Oulipo Style Meme – Christianity Is So Predictable

by Marcus on February 6, 2008

L. L. Barkat tagged me for an interesting meme that reminds me of the Oulipo group (especially N+7 poems). Yes, their site is in French. No, I don’t speak French, and you don’t have to either to appreciate the 1-2-3 meme.

Here’s what I had to do.

  1. Pick up the book nearest (of at least 123 pages). “Nearest” is an important stipulation because I’m surrounded by books. I picked up unChristian since I used it for an article recently. The next four steps were easy enough.
  2. Open the book to page 123.
  3. Find the fifth sentence.
  4. Post the next three sentences.
  5. I’m supposed to tag people too, but I don’t feel like it today.

Here are the sentences:

“Christianity is so predictable,” one person we interviewed said with contempt. Two-thirds of young outsiders said the faith is boring, a description embraced by one-quarter of young churchgoers as well. The image of being sheltered means the Christian faith seems dull, flat, and lifeless.

Ouch. I guess that’s what I should expect from a book titled unChristian. The truth hurts–even if it is a truth based on perception rather than potential. Shame on us for allowing Christianity to seem boring.

Controversial, yes. Countercultural, sure. Perhaps even puritanical in a sense that we don’t believe freedom means complete moral irresponsibility.

Which leads me to a question for readers. Instead of tagging five, I’d rather ask you readers this:

What is the most exciting moment of Christianity you’ve ever experienced?

Tagged as: 1-2-3, boredom, christianity, meme, religion, unchristian

  • Meeting Jesus under an evergreen tree when I was fifteen and so terribly lost.

    Since my father passed away, and my mom had cycled through various father figures, I was desperate for a Father that would not die, leave, or break my heart. When I heard the Gospel, I knew I had found Him.

    True to His word, He's been the most faithful, dedicated, hands-on Father I could ever need.
  • This is a hard question, rather like asking me what the most exciting moment of my marriage has been or what the best moment of having children has been. As with these relationships, there is no moment I would want to pinpoint regarding Christianity. It has been a lifetime of discovery and tender care, challenge and growth. I wouldn't want any other life. This, this is deep and abiding in its inspiration.
  • Like LL, I'm inclined to say too many to narrow down...but like Mary, I remember the first time my eyes were opened - I was struck by not so much by the notion that I could know God, but that I was known by Him. Mind blowing.

    BTW, Mary, thanks for sharing your story...it was wonderfully encouraging.
  • I thought about it. Really I did. I wanted to give a good answer that would inspire all, including me. There has to be one of those altar experiences, where I piled rocks to remember and teach generations to come.
    Maybe I haven't had enough coffee yet, because it's blank. I can think of a particular time the end of last week of joy and peace--immediately followed by doubt and self-conceit. Pretty, huh?
    The other thing--exciting. Exciting as in harrowing? As in, what was the best part of the movie? The best part of the movie is probably not the best part for the characters themselves. You know, a battle scene. Yes, I can think of plenty or stories where there was an Ordeal, a Climax, followed by a Reward or Resurrection, but then I'd have to tell you the whole story and I've babbled on enough as it is.
    I will say that there's nothing boring about my life. I've toyed with ways to try to tone it down, but that never works.
  • When I realized through my writing (my God-given talent) that I finally had the capacity to both understand and forgive my father.
  • Boring?! Granted, sometimes God takes people through "desert" experiences, but it saddens me to hear that generalization. "Their" faith might have bored them, but "the" faith??

    The opening of my eyes to the way of salvation and a real God who loved me would be the biggest experience, but can I share something that was less grand?

    On my first read-through of the Bible, there were a bunch of times, when I'd look up from being totally engrossed in the Scriptures, so excited that I wanted to find someone to be excited with me about what I had just read, like God's lovingkindness, keeping track of every single tear, or an awesome show of force, like the major butt-whooping on Mount Carmel.
  • Alone, meditating on a literal mountain top. In prayer with 14 Godly men. In fellowship with our Life group that is aptly named. Giving beyond a tithe to those in need. Holding my girlfriend's hand (now my wife of 38 years) at youth rallies. Well perhaps that wasn't Christian excitement.
  • When "for with God nothing shall be impossible" {Luke 1:37 KJV} became REAL unto me. For that meant that it was possible for Him to love even me.
  • My first Valentine's Day after being saved. My husband and I were saved right before we got married. Six months after we married, we went to a Valentine's Dinner (even invited my parents) at the church with the Followers Sunday School class (most in this class had been married quite awhile with teenage kids).

