A couple of books have come across my desk recently on the pagan influence on Christian religion. Some of these books are a bit overblown and hyperbolic, but they remind me of some interesting questions regarding Church practices and their origins. While people within the church accept reluctantly that many church practices have their roots in paganism, it seems interesting that there is a general refusal to consider that same pagan influence upon issues of doctrine; specifically theories of vicarious-penal substitutionary atonement, and any theological conclusion that God has a thirst or need for blood.
I think that if there is a God, that this God must be unique, and in so being, must not be in our likeness, with our system of values, bound by our petty notions of justice. It is we who live out of harmony with this Deity, and not he with us. We rebel against the authority of the Divine, we seek blood - God I imagine seeks the restoration of his ordered harmony. The little god's demanded blood, but they are a dime a dozen. God gave his blood to us, and asks us if we've had enough. Because He is God, he does not project himself as God but humbles himself serving those he loves, even to the point of death. Now that is a unique God
A thought that kept me up
I can lose an argument and still be right
But winning it might just make me wrong
But winning it might just make me wrong
Synchroblog: A new kind of Christian?
Brian McLaren is kinda the spokesperson for the generation that wants to speak for itself, and so he's sort of the "victim" of a built in obsolescence. He tends to pander to the pied piper of "post modern" relevance, all the while failing to recognize that Christianity missed that boat thirty years ago. It's easy to pick on Brian McLaren because his name is so well known and associated with emergence, but the fact is that what is "emergent" was, a long time before it was labeled. Before the novelty of A Generous Orthodoxy, was generous orthopraxy being practiced by people in their every day lives. A movement is far more than a couple of talking heads who claim ownership and spokesman-ship for it.
Brands aside, it seems that from where I stand, that there is something of a thread running through the last two decades stemming from the indirect influence of Toronto, Brompton, and Brownsville coupled together with the influence of John Eldridge's "Sacred Romance." The former turned many people to question their faith, and the latter egged some on toward a different path. This just illustrates that it doesn't all have to do with Brian McLaren, and Doug Paget, and the Emergent Church.
Christianity is at least a hundred and fifty years over due for a crisis of challenged assumptions - Deep doctrinal evaluation. This is far more than the superficial "relevancies" of "is God violent," and alternative worship, but have to do with how a Christian can rightly understand God in the light of a universe we live in, revealed to us by the natural sciences. We've tried to mask the issues, defeat science, and contort our logic, making the gospel nothing more than a laughingstock. We preach the foolishness of man and claim it is the foolishness of God, having lost claim to what that really is. We've dumped anything uniquely identifiable about our faith except for the mantle of rejecting reality.
Anyway, here's my ten answers:
1) What is the overarching story line of the Bible? - The uniqueness of God
2) How should the Bible be understood? - As an imperfect yet essential and definite record of this unique God's pursuit of his creation
3) Is God violent? - Is God non-violent... if he who shall not be named breathed life into me (the sound of which is YH-WH) who am I to "define" Him: better to let him define me.
4) Who is Jesus and why is he important? - Jesus is exactly who he said he was
5) What is the Gospel? - The Gospel is the good news that I am not in control
6) What do we do about the Church? - which Church? those who follow the Way are doing just fine... the local country club, not so much.
7) Can we find a way to address human sexuality without fighting about it? - that all depends, it only takes one person who wants to fight. Better lets understand morality and sin with wisdom instead of our small minded human judgmentalism
8) Can we find a better way of viewing the future? - yes, it's called the present.
9) How should followers of Jesus relate to people of other religions? - As they relate to anyone else. since when is following Jesus a religion anyway?
10) How can we translate our quest into action? - Do something.
Steve Hayes - Khanya
Beth Patterson - Virtual Tea House
K.W. Leslie - The evening of Kent
Lainie Petersen - Headspace
Phil Wyman - Square No More
Ryan Peters - Blogs and stuff
Josh Jinno - The AnteChurch
Brands aside, it seems that from where I stand, that there is something of a thread running through the last two decades stemming from the indirect influence of Toronto, Brompton, and Brownsville coupled together with the influence of John Eldridge's "Sacred Romance." The former turned many people to question their faith, and the latter egged some on toward a different path. This just illustrates that it doesn't all have to do with Brian McLaren, and Doug Paget, and the Emergent Church.
Christianity is at least a hundred and fifty years over due for a crisis of challenged assumptions - Deep doctrinal evaluation. This is far more than the superficial "relevancies" of "is God violent," and alternative worship, but have to do with how a Christian can rightly understand God in the light of a universe we live in, revealed to us by the natural sciences. We've tried to mask the issues, defeat science, and contort our logic, making the gospel nothing more than a laughingstock. We preach the foolishness of man and claim it is the foolishness of God, having lost claim to what that really is. We've dumped anything uniquely identifiable about our faith except for the mantle of rejecting reality.
Anyway, here's my ten answers:
1) What is the overarching story line of the Bible? - The uniqueness of God
2) How should the Bible be understood? - As an imperfect yet essential and definite record of this unique God's pursuit of his creation
3) Is God violent? - Is God non-violent... if he who shall not be named breathed life into me (the sound of which is YH-WH) who am I to "define" Him: better to let him define me.
