The title link will take you to Part 1
Symptoms: Observations
It takes little observation to come to the conclusion that the World is in chaos. War, extinction, pollution, genocide, hunger, disease, drought, hurricanes and typhoons, the list could continue...
It also takes little observation to come to the conclusion that this state of existence has a root cause, namely homo sapiens sapiens (for those of you who don't speak Latin, that means you and me!). War, pollution, hunger, and disease are easily traced back to human activity or inactivity; more recently we are hearing that human beings are also major causes in factors that create drought, famine, and even storms on the far side of the plant.
It takes even less observation to see that humanity is in chaos. Murder, rape, torture, theft, dishonesty; alienation, loneliness, depression, anxiety, suicide, emptiness; abandoned children, betrayed spouses, addicted bodies; in the words of an old-dead-guy, "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."
The conclusion, simply, is this:
The world is broken because humanity is broken.
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So what is the problem with humanity?
At this point there is obviously some diversity of opinion. However there is also remarkable continuity amongst thinkers from many diverse contexts...
A cross-section of thinkers, observers, ethicists, educators, theologians and spiritualists from all cultures and times (as best as I can understand them), line up to support this conclusion:
The problem with humanity lies in the human will.
Granted, not everyone would use this terminology, however, if we continue to use the term will as we have been (synonymous with heart, and spirit; the seat of human desire and choice), I believe that this statement is consistent with the understanding of Classical Greek thought, Buddhist thought, the Monotheistic tradition, and even some of what might fall under the rubric of "eastern philosophy." *
Arguably the dominant paradigm in our own culture (what we might here call Modern Western Secularism), it should be noted, seems to move away from this conclusion**
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The problem lies in the human will.
The Ancient Greeks concerned themselves with implanting virtue (the capacity to will and to act for good) in the heart of men. Muslims, Christians and Jews speak of repentance, obedience, and submission; subjecting our will to that of God. Buddhists speak of desire as the source of suffering, and so work to eradicate the yearning will within a human being.
The capacity for choice, the ability to create, the drive for purpose, that comes from the heart of a human being is also the source of human evil. We find ourselves in a state where our will or spirit does not rule the self, but is rather subject to it; emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations telling us what to choose, as opposed to our capacity for choice and purpose re-aligning our thoughts and emotions around the will.
The emotional and intellectual states of a six month old with the body of Lou Ferrigno would be an appropriate mental picture to associate with such a state (helped of course by Mr. Ferrigno's portrayal of a man who's capacity for choice was completely overrun by his emotional states).
Our will (the center of creative power, choice, and purpose) flails around at odd times and places, in total disjunction to any real sustained agenda. We choose to honor our commitments and then to break them, act selflessly toward a stranger and then stab a friend in the back, depending on which set of emotional attachments are screaming loudest in our mind at the time the decision presents itself...
There is something drastically wrong in the heart of man.
==================================
The conclusion, simply, is this:
The world is broken because humanity is broken and...
...humans are broken because our spirit is broken.
==================================
...more to come.
*I am fully aware that there has also existed throughout cultures and times the gnostic view that the essential problem with the world is that we lack the proper knowledge (gnosis). This seems tied either to the pantheistic view that Good and Evil (and hence moral action, including choice) are actually an illusion, or the dualism that calls the world Evil and and escape from it Good. How these ways of seeing speak of human choice (the will) I don't really know. But they seem (to my best way of understanding) to either deny the existence of the will, or to marginalize it's role in the problem of human nature.
**Interestingly enough Modern Western Secularism seems not so much to ignore the will, but rather to view the fundamental problem with humanity is the frustration of the human will for any reason. The real problem is that the Universe doesn't acquiesce to our demands; we don't get what we want and when we want it! The solution then becomes a special kind of gnosis that allows us to better manipulate our bodies, or the physical world around us, to produce the desired results.
6.04.2008
6.03.2008
Kingdom
These are thoughts from a few years ago...
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Church = Red
Kingdom = Black
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One circle, both red and black; representing the Church is the same as the Kingdom.
=================================
Two separate circles, touching at one point where the Church will be replaced by the Kingdom, at the Return; the Church is separate from the Kingdom (and will someday be replaced by it)
=================================
The Church is a manifestation of the Kingdom; the Church is a smaller circle inside the larger Kingdom circle.
=================================
The Church manifests the Kingdom; the Church is a larger circle with the Kingdom inside it.
=================================
The Church is a manifestation of the Kingdom, and also a catalyst for the Kingdom, expanding it; the Church is a smaller circle inside the larger Kingdom circle, but it is pushing forward, creating a bulge in the Kingdom, out into the World.
=================================
The Church is the outer edge of the Circle of the Kingdom, with the center Being God/Heaven
The Church is the outer edge of the Kingdom, Heaven (God) is the Center, outside of the Kingdom is the Outer Darkness where ultimately no-thing exists; perhaps it is better to think of God as directly touching the outer darkness (by way of the Crucifixion) and the Church and the Kingdom also coinciding at that point. In one sense it is the absolute center, in another it is the utter edge.
=================================
...probably none of these diagrams are anywhere near appropriate. The real questions are:
What is the Kingdom of God? What is the Church? How does the Kingdom relate to the Church? How does the Church relate to the World? How does the Kingdom relate to the World? What are some other possible Venn Diagrams we could posit? How does this help us to understand the Kingdom? The Churches' role in the World? ...?
=================================
Church = Red
Kingdom = Black
=================================
One circle, both red and black; representing the Church is the same as the Kingdom.
=================================
Two separate circles, touching at one point where the Church will be replaced by the Kingdom, at the Return; the Church is separate from the Kingdom (and will someday be replaced by it)
=================================
The Church is a manifestation of the Kingdom; the Church is a smaller circle inside the larger Kingdom circle.
=================================
The Church manifests the Kingdom; the Church is a larger circle with the Kingdom inside it.
=================================
The Church is a manifestation of the Kingdom, and also a catalyst for the Kingdom, expanding it; the Church is a smaller circle inside the larger Kingdom circle, but it is pushing forward, creating a bulge in the Kingdom, out into the World.
=================================
The Church is the outer edge of the Circle of the Kingdom, with the center Being God/Heaven
The Church is the outer edge of the Kingdom, Heaven (God) is the Center, outside of the Kingdom is the Outer Darkness where ultimately no-thing exists; perhaps it is better to think of God as directly touching the outer darkness (by way of the Crucifixion) and the Church and the Kingdom also coinciding at that point. In one sense it is the absolute center, in another it is the utter edge.
=================================
...probably none of these diagrams are anywhere near appropriate. The real questions are:
What is the Kingdom of God? What is the Church? How does the Kingdom relate to the Church? How does the Church relate to the World? How does the Kingdom relate to the World? What are some other possible Venn Diagrams we could posit? How does this help us to understand the Kingdom? The Churches' role in the World? ...?
6.02.2008
The Blind Watchmaker?
"Dawkins' work here is not in the line of Darwin, but of metaphysical speculation which attempts to hitch its wagon to Darwin's star. His soul-mates are people like Ernst Haeckel and Herbert Spencer--to mention only two of the more respectable from a logically pretty grubby bunch. When he writes a book like the present one he is not functioning as a scientist. If he were, he should incorporate his "findings" into the most advanced textbooks in the field and see how they fare as representations of established knowledge. He complains that "the true, Darwinian explanation of our own existence is still, remarkably, not a routine part of the curriculum of a general education." (4) Then by all means let him enter the academic arena and present his views about the watchmaker as established knowledge. He should not reserve his views for infliction upon a largely helpless public whom his scientific credentials and elaborate rhetorical devices will overwhelm and make incapable of any accurate assessment of argument. When he writes books like The Blind Watchmaker he is just a naturalist metaphysician, trying to cozy up to the scientists and blend into their company in such a way that his true colors will not be noticed. He takes the liberty to dress down what he calls "redneck creationism" (252), but unfortunately there are rednecks on the side of "Darwinianism" as well. He is one of the most outstanding."
Spiritual Formation Part 1
We had fun last night...
There were several new faces, which is always exciting.
====================================
We talked last time we gathered about:
Spiritual Formation
With the Great Commandment as a template we defined a human being in terms of neighbor (social aspect), strength (physical aspect), mind (emotional and intellectual aspects), heart (the will; the spiritual aspect), and soul (the holistic; all-inclusive personal aspect).
====================================
We defined the spirit in synonymous terms with the heart and the will:
Heart
We call it the heart because it is the core of who we are; it is not all of who we are, but it is the part that gives shape and drive to the rest of our person.
Will
We call it the will because it is the part of us that desires, yearns, chooses, creates and originates.
Spirit
We call it the spirit because it is non-physical; it is not sense-perceptible.
====================================
The spirit is not perceivable through the five senses, however this does not mean that it is non-existent.
We are used to thinking of the spiritual in very cloudy imagery, but the spiritual is not fluffy, nebulous, or even metaphorical. By contrast it is concrete, specific and very real; fiercely and intensely real! We remember going to church, or even viewing awe-inspiring landscapes and thinking, "This is a spiritual experience," and so we define spiritual as, "warm-fuzzy feelings." (This is actually the realm of the emotions!)
In reality the spirit organizes human life. Whenever we want something, choose something, originate something; our spirit is active. When our desires are frustrated by the desires of another, our spirit/will is bumping into theirs! In point of fact, we interact at the spiritual level all day long!
It is simply, what one author has called, the Failed Enlightenment Experiment that has convinced (through repetition and propaganda, not through logic and sound evidence) that what is real is what we can "clunk with our knuckles..."
Simple reflection will allow us to realize that we operate under constant interaction with non-physical realities.
====================================
...more to come.
There were several new faces, which is always exciting.
====================================
We talked last time we gathered about:
Spiritual Formation
With the Great Commandment as a template we defined a human being in terms of neighbor (social aspect), strength (physical aspect), mind (emotional and intellectual aspects), heart (the will; the spiritual aspect), and soul (the holistic; all-inclusive personal aspect).
====================================
We defined the spirit in synonymous terms with the heart and the will:
Heart
We call it the heart because it is the core of who we are; it is not all of who we are, but it is the part that gives shape and drive to the rest of our person.
Will
We call it the will because it is the part of us that desires, yearns, chooses, creates and originates.
Spirit
We call it the spirit because it is non-physical; it is not sense-perceptible.
====================================
The spirit is not perceivable through the five senses, however this does not mean that it is non-existent.
We are used to thinking of the spiritual in very cloudy imagery, but the spiritual is not fluffy, nebulous, or even metaphorical. By contrast it is concrete, specific and very real; fiercely and intensely real! We remember going to church, or even viewing awe-inspiring landscapes and thinking, "This is a spiritual experience," and so we define spiritual as, "warm-fuzzy feelings." (This is actually the realm of the emotions!)
In reality the spirit organizes human life. Whenever we want something, choose something, originate something; our spirit is active. When our desires are frustrated by the desires of another, our spirit/will is bumping into theirs! In point of fact, we interact at the spiritual level all day long!
It is simply, what one author has called, the Failed Enlightenment Experiment that has convinced (through repetition and propaganda, not through logic and sound evidence) that what is real is what we can "clunk with our knuckles..."
Simple reflection will allow us to realize that we operate under constant interaction with non-physical realities.
====================================
...more to come.
5.13.2008
A Call to Artists...
The following excerpt from N. T. Wright's recent book Evil and the Justice of God is a compelling charter for painters, sculptors, authors, musicians, playwrights, et al.
I challenge those from among us who are creative, what is it you are doing?
...reacting to the world you see?
...or working to create a new one?
...simply describing the way things are?
...or subverting the status quo?
Anyone can engage in culture, or even engage in cultural critique... Christ's call upon us, however, is neither engagement, nor is it mere critique, rather it is change; implementing in advance what God is promising to do for the world as a whole.
