Picture via Ace. Previous contest winner.WINNER: Doodlebugmom:
for when you have one hell of a cold...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Caption Contest
Picture via Ace. Previous contest winner.WINNER: Doodlebugmom:
for when you have one hell of a cold...
Art and the Reduction of Women
This past weekend, Katherine and I visited the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville. It's a fine, eclectic mix of various periods and origins in the visual arts. We especially enjoyed the fin-de-siecle collection of American painting and the special exhibit of historic American photography.But one work annoyed me: Seated Figure (terra cotta, 1927) by John Bradley Storrs. Visiting various museums, I've noticed that there's almost always at least one headless, armless female nude by a Modern (by that I mean broadly post-Academic) artist. I find these works dehumanizing and degrading to women by eliminating the the female's ability to think and communicate (head) and her ability to work and be independent (arms). Although these figures are never presented in an erotic manner, they reduce the female to little more than a sexual object.
I'm having trouble remembering which other artists created such works, although I vividly recall one Botero work like this at the San Antonio Museum of Art. It is odd that although the post-Academic period liberated women politically, elements of it seemed to futher subjugate and objectify them.
The Star Trek Casket
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Creeping Christian Statism
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the statist temptation to use government power to achieve social goals, used by both liberals and conservatives. Bruce Alderman provides a partial defense:
First, the role of the state. The United States Constitution outlines the role of the national government and specifies its duties, one of which is "to promote the general welfare." Article I, Section 8 authorizes Congress to collect taxes for this purpose (among others).
Bruce is quoting the Constitution out of context that distorts the meaning of this phrase. The phrase "to promote the general welfare" is not a duty of the national government. Read the entire preamble:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Emphasis added. The preamble is a statement of intention, not authority. The national government provided under the Constitution has no blanket authority "to promote the general welfare" however it sees fit. The subject of this sentence is not the national government, but "we the people". The people are taking the action of establishing this Constitution to promote the general welfare (among other reasons).
Bruce continues:
So it would seem there should be no controversy there: If giving aid to people living in poverty promotes the general welfare (and I think it does), then the federal government has not just the right, but the duty to collect taxes for welfare programs.
Bruce's argument hinges upon a general authority of the national government to promote the general welfare, which it does not have. Hence his argument breaks down at this point.
Bruce continues:
Furthermore, through tax revenues the government has access to more resources than any individual or group could ever hope to collect. While most private charities do the best they can with the resources they have, the need is just too great. If we were to rely solely on voluntary charitable giving, a lot more people would fall into poverty.
Again, Bruce is presenting the Robin Hood perspective: thievery is acceptable when people are poor. Perhaps one could create such a moral argument (Bruce does not), but remember: a government that has been given the authority to steal may not limit itself to your political opponents. A government that steals from Peter to pay Paul can always count on the loyalty and support of Paul, but it is just as likely to steal from Paul. Is it not far better to forbid the government to steal from either?
The second issue here is the mandate Jesus gave to Christians to take care of those in need. Our salvation depends on it, according to Matthew 25:31-46.
And yet at no point did Jesus advocate government programs to accomplish this task. None.
At this point, Bruce presents the opposite side, and I find myself in agreement with him. I am not, however, as trusting as he is to state power.
First, the role of the state. The United States Constitution outlines the role of the national government and specifies its duties, one of which is "to promote the general welfare." Article I, Section 8 authorizes Congress to collect taxes for this purpose (among others).
Bruce is quoting the Constitution out of context that distorts the meaning of this phrase. The phrase "to promote the general welfare" is not a duty of the national government. Read the entire preamble:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Emphasis added. The preamble is a statement of intention, not authority. The national government provided under the Constitution has no blanket authority "to promote the general welfare" however it sees fit. The subject of this sentence is not the national government, but "we the people". The people are taking the action of establishing this Constitution to promote the general welfare (among other reasons).
Bruce continues:
So it would seem there should be no controversy there: If giving aid to people living in poverty promotes the general welfare (and I think it does), then the federal government has not just the right, but the duty to collect taxes for welfare programs.
Bruce's argument hinges upon a general authority of the national government to promote the general welfare, which it does not have. Hence his argument breaks down at this point.
Bruce continues:
Furthermore, through tax revenues the government has access to more resources than any individual or group could ever hope to collect. While most private charities do the best they can with the resources they have, the need is just too great. If we were to rely solely on voluntary charitable giving, a lot more people would fall into poverty.
Again, Bruce is presenting the Robin Hood perspective: thievery is acceptable when people are poor. Perhaps one could create such a moral argument (Bruce does not), but remember: a government that has been given the authority to steal may not limit itself to your political opponents. A government that steals from Peter to pay Paul can always count on the loyalty and support of Paul, but it is just as likely to steal from Paul. Is it not far better to forbid the government to steal from either?
The second issue here is the mandate Jesus gave to Christians to take care of those in need. Our salvation depends on it, according to Matthew 25:31-46.
And yet at no point did Jesus advocate government programs to accomplish this task. None.
At this point, Bruce presents the opposite side, and I find myself in agreement with him. I am not, however, as trusting as he is to state power.
How Will Future Historians Treat Abortion?
Charles Moore imagines a holocaust museum of the future:
I found myself wondering how abortion will be viewed by museum curators, teachers, historians and moralists 200 years from now.
As the slavery exhibition shows, something that one generation accepts readily enough is often seen as abhorrent by its descendants – so abhorrent, in fact, that people find it almost impossible to understand how it could have been countenanced in a supposedly civilised society.
How could people not see that Africans should not be bought and sold for the convenience of our trade or our domestic life? We reserve particular scorn for those who sought to justify slavery on moral grounds. We look at the moral blindness of the past, and tut-tut, rather complacently.
It is not hard to imagine how a future Museum of London exhibition about abortion could go. It could buy up a 20th-century hospital building as its space, and take visitors round, showing them how, in one ward, staff were trying to save the lives of premature babies while, in the next, they were killing them.
Hat tip to Joe Carter. The comments which follow Moore's article are very reminiscent of the feeble attempts by Antebellum Americans to defend the depravity of slavery.
We are all Germans pretending that we don't know what's going on behind the barbed wire.
I found myself wondering how abortion will be viewed by museum curators, teachers, historians and moralists 200 years from now.
As the slavery exhibition shows, something that one generation accepts readily enough is often seen as abhorrent by its descendants – so abhorrent, in fact, that people find it almost impossible to understand how it could have been countenanced in a supposedly civilised society.