4) Who is Jesus and why is he important? - Jesus is exactly who he said he was
5) What is the Gospel? - The Gospel is the good news that I am not in control
6) What do we do about the Church? - which Church? those who follow the Way are doing just fine... the local country club, not so much.
7) Can we find a way to address human sexuality without fighting about it? - that all depends, it only takes one person who wants to fight. Better lets understand morality and sin with wisdom instead of our small minded human judgmentalism
8) Can we find a better way of viewing the future? - yes, it's called the present.
9) How should followers of Jesus relate to people of other religions? - As they relate to anyone else. since when is following Jesus a religion anyway?
10) How can we translate our quest into action? - Do something.
Steve Hayes - Khanya
Beth Patterson - Virtual Tea House
K.W. Leslie - The evening of Kent
Lainie Petersen - Headspace
Phil Wyman - Square No More
Ryan Peters - Blogs and stuff
Josh Jinno - The AnteChurch
Missional: dangerously living by faith
I HAVE studied many times
The marble which was chiseled for me --
A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
In truth it pictures not my destination
But my life.
For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;
Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;
Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.
And now I know that we must lift the sail
And catch the winds of destiny
Wherever they drive the boat.
To put meaning in one's life may end in madness,
But life without meaning is the torture
Of restlessness and vague desire --
It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.
-- Edgar Lee Masters, George Gray
I remember the first time I read Masters was at the Rockland Breakwater cafe, in the used book section - this odd collection of beautiful epitaphs. How I wish I'd bought that book now that the bookstore is gone. Later this poem was highlighted for me while reading one of John Eldridge's books.
I've been reminded recently how messy and yes dangerous this road is, this calling, and yet to not walk it, to not take the chances "is the torture of restlessness and vague desire." My friend Adam has some insight on the dangerous way here. While I've demonstrated several times the weakness of needing a respite now and then, I stand here considering ways to make it all the more dangerous.
The marble which was chiseled for me --
A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
In truth it pictures not my destination
But my life.
For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;
Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;
Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.
And now I know that we must lift the sail
And catch the winds of destiny
Wherever they drive the boat.
To put meaning in one's life may end in madness,
But life without meaning is the torture
Of restlessness and vague desire --
It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.
-- Edgar Lee Masters, George Gray
I remember the first time I read Masters was at the Rockland Breakwater cafe, in the used book section - this odd collection of beautiful epitaphs. How I wish I'd bought that book now that the bookstore is gone. Later this poem was highlighted for me while reading one of John Eldridge's books.
I've been reminded recently how messy and yes dangerous this road is, this calling, and yet to not walk it, to not take the chances "is the torture of restlessness and vague desire." My friend Adam has some insight on the dangerous way here. While I've demonstrated several times the weakness of needing a respite now and then, I stand here considering ways to make it all the more dangerous.
Perseverance
Is it fear that rules the night,
the darker reaches of your soul
When those with malice cast a snare
Their words taking a toll
Did you think the quest would leave you
with a friend or two
They killed the prophets and your Lord
Why would they accept you
I was at a conference this weekend, and one of the topics that came up was that of Pastoral ministry as one of transparency, of a kind of vulnerability that gives people a glimpse of something that may inspire them. That was my call many years ago now, to inspire others with the same passion I have for this guy named Jesus, despite all the atrocious things people have done in his name (and all the things we've made up about him).
I've been somewhat inspired, knowing that I have had more than five readers, and have gotten some encouraging feedback from many corners. Having this blog has been an inspiration for me to reflect and write what is now really a dissertation, or confession of a faith that I own. Nobody, not even someone with an ax to grind, can take that away.
I've learned a couple of things in the last week or so, having the blog down, won't solve the problem, and depriving myself of the creative outlet isn't helpful either. This blog is my personal reflections on my own spirituality and life, taking it down only validates the delusions of the misguided. I know almost all of the blog readers personally, and appreciate your readership, your patience and accountability.
the darker reaches of your soul
When those with malice cast a snare
Their words taking a toll
Did you think the quest would leave you
with a friend or two
They killed the prophets and your Lord
Why would they accept you
I was at a conference this weekend, and one of the topics that came up was that of Pastoral ministry as one of transparency, of a kind of vulnerability that gives people a glimpse of something that may inspire them. That was my call many years ago now, to inspire others with the same passion I have for this guy named Jesus, despite all the atrocious things people have done in his name (and all the things we've made up about him).
I've been somewhat inspired, knowing that I have had more than five readers, and have gotten some encouraging feedback from many corners. Having this blog has been an inspiration for me to reflect and write what is now really a dissertation, or confession of a faith that I own. Nobody, not even someone with an ax to grind, can take that away.
I've learned a couple of things in the last week or so, having the blog down, won't solve the problem, and depriving myself of the creative outlet isn't helpful either. This blog is my personal reflections on my own spirituality and life, taking it down only validates the delusions of the misguided. I know almost all of the blog readers personally, and appreciate your readership, your patience and accountability.
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