The Stress of Being Tofu People

Shane M. Jones, LSCSW

Last time I wrote about the effect the winter season can have on us, along with the “fallout” of Christmas.  Those topics caused me to think of the increased stress we felt during the holiday due to the attacks on Christmas itself, in particular the push to wipe out the focus of Christ.  This movement to “rid” our culture of religion, and let’s make no mistake about it, it’s really only when the reference is to Christ and Christianity that there is a big push to separate religion, only adds to the stress that we all feel.  Yes, even the non-Christian, flaming liberal types experience stress by this movement to rid the culture of Christianity.  Why?  We are cheating ourselves out of experiencing true diversity by trying to water down all references to religion.  We take on a bland, boring and shallow existence when we wipe out the richness of people’s religions, thus we be come Tofu People.  Tofu People, like Tofu the food, are bland, boring, and they don’t have any real flavor.  Oh they can “go with” a lot of things, for they don’t bring anything to the table that would conflict with anything else, however they really are only filler, and definitely not the part that one looks forward to eating.  How can we be truly happy and excited about the zest of life when our focus is on how to get rid of something, or being anxious about “not offending others” for being who we are?  We can’t. 

I walked behind a car today, which had a fish with legs and Darwin on it, we’ve all seen them.  The car also had a bumper sticker, which was made to look like a political sticker that had “Bush” with the word “Satan” under it.  This is a sad way to express one’s self, by reactionary means, however it sounds like us Christians sometimes doesn’t it.  It is psychologically, and relationally healthy to have a belief system that you feel is “the way”.  It is maturity to also be able to accept that others are going to feel the same way about their faith or (belief system) as you do yours, that it is important to them, and they wish that you would be able to see things the way they see it, just like you.  Our job as Christians is to rise above reactionary “in your face” attitudes, as well as the “so no one will be offended, I’ll try to be politically correct” mind set.

We are to be salt and light!  When our life takes on a purpose greater than our just getting by, we will give depression a major kick in the pants, I’m not saying it will be magic, but it will help, we at least will feel like our lives have meaning, and that can over ride a lot of sadness.  I suggest reading the “Jesus Freaks” books put out by DC Talk, and Voice of the Martyr’s, you will see what I mean when you read about the lives of those who where martyred and persecuted for the gospel.

We are drawn movies about passionate people, passionate about their love for one another, their sport, work, various causes, but when it comes to religion, we want everyone to be “Tofu”.  Don’t buy into it, let Jesus make your life passionate for Him, the Father, and the kingdom of God, and let others be Tofu if they want.  James 1:22-25 speaks powerfully to this issue; I pray you are encouraged by it!