How could people not see that Africans should not be bought and sold for the convenience of our trade or our domestic life? We reserve particular scorn for those who sought to justify slavery on moral grounds. We look at the moral blindness of the past, and tut-tut, rather complacently.
It is not hard to imagine how a future Museum of London exhibition about abortion could go. It could buy up a 20th-century hospital building as its space, and take visitors round, showing them how, in one ward, staff were trying to save the lives of premature babies while, in the next, they were killing them.
Hat tip to Joe Carter. The comments which follow Moore's article are very reminiscent of the feeble attempts by Antebellum Americans to defend the depravity of slavery.
We are all Germans pretending that we don't know what's going on behind the barbed wire.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Baptize the Little Bastard
Isn't it amazing that so many people who have spent a lifetime in church have missed out on the most basic tenets of Christian teaching?
In Praise of Exosquad
Last week, I posted a video mashup and redub of scenes from the old sci-fi cartoon Exosquad. It reminded me of what a gem was this short-lived show.
Exosquad was set 150 years into the future, as humanity had begun to settle terraformed Mars and Venus. The series began with the narration "It was a Golden Age for mankind. The Earth knew no hunger, nor want...." But all was not paradise. To work in the harsh environs of space, a united Earth had created a race of genetically-engineered slaves. Fifty years before the show, these slaves, called NeoSapiens, had rebelled against their Terran masters. The rebellion was crushed, but the NeoSapiens were manumitted anyway to prevent future trouble. Although free from forced labor, the NeoSapiens were second-class citizens. They chafed under their bonds, until they fell under the spell of a charismatic leader named Phaeton.
Phaeton became Governor of Mars and secretly built an army to conquer the solar system. After luring the small and underfunded Exofleet out far away from the inner planets, Phaeton launched a sneak attack on Earth and Venus and conquered the homeworlds. But Phaeton had dreams of more than just freeing NeoSapiens; he intended to exterminate all natural humans. A three-year war followed, comprising the Exosquad series, which told the story of the war in general and one squad of Terran soldiers in particular, led by Lt. J.T. Marsh.At first glance, Exosquad was a cheap cartoon intended to sell toys. And the show was indeed very toyetic. But it was much more: the plotline and the characters had substantial depth and complexity. It was very similar to Babylon 5 (the greatest sci-fi series in TV history) in that way.
Alas, Exosquad had many liabilities that led to its cancellation after two seasons, the conclusion of the war, and what Jeff the Baptist called "the biggest cliffhanger". It was a cartoon, and an action cartoon, which would naturally lead it to be marketed to kids. But few children could have grasped the sophistication of the story. It was also a serial, which allowed for the writers to create an intricate plot, but also made entering the storyline mid-stream challenging (Bab 5 faced the same problem). And finally, it had the most awful timeslot available: 6 AM on Friday mornings, when any sensible adult or kid would still be in bed.Exosquad was simply too good a show to survive in a culture that appreciates only lighter fluff. At the time, when I was 17 and 18, I recognized that it would not last in syndication, and patiently recorded it on VCR tapes. But thanks to the Long Tail, it is now available for purchase.
Here is the first episode of Exosquad, titled "Pirate Scourge":
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
WWJD? -- A Handy Political Prop
Katherine Coble:
I get that it’s a really popular game right now to say things like “Yah! What would JESUS say about you murdering Iraqi babies in cold blood?!?” or “Would Jeeeesus deny federally funded health care?”
More often than not these questions come from people who eschew a relationship with said Jesus. They are Spiritual without being Christian (an increasingly popular faith system) or Atheist or Gnostic. Now, I have no qualms with anyone practicing any of these faiths or abjuring all faiths. Whatever floats your boat.
But I think these “gotcha” games, these abuses of Jesus’ name, are about ridiculous and tired. Not to mention insulting. There are many of us who are Christian Libertarians precisely because we believe that Jesus has asked us to separate matters of religion from matters of state. In case you’ve missed it the first hundred times I’ve said it….Jesus is EXACTLY why I’m a libertarian.
Government is a necessary stricture of my time here on earth. It is not my faith and is not to be confused with my faith.
Amen, Sister! The statist notion of Jesus as Cosmic Sugar Daddy has no basis in Scripture. In fact, Jesus has nothing to say on public policy throughout the Gospels, hence we cannot simply attach the most fashionable political causes of the day to him. That is why, as I have argued in the past, one can be of a wide variety of political persuasions without violating one's authentic Christian faith. Those who would prefer to use Jesus as a tool for political power are better off with the Judean People's Front (or the People's Front of Judea).
Hat tip: Gavin Richardson
I get that it’s a really popular game right now to say things like “Yah! What would JESUS say about you murdering Iraqi babies in cold blood?!?” or “Would Jeeeesus deny federally funded health care?”
More often than not these questions come from people who eschew a relationship with said Jesus. They are Spiritual without being Christian (an increasingly popular faith system) or Atheist or Gnostic. Now, I have no qualms with anyone practicing any of these faiths or abjuring all faiths. Whatever floats your boat.
But I think these “gotcha” games, these abuses of Jesus’ name, are about ridiculous and tired. Not to mention insulting. There are many of us who are Christian Libertarians precisely because we believe that Jesus has asked us to separate matters of religion from matters of state. In case you’ve missed it the first hundred times I’ve said it….Jesus is EXACTLY why I’m a libertarian.
Government is a necessary stricture of my time here on earth. It is not my faith and is not to be confused with my faith.
Amen, Sister! The statist notion of Jesus as Cosmic Sugar Daddy has no basis in Scripture. In fact, Jesus has nothing to say on public policy throughout the Gospels, hence we cannot simply attach the most fashionable political causes of the day to him. That is why, as I have argued in the past, one can be of a wide variety of political persuasions without violating one's authentic Christian faith. Those who would prefer to use Jesus as a tool for political power are better off with the Judean People's Front (or the People's Front of Judea).
Hat tip: Gavin Richardson
Exosquad Mashup
The Left Behind Video Game
Mark Whittinghill:I know the Left Behind video game is old news, but I saw a copy for the first time today and read the box. You have the option of playing as Tribulation Force or the forces of the AntiChrist. I know that this is the Christian alternative to evil video games and all that, but isn’t being a minion of the AntiChrist worse than being a space mercenary or an orc?
