The wisdom of Bob

As I told you before I was excited of the seminar of Pastor Bob Beeman on Freakstock .

I love this guy for a long time now. Back in the 80ies and 90ies almost every White Metal CD had a letter written by him advising the listener to buy this CD. Not only because of the superb music but also because of the (spiritual) content. The letters were very similiar and always ended with "...as the pastor of Sanctuary I'm here to pray for you".

But now to the seminar. Bob has pioneered many christian version of musicstyles and founding churches in those cultures i.e. the metalchurches Sanctuary.

He has noticed that we Christians often are afraid of getting dirty. So we found subcultures. But Jesus was different. He was not afraid of getting dirty and unclean. He did not take us out of the world. No, he prayed to the father to protect us cause he would send us into the world.

In the Old Testament the highpriest was only able to go once in a year into the holy of holies with danger of life. But today Jesus lives in us. Regardless of how much dirt or sin we have the holy of holies, the living well dwells in us! We are the temple! Wow!

We are always looking for something new because we are perhaps bored with what we have. We tell the people that Jesus will set them free. But they will look back to us with raised eyebrows wondering "And how about you?" Jesus so many times says that he will set us free. He always repeats himself like going in circles.
"Whom the Son sets free is free indeed" and "For Freedom Christ has freed us". Like he really wants to emphasize it. When Jesus said this (he was serious about it) it has to be possible!

Paul prays that the eyes of our hearts may be openend. Our hope is not based on something in this world but on eternity. Therefor we have to discern the eternal that it might come into our hearts.

But how will the eternal only come into our hearts? Very simple: We cannot do it! And God knows this. Jesus went to the cross because it's impossible. He came therefor that we long for the things of the spirit and not for the things of the world.

Bob knows a lot of subcultures mostly coming out of darkness. The Gothics have experienced much pain and darkness. They have a way to express it in there culture and music. What can really be beautiful. Only the problem is that many search the darkness. Even christians do it sometimes. They ask themselves "How much darkness can I bear and still be christian? How close can I dance on the edge without falling over it?"

But we should ask the question how close can I come to Jesus, how nigh can I come to him, how much can I be like Jesus, how can eternity come into my heart.

It is not attractive for many to go for holiness especially the nonchristians. But what's the meaning of sanctification? Seeking God. Bob said this might be different for everyone of us. Very early God told him (he is now christian for 49 years) not to drink any alcohol (he only drunk alcohol twice in his life - everytime it was communion) and that he should have no wife (and earlier he told us about his many girlfriends - the first with 7 for three wekks :)) That he told us very relaxed like it was very normal.

The best was that he was beaming love, you really believed what he said cause he lived it.

Another thing touched me deeply. He was very honest. He had many hostilities out of the "normal" church who was fighting against him. He was filled with bitterness because of that. Once he was praying about it. And Jesus said to him: "Yes, she is a bitch. But she still is my wife!" That healed him. No matter how many mistakes they church will make, no matter how much sin there is, God is faithful to his church, cause it is his bride, his wife. Heavy! I have to hear this also when complaining about church and being desperate about it (and overseeing my own sin). Ooops!

Really a great man of God. Unfortunately I had no chance to talk to him.

© Foto von Emmanuel