"How can the Christian imagination be reeducated so that we can become conscious of living between the victory achieved by Jesus and the ultimate renewal of all things? At this point we must speak about art. One aspect of being made in God's image is that we ourselves are creators, or at least procreators. The extraordinary ability to bring forth new life - of course through begetting children, but in millions of other ways as well - is central to the mandate the human race is given in Genesis 1-2. To make sense of and to celebrate a beautiful world through the production of artifacts which are themselves beautiful is part of the call to be stewards of creation, as was Adam's naming of the animals. Genuine art is thus itself a response to the beauty of creation, which is itself a pointer to the beauty of God.
But we don't live in the Garden of Eden. Art which attempts to do so quickly becomes flaccid and trivial. We live in a fallen world, and any attempt to plug into some kind of pantheism, worshipping the creation as if is were itself divine, always runs up against the problem of evil. At that point, art, like philosophy and politics, often swings round the other way, and determinedly responds to ugliness with more ugliness. The British arts world has a rash of this at the moment: a kind of brutalism that, under the guise of realism, simply expresses futility and boredom. Surely there is a wonderful opportunity here for Christians with an integrated worldview and with the longing to love God with heart, mind and soul, to find the way forward - perhaps to lead the way forward - beyond this sterile impasse.
Once again Paul can help us. In Romans 8 he affirms that the whole of creation is groaning in travail as it longs for its redemption. Creation is good, but it is not God. It is beautiful, but its beauty is at present transient. It is in pain, but that pain is taken into the very heart of God and becomes part of the pain of new birth. The beauty of creation, to which art responds and tries to express, imitate and highlight, is not simply beauty which it possess in itself but the beauty which it possess in view of what is promised to it, as an engagement ring is beautiful not least because of the promise it symbolizes, and as a chalice is beautiful because we know what it is meant to be filled with. If Christian artists can glimpse this truth, there is a way forward to celebrating beauty, to loving God with all the soul, without lapsing into pantheism on the one hand or harsh and negative "realism" on the other. Art at its best not only draws attention to the way things are but to the way things are meant to be, and by God's grace the way things one day will be, when the earth is filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. And when Christian artists go to that task they will be contributing to the integration of heart, mind and soul which we seek, to which we are called. They will be pointing forward to the new world God intends to make, to the world already seen in advance in the resurrection of Jesus, to the world whose charter of freedom was won when he died on the cross. It is by such means as this that we may learn again to imagine a world without evil and to work for that world to become, in whatever measure we can, a reality even in the midst of the present evil age."
p 126-128
I challenge those from among us who are creative, what is it you are doing?
...reacting to the world you see?
...or working to create a new one?
...simply describing the way things are?
...or subverting the status quo?
Anyone can engage in culture, or even engage in cultural critique... Christ's call upon us, however, is neither engagement, nor is it mere critique, rather it is change; implementing in advance what God is promising to do for the world as a whole.
Oi...
For sense perception gives us knowledge of very little of significant human interest, least of all knowledge of knowledge itself.
Empiricism (later often called "Positivism") is simply a failed ideological gambit in Western culture that prevailed from, roughly, the 18th Century on, and should be regarded as nothing more than an instructive historical episode. It arbitrarily specifies the senses or 'feeling' as boundary marker for knowledge and reality. But it cannot guide us in the interpretation of knowledge and reality, for it fundamentally misconstrues them. Its primary function was to replace religious orthodoxy with a secular, epistemological orthodoxy, as cultural authority was passing from religious to merely intellectual institutions in modern Western society. As an orthodoxy, it is of course repressive and, among other things, makes impossible knowledge of the human self. One can judge for oneself the cost of this by candidly observing the intellectual and moral chaos that rules modern society--not least, intellectual society itself. Of course Empiricism is not itself an empirical theory, and in the nature of the case could never be.
Empiricism (later often called "Positivism") is simply a failed ideological gambit in Western culture that prevailed from, roughly, the 18th Century on, and should be regarded as nothing more than an instructive historical episode. It arbitrarily specifies the senses or 'feeling' as boundary marker for knowledge and reality. But it cannot guide us in the interpretation of knowledge and reality, for it fundamentally misconstrues them. Its primary function was to replace religious orthodoxy with a secular, epistemological orthodoxy, as cultural authority was passing from religious to merely intellectual institutions in modern Western society. As an orthodoxy, it is of course repressive and, among other things, makes impossible knowledge of the human self. One can judge for oneself the cost of this by candidly observing the intellectual and moral chaos that rules modern society--not least, intellectual society itself. Of course Empiricism is not itself an empirical theory, and in the nature of the case could never be.
5.12.2008
5.11.2008
5.10.2008
A Great Friend
Click on the link to read an article in the local Redding newspaper on a great friend of mine...
5.05.2008
4.30.2008
Ehrman and Wright debate
But it leads me to my final question – to press a point I made in our radio interview: Why, granted your view of the world, should we bother? Why not ‘eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die,’ and thank our lucky stars that we can do so? The other side of the coin of ‘the problem of evil’ is, after all, ‘the problem of good’: if there is no God, no good and wise creator, why is there an impulse to justice and mercy so deep within us? Why is there beauty, love, laughter, friendship, joy? How do you then tell the difference between Ecclesiastes and Sartre? The Bible of course has some answers to those questions. But I’d be interested to hear yours.
4.19.2008
What moves you?
Emotions are part of what makes up our humanity, they are not bad or wrong, nor are they good and right...
The question is, what causes us to have various emotions and what do we do when they arise?
Do we love what Jesus loves, and hate what Jesus hates?
What do you care about?
The question is, what causes us to have various emotions and what do we do when they arise?
Do we love what Jesus loves, and hate what Jesus hates?
What do you care about?
4.17.2008
Luther's Success...
Luther has been famous for many things, one of which is his disapproval of a few of the New Testament letters, notably James. He contemplated removing the book of James from the cannon of Scripture. He disliked the emphasis that James placed upon action, feeling that it cast a doubtful light upon the reformation battle cry 'salvation through faith.'
It seems, at least in my estimation, that he succeeded in that regard.
James' letter is still in our Bibles (and not even in a separate section at the end of the Bible as Luther did in some of his translations), but it's 'teeth have been pulled.' I have heard it interpretted away on numerous occasions, and even heard one radio preacher flatly contradict some of the things he read from it; yet one has only to look at the Church to see that 'grace' has become a thinly veiled code for a life of self-focus.
Luther has indeed succeeded.
(Okay, okay, so I am judging him outside of historical context, my diatribe isn't aimed at him, it is aimed at us!)
It seems, at least in my estimation, that he succeeded in that regard.
James' letter is still in our Bibles (and not even in a separate section at the end of the Bible as Luther did in some of his translations), but it's 'teeth have been pulled.' I have heard it interpretted away on numerous occasions, and even heard one radio preacher flatly contradict some of the things he read from it; yet one has only to look at the Church to see that 'grace' has become a thinly veiled code for a life of self-focus.
Luther has indeed succeeded.
(Okay, okay, so I am judging him outside of historical context, my diatribe isn't aimed at him, it is aimed at us!)
4.16.2008
NT Wright Interview
"There is something really ugly about most of the world crying out for justice while the rich parts of the world argue about sex."
SEX
Thought's about sex through the eyes of a 21 year old virgin.
I love the blogs Steve has posted having to do with sexuality, I will reference some of the things he says in his blog. I am not an expert on any of this. I am just in a process of learning.
Here it goes!
I am blessed. I am blessed that before I was a Christian I didn't have sex. Growing up in a world where everyone just wants to be accepted, I managed to escape finding my acceptance in having premiscuous sex. I did have my sexual issues and like most people it did consume my thoughts. I did dress to "impress" and such, but by the loving grace of God I never had sex. I am glad and excited that when I get married I can give myself completely to my husband, in such a way, the way it should be. Many people have not been able to do this. But the thing is, my view of sex is still tainted by what the world speaks of this topic. Even people who have never had sex still need sexual healing. I still have a hard time believeing that something so abused and dirty can be viewed as an act of worship. God is sadden by that statement, because he created sex for a husband and wife, and it was good and a beautiful thing. Then the serpent came and Eve started to think "What if Adam doesn't find me attractive? Maybe I should put on some make up and dress scandalous." And Adam was like, "Is she getting all dressed up for another man?" Okay so maybe it didn't happen quite that way. But I think what everyone is really looking for is that deep reconnection that Steve was talking about. I desire deep reconnection, reconnection to God and if he wills (which I'm not going to lie, I hope he does) with another human being. I think that God allows us to marry so that we can also taste a little bit of his love for us and so that we can give love back.
Sex has been so twisted. Something so simple and so beautiful now can be done with more than one person, you can go so far before you "actually" do it, you can do it with men or women, boys or girls, you can do it for money or drugs, you can pay back favors with it, you can get a promotion with it, you can do it with however many people you want to in one night, or life time, you can watch it, you can do it with someone without even knowing their name. I grew up in this society, and like most people media was my sex-ed teacher (hence all the examples of it). So how I have viewed sex came from that. Scary, awkward, emotionless, loveless, something everyone does the rest who don't are shunned or gay, shameful, lustful, and the list goes on. Up until probably this last year (since moving in with 2 married couples) this view has probably stayed this way. After a few talks with the married ladies in my life I have heard more about what it should be. Loving, beautiful, worshipful ( I still don't get that one too much ) a gift and I believe that God will heal the areas that have been tainted by this world. I belive that there are men out there that can be trusted, I have even witnessed these men in loving relationships with their wives. I have witnessed these single men doing everything they can to keep their hearts and minds pure. I have witnessed women willing to wait till their wedding day to even partake in a little kiss. I have witnessed women call off relationships for the sake of just being with the Lord. I have witnessed married couples lay their lives down for each other. These are all beautiful things.
So what to say now? Now that I have witnessed the good things? I guess I can only encourage people my age to make the same choices that I have. People younger or older than, gay, straight, whatever. God is bigger that this issue, he is bigger than peoples sexual preferences, he's bigger than the relationships that are consumed with lust.
I love the blogs Steve has posted having to do with sexuality, I will reference some of the things he says in his blog. I am not an expert on any of this. I am just in a process of learning.
Here it goes!
I am blessed. I am blessed that before I was a Christian I didn't have sex. Growing up in a world where everyone just wants to be accepted, I managed to escape finding my acceptance in having premiscuous sex. I did have my sexual issues and like most people it did consume my thoughts. I did dress to "impress" and such, but by the loving grace of God I never had sex. I am glad and excited that when I get married I can give myself completely to my husband, in such a way, the way it should be. Many people have not been able to do this. But the thing is, my view of sex is still tainted by what the world speaks of this topic. Even people who have never had sex still need sexual healing. I still have a hard time believeing that something so abused and dirty can be viewed as an act of worship. God is sadden by that statement, because he created sex for a husband and wife, and it was good and a beautiful thing. Then the serpent came and Eve started to think "What if Adam doesn't find me attractive? Maybe I should put on some make up and dress scandalous." And Adam was like, "Is she getting all dressed up for another man?" Okay so maybe it didn't happen quite that way. But I think what everyone is really looking for is that deep reconnection that Steve was talking about. I desire deep reconnection, reconnection to God and if he wills (which I'm not going to lie, I hope he does) with another human being. I think that God allows us to marry so that we can also taste a little bit of his love for us and so that we can give love back.
Sex has been so twisted. Something so simple and so beautiful now can be done with more than one person, you can go so far before you "actually" do it, you can do it with men or women, boys or girls, you can do it for money or drugs, you can pay back favors with it, you can get a promotion with it, you can do it with however many people you want to in one night, or life time, you can watch it, you can do it with someone without even knowing their name. I grew up in this society, and like most people media was my sex-ed teacher (hence all the examples of it). So how I have viewed sex came from that. Scary, awkward, emotionless, loveless, something everyone does the rest who don't are shunned or gay, shameful, lustful, and the list goes on. Up until probably this last year (since moving in with 2 married couples) this view has probably stayed this way. After a few talks with the married ladies in my life I have heard more about what it should be. Loving, beautiful, worshipful ( I still don't get that one too much ) a gift and I believe that God will heal the areas that have been tainted by this world. I belive that there are men out there that can be trusted, I have even witnessed these men in loving relationships with their wives. I have witnessed these single men doing everything they can to keep their hearts and minds pure. I have witnessed women willing to wait till their wedding day to even partake in a little kiss. I have witnessed women call off relationships for the sake of just being with the Lord. I have witnessed married couples lay their lives down for each other. These are all beautiful things.