Friday, October 26, 2007
Caption Contest
Previous contest winner. Picture via Ironic Catholic.WINNER: Gord: Pope Benedict was determined that the new striker would help Vatican City win the World Cup this year.
lolTheologians
More here. Hat tip to Ironic Catholic. My wife thinks that I'm crazy because I find lolstuff hilarious. But here's one of my own:
Thursday, October 25, 2007
After Holy Communion
Pastors, what do you do with the excess elements of Holy Communion after a worship service?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnersWINNER: Jeff the Baptist:
Man, last night I drank way too much champagne from this girl's slipper...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
100 Truths in 30 Years
Dan Edelen has written 100 things that he has learned since he became a Christian thirty years ago. Here are a few choice ones:
- Love God. Love people. It’s that simple.
- In the end, nothing in life satisfies but Jesus.
- One of the most easily seen fruits in mature Christians is that they pray for people who oppose them rather than complain about them.
- Many of Evangelicalism’s most intractable problems would vanish if we adopted the confessional booth.
Read the whole thing. Hat tip to Joe Carter's 33 Things -- one of the best weekly events in the blogosphere.
What would be on your list?
What Is A "Successful" Blog?
Thomas Bartlett on whether traffic is a good indicator of quality blogging:
Judging the success of a blog by its page views is sort of like rating a movie by its box-office tallies, a TV show by its Neilsen ratings, or a book by its place on the best-seller list.
By that standard, the best movie in the country is “30 Days of Night,” the best TV show is “Dancing With the Stars,” and the best novel is World Without End, by Ken Follett.
Here's the way I see it: when Locusts & Honey is rolling in the traffic, it's because I put out a high-end blogging product. When the traffic counter is barely ticking, it's because Locusts & Honey readers are an elite with refined tastes.
Hat tip: Joe Carter
Judging the success of a blog by its page views is sort of like rating a movie by its box-office tallies, a TV show by its Neilsen ratings, or a book by its place on the best-seller list.
By that standard, the best movie in the country is “30 Days of Night,” the best TV show is “Dancing With the Stars,” and the best novel is World Without End, by Ken Follett.
Here's the way I see it: when Locusts & Honey is rolling in the traffic, it's because I put out a high-end blogging product. When the traffic counter is barely ticking, it's because Locusts & Honey readers are an elite with refined tastes.
Hat tip: Joe Carter
Monday, October 22, 2007
'95-'96 Prayers Finally Answered
HEAVEN—Explaining that He had been "absolutely swamped," God announced yesterday that He was finally able to find time in His busy schedule to answer a portion of the 1995 and 1996 prayer backlog.
"Unfortunately, I don't really want a red wagon anymore," 18-year-old Morgantown, WV resident Zach Gilpin said. Others expressed similar displeasure, including 30-year-old accountant Jack Demont, who said that former classmate and high school cheerleader Heidi Stillman's repeated phone calls to his house are "destroying" his marriage.
Story Link
"Unfortunately, I don't really want a red wagon anymore," 18-year-old Morgantown, WV resident Zach Gilpin said. Others expressed similar displeasure, including 30-year-old accountant Jack Demont, who said that former classmate and high school cheerleader Heidi Stillman's repeated phone calls to his house are "destroying" his marriage.
Story Link
My Secret Is Revealed
Curse you Jim Morrow!
But it is hard to take criticism from Jim. On Thursday, he'll be wearing a dress during chapel. Seriously.
But it is hard to take criticism from Jim. On Thursday, he'll be wearing a dress during chapel. Seriously.
Living Wills
Al Mohler writes about the living wills, and his perception that they are a moral compromise with euthanasia:
Christians understand the reality of death, but we must also affirm the gift of life. Furthermore, the Bible makes clear that we are not the masters of our own fates, nor the sovereigns of our own souls. In the end, our lives are in God's hands. This society's transit down a freeway to euthanasia should concern all citizens, but Christians in particular.
The idea of a self-defined "good death" has its place in the pagan cultures of antiquity, but not in the biblical culture of Christianity. Given advances in medical treatments and technologies, end of life issues can be truly vexing and excruciatingly difficult -- even for those who attempt to think ahead. Be sure you know what you are signing when someone presents you with a form for a living will. Are you sure that it is truly consistent with your Christian beliefs? Are you sure that those reading the document will understand -- and follow -- what you sign?
What do you think? Are living wills compatible with Christian teaching?
Christians understand the reality of death, but we must also affirm the gift of life. Furthermore, the Bible makes clear that we are not the masters of our own fates, nor the sovereigns of our own souls. In the end, our lives are in God's hands. This society's transit down a freeway to euthanasia should concern all citizens, but Christians in particular.
The idea of a self-defined "good death" has its place in the pagan cultures of antiquity, but not in the biblical culture of Christianity. Given advances in medical treatments and technologies, end of life issues can be truly vexing and excruciatingly difficult -- even for those who attempt to think ahead. Be sure you know what you are signing when someone presents you with a form for a living will. Are you sure that it is truly consistent with your Christian beliefs? Are you sure that those reading the document will understand -- and follow -- what you sign?
What do you think? Are living wills compatible with Christian teaching?
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Caption Contest
Not too much time to blog today. I have two Charge Conferences today, one of which I am hosting for my Cluster. But here's a caption contest for your amusement. Hat tip to Crummy Church Signs.
Previous contest winner
WINNERS:
Brett Royal: Turn or Burn
Matthew Akins: "And Jesus-Bubba lifted the meat and said 'This is my butt, roasted for you. Take of it and eat.'
He then lifted up the bowl and said "This is my sauce, it's a secret Family recipe, bottled for you (to take home or as a nice gift for friends or family)"
Previous contest winnerWINNERS:
Brett Royal: Turn or Burn
Matthew Akins: "And Jesus-Bubba lifted the meat and said 'This is my butt, roasted for you. Take of it and eat.'
He then lifted up the bowl and said "This is my sauce, it's a secret Family recipe, bottled for you (to take home or as a nice gift for friends or family)"
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Devaluing Holiness
Mark Kleberg on Christian sin and the public reputation of the Christian faith:
I internalize and cover up my sin and weakness because I fear that any failure on my part implies a failure of Christianity. I must be perfect; otherwise Christianity is just a big flop, exposed as an elaborate hoax. The pressure is on and I must perform so that Christianity looks like a good buy.
