Response to Mazer

Okay, so I’m not really sure how I feel about this reading. There were times that it was really interesting and then times where I just completely could not pay attention. I also have to admit that I didn’t really read the entire thing because it was a little boring. Anyways, I don’t want to say that I hated the reading, but it was one of the best.

I don’t really think that the things the Power team does really have anything to do with God. I just think everything that the Power Team does takes away from Christianity and from the Church. I couldn’t imagine them coming to my church and the people around me enjoying it for any other reason than to watch strong men break things. It mentions a lot of the time throughout the reading that the Power Team would put on performances, almost like shows, for the people. They claimed that it was bring to people into the church so that they can get closer to god. Well, personally I don’t think this is going to get them closer to God. I would have to disagree with the whole videotaping and broadcasting aspect of this “Power Team” and their performances. To me, I think that the connection that a person has with God is really in oneself. Usually if you are someone who prays or what not, you do that alone; it stays between you and God. You don’t have to “broadcast” to other people that you believe in God or that you pray.

The perfect example I can give you to understand what I mean is sacrificing during Lent. People think that you have to go out and tell everyone specifically what you were fasting on or sacrificing this time to make it real. I believe this is something that doesn’t need to be shouted out to everyone, it is shared between you and God. You’re not supposed to try and show off for other people saying that you are “doing this for God” and I think that is basically what the Power Team is doing. They are showing off their muscles and how strong they can be and claiming that it is “for God” or for people to come out and get closer to God, I’m sorry but I smell bullshit.

Also, when they started talking about how they went to schools and just miraculously changed how the students were. For example, people who thought of committing suicide just now totally and completely changed their minds. I’m sorry, I’m NOT suicidal by ANY means ( I love my life J ) but if I were, something tells me that men showing me they can break a pair of handcuffs isn’t going to change my mind.

As I was reading the article I noticed that even though I’m not really a fan of what the Power Team was doing, people seemed to really enjoy this stuff. It talks about how a lot of people were waiting in line to get in to see this performance. It also was talking about how everyone was wearing t-shirts and trying to look like the muscle me and so on. To me, it kind of seems like these people are just going to watch what these men can do. They are shocked at how strong some people can be, and they want to watch men break rocks or whatever. I just don’t really think that these people are thinking about god while they are there, they are just watching the men brag.

The only way I can see it relating to God is when they talk about how their strength comes from God. Okay, I’ll give you that one. The thought of God is giving you the willpower to be strong, whatever. And I will have to say that the only thing I really liked about this reading is the handcuff part where the break the chains of the devil. I didn’t know that before you became Christian, the devil could put you in chains, linking you to him. So, it’s like they were symbolizing the fact that they were going to break away from the devil and go to God.