open
I just keep hoping
That your heart opens

Why would I sabotage the best thing that I have
Well, it makes it easier to know exactly what I want with my...

Hands open and my eyes open
I just keep hoping that your heart opens

It's not as easy as willing it all to be right
Gotta be more than hoping it's right
I wanna hear you laugh like you really mean it
Collapse into me, tired with joy

Put Sufjan Stevens on and we'll play your favorite song
"Chicago" bursts to life and your sweet smile remembers you,

my Hands open, and my eyes open
I just keep hoping
That your heart opens

It's not as easy as willing it all to be right
Gotta be more than hoping it's right
I wanna hear you laugh like you really mean it
Collapse into me, tired with joy

"Its hard to argue when you wont stop making sense", lately its been easy to fall into routine. It always is, it happens all the time. But when ever I finally wake up and get that clear mind, which I usually find in worship, (but everyone has their places and things where they feel closest to him), but when ever it happens I almost have to, and even sometime do just break into a smile. Sometimes the week gets so rough and we get all caught up, even with good things, but I have to shake my head and laugh every time I remember that he’s there, and he makes sense. And we have to laugh at our selves "how could we have argued with you all week" "of course your right, your always right!" I want to try to let less and less time and maybe someday none at all between finding this truth. Why must we keep up the tendency of involving ourselves and making plans, when in the end we know our plans are rubbish and he's going to work it out.

Another way it struck home with me is my "call" to ministry. I’m pretty sure I’ve received it, but I must admit its not an easy thing to accept and submit to. I was talking with a pastor I absolutely respect. His life of service and reverence for God is something that has shaken my faith, especially in his prayer life which is very open and un ashamed. I envy that. But we were talking and he said "isn’t it hard" yes it really is, see its not all that I want to be out drinking or something, all though I’m sure all of my hobbies aren’t exactly biblical, its the little things. Not “partying” on Friday night, but just being able to do something, have the freedom to make plans or even do nothing at all. But we have made the commitment to be here at church on Friday nights working with this handful of kids. But when the fog of responsibility fades even for a moment and I can grasp some feeling of comrade-ary with my God and maybe just maybe that he is pleased with me or just might use me to make a difference that I once again shake my head and laugh. "What sacrifice I must ask?" "Where else would I rather be?" "Its hard to argue when you keep making sense!"

The lyrics go on to describe these "doubting" feelings when it says, "why would I sabotage the best thing that I have?" Maybe after thinking about it we should respond to our selves "Well its easier to know exactly what I want with my hands open and my eyes open" and actually try to say alright God you don’t have to “hope” anymore, what’s the plan? My heart is open! Because its not enough or "as easy as willing it all to be right" we Gotta actually take his direction and act on it. Because we Gotta do more than "hoping its right" we have to not hope but trust, and know through real faith. For fake faith is hope.

We can no longer hope that Christianity is right, we can no longer have an attitude that hopefully Jesus was who he said he was, and more than just hope that the kingdom of God can be established here on earth. We must believe and trust and know that we are right, that Jesus is the son of God, and that the kingdom can and will come to earth as it is in heaven. The thing that distinguished the early church is not found in home churches verses mega churches, or in the style of worship, or arguably in doctrine. It is in faith.

As a whole we have become so luke warm that we are pretty sure, I mean we hope were doing the right thing... No, faith is and must be so much more than that! Read the great faith chapter in Hebrews, people did crazy things for this "religion" and the early church "shocked" the world, never before had the world seen such people that rejoiced when they suffered persecution, or sang in the jails! One last quote to close tonight from the book "world religions" by Huston smith in his section describing Christianity when he is talking about the impact of Jesus' teachings, "They were astonished, and with reason. If we are not it is because we have heard Jesus’ teachings so often that their edges have become worn and smooth, dulling their subversive ness. If we could recover their original impact, we too would be startled."