This assumption is the exact opposite of the gospel. It is anti-gospel. To say that my failures somehow discredit Christianity completely disregards the cross! What pride and hypocrisy! Out of death we are made alive in Christ and our new identities are not bound up in our own righteousness, but rather the righteousness of Christ. It is by His perfection that we are presented as spotless before the Father. And while the Spirit does begin its healing work on our hearts, it is forever the work of Jesus that makes us children of God. I no longer have to disguise my sin for fear of nullifying the gospel. The gospel, rather, nullifies my sin, and frees me up to live as though transparent. The world can see through me- can see that I am needy and that there is a savior who triumphs over my brokenness.
I get what he's saying here, but Kleberg's train of thought could potentially devalue the importance of holiness. It is true that we should not be disguising our sin, rather we should not be doing it. Sanctification is a long process, but it is reasonable to conclude that Christianity is invalid if there is no discernible moral difference between Christians and non-Christians.
I found this post via David Wayne, who emphasizes redemption to the detriment of sanctification:
A good deal of the pressure we put on ourselves to perform is because of what he said - any failure on my part will taint the Christian faith as a whole. I think that is only true to the extent that I portray myself as perfect and portray Christianity as a religion whose goal is sinless perfection. This doesn't authorize carelessness about sin but it does reaffirm that Christianity is fundamentally a project of redemption, not a project of self-improvement.
But isn't Christianity "a religion whose goal is sinless perfection". If our goal is not sinlessness, then we are necessarily making compromises with sin.
Is Christianity, as David Wayne describes it, about redemption or improvement? I would answer "yes". This is a false dichotomy; there's no need to choose between the two. 1 Peter 1:13-19:
Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.
We are redeemed, therefore let us be sinless.
I internalize and cover up my sin and weakness because I fear that any failure on my part implies a failure of Christianity. I must be perfect; otherwise Christianity is just a big flop, exposed as an elaborate hoax. The pressure is on and I must perform so that Christianity looks like a good buy.
This assumption is the exact opposite of the gospel. It is anti-gospel. To say that my failures somehow discredit Christianity completely disregards the cross! What pride and hypocrisy! Out of death we are made alive in Christ and our new identities are not bound up in our own righteousness, but rather the righteousness of Christ. It is by His perfection that we are presented as spotless before the Father. And while the Spirit does begin its healing work on our hearts, it is forever the work of Jesus that makes us children of God. I no longer have to disguise my sin for fear of nullifying the gospel. The gospel, rather, nullifies my sin, and frees me up to live as though transparent. The world can see through me- can see that I am needy and that there is a savior who triumphs over my brokenness.
I get what he's saying here, but Kleberg's train of thought could potentially devalue the importance of holiness. It is true that we should not be disguising our sin, rather we should not be doing it. Sanctification is a long process, but it is reasonable to conclude that Christianity is invalid if there is no discernible moral difference between Christians and non-Christians.
I found this post via David Wayne, who emphasizes redemption to the detriment of sanctification:
A good deal of the pressure we put on ourselves to perform is because of what he said - any failure on my part will taint the Christian faith as a whole. I think that is only true to the extent that I portray myself as perfect and portray Christianity as a religion whose goal is sinless perfection. This doesn't authorize carelessness about sin but it does reaffirm that Christianity is fundamentally a project of redemption, not a project of self-improvement.
But isn't Christianity "a religion whose goal is sinless perfection". If our goal is not sinlessness, then we are necessarily making compromises with sin.
Is Christianity, as David Wayne describes it, about redemption or improvement? I would answer "yes". This is a false dichotomy; there's no need to choose between the two. 1 Peter 1:13-19:
Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.
We are redeemed, therefore let us be sinless.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
It's About Time!
Australian politics is way ahead of America's obsession with unimportant issues like health care and foreign policy and such.
Hat tip
Hat tip
Sermon Exegesis on a Shoe-String
I don't have much of a exegetical library. Sometimes I can borrow circulating commentaries from the Asbury library, but I'm usually doing my sermon exegesis from four sources:
I'd like to have more, but to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, you go to exegesis with the library that you have.
After prayer, I begin by opening up a Word document and taking notes. This is the typical result (the odd characters on the first page come from my pdf converter getting confused about Hebrew). I start by looking at the passage in its broader context, and then outlining it from the English. Next, I open up BibleWorks and examine the Greek and Hebrew, picking apart key phrases and words and seeing how they are used elsewhere in the Bible. Then I ask a set of exegetical questions. The books come next: I look at relevant entries in my Bible dictionary and Testamental handbook. Finally, I provide my interpretation and describe how it can be used homiletically.
And that's how I'm doing it now as a total noob. It takes about two hours.
What is your process for sermon exegesis?
- BibleWorks 7
- Eerdmans' Dictionary of the Bible
- Brown's Introduction to the New Testament
- LaSor et al's Old Testament Survey.
I'd like to have more, but to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, you go to exegesis with the library that you have.
After prayer, I begin by opening up a Word document and taking notes. This is the typical result (the odd characters on the first page come from my pdf converter getting confused about Hebrew). I start by looking at the passage in its broader context, and then outlining it from the English. Next, I open up BibleWorks and examine the Greek and Hebrew, picking apart key phrases and words and seeing how they are used elsewhere in the Bible. Then I ask a set of exegetical questions. The books come next: I look at relevant entries in my Bible dictionary and Testamental handbook. Finally, I provide my interpretation and describe how it can be used homiletically.
And that's how I'm doing it now as a total noob. It takes about two hours.
What is your process for sermon exegesis?
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Hatebook
Have you ever met people who seemed to thrive on being angry? Now there's a social networking site just for them!
Hat tip: I hate Gavin Richardson.
Hat tip: I hate Gavin Richardson.
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnerWINNER: DannyG:
Next on the National Geographic Chanel's "Seconds from Disaster"...
An Investment Opportunity for Methobloggers
Do you ever notice that blogging can take up so much time? That you often have to wade through boring posts to find the good stuff? That navigating through your favorite blogs can be a chore?My friends, I want to give you the first crack at a new investment opportunity coming down the pike. I'm going to build a monorail around the Methoblogosphere!
That's right: no more waiting, no more delays in your blogging lifestyle. The Methoblogosphere Monorail will take you through the finer points of our community likety-split.
And I'm selling shares in this exciting new opportunity. A mere $79.95 buys you one share in the monorail, and $299.95 will get you four!
You'd better hope that you saw this post first and hurry up and jump on board the Methoblogosphere Monorail Project! This is an incredible chance to build up the community, contribute to the needs of the people, and make money.