    My husband and I participated in what they called the Newlywed Game and we almost one too! That night we had a blast! We joked and laughed until we cried. It was that night I realized that being a Christian didn't mean I had to stop laughing -- or having fun. It was the cleanest, best fun I've ever had.

    I honestly thought I'd have to be serious all the time as a Christian -- you know, a big ol' prude :)
  • Everyone, I was away from the computer at meetings all day when this one from the queue went live. Your responses really overwhelmed me.

    Mary, "meeting Jesus under an evergreen" is a beautiful thought.

    L.L., so true about the deep and abiding inspiration of Christianity. That's what confounds me about corners of our faith that present something so shallow and materialistic.

    ESI, to be fully known and fully loved. That's the most beautiful promise of all, isn't it?

    Heather, first I loved your comment at Seedlings recently. Hilarious. I also really like the way you recast my question in terms of altar building. That's kind of what we're doing here, isn't it?

    Brandon, what a powerful comment. It is convicting to me.

    Craver, it is sad, but true. Our lives are often the only bible some people ever read. (I can't remember who said that.) And I like your newly coined heroic epithet for Elijah the butt-whooping prophet.

    Shep, I'm personally very glad for you and your girlfriend. And having just come from Brandon's comment I have to wonder why God gave me the gift of such wonderful parents.

    FishHawk, it's humbling how we forget, isn't it? How can we take it for granted that the creator of the universe cares about us? And yet I do all the time...

    Lisa B, thanks for sharing the story about your marriage. If being Christians means I'm supposed to be prim and proper, I'm in big big trouble.
  • Simply put...each day that a new miracle seems to fall at my feet, big or small, they are all significant.

    Specifically...as many have said before, the list could go on and on. Realizing how much love He has for me and my life. His leading me to my better half almost 10 years ago. His guidance and comfort as we raise a special needs son. The opening of all the right doors emotionally and financially to adopt our daughter from Korea almost 2 years ago. His leading and caring for this family as we moved 2200 miles from West to East this past year.

    It could go on and on. Thanks Marcus for a post to help me to "go to sleep counting my blessings" (as Bing would say) tonight.
  • m chesnut
    I'm gonna be really Unitarian and say probably looking at a real live human brain at the Our Body exhibit at the Witte Museum this weekend or looking at any number of NASA photographs. Or listening to Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By". Although the song elicits feelings way more like the ache of God's absence.
  • Eric, I'm glad this little post helped you remember to count your blessings.

    chesnut, always good to hear from you! And you bring a good reminder that the natural world and the creative good of humanity can both be strong reminders of what God has done.

    Also, your phrase "the ache of God's absence" is something I've been thinking about since I read your comment late last night. Powerful.
  • m chesnut
    Thanks, I think? :)

    Anyway, I know this is not within the scope of your blog, but what do you think of the election so far? I think my preference would be pretty obvious based on you knowing me and my demographic.
  • The most exciting moment? When i got a victory by victory with JESUS. So many dark time in my life, but when i pretend to keep my faith, GOD give me the glorious moment than i could ever imagine..... He even gave me more abundantly that i could ever have... That's why i decide to spread The Word of GOD in many ways with wisdom and action...

    By the way, thank's for commenting my blogpost :)
  • I've had a lot of exciting moments. But for sheer release of tension, I'd pick one time when I was in Family Court with two women from our little live-in transition home ministry. Both were scheduled on the same morning, before the same judge -- a judge known for never denying visitation. Both women had ex-husbands so abusive they had to have the sheriffs with them.
    Their former victims were so scared I thought they wouldn't be able to testify. So right there, while somebody else's case was being heard, we knelt and prayed that the judge would see the situation as it really was and their children would be kept safe.
    And suddenly all three of us knew, right then, with unbelievable conviction, that Jesus had already won the day. I was so proud of the ladies! They were calm and collected as they presented their evidence while the jerks interrupted, blustered and threatened. And at the end of the day, all the visitation was ordered supervised, no overnights allowed.
    If you've ever been in a spot like that, you know God is real.
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