JosephBurke.com

The World’s Last Megastar & Traditionalism Rant

// July 7th, 2009 // Joe's Blog

It seems like almost yesterday, I was a little 6 year old kid, back home in the hills of Kentucky and living with mom and dad in our old trailer. I remember vividly the Michael Jackson record player I had, with the “Beat It” single record, and Prince’s purple single vinyl of “Purple Rain.” I grew up on the sounds and music videos of Michael Jackson, and he was a key instrument into my music composing capability as a young piano player. I remember when Michael released his “History” double CD collection which included one disc with old classics, and then another disc with all new material. One song in particular on this CD was called “Earth Song,” which later was made into a full music video about the brutality and global devastation we are doing to our beloved planet. The piano melody in this captured my intellect for many months, as I tried to played and replay this tune over and over on the keyboard until I got the melody right. Even though, Michael is not with us anymore, obviously his music, legacy and inspiration to small town Kentucky boys like myself and even my father will live on.

Speaking on another topic totally different from Michael Jackson, I was in church on Sunday and my pastor spoke about breaking down the walls of Christian and biblical traditions. He stated, “You don’t need a wooden alter, or a place to kneel or to cry your eyes out dripping off your makeup and shouting to high heaven that you’ve accepted Christ as your savior.” I paraphrased this quote as best as I remember it. He stated that, we as humans, have put into motion and place so many man-made laws, bi-laws and traditions of true worship, that we really forget the whole meaning of what Christ really intends for us to do and be as believers. Man, did my pastor strike a chord with me. Coming from small town Kentucky, I look back at the churches nestled back in the hills, in the small towns and think openly in retrospect about it all. Many great friends have been made back home, and many great church services have I been blessed to be in! I have seen many great things happen in church services, and literally felt the presence of something much stronger than me. But, yeah here comes that part, there is a lot of those churches that force traditions that aren’t exactly truth. For instance, most baptist and organized churches teach and preach in their services conclusion to simply, “Come Forward,” to accept Christ as your savior. I admit, this an act of open confession of faith to the church that you are publicly saying you’re a Christian, but is it the right way? Christ taught us to be like him, strive to do things he would do, and live in the manner in which those around us see Christ in our lives, and the fruit of that relationship. Is the fact that coming to the alter going to save you right then and there, when in fact, you could believe and accept Christ in your very living room, sitting on your sofa! It’s true, you can become a believer, anywhere, anytime and the fact that man-made traditions bend the truth a little bit, make me rethink a lot of things about my own salvation. Some churches back home in Kentucky require that all women wear no make-up, no jewelry, no hairspray or dye and dresses below the knees, preferably above the ankles. Is this biblical or tradition. According the bible, men should look like men, and women look women. It’s not what you wear, how you look or prepare yourself, it’s what in your heart that matters most. There’s also churches that preach that if you don’t join their organization, than you’re not the “right” denomination to go to heaven. This also, again, is man-made nonbiblical traditionalism at it’s finest.

I’m sure loving Orlando, my new home, my church and my friends. Truly, I am blessed, happy and at peace.