My NC-17 Bible: A Humorous (And Sarcastic) Musing On Religion And Life

Lately I've been inspired by Anne Lamott. She's an atheist-turned-Jew-turned-Christian hippie gal from San Francisco. I dig her. A lot. Recently I read an old book review of her eloquent memoir, Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts On Faith. It got me thinking about the Bible and the accepted norms in the world of Christian culture. I know a number of people who would condemn me for watching a R-rated film—because I'm a Christian. Apparently, Christians aren't supposed to watch film or television with bad language in it. I guess this means I should watch what I say, too. While I understand concerns that many Christians have about 'becoming like the world,' I personally find it hard to live in a world where you attempt to shelter yourself from every outside influence imaginable.

So what does all of this have to do with Anne Lamott? Well, Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies is a book you probably won't find at your local Christian bookstore. Why not? Because there's bad language in it. Ssshhh. Don't tell anyone. Anne Lamott's conversion to Christianity was actually real and messy. She drank and smoked dope and did cocaine and all sorts of other damaging habits. She cussed and fought with God for a while. Then she gave in and accepted a Savior who had been right there through her darkness. That Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies is a book on the fringes of Christian culture was enough to pique my interest. I love the book. It's raw and messy and beautiful.

Other thoughts: If I'm not supposed to watch R-rated films or cuss or any of that bad stuff, then is it still okay to read my Old Testament? There's some pretty rough language in there. The prophet Ezekiel was one of the worst. In his metaphoric way, he described the people of Israel as a prostitute and a whore for the way they had betrayed their God. And God's response to their promiscuous ways is really bad. God, who obviously feels betrayed and angry, tells Israel that he's going to hand them over to their "lovers," who will "band together in a mob to stone you and run you through with swords" (Ezk. 16:40). All this is in the Bible. Really. Look it up.

Now I understand the marriage metaphor that was used to describe God's love—like a husband's—for his 'wife,' Israel. I understand that the prophet Ezekiel had to use words and imagery that would shock and anger his audience in a way that would get their attention. Still, the content is brutal—violence, rape, battery, mutilation. And while this doesn't really hinder my faith, it does provide for some curious fodder to write about. It causes me to stop and ask if I should really be concerned about watching movies that contain violence and language when my own Bible carries with it much worse content.

I really like the recent Clint Eastwood film, Gran Torino. It's a great story that hits on hard topics such as racial prejudices, anger, violence and peer pressure. It's also a very redemptive story of an old, hostile man changing for the better. I could be criticized for enjoying a film such as this. After all, the f-bomb is dropped like a hot potato—a lot. There's gang violence and brutality and other sinful subject matter throughout. At times I even question whether I should fill my mind with all of this stuff. That's where the irony of biblical history comes into the picture. It's the same story of acceptance, betrayal, and finally redemption that we see time and time again in history.

The bottom line is that God loves you no matter what you've done or what you will do. Anne Lamott was as broken as they come. Yet, as she quotes in her book a Leonard Cohen song, "There are cracks, cracks, in everything, that's how the light gets in." Only in our brokenness can we see our need for a redeemer.

Now go out and buy Traveling Mercies and then rent Gran Torino. Then relax, say a prayer, and know you're a loved and forgiven child of God.