If you asked most people, Christian or Non-Christian, what the church is against, they could easily give you a list. They could tell you what they say no to and what’s not allowed. But listing what the church is ‘for’, what it’s big yeses are, is harder. We need to encourage people to pursue the better song. Good relationships should be a big yes we shout about. 

Naked Truth Relationships is part of the wider Naked Truth Project. The aim of the charity is to ‘Open Eyes and Free Lives’ from the damaging impact of pornography. We want to come alongside those who say they are struggling in this area and need help.

But we don’t just give them a list of don’ts and simply shout at them to stop

We enable people to stop habits and patterns of behaviour. But we don’t just give them a list of don’ts and simply shout at them to stop. We want to equip, inspire, and enable them to pursue the better song. To pursue the things that will bring true fulfillment and intimacy.

We often talk about the story of Jason and Ulysses.

The Legend Of Jason And Ulysses

In greek mythology, they believed in dangerous sea creatures called sirens. These creatures lived on the rocks. It was said that they used to sing and call out to the sailors as their ships went by. These sailors would then feel an overwhelming desire to sail towards the treacherous rocks and their ships would get destroyed.

However, the myth goes on to say that two heroes, Jason And Ulysses, came up with clever solutions to the siren problem.

Jason filled all of his sailors’ ears with beeswax. He blocked their ears so that they couldn’t hear the sirens singing and calling to them. The sailors, therefore, wouldn’t get tempted to sail over to the rocks. They stopped doing something.

Ulysses however, responded differently. He brought along the best musicians in Greece and got them to play when the sirens were singing. This meant, that even though the sailors could hear the sirens. They heard a better song.

Watch our video we made about this story

The Better Song 

Ulysses’ men heard a better song and it meant they were not tempted by the sirens. The sirens lost their appeal. The sailors survived and enjoyed the better call, and had a fantastic story to tell.

We’re not designed to just be avoiders who do nothing. God designed us for more

So what’s our better song? What do we need to pursue to get fulfilled? What’s our big yes?

Sometimes we need to avoid things which seem good but can harm us. Sometimes we need to fill our ears with beeswax. But we’re not designed to just be avoiders who do nothing. God designed us for more.  We’re designed to pursue the better song.

Jesus said ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ (John 10:10). We need to know what we are for.

Pursuing Good relationships 

I believe building healthy long-lasting relationships, romantic or otherwise, is part of that better song

The big yes is different for different people and different churches. It depends what God is calling us to, what we enjoy, where we’re meant to serve, etc. But I think building good relationships, loving God and our neighbour is part of it. (Read Reflecting God’s image Is Found In Plurality). Jesus said this in his greatest commandment.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

He wants us to build loving relationships with God and those around us. He says that we’re his friends and not just servants (John 15:13-15). He wants us to serve those around us and help them when we can ( Matthew 25:31-46).

I believe building healthy long lasting relationships, romantic or otherwise, is part of that better song. It can bring fulfillment, intimacy, and we can live the way God designed us to live.

Imagine If…

Imagine if whenever we interacted with people we stopped to say, how can I be a bit more loving?

The church is called to help people avoid the rocks and avoid damage, but we’re called to play the better song too. Our yes should involve loving God and loving people. To let people know they are loved and can have a loving relationship with God and those in his family.

Imagine if whenever we interacted with people we stopped to say, how can I be a bit more loving?

I think our relationships would get stronger, we would feel closer to people, it would be easier to avoid the rocks, and everyone could say that the church’s yes is to love people and build them up. We could be known for the better song. (Read What I Wish I Had Been Taught About Love).

What else do you think should be part of the better song? Comments welcomed below.

Originally posted 24/5/2017