So what to say now? Now that I have witnessed the good things? I guess I can only encourage people my age to make the same choices that I have. People younger or older than, gay, straight, whatever. God is bigger that this issue, he is bigger than peoples sexual preferences, he's bigger than the relationships that are consumed with lust.
To burn with Zeal!!
So this is pretty raw, little post I have rumbling around in my mind!!! Steve and I have been having this discussion lately about our little church and what God is doing in it. It can be so discouraging at times because we don't know what we are doing here or if we are doing enough of it. We question what it should look like, are people meeting with God, what is happening here? We have also been talking about the way we do church, is it effective, is it what God is doing here? There have been a few people here in our little church who have brought up a few times the way we do church, in that it might get more people here if we had a building and sunday service and the things that go along with that. So this is that backdrop for my thoughts and ponderings today....
I am by no means opposed to have a meeting place out of our home, in a building to carry out some of the activities of a church body, like worship, prayer, celebration, group discussions, teachings. But I feel like this is not what people are asking, they are not wanting a building because we have out grown out of our home and need a bigger place to meet. I feel like rather people would like us to open another church building so that they can come on sundays, listen to music, drop their children in sunday school, hear a sermon and then go home.
Why do Americans want to settle for a dose of God once a week?
It breaks my heart because idealistic or not I came here because I wanted to see people's lives changed and surrendered to God. I wanted to help be part of an army of people who want to change the world by loving it, living in it, dying for it. I feel like I have this passion in me to be part of something bigger than a sunday church service with small groups during the week for added holiness.
I am not trying to bash the way that church is done here but I have come to believe that there is something more than that and I know it cause I experienced it!!!!! I came from a regular church in some ways (it met on sundays, had sunday school, had small groups during the week) but it was so much more than that. I found a community of Christ followers, who had laid down their lives to take up Jesus' and they were reaching out to a broken, fallen world around them and trying to participate in what God was doing. I feel like I am running into maybe American Christian Culture, we just want to go to church on Sundays and lives our lives Monday thru Saturday. I know there is more though and I guess that I feel hesitancy and discouragement about people here thinking that we should have a building, when we don't need one yet.
I am by no means opposed to have a meeting place out of our home, in a building to carry out some of the activities of a church body, like worship, prayer, celebration, group discussions, teachings. But I feel like this is not what people are asking, they are not wanting a building because we have out grown out of our home and need a bigger place to meet. I feel like rather people would like us to open another church building so that they can come on sundays, listen to music, drop their children in sunday school, hear a sermon and then go home.
Why do Americans want to settle for a dose of God once a week?
It breaks my heart because idealistic or not I came here because I wanted to see people's lives changed and surrendered to God. I wanted to help be part of an army of people who want to change the world by loving it, living in it, dying for it. I feel like I have this passion in me to be part of something bigger than a sunday church service with small groups during the week for added holiness.
I am not trying to bash the way that church is done here but I have come to believe that there is something more than that and I know it cause I experienced it!!!!! I came from a regular church in some ways (it met on sundays, had sunday school, had small groups during the week) but it was so much more than that. I found a community of Christ followers, who had laid down their lives to take up Jesus' and they were reaching out to a broken, fallen world around them and trying to participate in what God was doing. I feel like I am running into maybe American Christian Culture, we just want to go to church on Sundays and lives our lives Monday thru Saturday. I know there is more though and I guess that I feel hesitancy and discouragement about people here thinking that we should have a building, when we don't need one yet.
4.12.2008
All things...
Ephesians 1:7-10
Have you ever stopped to consider what this means?
Two little words, usually glossed over, "all things;" what do they mean?
What are the possible implications for a proclamation that God intends to reconcile all things?
How does the flavor and scope of our individual salvation take on new and different connotations?
How does the shape and reach of the mission of the Church change and redirect under such an overarching goal?
Certainly we must come to see that our Western, consumer, materialist, individualist, capitalist, democratic, culture has blinded us to the possible answers to such questions; in fact, has blinded us to the questions themselves!
What things does God intend to reconcile to Himself in Christ?
Make a list... what is on your list?
What is not on it?
Have you ever stopped to consider what this means?
Two little words, usually glossed over, "all things;" what do they mean?
What are the possible implications for a proclamation that God intends to reconcile all things?
How does the flavor and scope of our individual salvation take on new and different connotations?
How does the shape and reach of the mission of the Church change and redirect under such an overarching goal?
Certainly we must come to see that our Western, consumer, materialist, individualist, capitalist, democratic, culture has blinded us to the possible answers to such questions; in fact, has blinded us to the questions themselves!
What things does God intend to reconcile to Himself in Christ?
Make a list... what is on your list?
What is not on it?
4.10.2008
Money
...thoughts from Sunday.
=============================================
Our culture tells us in a thousand ways, big and small, that "money makes the world go 'round."
We are bombarded with images and slogans convincing us that we need the bigger grill, the better vehicle, the more expensive shoes, or the newer house; then we will be happy!
We are told we earned it; that the wealth we possess is our right.
We are taught to define ourselves by the income we make and the associated status symbols. Our individual and cultural identity is wrapped up in symbols of wealth.
Even those caught up in poverty often mistakenly believe that the solution to their problems is money!
“If your relationship with God doesn’t bring you into conflict with your culture, then you need to reevaluate your relationship with God.”
Pastor Rob Owens
The truth is that these things will complicate our lives and end up making us less satisfied with our lives! Once basic needs for food, water, shelter, health, and freedom are met, any increase in wealth leads to a decrease in felt happiness.
We operate from within a vastly unjust global economic system, and it is tilted in our favor! We haven't earned the wealth we have, it is a gift; the job, the economy, even the strength, health, intelligence, or skill that we possess that enable us to procure and maintain the levels of wealth we are accustomed to, are not things we are responsible for. They are a gift!
...and our value has nothing to do with the amount of stuff we control. We have value because God says we do! Our identity is in our reflection of His image, not in our hoarding of His possessions!
=============================================
The simple fact is that money is not central, it is peripheral. God is central. Whenever we allow our culture to convince us otherwise, our lives and our world suffers for it!
Even in the church money can gain the place of prominence. Churches command tithes to line the pockets of clergy, others preach a message that says "Jesus died to give you a big house and a nice car." Even the extreme ascetic streak that has run throughout the history of the Church can often be simply an unhealthy emphasis on the role of money (albeit a negative one) instead of putting money in its proper place.
=============================================
So what does God want us to do with money?
...a brief perusal of the way the topic was handled in the Jewish Scriptures is illuminating.
From the very beginning Jews recognized that all wealth comes from God. God is the creator of the earth, wealth included. He owns it all and has merely placed it in human hands to act as God's caretakers. We are YHWH's gardeners.
The wealth of the Nation of Israel was literally handed to them by God. They were a nation of slaves who left Egypt with the riches of their oppressors on their backs. God carved out a country from the surrounding nations and handed it to a people with no country.
The Law then proscribed that Jewish households were to periodically set aside 10% of their wealth for God and His purposes in the nation. (Some estimates are that this amounted to approximately the equivalent of a 25% yearly income tax) This was done for three specific purposes:
1) Maintaining the system of priests and Temple. This was essentially a tax to support the religious, educational, and judicial system of the country (as the priesthood fulfilled these roles in some capacity).
2) Redistributing wealth to those who had little or no capacity for generating income, orphans, widows, foreigners, etc.
The first two purposes fit well within our modern conception of taxation, the third, however, is uniquely surprising:
Deuteronomy 14:22-26
3) The Jewish People were commanded to use a portion of their Tithes to throw a tremendous nationwide party! Eating and drinking was not merely encouraged, but commanded!
=============================================
God loves stuff, that is why He made it! He wants us to enjoy it! Food, drink, beautiful scenery, physical pleasures, fine art, colors, smells, textures. Not only did God invent these things, He also designed us with the capacity to enjoy them! (Check this out.)
The problem is not with wealth. The problem is never in the stuff. The problem is in what we do with it, how we get it, why we want it, how much of it we use, whether or not we share it...
In short...
...the problem is us!
(More to come)
=============================================
Our culture tells us in a thousand ways, big and small, that "money makes the world go 'round."
We are bombarded with images and slogans convincing us that we need the bigger grill, the better vehicle, the more expensive shoes, or the newer house; then we will be happy!
We are told we earned it; that the wealth we possess is our right.
We are taught to define ourselves by the income we make and the associated status symbols. Our individual and cultural identity is wrapped up in symbols of wealth.
Even those caught up in poverty often mistakenly believe that the solution to their problems is money!
“If your relationship with God doesn’t bring you into conflict with your culture, then you need to reevaluate your relationship with God.”
Pastor Rob Owens
The truth is that these things will complicate our lives and end up making us less satisfied with our lives! Once basic needs for food, water, shelter, health, and freedom are met, any increase in wealth leads to a decrease in felt happiness.
We operate from within a vastly unjust global economic system, and it is tilted in our favor! We haven't earned the wealth we have, it is a gift; the job, the economy, even the strength, health, intelligence, or skill that we possess that enable us to procure and maintain the levels of wealth we are accustomed to, are not things we are responsible for. They are a gift!
...and our value has nothing to do with the amount of stuff we control. We have value because God says we do! Our identity is in our reflection of His image, not in our hoarding of His possessions!
=============================================
The simple fact is that money is not central, it is peripheral. God is central. Whenever we allow our culture to convince us otherwise, our lives and our world suffers for it!
Even in the church money can gain the place of prominence. Churches command tithes to line the pockets of clergy, others preach a message that says "Jesus died to give you a big house and a nice car." Even the extreme ascetic streak that has run throughout the history of the Church can often be simply an unhealthy emphasis on the role of money (albeit a negative one) instead of putting money in its proper place.
=============================================
So what does God want us to do with money?
...a brief perusal of the way the topic was handled in the Jewish Scriptures is illuminating.
From the very beginning Jews recognized that all wealth comes from God. God is the creator of the earth, wealth included. He owns it all and has merely placed it in human hands to act as God's caretakers. We are YHWH's gardeners.
The wealth of the Nation of Israel was literally handed to them by God. They were a nation of slaves who left Egypt with the riches of their oppressors on their backs. God carved out a country from the surrounding nations and handed it to a people with no country.
The Law then proscribed that Jewish households were to periodically set aside 10% of their wealth for God and His purposes in the nation. (Some estimates are that this amounted to approximately the equivalent of a 25% yearly income tax) This was done for three specific purposes:
1) Maintaining the system of priests and Temple. This was essentially a tax to support the religious, educational, and judicial system of the country (as the priesthood fulfilled these roles in some capacity).
2) Redistributing wealth to those who had little or no capacity for generating income, orphans, widows, foreigners, etc.
The first two purposes fit well within our modern conception of taxation, the third, however, is uniquely surprising:
Deuteronomy 14:22-26
3) The Jewish People were commanded to use a portion of their Tithes to throw a tremendous nationwide party! Eating and drinking was not merely encouraged, but commanded!
=============================================
God loves stuff, that is why He made it! He wants us to enjoy it! Food, drink, beautiful scenery, physical pleasures, fine art, colors, smells, textures. Not only did God invent these things, He also designed us with the capacity to enjoy them! (Check this out.)
The problem is not with wealth. The problem is never in the stuff. The problem is in what we do with it, how we get it, why we want it, how much of it we use, whether or not we share it...
In short...
...the problem is us!
(More to come)
4.03.2008
Exclusion and Embrace
Click on the title link to read the intro to the book, really just the first few paragraphs. Intriguing, the book is coming...
4.02.2008
Judas and the Gospel of Jesus
...the Gnostic presentation of Jesus (setting aside for now the opinions of the historical scholars on the date for the Gnostic texts in comparison to the canonical ones...) fails in a singularly striking way:
What the canonical gospels communicate almost in every paragraph the Gnostic gospels never do -- explain the reason for Jesus crucifixion.
