As much fun as it would be to write about the spiritual symbolism of painting everything black, I'd like to look instead at the more mainstream theory of pop-theologian, Mick Jagger. Specifically, the idea that I can't get no satisfaction.
This idea first came to me several years ago when I got to spend some time listening to Tony Campolo. Dr. Campolo is old (76, if wikipedia and my calculator are correct). When he spoke, he would stand resolutely on stage, rarely moving. He would lean against a bar chair brought on stage for him with his eyes closed and left hand raised to his temple, speaking profundities with simple words. Here was a man who had written more books than the numbers of years I had been alive and he was still pushing forward. He continued to walk, to grow, to seek, to learn, to mature. The power of his words was backed by his depth of experience. If spiritual years are like dog years, well, he was old.
Sitting there and watching this old guy with his eyes closed challenge everyone in the room, including himself, I began to wonder how he kept moving forward after all these years. It seems to me that age can have a settling effect on most things: house foundations, dirt, waistlines, humans. What is it that turns a pioneer into a settler? I don't know how to articulate an exact answer, but I think it has something to do with Mick Jagger.
A strong Christian is never completely content with their spiritual journey. They never stop and say, "Look at me! I've made it, there's no more room for growth!" They're always a little bit dissatisfied because they see where they are spiritually, but they also see the next step and they never stop pursuing something deeper, richer, more mature in their relationship with God. At the same time, that dissatisfaction (for lack of a better word, truly) does not leak over into the rest of their life. In life, they are completely content. They're not chasing money, prestige and power, significance and security or anything else the world pursues. In a sense, they are content with everything but their spiritual life.
A weak Christian is the opposite: discontent with life and always pursuing the things of the world. But when it comes to their faith/relationship with God, they are satisfied with where they are. They say, "I've come far enough. I don't see any room for growth. I am satisfied with where I am, and God should be too." Their satisfaction with the eternal allows more time and opportunity to pursue the temporary.
Is the sign of mature spiritual living a satisfaction or contentment with everything but spiritual living? Are the strongest Christians the ones who snarl along with Mick about their lack of satisfaction with the status quo?
Maybe.
Matthew 9:16-17
"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Colossians 3:1-15
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Maybe not.
Maybe stronger Christians are just better dressed.