Everything You Know Is Wrong

The Firesign Theater is still around.  I'd explain what the were, are, want to be when they grow up but it would be pointless since at a very real level they never defined themselves as far as anyone can tell, including them.  Probably the best way to think of them when they started (in the late '60's) is as a bunch of pretty funny and creative kids with tape recorders...crossed with Monty Python's Flying Circus.  In fact, you can pretty much think of them like that right up until today and be mostly correct.

If you're interested in looking them over, you can find them here:  Firesign Theater.

Even their album titles were astonishingly creative.  These included:  "Waiting for the Electrician, or Someone Like Him," "How you can be Two Places at Once When You're not Anywhere at all" and of course "Don't Crush that Dwarf, Hand me the Pliers."  I know...I don't get it either but somehow it does make me smile.

My favorite album title of theirs is the title of this post, "Everything You Know Is Wrong."  I think the cover graphic was a flying saucer and that it was all an oblique reference to a line from the movie, "The Day the Earth Stood Still."  What I liked about the title initially and still appreciate, is the sheer audacity of it.  I don't care if they are kidding, to make that definitive a statement takes guts. 

Over the years, I've come to realize that there's a big truth in that little joke.  Maybe not everything I know is wrong, but in a half century of living I've learned that way too much of the time, I can be a lot more wrong than I'd like.  This has led me to a vague suspicion about things I still think I might be right about.  I've come to wonder what my own catalog of "true facts" might be hiding or at least obscuring.

My biggest revelation in this area has been regarding God.  When I was young, I used to consider it a virtue, and I was pretty sure God thought it was cool too, if I knew a lot about him.  For example, it was good to know all the powerful things he did through and with people.  And then, once you knew all that good stuff, it was really good to do the good stuff he thinks we should be doing...do do do, good good good.

These days, while I don't think there's anything wrong with knowing all that stuff (it can even be quite helpful),  I have come to understand that if that is the sum of your relationship with God is, then truly Everything you Know is Wrong.

It's wrong because we're called and invited into relationship with God.  The Kingdom of God does not enroll us in a class.  At the crucial moment, we won't be weighed on a scale or quizzed for literacy.  It will just be Jesus saying, "Man, it is good to see you."  Or less pleasantly, "Huh.  I don't think I remember you."  If this sounds jarring, read or re-read Matthew Chapter 7 and know that Jesus isn't kidding.  (The whole chapter applies but for the purposes here, start paying close attention at verse 20.)

It's desperately important to understand that when the bible talks about knowing God it means knowing him like you know your spouse.  This is the type of "knowing" we're invited into, not fact memorization.

As always though, Jesus is nothing if not chocked full of grace.  If your relationship with God seems a bit heavy on the fact side, just make the next step relational.  Jesus will fill in the rest.  He cares much more about direction than he does about location.  He'll help you along even if Everything You Know Is Wrong.  Trust me on this.  I speak from experience.