The Gnostic communities were notoriously free of persecution precisely because they posed no political threat to either the Jewish establishment or the Roman one, whereas the disciples of Jesus (and Jesus himself) were so threatening to the status-quo that they were vehemently eradicated wherever possible.
The Gnostic (or New Age, for that matter) picture of Jesus as a kind of Platonic Buddha figure simply can't explain why anyone in power would be threatened by Him; the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, however, provide a picture of Jesus as a Jewish Reformer-Prophet-King who is a constant threat to those in power, and hence crucified.
What the canonical gospels communicate almost in every paragraph the Gnostic gospels never do -- explain the reason for Jesus crucifixion.
The Gnostic communities were notoriously free of persecution precisely because they posed no political threat to either the Jewish establishment or the Roman one, whereas the disciples of Jesus (and Jesus himself) were so threatening to the status-quo that they were vehemently eradicated wherever possible.
The Gnostic (or New Age, for that matter) picture of Jesus as a kind of Platonic Buddha figure simply can't explain why anyone in power would be threatened by Him; the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, however, provide a picture of Jesus as a Jewish Reformer-Prophet-King who is a constant threat to those in power, and hence crucified.
3.25.2008
I dream of disaster
I was asked the other day to tell of the one dream I have had that I felt was God given, so here goes...
(Sorry this is long!)
This happened years ago (6 years?), so some of the details are a little fuzzy, but I certainly remember the main details of it. Tamy and I had only recently moved back to my hometown in California. We were planning on settling there permanently. We had saved a significant chunk of money to use as a down payment on a house, I was going to school to teach and coach, Tamy had begun her career as an RN. In short, we had begun the life we had always planned for ourselves; we were building our own little kingdom, carving out our space and making preparations for our future.
We were planning on purchasing property, designing, and building our dream home. My head was full of visions of a nationally successful High School wrestling program, Tamy's was full of plans for building a family.
At the same time, however, we had begun in earnest to learn to live a life of intimacy with Jesus. We were involved, more and more, with the community of believers, and we wanted, more and more, to live our lives with Jesus and for Jesus.
======================================
Not only did the dream carry a very real "message," and a very significant emotional gravity, but the message ended up bearing very specifically to situations soon to arise in my life. What I do remember is that I never have dreams that I remember, nor have I ever had a dream that I felt was in any sense imbued with spiritual significance. This one, however, was different...
======================================
Everything was very dark ...it was dark visually but also emotionally; I was walking forward.
Throughout the entire dream I never really saw any of my companions, but they were there, we were in a group walking together. Each of my companions had a piece of armor or a weapon; this one wore a helmet, that one carried a sword, and another a breastplate.
On my arm I held a shield.
Throughout the entire dream I heard a voice, speaking to me from just behind me.
I never saw the angel, but it spoke to me constantly, telling me what was going on, encouraging me, giving me advice, information, and filling my heart with courage. In my right ear was the voice of wisdom and strength.
"You must work together," the voice said.
"When you come to the enemy, you must use your shield to protect your companions from danger. Your job is to cover them, and keep them from the weapons of your enemies. Your companions, each of them using his or her own item, will work along with you to fight and defeat the enemies you will meet."
We continued to walk forward.
A large figure loomed out of the dark. It was much larger than a human, clad in dark armor.
"...you must use your shield, keep walking forward, if you will do your part, you will be victorious over this creature."
The angel continued to speak to my heart, "do not be afraid, be strong and courageous."
My companions and I moved forward, toward the dark creature, I don't really remember a 'battle.' I remember that we stood our ground, together, and emerged unscathed and victorious. The voice in my ear continued to encourage me...
We continued to walk forward, and again were confronted by a large humanoid creature, clad in black, wearing armor, and wielding medieval weapons. Again we heeded the angel and won the battle.
======================================
As we continued to progress on our journey, a large black shape loomed up out of the shadows in front of us, it appeared to be a hill. I could see the silhouette.
...and then the hill began to move.
I can still recall being terrified at what was in front of me. It was like watching my destruction unfold before me, and having no course of action available to stop it. Like watching a character in a cinema thriller making the stupid decision that will get him killed, and you know because you are outside the plot. Only this was happening to me.
It was a huge dragon-like beast. It was enormous, at least the size of a 3 or 4 story building. It raised up and began to come toward us.
"Be strong and courageous! Do not doubt! You can defeat this dragon!" the voice in my ear whispered encouragement. I steadied myself for a blast of fire-breath as the beast reared back and inhaled deeply.
The blast of fire came...
...and I fled.
I ran as fast as I could away from the dragon and away from my death and destruction...
...away from my friends.
======================================
The voice began again, not condemning, not excusing, but simply telling me, "if you would have stood your ground, you would have survived, not only survived, but overcome the beast. You were the key to victory, and you ran."
The angel did not explain the fate of my companions.
I began to sob, realizing that I had lost us the battle, and perhaps taken the lives of my friends as well. My cowardice, and selfishness had brought all of us low.
I remember the deep conviction that arose inside of me, that I could not ever allow this to happen again.
======================================
This dream stayed with me when I awoke.
It stayed with me for a long time, even to this day.
======================================
About the same time I had this dream Tamy and I were faced with a decision. We had a large sum of money saved up for our home, but there was something that we felt God was asking us to do with it. He was asking us to give this money to something other than our house. This may seem like a small decision, but to us is was about more than simply money; God was asking us to choose: His plans and dreams, or ours.
Would we give up the very thing we had scraped and saved, and went to school, and gotten into debt, to accomplish?
This was one of the moments of decision for us. Would we live for ourselves and wear Jesus like a campaign button? ...or would we orient our cares around His cares?
======================================
The meaning of the dream was clear, as was the fact that it was more than just a dream. We simply couldn't act as though our money was 'ours.' It was His and we had to use it to 'protect our companions.'
I had said I could not ever allow this to happen again.
When Tamy and I actually gave away that money I could feel it in my stomach.
I physically felt it.
Somebody could have punched me in the gut to the same effect.
But, with 20-20 hindsight, I would not go back and change my decision even if it were for $100,000 (and it wasn't anything close!)
=======================================
(Sorry this is long!)
This happened years ago (6 years?), so some of the details are a little fuzzy, but I certainly remember the main details of it. Tamy and I had only recently moved back to my hometown in California. We were planning on settling there permanently. We had saved a significant chunk of money to use as a down payment on a house, I was going to school to teach and coach, Tamy had begun her career as an RN. In short, we had begun the life we had always planned for ourselves; we were building our own little kingdom, carving out our space and making preparations for our future.
We were planning on purchasing property, designing, and building our dream home. My head was full of visions of a nationally successful High School wrestling program, Tamy's was full of plans for building a family.
At the same time, however, we had begun in earnest to learn to live a life of intimacy with Jesus. We were involved, more and more, with the community of believers, and we wanted, more and more, to live our lives with Jesus and for Jesus.
======================================
Not only did the dream carry a very real "message," and a very significant emotional gravity, but the message ended up bearing very specifically to situations soon to arise in my life. What I do remember is that I never have dreams that I remember, nor have I ever had a dream that I felt was in any sense imbued with spiritual significance. This one, however, was different...
======================================
Everything was very dark ...it was dark visually but also emotionally; I was walking forward.
Throughout the entire dream I never really saw any of my companions, but they were there, we were in a group walking together. Each of my companions had a piece of armor or a weapon; this one wore a helmet, that one carried a sword, and another a breastplate.
On my arm I held a shield.
Throughout the entire dream I heard a voice, speaking to me from just behind me.
I never saw the angel, but it spoke to me constantly, telling me what was going on, encouraging me, giving me advice, information, and filling my heart with courage. In my right ear was the voice of wisdom and strength.
"You must work together," the voice said.
"When you come to the enemy, you must use your shield to protect your companions from danger. Your job is to cover them, and keep them from the weapons of your enemies. Your companions, each of them using his or her own item, will work along with you to fight and defeat the enemies you will meet."
We continued to walk forward.
A large figure loomed out of the dark. It was much larger than a human, clad in dark armor.
"...you must use your shield, keep walking forward, if you will do your part, you will be victorious over this creature."
The angel continued to speak to my heart, "do not be afraid, be strong and courageous."
My companions and I moved forward, toward the dark creature, I don't really remember a 'battle.' I remember that we stood our ground, together, and emerged unscathed and victorious. The voice in my ear continued to encourage me...
We continued to walk forward, and again were confronted by a large humanoid creature, clad in black, wearing armor, and wielding medieval weapons. Again we heeded the angel and won the battle.
======================================
As we continued to progress on our journey, a large black shape loomed up out of the shadows in front of us, it appeared to be a hill. I could see the silhouette.
...and then the hill began to move.
I can still recall being terrified at what was in front of me. It was like watching my destruction unfold before me, and having no course of action available to stop it. Like watching a character in a cinema thriller making the stupid decision that will get him killed, and you know because you are outside the plot. Only this was happening to me.
It was a huge dragon-like beast. It was enormous, at least the size of a 3 or 4 story building. It raised up and began to come toward us.
"Be strong and courageous! Do not doubt! You can defeat this dragon!" the voice in my ear whispered encouragement. I steadied myself for a blast of fire-breath as the beast reared back and inhaled deeply.
The blast of fire came...
...and I fled.
I ran as fast as I could away from the dragon and away from my death and destruction...
...away from my friends.
======================================
The voice began again, not condemning, not excusing, but simply telling me, "if you would have stood your ground, you would have survived, not only survived, but overcome the beast. You were the key to victory, and you ran."
The angel did not explain the fate of my companions.
I began to sob, realizing that I had lost us the battle, and perhaps taken the lives of my friends as well. My cowardice, and selfishness had brought all of us low.
I remember the deep conviction that arose inside of me, that I could not ever allow this to happen again.
======================================
This dream stayed with me when I awoke.
It stayed with me for a long time, even to this day.
======================================
About the same time I had this dream Tamy and I were faced with a decision. We had a large sum of money saved up for our home, but there was something that we felt God was asking us to do with it. He was asking us to give this money to something other than our house. This may seem like a small decision, but to us is was about more than simply money; God was asking us to choose: His plans and dreams, or ours.
Would we give up the very thing we had scraped and saved, and went to school, and gotten into debt, to accomplish?
This was one of the moments of decision for us. Would we live for ourselves and wear Jesus like a campaign button? ...or would we orient our cares around His cares?
======================================
The meaning of the dream was clear, as was the fact that it was more than just a dream. We simply couldn't act as though our money was 'ours.' It was His and we had to use it to 'protect our companions.'
I had said I could not ever allow this to happen again.
When Tamy and I actually gave away that money I could feel it in my stomach.
I physically felt it.
Somebody could have punched me in the gut to the same effect.
But, with 20-20 hindsight, I would not go back and change my decision even if it were for $100,000 (and it wasn't anything close!)
=======================================
3.21.2008
Well, we got some snow...
We finally got dumped on this winter. This was our first real snow of the winter, just one week before the official beginning of Spring...
We got about 20 inches in 2 days.
It has been quite some time since I have written an update for all of you who might potentially be reading this from parts elsewhere...
Winters in Buffalo are like summers in Redding; you don't go outside if you don't have to...
...but God has still been at work in our community of saints. We have continued to connect, slowly but none-the-less, with new people. About two months ago we celebrated a large milestone in the health of our Church. We officially released a second home group under Mary's leadership. (I know this goes without saying for all of you back home who know her, but, "Mary rocks!" she has been such a blessing here! It is wonderful to watch her step out into the places God is beckoning her!)
This has made room for new people and for new leaders.
...we have an upcoming leadership teaching that our church will be involved in. Myself and the Pastor of the Niagara Falls Vineyard will be teaching an evening on the subject of leadership. I see this as a very timely thing. There are several people in our church who are people of influence and may very well be the future leaders of the Buffalo Vineyard. (Although they might not know it yet!)
God has been stirring our hearts (particularly my wife) in the area of prayer and intercession. God has continued to raise her awareness on the issue of human slavery that still goes on in America and other parts of the world. We don't know what role we might play in these great global issues, but God is certainly asking us to pray!