Just send $79.95 via PayPal for your very first share in the MMP, and climb on board the gravy train to financial freedom! Don't wait! You don't have time to go through all of that financial planning nonsense! Seize the moment and help build the monorail!
Art Blogging: Émile Friant
Emile Friant (1863-1932) was a French Realist painter. My biographical information about him is limited by my extremely rusty French. But as much as I can discern, he studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Nancy, and then later in Paris under the great Alexandre Cabanel. As a true Academician, he stressed photographic realism and found critical success at the Universal Exposition at 1889, as well as won second place in the Prix de Rome. His refined craftsmanship can be clearly seen in the works below.
Political Discussion (oil on canvas, 1889).
Wrestling (oil on canvas, 1889, at the Musée Fabre in Montpellier).
Childhood Grief (oil on canvas, 1897).
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Employment in the UMC
Joel Thomas, an elder in the Oklahoma Conference, raises some interesting questions about the justice of certain UMC-mandated employment policies, such as employment-at-will and hidden supervisory files.
Hat tip: Richard Hall at the Methoblog.
Hat tip: Richard Hall at the Methoblog.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Are There Objective Standards in Literature?
Henry Neufeld is skeptical of claims that good and bad literature may be objectively identified:And I could simply ask on just what basis you do say that one is objectively better than the other. Philosophers regularly argue that their thoughts are better than those of common people, and of course than those of certain other philosophers. But the question is just how one tells which is which? A popular presentation will have a much greater impact on the public in general. Which is better, an obscure philosophical article that is read by 20 or 30 people or a popular article read, and perhaps understood by millions? Either may be right or wrong. Either may be dangerous or of positive value to society.
My point is that while there are some objective characteristics both of literature and of thought, there are also abundant subjective factors. Elitists like to list boring and obscure literature and call it great. But what made it great, other than that people who write obscure prose happen to agree that it is? In the meantime, millions who just enjoy literature, or film, or other forms of entertainment simply go out and, well, enjoy it.
I’m often in the minority. In this case I’m with the millions.
And if you ask me why my favorite literature is better than your choice, my answer is this: “Because I like it!”
My own point of reference is aesthetics, which I would argue is parallel in its (hypothetically) hierarchical evaluation to literature. While blogging about Pop Art, I argued that although it may be hard to differentiate between "good art" from "bad art", one could discern a "good artist" from a "bad artist":
I was very skeptical at first because of what I perceived as a lack of technical artistic skill among its practitioners of the variety unmistakably present in Academic art. And it is truly possible that a creator of modern art forms may be able to hide a lack of technical talent behind pretended profundity. And in spite of my desire to be open-minded and not languish in Academicist provincialism, I insist that technical skill must play some role in discerning art from non-art. An artist must be capable of replicating in physical form the vision within his mind instead of shaping his vision to fit limited technical abilities. Bouguereau could create an Indiana if he so desired; Indiana could not create a Bouguereau in his wildest dreams.
I am not sure if this same evaluative method could be imported into literature, but I shall roll it around in my head for a while.
Disapproving Rabbits
That's the title of a new photobook full of pictures of rabbits disapproving of everything that you do.
Hat tip: Neatorama
Is Fantasy Literature Morally Corrupting?
Candice Waters:Thanks to Ellie for taking the discussion to an even deeper level by mentioning Michael O'Brien, whose book, A Landscape with Dragons, is exceptional. In it, he shows that the problem with much of the modern fantasy genre is that it turns the moral universe upside down. Characters that were once, and always, evil, are now imbued with good and noble traits. His example is the dragon. Once historically and biblically the epitome of evil -- the dragon is now cast as savior. In the case of Eclipse, the vampire, traditionally an evil character, is cast as good.
It's as if the authors of such fiction want to numb their readers to the idea that real evil exists and is consistently recognizable. If you're convinced a dragon, or vampire, can only be deemed bad after you've gotten to know him, you're more likely to give all the dragons and vampires a chance to prove their character before making a judgment. Sadly, the time that passes between meeting a new and as yet unjudged dragon/vampire and deciding whether he's of the good sort, or bad, is a time of extreme vulnerability.
This is problematic because we know there is a dragon, Satan, who's goal is to devour what's good, all the while "masquerading as an angel of light." In the world we inhabit, even a dragon that appears good is evil. O'Brien writes, "Evils that appear good are far more destructive in the long run than those that appear with horns, fangs, and drooling green saliva."
Hat tip: Joe Carter
Postmodernist Tastes
From Stephen Asma, a philosophy professor:
My relativist undergraduates feel empowered by a leveling theory that puts their favorite rock band on equal footing with Bach and Mozart; but watch how quickly a qualitative hierarchy races back when, in the interests of consistency, you suggest that their favorite band must be no better than the Backstreet Boys (or that their favorite bohemian film is no better than, only different from, Police Academy 5). The old dichotomies between elite and popular, and high and low, may indeed be vexed by unjustifiable privileges, but without a new language of merit for the arts, the postmodernists are forced to live in a flattened landscape where Barry Manilow and Beetho-ven are equals. In principle, the postmodernists are happy to do so, because anything else would be hegemonic propaganda. In practice, however, their hearts are as autocratic as yours and mine (and they frequently elevate their own favorites with praise of "keepin' it real").
Hat tip: Joe Carter
My relativist undergraduates feel empowered by a leveling theory that puts their favorite rock band on equal footing with Bach and Mozart; but watch how quickly a qualitative hierarchy races back when, in the interests of consistency, you suggest that their favorite band must be no better than the Backstreet Boys (or that their favorite bohemian film is no better than, only different from, Police Academy 5). The old dichotomies between elite and popular, and high and low, may indeed be vexed by unjustifiable privileges, but without a new language of merit for the arts, the postmodernists are forced to live in a flattened landscape where Barry Manilow and Beetho-ven are equals. In principle, the postmodernists are happy to do so, because anything else would be hegemonic propaganda. In practice, however, their hearts are as autocratic as yours and mine (and they frequently elevate their own favorites with praise of "keepin' it real").
Hat tip: Joe Carter
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup #133
...is up, thanks to the tireless efforts of the great Allan Bevere.
Art Blogging: Robert Henri
Robert Henri (1865-1929) was an American Ashcan painter. Born in Nebraska to a riverboat gambler, he changed his name from Cozad to Henri when his father fled authorities on a murder charge. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy for the Fine Arts and at the Academie Julian in Paris. At the latter, Henri was influenced by the French Impressionists, particularly Manet. Back in America, he settled in New York City and became a prodigious teacher. George Bellows and Edward Hopper were among his students. In his own work and through his students, Henri is considered to be the founder of the Aschan Movement -- a New York-centered American art movement which realistically depicted the urban lower classes and openly rejected European stylistic standards.
