I play the guitar a little myself–very amateur. I’m with you–I just listen to what I like, rather than following any particular rules =).

What’s one or two of your favorite artists, albums, or bands?

This conversation reminds me of something kind of funny. When I was much younger, I got involved with a group called Institute of Basic Life Principles, which was founded and run by a fellow named Bill Gothard. He had a number of rather silly ideas, including that certain specific types of music (i.e., “rock music”, and/or music with a “backbeat”, etc.) were bad, from the devil, what-have-you. When I was about 16, I used to sit in my bedroom listening to contemporary Christian music on my radio while I was doing my schoolwork (I was homeschooled at the time). It was a station called KCMS in Seattle. I always felt vaguely guilty for listening to it, since Bill and co. thought it was evil. One time, on that station, I called up and won a contest and received a few days later in the mail an audio cassette of the latest album by a musician named Michael Card. When I got it, I felt so guilty over having this evil music in my hands that I actually threw it away without ever listening to it.

The reason this story strikes me as funny is that Michael Card is both a really excellent musician and a really excellent theologian, as far as I can tell, and his music is incredibly tame, in the whole scheme of things.

I guess one could say that I missed out on some stuff ’cause Bill and co. said that certain types of music were evil. But I don’t really see it that way. I think I see it as part of the whole lovely, hilarious, amazing story that led me to where I am now.

I said that Bart’s words were fighting words. I never said I wanted to fight. I honestly don’t care what Bart says. I’m not personally afraid. I guess its frightening to hear someone talk the way Bart does. His logic is completely backwards. If he is a minister and is teaching people that Jesus came to spread the love but his death didn’t mean anything then he is leading people astray. I for one am very thankful that Jesus died for my sins so that I could have a relationship with Christ and follow Him. I’m a musician and I love music. Its like someone going around and telling people that listening to music will give you cancer and kill you. Its not true and those people who listen to that person will miss out on all the benefits of listening to music.

I want to ask you about the function or efficacy of the fear/fight response you experienced/are experiencing. I want to be really clear I’m not judging your response. I totally still do the fear/fight response to things sometimes. I guess for myself I’ve begun to reach a point where when I have that response, I’m able to notice it and ask myself how the response is helping me–with the underlying belief that I’m always responding out of a desire to do the best I can for myself and for those around me. It’s not a rhetorical question–My belief is that you are experiencing fear/fight for totally legitimate reasons. My question is just about what those reasons are, in terms of purpose. How does fear/flight in response to Bart help/assist/enable you in your functioning in the world? What is that response accomplishing for you?

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also. So the bible seems to say that Jesus’ death and resurrection are central to the Gospel. It even says why Jesus died. “for our sins”.

So that’s fine that you’re not a Christian BUT I assume that Bart Campolo is since he is a minister. But I don’t know how he could be if he truly doesn’t believe that Jesus’ death was important.

So now I have to know what you meant when you said you were “committed to Christianity…” since you are not a Christian? What does that mean?

Your “yes, but” sounds a lot like a “no”, to me.

Just to be really clear, I am not a Christian, not a follower of Jesus, and I’m not offended at all by anything you said. =)

I’m really fascinated that you used the word “frightened.” before you said “fighting words”, and now you’ve said “frightened”. Are these related?

I do not see why you are frightened of Bart’s words. Why are you frightened about them?

For you to be “committed to Christianity, God, Jesus, and the Bible, with all their heart, with their whole life,” you have to be in a right relationship with God and of course I will say that you do that by putting your faith in Jesus’ work on the cross to take care of your sin problem. Unless you take care of your sin problem it doesn’t matter if you act like a saint. You are still separated from God. So its difficult for me to let bygones be bygones because this isn’t just some important thing. This is THE thing. So if you don’t get this then I have a hard time considering you a follower of Jesus(a Christian). I know that sounds harsh but it doesn’t matter what I think, it only matters what God thinks so I hope you don’t take offence at me saying that.

So I’m sure you agree with not much of what I just said but maybe you can see why I am so frightened by what Bart said. Anyways I could probably write a book at this point but I need to get going. Here’s one more thing I believe.

12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.