I have personally been meeting with a small group of pastors in the city (two others from Buffalo, and then Pastor Jim from the NF Vineyard) to fellowship and pray together. This has been a great encouragement to me, and I see it as a potential source of something truly special as we continue to grow together.
We are looking forward to the warming weather and the opportunities for being out among the people of Buffalo that it will bring.
Please pray specifically for two things:
That God would open doors into new relationships in the city and new neighborhoods in the city.
That God would spark fire in the hearts of the people of our church, and raise up women and men who would take responsibility for the community of God and the mission of God here in Buffalo.
Here is Adrianna, her son Judah (in utero) and her husband Joe, (she cooks a mean stew!) and their friend Cabe; they are sitting in our living room during our Wednesday small group meeting.
Here is the Cafe that we have our Sunday night gathering at. Mary and I were warming up for worship, Alan is singing along.
This is a picture of some of our friends enjoying a meal at our old house.
Lilly and I playing guitar. Lilly is currently studying Art History for a semester in Italy!
3.19.2008
|seks|
commodity |kəˈmäditÄ“| noun ( pl. -ties) a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee. • a useful or valuable thing, such as water or time.
Sex is a commodity. While the rise and fall of oil and gas continues sex is rapidly becoming cheaper and cheaper everyday. Sarcasm is really the only way I know how to handle the topic of sex and the same within the context to which I would like to talk about it. I will try to refrain from using all the sarcastic things I have stored up in my brain. Sex is no longer about love and commitment; it's about having it your way, wherever and whenever you want it. You can confuse sex and Burger King. They basically have the same slogan: "Have it your way." People even talk about it as if it were a hamburger or going out to grab a bite to eat. " I think I am going to get laid tonight." " I think I am going out to get a hamburger tonight." It's sick and I am not referring to just men. Women are just as capable in the area of cheapening sex as men are. It sucks and it's not fair that this is how it has become. A consumer product. We even have names for our genitals. Nicknames that dehumanize our human and God-created body parts. As weird as it is to say it our beautiful parts. They are ugly and vulgar names, that to me are upsetting and I hate to think of them. I will spare the names because even the sexually healthiest and purest people know all of the derogatory names. It disgusts me. I have come away from a few movies that have left me wanting to spend the rest of my life celibate than to ever experience the brainless, loveless sex that billions of people experience everyday.
I am sure that everyone that reads this blog has heard this by now but I will reiterate it anyway.
In certain countries you can purchase a 5 year old little girl for 5$. That is the going rate. There are women and children, right at this very minute, that are being smuggled into our "Christian Nation" only to be bought at a cheap price. Right now someone is being forced to do sexual acts against their will. Someone at this moment is being forced to give up their virginity to a person that will never ever be capable of loving them. By the way this is probably happening in the city you live it.
Sex has become so accessible you can find it ANYWHERE you like. We have become so demanding of "our needs" our wants. Sex isn't even between one man and one woman anymore. It can be anyway you want it. Have it your way. In fact why not just buy somebody that you can just have sex with whenever you want and it doesn't really matter how you treat them because they are from a foreign country. They don't really speak our language and don't really understand what is going on.
Rape speaks all languages. Suffering. Pain. Humiliation. They are all universal languages.
The thing is that everyone has a name. Everyone has a personality. People with names and unique, God-given personalities are being destroyed.
I am just so angry and so disgusted by all of this. My brain has been rolling around sarcastic things about sex for the last two days. That won't help anything. This world needs Jesus. This world needs healing. Sexual healing. I need sexual healing and the thing is I have never had sex! I guess that most people really haven't ever experienced sex either. Even the word "sex" it seems so cheap. Tons of people who have had sex have really experienced selfishness, and short lived pleasure, they have really experienced lust and pride, shame and domination. They have never really experienced what sex was intended to be. I can't take much more exploitation of one of God's beautiful gifts. I can't take much more of the stories I hear on a weekly basis from girls in my life saying that they weren't loved by some man.
Basically this whole sex thing all boils down to a few different things:
1. Sin
Oh wait that is pretty much it. I guess then there is a few different solutions:
1. Jesus
Oh wait He is the only solution. God please heal us. Please move in this country. Move in all of the nations of the world. Please God end human trafficking. Restore to this world the gift of sexuality in it's purest most beautiful form and show us, your church, Lord what we can do to partner with you in this.
Now if you will excuse me, I am going go buy 50 shares in the sex industry, it's such a hot commodity and at such a cheap price it would be a shame not to.
Sex is a commodity. While the rise and fall of oil and gas continues sex is rapidly becoming cheaper and cheaper everyday. Sarcasm is really the only way I know how to handle the topic of sex and the same within the context to which I would like to talk about it. I will try to refrain from using all the sarcastic things I have stored up in my brain. Sex is no longer about love and commitment; it's about having it your way, wherever and whenever you want it. You can confuse sex and Burger King. They basically have the same slogan: "Have it your way." People even talk about it as if it were a hamburger or going out to grab a bite to eat. " I think I am going to get laid tonight." " I think I am going out to get a hamburger tonight." It's sick and I am not referring to just men. Women are just as capable in the area of cheapening sex as men are. It sucks and it's not fair that this is how it has become. A consumer product. We even have names for our genitals. Nicknames that dehumanize our human and God-created body parts. As weird as it is to say it our beautiful parts. They are ugly and vulgar names, that to me are upsetting and I hate to think of them. I will spare the names because even the sexually healthiest and purest people know all of the derogatory names. It disgusts me. I have come away from a few movies that have left me wanting to spend the rest of my life celibate than to ever experience the brainless, loveless sex that billions of people experience everyday.
I am sure that everyone that reads this blog has heard this by now but I will reiterate it anyway.
In certain countries you can purchase a 5 year old little girl for 5$. That is the going rate. There are women and children, right at this very minute, that are being smuggled into our "Christian Nation" only to be bought at a cheap price. Right now someone is being forced to do sexual acts against their will. Someone at this moment is being forced to give up their virginity to a person that will never ever be capable of loving them. By the way this is probably happening in the city you live it.
Sex has become so accessible you can find it ANYWHERE you like. We have become so demanding of "our needs" our wants. Sex isn't even between one man and one woman anymore. It can be anyway you want it. Have it your way. In fact why not just buy somebody that you can just have sex with whenever you want and it doesn't really matter how you treat them because they are from a foreign country. They don't really speak our language and don't really understand what is going on.
Rape speaks all languages. Suffering. Pain. Humiliation. They are all universal languages.
The thing is that everyone has a name. Everyone has a personality. People with names and unique, God-given personalities are being destroyed.
I am just so angry and so disgusted by all of this. My brain has been rolling around sarcastic things about sex for the last two days. That won't help anything. This world needs Jesus. This world needs healing. Sexual healing. I need sexual healing and the thing is I have never had sex! I guess that most people really haven't ever experienced sex either. Even the word "sex" it seems so cheap. Tons of people who have had sex have really experienced selfishness, and short lived pleasure, they have really experienced lust and pride, shame and domination. They have never really experienced what sex was intended to be. I can't take much more exploitation of one of God's beautiful gifts. I can't take much more of the stories I hear on a weekly basis from girls in my life saying that they weren't loved by some man.
Basically this whole sex thing all boils down to a few different things:
1. Sin
Oh wait that is pretty much it. I guess then there is a few different solutions:
1. Jesus
Oh wait He is the only solution. God please heal us. Please move in this country. Move in all of the nations of the world. Please God end human trafficking. Restore to this world the gift of sexuality in it's purest most beautiful form and show us, your church, Lord what we can do to partner with you in this.
Now if you will excuse me, I am going go buy 50 shares in the sex industry, it's such a hot commodity and at such a cheap price it would be a shame not to.
3.17.2008
From Sunday...
SIN
BOUGHT INTO A LIE:
“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
C. S. Lewis – The Weight of Glory
Sin is fun, just like the mud pies, but we are missing out! I know people think they are really enjoying themselves when they sin, but they are like Esau, who traded away the blessings of his father (and ultimately the blessing of God) for a bowl of soup...
...it is not that soup is bad, I am sure Esau left full and satisfied from the meal; later, however, he must have hated that soup!
...so it is with sin.
It is like honey on the tongue and bitter in your stomach!
===============================
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
Genesis 3:1-10
Why did Adam and Eve hide? What happened inside of them?
We are still hiding from God!
...and for the same reasons!
==========================================
GOD HATES SIN! The question is why?
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations--these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit--immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of the kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously--no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners--no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”
C. S. Lewis – The Weight of Glory
God hates sin because it destroys the very things that He cherishes!
For many of us, when we hear the words, "God hates sin," we translate that into, "God hates me!" That is the furthest thing from the truth! God hates sin so much because He loves us so much that He can't stand seeing our lives distorted and cramped by sin!
BOUGHT INTO A LIE:
“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
C. S. Lewis – The Weight of Glory
Sin is fun, just like the mud pies, but we are missing out! I know people think they are really enjoying themselves when they sin, but they are like Esau, who traded away the blessings of his father (and ultimately the blessing of God) for a bowl of soup...
...it is not that soup is bad, I am sure Esau left full and satisfied from the meal; later, however, he must have hated that soup!
...so it is with sin.
It is like honey on the tongue and bitter in your stomach!
===============================
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
Genesis 3:1-10
Why did Adam and Eve hide? What happened inside of them?
We are still hiding from God!
...and for the same reasons!
==========================================
GOD HATES SIN! The question is why?
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations--these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit--immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of the kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously--no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners--no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”
C. S. Lewis – The Weight of Glory
God hates sin because it destroys the very things that He cherishes!
For many of us, when we hear the words, "God hates sin," we translate that into, "God hates me!" That is the furthest thing from the truth! God hates sin so much because He loves us so much that He can't stand seeing our lives distorted and cramped by sin!
3.16.2008
3.15.2008
3.13.2008
3.09.2008
Misconceptions
"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name."
Zechariah 14:9
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Habakkuk 2:14
If the hope described in passages such as these are truly what God intends, then there are some common misunderstandings that run rampant throughout the spiritual understanding of women and men, both inside and outside of the church...
MISCONCEPTIONS::
The Nature of Salvation
Misconception #1 - Salvation is about leaving earth and going to heaven; God is primarily concerned with what happens to individuals after they die.
If these verses are true, then salvation is actually about God putting all things right; it is about heaven coming to earth. Salvation is about all of creation sharing in the Life that is found in God.
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
The Nature of the Church
Misconception #2 - The church is an institution
The common misconception is that church is an institution or a building, with leaders whose primary function is to minister to us Christian members of the Church. Their work consists of providing programs for our care and preservation until we die and go to heaven; the leaders minister to Christians.
The reality of the Church is that is is God's means by which He is becoming king over the whole earth! The leaders primary function is to equip Christians to minister to the world. The primary function of the average Christian is to bring God's kingdom of blessing, peace, joy, freedom, hope, and restoration to the places we work, live, play, eat, shop, and pay our bills.
The Church is not a "place where" but rather a "people who..." ...the Church is the people of God committed to the purposes of God. (With these verses being a great encapsulation of those purposes!)
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
The Sacred/Secular Distinction
Misconception #3 - There are certain activities, things, people, and places that are ‘good’ and ‘spiritual’ and others that are not.
God is primarily concerned that we involve ourselves in sacred activities; sitting in Churches, praying, creating or consuming Christian art.
The reality is that God wants the whole earth to be put right, not just church buildings! God wants to be a part of every aspect of society and ecology.
We are NOT talking about putting a fish on your business card, or even becoming a ‘christian’ interior decorator. But rather doing a job with the purposes of God in mind; engineers who design new ways of water filtration to address the needs for drinking water around the world. William Wilberforce going into politics in order to honor God's call on his life to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
The Clergy/Laity Distinction
Misconception #4 - Pastors are really Holy and really devoted; they speak for God!
The reality is that a certain level of maturity is required of leaders, but they need not be the most mature; leaders are equippers! Clergy are not speaking to people on God's behalf, but helping people to come to God on their own.