Cafferty (oil on canvas, 1926). Traditionally thought to be an Irish-American boy, Cafferty is representative of Henri's embrace of gritty, urban life.
Salome (oil on canvas, 1909, Mead Art Museum). Oscar Wilde's French play Salome captivated public attention for decades after its 1896 release. A 1905 German opera on the character likewise gathered wide acclaim.
Jessica Penn in Black and White Plumes (oil on canvas, 1908).
Saturday, October 13, 2007
They Will Know That We Are Christians By Our Love
Ben Arment:
What if you couldn't start with the Bible as an authoritative voice in people's lives. What if you couldn't start your messages with, "Are you ready to dig into the Word today? Then turn with me to..."
Don't get me wrong: the Bible is authoritatively God's word, and I believe in its power to transform hearts and minds. I also believe that no scripture we utter will return void. But what if you couldn't even gain an audience around the Bible as a place to start communicating spiritual truths?
So begins the work of a missionary.
[snip]
If the Bible has immediate application and adherance in people's lives, I'm probably not reaching the right people.
Hat tip: Thomas Conard
What if you couldn't start with the Bible as an authoritative voice in people's lives. What if you couldn't start your messages with, "Are you ready to dig into the Word today? Then turn with me to..."
Don't get me wrong: the Bible is authoritatively God's word, and I believe in its power to transform hearts and minds. I also believe that no scripture we utter will return void. But what if you couldn't even gain an audience around the Bible as a place to start communicating spiritual truths?
So begins the work of a missionary.
[snip]
If the Bible has immediate application and adherance in people's lives, I'm probably not reaching the right people.
Hat tip: Thomas Conard
Conspicuous Consumption
That's the name of Shag's fantabulous exhibit of new works -- unfortunately, far, far away from me in Los Angeles. Blogged about here, here, and here. A few examples:
Friday, October 12, 2007
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnerWINNER: Ironic Catholic:
After the Blackhawk helicopters were implemented, environmentalists were pleasantly surprised that people decided to take public transit in droves.
The Root Problem of the UMC Ordination Process
Many Methobloggers and Methodist writers have written extensively in recent weeks about perceived flaws in the UMC process for ordaining ministers. As a person in the midst of the process, I understand the frustration of my colleagues struggling with contradictory instructions from institutional authorities, "lost" paperwork, unreturned communications, and long delays. And I appreciate the concerns of ordained clergy who desire for the process to be streamlined or reduced. But I think that none of these critiques address the root problem in the UMC ordination process.
It is this: our denomination is shrinking in America. At its birth in 1968, the UMC had 11 million United Methodists in the United States. Now that number has fallen to 8 million. That means that every year, there are fewer appointments for ministers. As one former Board of Ordained Ministry member explained to me, it may soon reach the point here in the Florida Conference where there are called, confirmed, and qualified ministers ready to enter into full-time ministry, but a scarcity of churches to send them to.
Were we a rapidly growing denomination, as we were in the 19th Century, the District Committees and Boards of Ordained Ministry would be struggling to find even semi-qualified candidates to fill pastorates in new churches as a wave of revival sweeps across the land.
Calls to streamline the ordination process, if answered, will only result in Boards facing the problem of too many elders and not enough churches. The real solution is nationwide spiritual revival. We may not like that solution because it is not something that we can legislate at General Conference, but it is the only solution that addresses the actual problem.
It is this: our denomination is shrinking in America. At its birth in 1968, the UMC had 11 million United Methodists in the United States. Now that number has fallen to 8 million. That means that every year, there are fewer appointments for ministers. As one former Board of Ordained Ministry member explained to me, it may soon reach the point here in the Florida Conference where there are called, confirmed, and qualified ministers ready to enter into full-time ministry, but a scarcity of churches to send them to.
Were we a rapidly growing denomination, as we were in the 19th Century, the District Committees and Boards of Ordained Ministry would be struggling to find even semi-qualified candidates to fill pastorates in new churches as a wave of revival sweeps across the land.
Calls to streamline the ordination process, if answered, will only result in Boards facing the problem of too many elders and not enough churches. The real solution is nationwide spiritual revival. We may not like that solution because it is not something that we can legislate at General Conference, but it is the only solution that addresses the actual problem.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
You'd Be Surprised How Many People Say That
John Carney:
I am not certain whether I should give John at Locusts & Honey a tip of the hat, or some sort of curse
I am not certain whether I should give John at Locusts & Honey a tip of the hat, or some sort of curse
Dawn of the Knitted Dead
When there's no more room in Hell, the dead will walk in fabric and craft shops.
The full gallery is here. Created by Cakey Voice. Hat tip to Jess Hutch.
The full gallery is here. Created by Cakey Voice. Hat tip to Jess Hutch.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnerWINNER: DannyG:
Dateline: 2035 - The Senior Tour of the X-Games inagurates it's 1st season!
Methodist Blogger Profile: John Fletcher
John Fletcher is a Local Licensed Pastor; he currently serves Bandera United Methodist Church in Bandera, TX as the Associate Pastor. He has been married to Gloria for eleven years and they share the joy of raising three children: Brittani, Ahslei and Nathan. He is what is called, among other things, a B.O.I. (Born on the Island); the island being Galveston, TX. His family moved to Bandera from the Valley after living there for nine years. Currently, he is finishing undergraduate work at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and plans to attend Perkins School of Theology in Dallas in the Fall of 2008. He’s enjoys the calling of ministry, the people he gets to meet, and he feels rather awkward about writing a small introduction about himself.
Why do you blog?
At first it was for the fame and glory. My agent says we’re almost there, and that I just have to wait a little longer for that part of the deal. I really enjoy having a reason to write down some of what’s going on in my little brain.
What has been your best blogging experience?
There have been many times church members or others have read something on the blog and given feedback or comments. That’s what is important to me and why I really wanted to have a blog in the first place—probably the real answer to #1. Get it, The Blog That Ties
What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
I think I still do this from time to time, but most people don’t want to know everything about your daily schedule. If they do you may want to consider a restraining order. Provide information, ideas, considerations, or angry outbursts that people will appreciate, be able to connect with or take away something from. If you decided to let me know that you asked the waiter to hold the onions there should be some significance to that. Give us something to think about.
