The Naked Journal
Thoughts, musings, and meanings behind NakedPastor Art.
The Naked Journal
Shame-Free Free Shame
Cartoon Description: Jesus is walking with a sign that says, "Shame-Free". He passes a man who is carrying, along with a bible, a sign that says, "Free Shame". I despise shame. Some people think shaming is a legitimate method to control others. They think it's okay to shame people into doing what they think they should do or to stop doing what they think they shouldn't be doing. Always remember this: if you are being shamed to do or not do something, the intention is that you will comply to please them. Shaming intends to embarrass you back into submission. But, shame sucks as a motivator because its primary drive is the need to be accepted... ... rather than saying, "Here's how I can grow and become an even better person", then doing it.
Read more
Unlocking the Divine Power of Blocking
I have the gift of blocking and you should too. Many of us raised in Christianity and the Church were taught to always turn the other cheek and walk the extra mile. Which interpreted means we should tolerate and endure abuse. Cartoon Description: Jesus is laying his hands on the head of a person and saying, "By all the authority invested in me in Heaven and Earth, I hereby bestow upon thee the divine gift of blocking." The problem is, abusers read those verses too, then use them to justify, excuse, and protect their abuse. I used to put up with abusers online. Now I block people frequently. I’ve learned some important lessons: People shouldn’t abuse. I don’t deserve to be abused. I don’t want toxic people in my life. So I eliminate opportunities for this to occur. Abusers get angry when they get shut down. They claim that we are against their freedom of speech. They're free to speak hate. They've got the whole world to speak their hate into. But not here. That’s the problem with abusers: they actually think they have the right to hurt people for what they think is a good reason. They actually believe their victims deserve it. They actually even believe that hurting someone in a fit of rage is an act of love if they believe enough in the results they hope to achieve by their abuse… which is always for us to bow to their will. As you may know and can imagine, I attract a lot of hate and abuse. As my friends lists grow, so does the frequency of attacks. So I came up with a policy to protect myself and my friends: Ignore stupid. Block hate. It works! It really makes some people angry. But they’re always the abusers.They can be angry. Somewhere else. Let’s end with a scripture lesson. Jesus is portrayed as a man who didn’t put up with bullshit.He never argued or debated.He responded to stupid or entrapping questions with smart or unanswerable ones.He walked away from haters and abusers.He confronted abusers and intervened to rescue their victims.He didn’t do toxic. So let’s do the same. Ignore stupid. Block hate. I bestow upon thee the divine gift of blocking!
Read more
Asserting Your Privacy in Spiritual Exploration
I get a lot of private messages from people across all social media platforms. Consistently, they are struggling with deconstruction. But not just deconstruction in general. I’m finding the main struggle is how to go through their spiritual exploration in front of family, friends, community, whomever. Many feel they need to know what to say. Here’s what I told the last young woman who asked me for advice: Why explain yourself? Cartoon Description: Jesus says to a group "Their main frustration with me is they know they can't nail me down until they do it literally." Changing your beliefs and growing spiritually in front of others is hard.They always try to nail you down.You’re pressured to explain yourself. Here’s why: First of all, you might be experiencing a little hangover from your evangelistic days where you always had to give a reason for the hope that lies within you. You always had to be ready to testify and give your testimony. The pressure was constant to make your public statement of faith. Witness witness witness. Secondly, your spiritual journey is yours and no one else’s. They shouldn’t be asking you about your sex life either! Or your financial situation. Or your politics. It’s really none of their business. Your spiritual life is private. It will have visible manifestations. But what you believe or don’t believe is your concern, not theirs. Thirdly, do you go around asking people to explain themselves spiritually? Are you constantly assessing what people believe or don’t believe so that you can decide what to think about them or deal with them or relate to them? If you do, then there’s a little more work to do. But what I’ve seen is the deeper people go into deconstruction the less they care about the spiritual or religious affiliations people have and just mostly care about the quality of people they are. Like your spirituality is your business, their spirituality is theirs. You don’t ask because it feels invasive and rude. So you shouldn’t be asked either. If you do need something to say, here are a few responses I’ve given to people who’ve tried to corner me: Gentle Ones: “I don’t feel like talking about that now.” “I’m changing and don’t feel ready to share it.” “I’d rather not discuss it.” Firmer ones: “That’s none of your business.” “I have to go.” “I don’t talk about that with just anyone.” “I don’t believe that anymore.” You can just be you… and that doesn’t need explanation.
Read more
When Christianity is Just For Show But Not For Substance
Cartoon Description: Jesus is hanging on the cross surrounded by people posing with him taking selfies. "When Christianity is Just For Show But Not For Substance" No explanation needed.
Read more
How to Be Like Jesus
At the root of a lot of religion and spiritual endeavor is self-doubt and even self-hatred, as well as shame about what we perceive as our weaknesses, and fear about life and how to live it. Then a great teacher comes along.Then their disciples.Then their texts.Then their rules.Then their abolition of all aberrations and rebels. But what is most impressive of all great teachers is not their adherence to a preexisting system, but their radical personal freedom, their challenge of the status quo, their departure from the norm, and their vision of a new way to be human. What should be emulated about them is this spirit. Description: A man says to Jesus, "I want to be like you." Jesus responds, "You be like you. That's how you be like me." It’s this radical personal freedom that should move us. Not the spirit of their devotees who demand blueprint devotion to the way their masters lived. So, tap into your personal freedom and live it. This is how you change your world! This cartoon is titled How To Be Like Jesus and it's available as a digital download or it can be licensed.
Read more
Living in the Now: The Essence of Heaven
I'm frequently asked if I believe in Heaven. The historical Jesus, I believe, did not talk about an afterlife, but rather emphasized the kingdom as manifested within us in our freedom. The logic seems to be that if you don't believe in Hell, maybe you don't believe in an afterlife at all, which includes Heaven. This often creates a struggle for many who are trying to overcome the fear of hell. I always find this difficult to respond to. I feel like a Buddhist when asked if there's a soul. Yes or no. Yes and no. The middle path between the two poles of dialectical thought. Description: A man asks Jesus, "Can you tell us about Heaven?" Jesus responds, "Why can't this be Heaven, right here, right now?" I think there's a wisdom that transcends the opposing thoughts of heaven and hell. What does "after life" even mean? Life is life. Fulness of life means the fulness of the moment. The moment is now. The fulness of now is always now. Now. Now. Now. Time is an illusion. We think time flows linearly, when it is only a connection of moments. Each moment is full. Each moment is now. Each moment is eternal. Infinite! Living fully in the moment now is the eternal now.
Read more
Jesus and #BlackLivesMatter
Description: Jesus marches with a Black Lives Matter sign and a BLM face-mask. That's it. That's my post.
Read more
A Thought-Provoking Reflection on Christ and Transformation
My wife Lisa asked what "change" meant in this drawing. Does it mean he's a homeless person asking for change, or that as the Christ he would want change, as in change in us and the world? I said yes. Change is more than just a commentary on money. Change asks the question in a larger sense- can you contribute to changing the system? This image is a part of my Image Of Christ Series. It consists of 16 Images of Christ meant to capture the idea that there are many interpretations and reconciliations of Christ. From Christ as a woman to Christ as a refugee, the Images of Christ celebrate diversity, empathy, and inclusion.If you'd like to learn more watch my Youtube video below.
Read more