We so often received the Kingdom from ‘professional Christians’ and so have been told (explicitly or implicitly) "If you love Jesus - Hurry up and quit your job to do real ministry!"
Paul was a tentmaker, Jesus was a carpenter!
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
Knowledge versus Obedience
Misconception #5 - God is primarily concerned that we agree with certain statements.
Hear the word, believe in God, just have faith!
The reality is that God wants us to participate, not observe...
...share in, not hear about, the Kingdom of redemption!
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
Zechariah 14:9
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Habakkuk 2:14
If the hope described in passages such as these are truly what God intends, then there are some common misunderstandings that run rampant throughout the spiritual understanding of women and men, both inside and outside of the church...
MISCONCEPTIONS::
The Nature of Salvation
Misconception #1 - Salvation is about leaving earth and going to heaven; God is primarily concerned with what happens to individuals after they die.
If these verses are true, then salvation is actually about God putting all things right; it is about heaven coming to earth. Salvation is about all of creation sharing in the Life that is found in God.
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
The Nature of the Church
Misconception #2 - The church is an institution
The common misconception is that church is an institution or a building, with leaders whose primary function is to minister to us Christian members of the Church. Their work consists of providing programs for our care and preservation until we die and go to heaven; the leaders minister to Christians.
The reality of the Church is that is is God's means by which He is becoming king over the whole earth! The leaders primary function is to equip Christians to minister to the world. The primary function of the average Christian is to bring God's kingdom of blessing, peace, joy, freedom, hope, and restoration to the places we work, live, play, eat, shop, and pay our bills.
The Church is not a "place where" but rather a "people who..." ...the Church is the people of God committed to the purposes of God. (With these verses being a great encapsulation of those purposes!)
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
The Sacred/Secular Distinction
Misconception #3 - There are certain activities, things, people, and places that are ‘good’ and ‘spiritual’ and others that are not.
God is primarily concerned that we involve ourselves in sacred activities; sitting in Churches, praying, creating or consuming Christian art.
The reality is that God wants the whole earth to be put right, not just church buildings! God wants to be a part of every aspect of society and ecology.
We are NOT talking about putting a fish on your business card, or even becoming a ‘christian’ interior decorator. But rather doing a job with the purposes of God in mind; engineers who design new ways of water filtration to address the needs for drinking water around the world. William Wilberforce going into politics in order to honor God's call on his life to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
The Clergy/Laity Distinction
Misconception #4 - Pastors are really Holy and really devoted; they speak for God!
The reality is that a certain level of maturity is required of leaders, but they need not be the most mature; leaders are equippers! Clergy are not speaking to people on God's behalf, but helping people to come to God on their own.
We so often received the Kingdom from ‘professional Christians’ and so have been told (explicitly or implicitly) "If you love Jesus - Hurry up and quit your job to do real ministry!"
Paul was a tentmaker, Jesus was a carpenter!
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
Knowledge versus Obedience
Misconception #5 - God is primarily concerned that we agree with certain statements.
Hear the word, believe in God, just have faith!
The reality is that God wants us to participate, not observe...
...share in, not hear about, the Kingdom of redemption!
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9
3.07.2008
Trade
I just watched the movie Trade, it is about the human trafficing business around the world and even in america. I have to say I am so disturbed about this movie. I am not an uninformed person relating to this I have done some reading and am aware of the fact that it happens, I have been for upset about this topic for awhile which is why I wanted to see the movie in the first place.
However seeing the movie has now marked my heart in a new way, it has left a print on my heart of the reality of it. I can not imagine the depths of evil and despair that exist in this world and now I find that this movie has brought the reality home to me in a way that I can not forget because I have seen it with my own eyes. This movie is not based on a true story but rather hollywoods take on the subject. Even though this movie is not a true story I do not doubt that things far worse than the movies portrayl are really happening.
So here I am marked and overwhelmed by this whole thing and I feel like I can surely make people more aware of the fact that this is happening, and it may not be to our daughters here in america but these women and children that are being stolen are someones daughters and they matter. I know that I would go to the ends of the earth for my own daughter and search high and low and never give up.....so I have been pondering would I do that for someone elses daughter, does she matter just as much as my daughter isn't she just as valuable but maybe she doesn't have someone to search for her, maybe her family actually sold her into it.
That shouldn't matter she is just as cherished by God as my daughter and she is His daughter first as we are all his and so I know that I must care just as much about these women and children as I would my own family and fight just as hard to bring and end to this form of slavery and oppression.
We in america love to stand up for things and fight for things but do we really fight the fights that matter, are we fighting to bring justice to the oppressed or do we fight the fights that benefit us and our pocketbooks...Speaking of money how much is a little girl or women worth anyhow???? How much cash is a human being worth??? In this movie for 25-30 thousand dollars you can purchase your own human being to treat anyway you wish and do whatever you want with.....WOW!!! What kind of world do we life in?? My heart is turned towards Jesus to hear an answer to how to fight this fight, anyone who would like to join me in this or has something else to offer.....
I reccommend watching this movie to everyone and then trying to go about your normal day, as you think and ponder through the fact that this is really happening, IT is a reality for many women and children.. If this doesn't call us to the feet of the Father in petition for His justice to come, then what are we going to the Father for????? Are we there for ourselves and our comfort, are we really praying for more money, a better job, a better church to belong to???? WHAT ARE WE SEEKING THE FATHER FOR??????
I feel like God has spoken to me to raise awareness about things that are happening in our world today that many of us are ignorant to, partly I feel like if people could just be aware then surely the spirit of God in us would bring us to our knees for the things that are really grieving God's heart. Also I am praying for these things and would like people to join me in asking God for his hand to move and bring justice to our world, bring mercy and compassion to those hurting and broken. So if you would like to receive this email that I send out then please email me at schenk.tamy@gmail.com.
Today we are more aware, will we forget by tomorrow???
Here are links to more information about human trafficking:
Archdiocese of San Francisco
Human Trafficking.org
3.03.2008
The Good Book Part II
Collections of interactions with another individual online:
Laura: the fact that so much literature is devoted to the need to 'reconcile' difficult things in the Bible is an implicit admission that there are contradictions in the Bible, otherwise there'd be nothing to reconcile.
Steve: Point well taken, yet, have you never had to 'reconcile' two statements you made that people misunderstood as contradictory? I think you reach too much when you make that point. I am perfectly okay with you saying "I choose to interpret these passages in ways that make them contradict each other." That is your perogative.
I think, however, it is only fair to give a little bit more than a cursory read to a document that is separated from us by 2,000 years of cultural change and several languages.
Laura: I'd call 17 years of Bible study more than a cursory read…anyway I would say it's also only fair to note that across the internet, arguments between Christians who are very familiar with the Bible, over what the Bible teaches, are alive and well. And once I realized I didn't have to believe the Bible couldn't contradict itself, it became very clear to me that the reason these debates go on and on unresolved is that each side uses different verses to support their case and the verses contradict each other. Ironically, since both sides firmly believe the Bible cannot contradict itself (even though their debate rather demonstrates that it does), their solution is to label their own verses as 'key' texts; then they write off the other side's verses as less key than theirs and/or able to be explained away by the context, or whatever.
I've watched this for years; it's real; it's happening and to me it is very strong evidence the Bible does in fact contradict itself.
Steve: …and shouldn't that be the goal? Trying to understand what the author was trying to say?
Laura: Steve, if you are convinced there is one author, who spoke through many others, somehow never contradicting himself, then you have forced your goal to be "explaining away contradictions" rather than taking each piece of writing at face value.
Yes, I think we should try to understand what the author wanted to say and if two authors disagree let's accept that they do.
Our positions are not equivalent; yours is a faith position, based on the belief that the Bible does not contradict itself. Like all people who believe this, you make every effort to resolve apparent 'contradictions' other people claim to have found.
My position is not based on faith. It's based on the observation that if the Bible was clear and non-contradictory, Christians who all say they believe it would not have unresolvable debates over what it says. If all the disagreeing Christians came to agreement today, I'd change my opinion.
Like David, I find that most lists of contradictions have some trivial ones on. I'm happy to set those aside as unimportant. The ones which concern me have to do with the core beliefs of Christians.
Oh, I just thought of another one: does the Bible teach that Jesus is God? That has never been resolved. Historical orthodox Christianity is based on the conviction that the Bible teaches he is God. However, considering how vital this belief is, the Bible is amazingly vague (imo) about it. The proofs are relatively indirect, given its centrality as a doctrine. The Jehovah's Witnesses strongly argue that Jesus is not God. They have their own translation but - in regard to anything related to this issue, the only difference is that they added the word 'a' to one verse! And besides, people who use the same Bible have argued throughout church history that it teaches Jesus is the Son of God, but not God.
Each of these arguments over fundamentals of the faith is easily explained if we are allowed to say the Bible is remarkably unclear about key doctrines of the faith and/or it contradicts itself.
All other explanations rely on one 'side' having superior insight to the other. I don't see any reason to think that's the case, since in my experience each side has smart honest people on it. It's not like you could do an IQ or holiness test and find all the high numbers on one side and all the low ones on the other.
That the Bible is written by different people, in different times and places, by people with different perspectives and different styles of communication explains why there are contradictions/discrepancies.
What I cannot 'reconcile' with a belief that the Bible is God's inspired word and that we are to receive direction from it, is why it would be so easily open to interpretation (let's leave out the word 'contradictions' here, since we do not agree on the meaning of that word)? Humans are fallible, but your Christian God is not. Why was he not more clear?
Laura: the fact that so much literature is devoted to the need to 'reconcile' difficult things in the Bible is an implicit admission that there are contradictions in the Bible, otherwise there'd be nothing to reconcile.
Steve: Point well taken, yet, have you never had to 'reconcile' two statements you made that people misunderstood as contradictory? I think you reach too much when you make that point. I am perfectly okay with you saying "I choose to interpret these passages in ways that make them contradict each other." That is your perogative.
I think, however, it is only fair to give a little bit more than a cursory read to a document that is separated from us by 2,000 years of cultural change and several languages.
Laura: I'd call 17 years of Bible study more than a cursory read…anyway I would say it's also only fair to note that across the internet, arguments between Christians who are very familiar with the Bible, over what the Bible teaches, are alive and well. And once I realized I didn't have to believe the Bible couldn't contradict itself, it became very clear to me that the reason these debates go on and on unresolved is that each side uses different verses to support their case and the verses contradict each other. Ironically, since both sides firmly believe the Bible cannot contradict itself (even though their debate rather demonstrates that it does), their solution is to label their own verses as 'key' texts; then they write off the other side's verses as less key than theirs and/or able to be explained away by the context, or whatever.
I've watched this for years; it's real; it's happening and to me it is very strong evidence the Bible does in fact contradict itself.
Steve: …and shouldn't that be the goal? Trying to understand what the author was trying to say?
Laura: Steve, if you are convinced there is one author, who spoke through many others, somehow never contradicting himself, then you have forced your goal to be "explaining away contradictions" rather than taking each piece of writing at face value.
Yes, I think we should try to understand what the author wanted to say and if two authors disagree let's accept that they do.
Our positions are not equivalent; yours is a faith position, based on the belief that the Bible does not contradict itself. Like all people who believe this, you make every effort to resolve apparent 'contradictions' other people claim to have found.
My position is not based on faith. It's based on the observation that if the Bible was clear and non-contradictory, Christians who all say they believe it would not have unresolvable debates over what it says. If all the disagreeing Christians came to agreement today, I'd change my opinion.
Like David, I find that most lists of contradictions have some trivial ones on. I'm happy to set those aside as unimportant. The ones which concern me have to do with the core beliefs of Christians.
Oh, I just thought of another one: does the Bible teach that Jesus is God? That has never been resolved. Historical orthodox Christianity is based on the conviction that the Bible teaches he is God. However, considering how vital this belief is, the Bible is amazingly vague (imo) about it. The proofs are relatively indirect, given its centrality as a doctrine. The Jehovah's Witnesses strongly argue that Jesus is not God. They have their own translation but - in regard to anything related to this issue, the only difference is that they added the word 'a' to one verse! And besides, people who use the same Bible have argued throughout church history that it teaches Jesus is the Son of God, but not God.