If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
The Methoblog (for the Methodist/spiritual discussions),
Neatorama (for some downtime)
Locusts N Honey (for a little bit of both)
Who are your spiritual heroes?
Unfortunately, I don’t have any in-law horror stories; that’s almost a pity because I know some really good in-law jokes. The truth is I’ve often wondered if my in-laws favored me a little more than their own. My father-in-law is a retired Methodist minister; he’ll be 92 this year! You will still find him reading his Bible, and has always told be there is something new to be learned from it. My mother-in-law was my pastor for a few years. She was my introduction into ministry. Between them both, I was blessed with a balance of wisdom and passion for ministry.
My father and I have been able to establish a relationship that goes way beyond my expectations. Over the last several years, whether he knew it, or not, he has taught me a quite a bit. His demonstration of faith in losing a son still speaks volumes to me and guides me. Finally, there’s an “old bird” from NY that really took me to another level spiritually. I admire his ideals and perspectives on ministry. He probably wouldn’t want me to give him his props, or even mention his name, so I won’t. Just don’t follow this link because its got his name.
What are you reading at the moment?
Textbooks! In between I just finished a book entitled Story: Recapture the Mystery. It isn’t a profound work, but there is some pretty good sermon material in there. For example:
“Frankly, I’m tired of hearing about conferences, seminars, books and DVDs that will change my life. ‘This (fill in the blank) will change your life! Attend this life-changing (fill in the blank) and you’ll never be the same again! It’ll be life changing!’
On the back of one Christian book I recently picked up were three separate quotes by Christian celebrities, all of which promised, ‘This book will change your life!’
A hernia will change your life. Swallowing two pounds of Ex-Lax will change your life. Getting bitten by a rabid dog will change your life. So will going bankrupt, joining a cult, or getting a tapeworm. All of these things are very life changing.
Change is not always a good thing. What I need isn’t change from one thing to another but transformation from who I am into who I was meant to become.”
And one of my readings for class is Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I’m looking forward to getting to that.
What is your favorite hymn and why?
Without question—Sprit Song. If you ever had a chance to hear Mrs. Alewine sing the Spirit Song you would not have to ask. The first time I heard that song I was still not into the faith stuff, and I didn’t really understand all the implications of what that song wanted me to do. I can look back and say though that was my first experience with a “strangely warm” feeling. It was not too long after that I confessed Christ as my Lord.
Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've ever changed your mind?
My first two children have not been baptized. There was a time when I believed it wasn’t appropriate for them to be baptized because they didn’t fully understand what it meant. That presumption, by default, assumed I really had some clue what it really meant when I was baptized. I look forward to the day when we celebrate their baptism.
What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
Me. No, really. The philosophy of me is very disturbing to…um...the person that is writing this. I believe meism has the ability to break every ounce of integrity of the church and its work. Not to mention the fact that it goes against the ministry Christ gave to us.
If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
This may not concern, necessarily, the governing of our country, but I wish politicians would quit playing games. For example, the idea of having a political strategist doesn’t make sense to me. The process of winning elections in our nation bugs the Air Freshener out of me. I, for one, do not treat my country’s future like an episode of American Idol.
If you could effect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church, what would it be?
I don’t know if I know enough about our policies to say I want to change them.
What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways…” That advice changed my life.
What, if anything, do you worry about?
I’m a simple person. That simplicity has shown me that God is good and that “all things” do work for good. Much to my wife’s frustration at times, I don’t tend to worry. My personal fear, however, is that one day I will become a pastor who has been “doing this for years” and will begin to just go through the motions. You guys can throw week old salsa at me if I do.
If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
Faith would be a factor in my life. I didn’t grow up in the church. In fact, I really thought a lot of it was garbage—although I do vividly remember using a Gideon Bible to impersonate a television preacher as a young kid. Hey, three piece suits are nice. But I would ensure an emphasis on faith. However, God has done a great work this far in my life.
Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
Oz—I like the color green and high ceilings. Of course a beach front view is pretty nice, too.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
I like to let my kids beat me in wrestling on occasion; the rest of the time I whoop ‘em up. Spending time with my family is a joy. Also, though my skills are limited, I enjoy graphical design, web mastering, piano, guitar and playing percussion. Football season is the most wonderful time of the year. I like to let the youth beat me playing video games on occasion. The rest of the time they whoop me up.
What is your most treasured possession?
My bookshelves in the office have a bunch of miscellaneous items on their tops. These items are gifts and things members, friends and family have given me over the last several years. Most of these items probably wouldn’t mean much to anyone else. But they are a time when someone thought of me, and most of them have some kind of story behind them. That means a lot.
What talent would you most like to have?
I’m convinced that if I had had the ability to sing while I was growing up I wouldn’t be in ministry today. Not having a singing voice was the one thing that kept me from thinking I was ALL that. Now that I have a better understanding of my little place in this world (and the next) I wish my singing wouldn’t remind people of a package left at the front of a building—something to run away from, handled only by professionals willing to give their lives in service and likely to be a tragedy.
If you could have any three guests, past or present, to dinner, who would they be?
Well, seeing as how Jesus has already invited me to His dinner, I would invite the other John Fletcher (Wesley’s friend), the Apostle Paul and Martin Luther King, Jr. Oh, and I would ask Dom DeLuise to cook for us.
That’s all folks. I hope the content was worth your price of admission. Stay blessed…john
My Favorite Shag
I haven't updated the "Shag of the Week" feature in a couple of weeks in part because I've been too busy, but also because this one is my favorite. The Thinking Has Been Done (acrylic and vinyl on panel, 2006) is a marvelous example of Shag's playful mood and perfectly balanced forms and colors. It is truly Shagalicious!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Food and Other
There's one small grocery store in our parish town, and there I bought a rotisserie chicken with this unfamiliar label on it:
I'm not sure if I agree. Depends on who's doing the rubbing.
I'm not sure if I agree. Depends on who's doing the rubbing.
Theological Pickup Lines
From a good list:- “You may not have chosen me, but I have chosen you."
- “I could not help but notice you were exegeting me instead of the text during the sermon.”
- ”Your name must be grace, because you are irresistible.”
- During communion say, “Can I get you another drink.”
- “The Good Book said that I might be visited by angels unaware, but something must be wrong with my interpretation, because I am perfectly aware of you.”
- “God may be the bread of life, but you are the butter.”
