Standing for Nothing

As I drove up to church this morning, I, as I often do, drove by the First Baptist Church. They like to point out they’re the first Baptist church in America. Which I’m moderately confident is absolutely true. Lovely old New England building. Always worth a sidelong glance. They also have a message board, and like many church’s tend to put up pleasantries and truism.

This time it reads “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

it’s one of those lines that have been floating around just about forever. I’ve seen it attributed to such as Giner Rogers and Malcom X. I think possibly it dates from Alexander Hamilton. But who knows…

These days, I mostly see this phrase used by folk suggesting you should be a Christian. Not only, but more that than anything else…

Now, in a broad, general sort of way, it is a true statement. (Not the Christian part specifically, more on that anon) The true part is if you don’t have a place to stand, any place is as good as any other place.

But this statement also suggests, implies strongly if one doesn’t have an anchor of belief, then one is gullible and can be tricked into all sorts of unsavory things.

Gullibility is an issue in our human lives. No doubt.

But, it doesn’t follow that holding fiercely on to one unlikely thing is an inoculation against other unlikely things.

And, often, this does seem to be a pitch to hold on to something unlikely. And emphasized by the vague implication that if you don’t go for this bit of unlikeliness, you’re in serious danger of becoming a, well, pick your favorite bit of foolishness.

I’m suggesting belief should be approached with caution. Belief in pretty much anything…

Me, I find myself holding out for some serious letting go.

How about standing for nothing? Hold on to no idea or story as the absolute truth.

Be skeptical.

And be skeptical of being skeptical.

Walk with an open heart and an open mind.

And believe as little as you possibly can.

What would your world look like from that perspective?

Would it be more dangerous, or less?

Or, would we find holiness where ever we look?