Each of these arguments over fundamentals of the faith is easily explained if we are allowed to say the Bible is remarkably unclear about key doctrines of the faith and/or it contradicts itself.
All other explanations rely on one 'side' having superior insight to the other. I don't see any reason to think that's the case, since in my experience each side has smart honest people on it. It's not like you could do an IQ or holiness test and find all the high numbers on one side and all the low ones on the other.
That the Bible is written by different people, in different times and places, by people with different perspectives and different styles of communication explains why there are contradictions/discrepancies.
What I cannot 'reconcile' with a belief that the Bible is God's inspired word and that we are to receive direction from it, is why it would be so easily open to interpretation (let's leave out the word 'contradictions' here, since we do not agree on the meaning of that word)? Humans are fallible, but your Christian God is not. Why was he not more clear?
2.28.2008
Homosexual Insight
The following is an interaction I had with a friend of a friend:
I would still love to hear you respond to my thoughts, although I understand that you probably (like I do) have more pressing things to think about. I feel like the debate on this issue is consistently sidetracked and does not deal with the real issue at hand. So here are a couple of points if you can find time to respond to:
==========================================
Biology is a Distraction
...as it is corrupt...
I agree with Mr. Williams above: "The findings of Kinsey about the greyscale nature of sexual orientation are valid biologically, but do not meaningfully inform the praxis of our faith commitments."
While (I hope) all christians can agree that the current state of human nature is an important point of consideration that must be weighed into the conversation, it is ultimately a distraction to argue about the 'what and where' of the locus of homosexual desire. We don't care why/how people come to desire other people's possessions when we condemn theft, nor do we care about the motivations behind adultery when assessing it's morality (of course we acknowledge the reality of those desires, and even acknowledge the inability of individuals to control those desires or their natural trajectory into behavior; isn't this the point Scripture is making when it speaks of 'slavery to sin?')
The point is precisely that human nature is corrupt; arguments from the reality of human desire should not prevent us from deeming certain acts and states as sinful; the very need for the redemption of human nature is exactly its state as fundamentally out of sync with God's beauty and purpose.
==========================================
Jesus is Lord
...not personal desire...
As you point out one of the common critiques is "that we’re allowing culture to dictate our understanding of scripture." But it is even more insidious than this, it is that we are allowing our personal desire to do so.
This is, of course, true of all people, not just homosexuals; and is even true of all people in the realm of sexuality. I fight with my wife about sex. That is just as much an elevation of my own sexual desire above God's beautiful reality as is homosexuality; my contention is that both are perversion. Heterosexual sex is not the goal! (Replace heterosexual sex with anything else, sobriety, tithing, reading scripture, not cussing, praying, etc. depending on the setting.) The goal is being redefined by Jesus, the true man, allowing His humanity to become the source and scope of ours.
This, of course, comes dangerously close to threatening our identity. But what else did we think Jesus meant when he explains 'no one can be my disciple unless they follow me to the place of execution,' or Paul when he speaks of being crucified with Christ? It is our identity that is precisely the problem! Both for the Gentile and for the Jew, for the Gay and the Straight, the Virtuous and the Foul, etc.
At the center of Paul's theology we find the phrase 'in Christ' and it is this that must become for us, the center of our theology and praxis. If we operate from this place, we are Christian, if we operate from some other place, we are not.
It is for precisely this reason that the homosexual community may perhaps have greater theological insight than the straight community; perhaps the better question is not why are so few homosexual people willing to follow a Christ who 'bids them come and die?', but rather why are so many heterosexual people claiming to follow Christ without dying?
Jesus is Lord, even of my sexuality.
The real question needs to be what does God want?, as opposed to what do I want? Which is why we turn to Scripture. (I would add, Scripture, properly enacted and interpreted in community.)
==========================================
The Answer Book
...the problem with systematic theology...
You acknowledge that "one of the many critiques of those of us who are affirming of LGBT persons is that we are completely disregarding scripture." I am simply reiterating that critique, however, I do so in a different vein of thinking that I really desire to hear a thoughtful and engaging response to.
"One of the strengths of Rogers’s book is that he actively engages with Scripture all throughout his book." I am obviously dealing with your presentation of his material and not directly with his book, but, quite simply put, I am not convinced. As I said in another thread, I do not see Roger's dealing with Scripture, but rather dealing with isolated passages, removed from their context, and ignoring the general trend of Scripture as a whole. The story of God's Creation and Covenant, the story of Exodus and Atonement, the story of Redemption and New Creation.
"However, Rogers shows that the interpretations of the few passages typically used to speak of the sinfulness of homosexuality are simply incorrect interpretations." What I need to see instead is someone starting from the point of God's activity and working through the significance of that in the creation of gender. I need to see (as Paul continually does with ethical questions) the natural outcome of being 'in Christ;' not simply trying to figure out what is right or wrong, but what is Christ!
There is a paradigmatic difference between reading the Scriptures as a 'Cosmic Answer Book,' by thumbing through trying to find to the 'Homosexual Question;' and allowing Scripture to 'read us,' by defining our reality for us. Systematic analysis of Scripture is helpful, but must be kept in check!
I need to see the process mapped out for me by which someone could come to Scripture seeking to understand God, and come away with an endorsement for personal sexual fulfillment. My contention is that the debate has been framed in inappropriate ways by both sides, and has devolved into looking to Scripture for an endorsement of what both sides wanted to find.
==========================================
Conservative Bigotry
...if you disagree with me you are a Nazi...
You are obviously not saying anything remotely this obtuse I just like to exaggerate for effect! (And I wouldn't personally claim the Conservative label without some real clarification) However what you do say "...spend some time actually getting to know someone who is gay," implies that if we loved gay people we would not say that homosexuality is a sin; and conversely we only say homosexuality is a sin because we do not love homosexual people throughout the course of our day-to-day lives.
This isn't true.
I have several relationships with gay men and women, most of whom know my stand on Scripture, none of whom are offended by me. One of them is walking out a commitment to Christ (that he believes includes a denial of his homosexual practice and identity) in the midst of our community. We call each other 'friend and brother' and this man is at my home several times a week.
It is precisely my love for them, and my commitment to them, that compels me to preach Christ's pre-eminence over and above their sexual desire, and even more, over and above their own identity (homosexual or otherwise).
I would still love to hear you respond to my thoughts, although I understand that you probably (like I do) have more pressing things to think about. I feel like the debate on this issue is consistently sidetracked and does not deal with the real issue at hand. So here are a couple of points if you can find time to respond to:
==========================================
Biology is a Distraction
...as it is corrupt...
I agree with Mr. Williams above: "The findings of Kinsey about the greyscale nature of sexual orientation are valid biologically, but do not meaningfully inform the praxis of our faith commitments."
While (I hope) all christians can agree that the current state of human nature is an important point of consideration that must be weighed into the conversation, it is ultimately a distraction to argue about the 'what and where' of the locus of homosexual desire. We don't care why/how people come to desire other people's possessions when we condemn theft, nor do we care about the motivations behind adultery when assessing it's morality (of course we acknowledge the reality of those desires, and even acknowledge the inability of individuals to control those desires or their natural trajectory into behavior; isn't this the point Scripture is making when it speaks of 'slavery to sin?')
The point is precisely that human nature is corrupt; arguments from the reality of human desire should not prevent us from deeming certain acts and states as sinful; the very need for the redemption of human nature is exactly its state as fundamentally out of sync with God's beauty and purpose.
==========================================
Jesus is Lord
...not personal desire...
As you point out one of the common critiques is "that we’re allowing culture to dictate our understanding of scripture." But it is even more insidious than this, it is that we are allowing our personal desire to do so.
This is, of course, true of all people, not just homosexuals; and is even true of all people in the realm of sexuality. I fight with my wife about sex. That is just as much an elevation of my own sexual desire above God's beautiful reality as is homosexuality; my contention is that both are perversion. Heterosexual sex is not the goal! (Replace heterosexual sex with anything else, sobriety, tithing, reading scripture, not cussing, praying, etc. depending on the setting.) The goal is being redefined by Jesus, the true man, allowing His humanity to become the source and scope of ours.
This, of course, comes dangerously close to threatening our identity. But what else did we think Jesus meant when he explains 'no one can be my disciple unless they follow me to the place of execution,' or Paul when he speaks of being crucified with Christ? It is our identity that is precisely the problem! Both for the Gentile and for the Jew, for the Gay and the Straight, the Virtuous and the Foul, etc.
At the center of Paul's theology we find the phrase 'in Christ' and it is this that must become for us, the center of our theology and praxis. If we operate from this place, we are Christian, if we operate from some other place, we are not.
It is for precisely this reason that the homosexual community may perhaps have greater theological insight than the straight community; perhaps the better question is not why are so few homosexual people willing to follow a Christ who 'bids them come and die?', but rather why are so many heterosexual people claiming to follow Christ without dying?
Jesus is Lord, even of my sexuality.
The real question needs to be what does God want?, as opposed to what do I want? Which is why we turn to Scripture. (I would add, Scripture, properly enacted and interpreted in community.)
==========================================
The Answer Book
...the problem with systematic theology...
You acknowledge that "one of the many critiques of those of us who are affirming of LGBT persons is that we are completely disregarding scripture." I am simply reiterating that critique, however, I do so in a different vein of thinking that I really desire to hear a thoughtful and engaging response to.
"One of the strengths of Rogers’s book is that he actively engages with Scripture all throughout his book." I am obviously dealing with your presentation of his material and not directly with his book, but, quite simply put, I am not convinced. As I said in another thread, I do not see Roger's dealing with Scripture, but rather dealing with isolated passages, removed from their context, and ignoring the general trend of Scripture as a whole. The story of God's Creation and Covenant, the story of Exodus and Atonement, the story of Redemption and New Creation.
"However, Rogers shows that the interpretations of the few passages typically used to speak of the sinfulness of homosexuality are simply incorrect interpretations." What I need to see instead is someone starting from the point of God's activity and working through the significance of that in the creation of gender. I need to see (as Paul continually does with ethical questions) the natural outcome of being 'in Christ;' not simply trying to figure out what is right or wrong, but what is Christ!
There is a paradigmatic difference between reading the Scriptures as a 'Cosmic Answer Book,' by thumbing through trying to find to the 'Homosexual Question;' and allowing Scripture to 'read us,' by defining our reality for us. Systematic analysis of Scripture is helpful, but must be kept in check!
I need to see the process mapped out for me by which someone could come to Scripture seeking to understand God, and come away with an endorsement for personal sexual fulfillment. My contention is that the debate has been framed in inappropriate ways by both sides, and has devolved into looking to Scripture for an endorsement of what both sides wanted to find.
==========================================
Conservative Bigotry
...if you disagree with me you are a Nazi...
You are obviously not saying anything remotely this obtuse I just like to exaggerate for effect! (And I wouldn't personally claim the Conservative label without some real clarification) However what you do say "...spend some time actually getting to know someone who is gay," implies that if we loved gay people we would not say that homosexuality is a sin; and conversely we only say homosexuality is a sin because we do not love homosexual people throughout the course of our day-to-day lives.
This isn't true.
I have several relationships with gay men and women, most of whom know my stand on Scripture, none of whom are offended by me. One of them is walking out a commitment to Christ (that he believes includes a denial of his homosexual practice and identity) in the midst of our community. We call each other 'friend and brother' and this man is at my home several times a week.
It is precisely my love for them, and my commitment to them, that compels me to preach Christ's pre-eminence over and above their sexual desire, and even more, over and above their own identity (homosexual or otherwise).
2.24.2008
Roots
Where do you come from?
That is a question that is sometimes best answered by telling stories of the people who have influenced us...
...in that context I thought the following quote from my pastor would shed some light on who I am:
"...put that in your spiritual ponder-pipe and smoke it!"
That is a question that is sometimes best answered by telling stories of the people who have influenced us...