- “You must have missed The Fall line, because you are lookin’ righteous.”
Hat tip: Joe Carter
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Youth Ministry and the Dumbing Down of the Church
Katherine Coble:
When I was growing up, most of the youth ministers I encountered were guys who had some sort of arrested development thing going on. They got into youth ministry because they loved the feeling of someone looking up to them, thinking they were cool.
[snip]
I’ll never forget one of my youth ministers coming to chapel at my Christian School. This was a school where we had in-depth theology classes and deep discussions about things like transubstantiation, abortion, euthanasia and other faith/ethics topics. My youth minister’s idea of addressing “kids” was to sing “Little Bunny Foo Foo”.
As I’ve grown older (and even more curmudgeonly) it seems like this problem was not solely at my home church. The dumbing down of church for the young is causing the modern institutional church to lose 20-somethings at a hemorragic rate.
[snip]
The church needs to expect more from people between the ages of 14 and 30. The church needs to realise that this is when serious life choices are being made. Where shall we go to college? Can we go to college? Whom shall we marry? What will we do for the rest of our life? Instead of wooing “youth” with pizza party fun, the church ought to prepare growing people for the challenges of life.
Hat tip: Gavin Richardson
When I was growing up, most of the youth ministers I encountered were guys who had some sort of arrested development thing going on. They got into youth ministry because they loved the feeling of someone looking up to them, thinking they were cool.
[snip]
I’ll never forget one of my youth ministers coming to chapel at my Christian School. This was a school where we had in-depth theology classes and deep discussions about things like transubstantiation, abortion, euthanasia and other faith/ethics topics. My youth minister’s idea of addressing “kids” was to sing “Little Bunny Foo Foo”.
As I’ve grown older (and even more curmudgeonly) it seems like this problem was not solely at my home church. The dumbing down of church for the young is causing the modern institutional church to lose 20-somethings at a hemorragic rate.
[snip]
The church needs to expect more from people between the ages of 14 and 30. The church needs to realise that this is when serious life choices are being made. Where shall we go to college? Can we go to college? Whom shall we marry? What will we do for the rest of our life? Instead of wooing “youth” with pizza party fun, the church ought to prepare growing people for the challenges of life.
Hat tip: Gavin Richardson
World Communion Sunday
Today is World Communion Sunday. I switched our normal order for Holy Communion and did it after a sermon about that subject. I think that it went pretty well.How did your church celebrate World Communion Sunday?
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Friday, October 05, 2007
Caption Contest
Previous contest winnerWINNER: Tom Jackson:
Sometimes, if the machine wasn't loaded just right, you'll get two goats for the price of one.
The Low State of Christian Art
De at Thinklings has an intriguing view on Christian aesthetics:
On a related topic, it is common to hear artistically-minded Christians bemoan the low state of affairs in Christian art these days. I sympathize with that position, and I haven't given up hope that things will improve. But I sometimes wonder (I just wonder, I am not set on this) if we should be surprised that the state of Christian art is low. It occurs to me that I'm low. Jesus is for losers, of whom I am the chief.
God has not chosen the elite of this world. And yes, I know that there have been periods of amazing sacred creativity and artistry in the church. But I sometimes wonder how Christian the state-sponsored efforts of the past that generated the great sacred art of our heritage really were.
I'm just thinking here. I'm not set on this. But, generally speaking, if God has chosen the lowly of the earth, should we be surprised when the art the lowly produce is, well, "low"?
A very interesting idea. The Gospel message is an unequivocal rejection of elitism, and certainly the fine arts are inherently a sign of prosperity (societies do not develop art until they produce a surplus of labor).
On a related topic, it is common to hear artistically-minded Christians bemoan the low state of affairs in Christian art these days. I sympathize with that position, and I haven't given up hope that things will improve. But I sometimes wonder (I just wonder, I am not set on this) if we should be surprised that the state of Christian art is low. It occurs to me that I'm low. Jesus is for losers, of whom I am the chief.
God has not chosen the elite of this world. And yes, I know that there have been periods of amazing sacred creativity and artistry in the church. But I sometimes wonder how Christian the state-sponsored efforts of the past that generated the great sacred art of our heritage really were.
I'm just thinking here. I'm not set on this. But, generally speaking, if God has chosen the lowly of the earth, should we be surprised when the art the lowly produce is, well, "low"?
A very interesting idea. The Gospel message is an unequivocal rejection of elitism, and certainly the fine arts are inherently a sign of prosperity (societies do not develop art until they produce a surplus of labor).
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Question of the Day
Pastors, have you ever refused to marry an engaged couple? If yes, why? How did the situation play out?[Not an issue that I'm facing in the parish right now, BTW. Just a discussion topic at school.]
The Problem With the American Educational System
Glenn Reynolds complains about the education that his daughter is receiving in public schools:
It's hard to find a school with a good knife-fighting curriculum these days.
It doesn't get any better in seminary. Asbury doesn't even have an elective on the subject.
It's hard to find a school with a good knife-fighting curriculum these days.
It doesn't get any better in seminary. Asbury doesn't even have an elective on the subject.
At An Emerging Church Conference
Here's an interesting article:
Emergent leaders call for ‘missional re-understanding of Jesus-followership and Christ-focus imbued with passionate creativity and emotional authenticity,’ whatever that means
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — At a recent conference-like "gathering" of emergent church leaders, various factions sparred over competing visions for the future of the movement. Leaders on one side called for "deepening and continuously beautiful efforts toward emotionally true self-divulgence and confession." Other leaders countered with a call for "a theological re-purposing of our objective and subjective missionality within a framework of God-love." Because few in attendance actually understood what either side meant, both ideas were tabled.
The sides did agree that emergent leaders should continue to take every opportunity to make casual, cool cultural references to popular television shows, movies and Internet phenomena to introduce quasi-intellectual spiritual points about the state of the American church.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Question of the Day
Tony Morgan asks what church would be like if Apple Computers created one. That's an interesting train of thought. I'll ask the opposite question: if Microsoft started a church, what would it be like?- Pastoral care costs $1.99 a minute, including asking where the bathrooms are.
- You'll be paying this rate for thirty minutes while the pastor stands there and stares at you before answering.
- Worship services will, at least once a month, inexplicably stop in the middle. The worship service must then be restarted from the beginning.
- The Order of Worship will be wildly inaccurate.
What else would be a glitch feature in a Microsoft church?
Hat tip: Gavin Richardson
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