Round Here

Alden Swan
June 8, 2004

Round here we always stand up straight
Round here something radiates
Round here we all look the same

Adam Duritz, Round Here

Counting Crows' Round Here is one of those rare blends of melody and lyrics that, combined with Adam Durtiz' plaintive vocals, results in a kind of musical gestalt that rolls around inside me in a haunting sort of way. As much as I simply enjoy it for being such creative rock, it grabs me on a deeper level. It brings out a combination of emotions, not the least of which are sadness and anger. Perhaps that's why I enjoy the song so much (in the same way I enjoy food so spicy it brings tears to my eyes).

On one level, the lyrics (as with much of Duritz' lyrics) speak of isolation, alienation, confusion - things we can all identify with on a human level. Because of my background in the church, both as one of the led and as a leader, I naturally interpret the song in that context, which makes me even more sad and angry (no doubt I have need for more healing).

It seems that the church, of all places in the world, is perhaps the place where it's the hardest to fit in, if we don't "stand up straight" or "look the same." Certainly "something radiates" and it's not always God's love. I spent several years serving in a church that for whatever reason functioned as a hospice for the spiritually abused and wounded. I know the damage that some churches inflict on people who can't fit in to the rigorous qualifications imposed by religion. It sucks, and it makes me mad.

Paul's concept of the church and how it should function is completely different. It's so different, in fact, that I really don't know how the abusive, religious pseudo-churches survive, if their people actually read their Bible.

Read Galatians 6:1-5:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

The word that Paul uses for "burden" implies something very heavy, which would cause someone to be crushed under its weight. A person under such a load would not be standing up straight, and Paul does not encourage such a person to try to do so. Rather, Paul admonishes us to: 1) gently restore those in sin; 2) watch ourselves so that we are not also tempted; 3) carry each other's burdens; 4) evaluate our own actions, without comparing ourselves to anyone else; 5) carry our own load (the word here refers to a light load, equivalent to a daypack).

From this we can see a couple of things. First, "round here," no one stands up straight. Paul cautions us against thinking too highly of ourselves, implying that if we think we have no burdens that we need help with, we are wrong. Our job is not to stand up straight under our own power, to look good in spite of our burdens. In fact, this is impossible. Our job - having been set free from condemnation and bondage - is to share in carrying each other's heavy loads.

For this to work, we have to first admit that we have burdens. This, of course, would be a lot easier if the church leadership would stop giving the false impression that they (and all spiritually mature Christians) have no such burdens to share. Trust me, I know for a fact that there are churches where staff members are under orders not to reveal any of their issues with people in the congregation. This is definitely not the kind of leadership model that Paul taught.

The second thing we can draw from this passage is that as everyone's burdens are different; no one looks the same. We are all, at various times, weighed down with sin and/or life in this fallen world. However, we are not all burdened at the same time, or in the same way. We shouldn't - and can't - all look the same.

Being free in Christ ("It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Gal 5:1) means that we are free to be different, we are free to share our burdens (without fear of condemnation), and we are free to assist in carrying the burdens of others. We are not free to "always stand up straight" or to "all look the same;" this is not freedom - this is bondage.

Here's the deal: if you're involved in a church or group where everyone appears to "stand up straight" and "look the same," take a good look at what's going on. Read Galatians. Read Ken Blue's book Healing Spiritual Abuse. If you believe there is something other than the Gospel going on, challenge your leadership (nicely). If all else fails, run, do not walk, to the nearest exit. It is your responsibility, you know. The Bible, your intellect and your freedom have been given to you for a reason: to be free. If you are going to "stand up straight," do so because you are free, and not for any other reason.

Round here we always stand up straight
Round here something radiates

Round here, it's for freedom that we've been set free. Accept no substitutes.

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