...in that context I thought the following quote from my pastor would shed some light on who I am:
"...put that in your spiritual ponder-pipe and smoke it!"
2.19.2008
A Generous Orthodoxy
A Generous Orthodoxy
This is a phenomenal book for anyone who is serious about living out the life of Christ in the US. I find McLaren to be the contemporary equivalent to C. S. Lewis. The peculiarity common to both men is the unique ability to approach various concepts from a fresh perspective; interestingly enough both men are scholars of literature and poetry speaking to an audience of logicians and theologians; perhaps that is the cause of their peculiar knack for insight?
The Last Word and the Word After That
The Last Word and the Word After That
This book finishes a series in McLaren's "creative non-fiction" genre; fictional characters entering into a dialogue on topics that McLaren wishes to add his voice. This book deals primarily with concepts of the afterlife and how these concepts and doctrines were originated, and how they impact individuals and groups. I found his thoughts intriguing...
The Story We Find Ourselves In
The Story We Find Ourselves In
My least favorite (although still enjoyable) book of McLaren's. The book focus is "evolution;" a topic I have little interest in pursuing any more. The book is still full of great concepts, questions and stories; and is worth reading even if, like me, you have no real desire to delve into such a non-issue as the theory of evolution.
A New Kind of Christian
McLaren has become the spokesman for "emergent" christians. I have found him to be both insightful and humble. Regardless of the way in which his views may appear to you, I see in McLaren a sincere desire for truth that has allowed him to maintain Jesus as the center and yet still rethink everything about our faith in light of changing culture.
A New Kind of Christian
McLaren, by way of his pseudo-fictional dialogues, was able to free me to use evokative and emotional language to communicate the person of Jesus and the gospel of his kingdom.
A New Kind of Christian
McLaren, by way of his pseudo-fictional dialogues, was able to free me to use evokative and emotional language to communicate the person of Jesus and the gospel of his kingdom.
2.15.2008
2.11.2008
What are you holding out of the water?
The old timers will say, 'if Jesus is not the Lord of all then He is not Lord at all.' We can not play at christianity, it is not that sort of endeavor; one cannot treat it like a buffet, eating the foods we like and leaving others untasted; it is rather like water, one either drinks it down or does not.
Jesus does not want to make our lives better, he wants to destroy our lives and give us His own to replace it...
God is more like a wild lover than a remote philanthropic benefactor.
=========================================
"You remember that among the Franks, whole armies were sometimes given baptism at one stroke, and many warriors went into the water with their right hands held high, so that they did not get wet. Then they could say, 'This hand has never been baptized,' and they could swing their battle axes just as freely as ever. The modern counterpart of that partial baptism is seen in many people who have been baptized, all except their pocketbooks. They held these high out of the water."
-Halford Luccock
What are you holding out of the water?
=========================================
This of course begs the question:
I am totally committed! But I find that my commitment is not enough to bring change, my moods overwhelm me and I slip back into old habits! What am I to do?
We are in good company...
We read in the twelfth chapter of Romans, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." The tricky thing about a 'living sacrifice' is that (unlike a dead one) it can crawl right back off of the altar; which makes our act of self-sacrifice a constant state of decision and repentance, as opposed to a singular event.
Just so, we are to jump into the baptismal waters of death and resurrection, knowing full well that our resolution to live whole-heartedly for our Master will need constant renewal and continued recommitment. But ultimately, it is the Spirit of Christ within us that brings change, from the inner person outward.
Jesus does not want to make our lives better, he wants to destroy our lives and give us His own to replace it...
God is more like a wild lover than a remote philanthropic benefactor.
=========================================
"You remember that among the Franks, whole armies were sometimes given baptism at one stroke, and many warriors went into the water with their right hands held high, so that they did not get wet. Then they could say, 'This hand has never been baptized,' and they could swing their battle axes just as freely as ever. The modern counterpart of that partial baptism is seen in many people who have been baptized, all except their pocketbooks. They held these high out of the water."
-Halford Luccock
What are you holding out of the water?
=========================================
This of course begs the question:
I am totally committed! But I find that my commitment is not enough to bring change, my moods overwhelm me and I slip back into old habits! What am I to do?
We are in good company...
We read in the twelfth chapter of Romans, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." The tricky thing about a 'living sacrifice' is that (unlike a dead one) it can crawl right back off of the altar; which makes our act of self-sacrifice a constant state of decision and repentance, as opposed to a singular event.
Just so, we are to jump into the baptismal waters of death and resurrection, knowing full well that our resolution to live whole-heartedly for our Master will need constant renewal and continued recommitment. But ultimately, it is the Spirit of Christ within us that brings change, from the inner person outward.
2.10.2008
1.31.2008
Rainmaker
I watched this film the other day, at the end, Matt Damon's character states:
"In every case a lawyer finds himself crossing a line that he doesn't really mean to cross, if he crosses that line enough, it will disappear." (my paraphrase from memory)
What this points to is the human capacity for spiritual development. In this particular instance the development is both negative and unintentional, however, it is entirely possible for spiritual development to be both positive and intentional.
Our spirit is the core of our being, the seat of our desires and our will. Every decision we make has an impact on it, whether that impact is negative or positive, whether that decision is intentional or accidental.
Allowing ourselves, in the heat of the moment, to make decisions that we disaprove of, will lead to us eventually approving of the behavior in question (in this case a law-abiding lawyer justifies breaking the law in order to bring justice, and soon finds that he no longer needs to justify breaking the law as it has become acceptable behavior). So too, chosing to do the right thing, even when we don't feel like it, will lead to us eventually desiring to do the thing in question (chosing to give away money because I recognize my own wealth and others need, even though it causes personal discomfort, has lead me to the place where I enjoy giving away money).
We can even take this to the level of intentional and practical discipline. Instead of simply waiting for those 'moments of decision' to arrive on our doorstep unnanounced, we go forth seeking them out.
What are the lines that you don't want to cross? How can you set up boundaries in your life to prevent you from doing so? (Don't try to say, "no" to sex in the back seat of a car; simply decide beforehand not to end up in the back seat in the first place.)
What are the lines that you do want to cross? How can you find creative ways to 'practice' doing those things? (Set aside a regular time each week to write encouraging notes to people; this will help you to be more encouraging throughout the rest of your week as well.)
This is why Christians engage in discipline; to allow God to form us into the proper image, the truly human image, that of Jesus.
"In every case a lawyer finds himself crossing a line that he doesn't really mean to cross, if he crosses that line enough, it will disappear." (my paraphrase from memory)
What this points to is the human capacity for spiritual development. In this particular instance the development is both negative and unintentional, however, it is entirely possible for spiritual development to be both positive and intentional.
Our spirit is the core of our being, the seat of our desires and our will. Every decision we make has an impact on it, whether that impact is negative or positive, whether that decision is intentional or accidental.
Allowing ourselves, in the heat of the moment, to make decisions that we disaprove of, will lead to us eventually approving of the behavior in question (in this case a law-abiding lawyer justifies breaking the law in order to bring justice, and soon finds that he no longer needs to justify breaking the law as it has become acceptable behavior). So too, chosing to do the right thing, even when we don't feel like it, will lead to us eventually desiring to do the thing in question (chosing to give away money because I recognize my own wealth and others need, even though it causes personal discomfort, has lead me to the place where I enjoy giving away money).
We can even take this to the level of intentional and practical discipline. Instead of simply waiting for those 'moments of decision' to arrive on our doorstep unnanounced, we go forth seeking them out.
What are the lines that you don't want to cross? How can you set up boundaries in your life to prevent you from doing so? (Don't try to say, "no" to sex in the back seat of a car; simply decide beforehand not to end up in the back seat in the first place.)
What are the lines that you do want to cross? How can you find creative ways to 'practice' doing those things? (Set aside a regular time each week to write encouraging notes to people; this will help you to be more encouraging throughout the rest of your week as well.)
This is why Christians engage in discipline; to allow God to form us into the proper image, the truly human image, that of Jesus.
1.30.2008
1.28.2008
1.17.2008
Turn on, Tune in, Drop out
Sure brings new meaning to what ol' Tim used to say...
...what responsibility do we have to 'drop out' of a sick cycle of evil?
1.09.2008
Off The Wall
The first Christians were called 'disciples of Jesus.' What would it mean for us today to call ourselves Jesus' disciples or 'students?'
We believe that Jesus lived a full life, an eternal life, an infinite
life; and we believe that He wants to share that life with us.
We believe that Jesus is the most amazing person who ever lived. We
believe that, if we allow Him to, He will teach us how to live the
best kind of life possible; and a life that never ends.
What would it look like for a group of people to start a community
that was committed to nothing but Jesus? What would that community
look like? What would it do? How would those inside it treat each
other? How would they treat those outside of it? How would they deal
with violence, politics, pollution, housing, occupations, diet,
child-rearing; how would they worship, serve, pray, live?
12.29.2007
Whatever do you mean?
"...the true view of the Gospel will be that which explains the course of events in the first century and the second century, rather than that which seems to have spiritual and imaginative value for the twentieth century."
12.10.2007
12.09.2007
Spanking
"Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence."
Wow. Oswald Chambers says it best. How hard it is to let go of ourselves. After spending my entire life trying to lose it to Christ, I will still be caught clutching it tightly in my cold dead fingers. That is hard to swallow!
Wow. Oswald Chambers says it best. How hard it is to let go of ourselves. After spending my entire life trying to lose it to Christ, I will still be caught clutching it tightly in my cold dead fingers. That is hard to swallow!
12.05.2007
12.01.2007
Renounce your Citizenship!
The other day I watched JFK for the first time, in it is a scene with Lee Harvey Oswald in a Russian embassy renouncing his American citizenship as an act of antagonism and protest against the US. It got me thinking about the call to follow Jesus, and how Christians were first perceived in the larger Roman world of their day...
What if becoming a disciple of Jesus was no less (but rather more) a defection from citizenship in this world, and this nation. This amounts to 'traitors in the midst' to the government in Rome! This is why Rome destroyed so many Christians they were a political threat...
What do you do with people who have dedicated themselves to the overthrow of the established order? They propose an alternative way of living that is based around loving service instead of power and control. Their lives are so beautiful and attractive that they (by simply being who they are) are inviting people to ignore the status-quo and shift into their paradigm... But they aren't approaching the city with swords, nor are they attacking with diatribes, they don't wish to leave and start an alternate community but proclaim their intention to subvert this one from the inside, and they are unwilling to compromise, they won't bow to threats of death, nor cave in to promises of reward... such a people must be eradicated, or else they will be the cause of the greatest political/social upheaval in world history.
This is why for centuries Christians went into the flames, in front of the gladiators, and in the midst of the wild beast, while jeering crowds or cool aristocracy looked on...
Repent, for the Kingdom of God is here!
- Jesus of Nazareth
What if becoming a disciple of Jesus was no less (but rather more) a defection from citizenship in this world, and this nation. This amounts to 'traitors in the midst' to the government in Rome! This is why Rome destroyed so many Christians they were a political threat...
What do you do with people who have dedicated themselves to the overthrow of the established order? They propose an alternative way of living that is based around loving service instead of power and control. Their lives are so beautiful and attractive that they (by simply being who they are) are inviting people to ignore the status-quo and shift into their paradigm... But they aren't approaching the city with swords, nor are they attacking with diatribes, they don't wish to leave and start an alternate community but proclaim their intention to subvert this one from the inside, and they are unwilling to compromise, they won't bow to threats of death, nor cave in to promises of reward... such a people must be eradicated, or else they will be the cause of the greatest political/social upheaval in world history.
This is why for centuries Christians went into the flames, in front of the gladiators, and in the midst of the wild beast, while jeering crowds or cool aristocracy looked on...
Repent, for the Kingdom of God is here!
- Jesus of Nazareth
11.26.2007
11.24.2007
11.13.2007
Where does the solution lie?
The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems.
-- Mahatma Gandhi
What problems are we talking about here? ...are we capable of solving our own problems? ...or not?
-- Mahatma Gandhi
What problems are we talking about here? ...are we capable of solving our own problems? ...or not?
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