I have begun to become frustrated with something. I think the problem is my own, but I'm not sure. Around many of my coworkers I continually hear the Bible refer to simply as "The Word." I've used the same descriptor. My problem is with giving the Bible more authority and/or power than it claims to have itself. I had never heard of the concept of Bibolitry (spelling?) until I was a senior in college. Now it scares me.
I have great faith in scripture. I believe it to have power and be from God. I believe God was brave enough (sometimes I think stupid enough) to used normal people to write the words that would become sacred.
In John 1 we see talk of "the Word" but it sure doesn't appear to be the Bible. Here is my question. Does the Bible ever claim itself to be the word of God or are the references to word of God in the Bible speaking of something quite different.
These types of questions make me miss school. At Truett I could have sat at Common Grounds with the fellas and gained some perspective. I could have asked some questions in class and not been blasted as a heretic. I'm not sure I have that ability anywhere here yet.
I sure would appreciate some feedback. Comment here or send an email.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Other Worlds and Authenticity...
I am sitting at a restaurant called Hamlet's waiting on others to show up and eat. It is just before 7 and night has almost fallen. The moon is a very thin crescent in the sky with the points facing up. The sky is beautiful.
I'm on a short four-legged stool covered with some animals hide. For the last hour I've pondered a few things.
1. While technology has made the world smaller, has it made us more complacent to what is going on elsewhere? We've begun to believe London looks the same as Dallas and China the same as Baltimore. We think Asia and Africa really aren't that different and they all look about the same as the states. I live in a city where cultures collide. The people here believe themselves to be very distinct and unique. They don't even see themselves to be the same as other Africans. Never make the mistake of calling them black; they will quickly clarify...they are chocolate.
My parents are coming to visit me soon. I talked to them recently online. With an instant messenger and a webcam we are able to see and talk to one another as if we were in the next room. Daylight issues throw off the illusion but in all other ways it is just as effective if not more so than my cell phone was in the states which allowed me free long distance.
I try to explain this world to friends and family and I can't find the words to make it come together. It is like explaining the color red to a blind man. I can't explain with clarity how the two worlds collide here. Sadly our culture has infected them. TV shows from the states corrupt them. They see Days of our Lives as a documentary about life in the states. Many of the young ladies have given up customarily appropriate dress for clothing that is very similar to that worn in the states. The style may not match exactly but they are getting down the show as much skin as possible thing. It is sometimes humorous to see how they've bonded their world and mine. And someimes it is sad to see they have lost the beauty of their culture to take on ours.
Our complacency has left us willing to just stay home. We will let others go and do things there. I'll stay home where it is safe and comfortable. It is that different there anyway right? We allow worlds to be devastated by poverty, war, torture, disaster. We stay home and watch it on TV as if it is another Monday night movie (They don't actually show those anymore do they?) I'm not sure what is and isn't our business. I do know that we have a chance to see and help the world as each of us struggle with the difficulties of life. Some struggles aren't that much different. Some are vastly different.
2. I have come to believe that the desire of the church today is authenticity. At the same time we hate honesty and humility which seem to be the keys to authenticity. An example: these blogs have become my rope from home to here. Blogs of those I love and respect allow me to see their life from the other side of the world. Somehow I was directed to the blog of a guy going by the name Real Live Preacher. I was intrigued; he is an interesting guy. In time I have learned he is a pastor in Texas. He is constantly pushing the envelope of a typical pastor. He is honest, real, authentic.
Recently he posted a story. It had some sexual innuendos and comments. It shared embarrassment and fear; it shared truth. He was blasted! He was too honest, too real for many. To be honest, some of the post disturbed me too, it was uncomfortable. Most of the story moved me though it was a different kind of uncomfortable. Derek Webb has a CD out that my friend Cori sent me. He talks too much on it. But he talks about the value of the world discovering our deepest, darkest sin. You know there is truth in his thoughts, but it is dangerous. The church is scared of flaws. I know because so am I. I'm scared of mine and I judge those of others. Acts and the New Testament don't seem to read as if Jesus or the early church had that same fear. They trusted Paul for some strange reason. I wonder what it looks like for us to love all in spite of sin. Is authentic church a real possibility or a farce? I'm not sure.
Just some thoughts.
I'm on a short four-legged stool covered with some animals hide. For the last hour I've pondered a few things.
1. While technology has made the world smaller, has it made us more complacent to what is going on elsewhere? We've begun to believe London looks the same as Dallas and China the same as Baltimore. We think Asia and Africa really aren't that different and they all look about the same as the states. I live in a city where cultures collide. The people here believe themselves to be very distinct and unique. They don't even see themselves to be the same as other Africans. Never make the mistake of calling them black; they will quickly clarify...they are chocolate.
My parents are coming to visit me soon. I talked to them recently online. With an instant messenger and a webcam we are able to see and talk to one another as if we were in the next room. Daylight issues throw off the illusion but in all other ways it is just as effective if not more so than my cell phone was in the states which allowed me free long distance.
I try to explain this world to friends and family and I can't find the words to make it come together. It is like explaining the color red to a blind man. I can't explain with clarity how the two worlds collide here. Sadly our culture has infected them. TV shows from the states corrupt them. They see Days of our Lives as a documentary about life in the states. Many of the young ladies have given up customarily appropriate dress for clothing that is very similar to that worn in the states. The style may not match exactly but they are getting down the show as much skin as possible thing. It is sometimes humorous to see how they've bonded their world and mine. And someimes it is sad to see they have lost the beauty of their culture to take on ours.
Our complacency has left us willing to just stay home. We will let others go and do things there. I'll stay home where it is safe and comfortable. It is that different there anyway right? We allow worlds to be devastated by poverty, war, torture, disaster. We stay home and watch it on TV as if it is another Monday night movie (They don't actually show those anymore do they?) I'm not sure what is and isn't our business. I do know that we have a chance to see and help the world as each of us struggle with the difficulties of life. Some struggles aren't that much different. Some are vastly different.
2. I have come to believe that the desire of the church today is authenticity. At the same time we hate honesty and humility which seem to be the keys to authenticity. An example: these blogs have become my rope from home to here. Blogs of those I love and respect allow me to see their life from the other side of the world. Somehow I was directed to the blog of a guy going by the name Real Live Preacher. I was intrigued; he is an interesting guy. In time I have learned he is a pastor in Texas. He is constantly pushing the envelope of a typical pastor. He is honest, real, authentic.
Recently he posted a story. It had some sexual innuendos and comments. It shared embarrassment and fear; it shared truth. He was blasted! He was too honest, too real for many. To be honest, some of the post disturbed me too, it was uncomfortable. Most of the story moved me though it was a different kind of uncomfortable. Derek Webb has a CD out that my friend Cori sent me. He talks too much on it. But he talks about the value of the world discovering our deepest, darkest sin. You know there is truth in his thoughts, but it is dangerous. The church is scared of flaws. I know because so am I. I'm scared of mine and I judge those of others. Acts and the New Testament don't seem to read as if Jesus or the early church had that same fear. They trusted Paul for some strange reason. I wonder what it looks like for us to love all in spite of sin. Is authentic church a real possibility or a farce? I'm not sure.
Just some thoughts.
Friday, February 11, 2005
A New Look...
I wondered if this would inspire me to write on here once in a while. I got a few things in the pot...give me some time to get them together.
What are your thoughts on the new look?
What are your thoughts on the new look?
Friday, December 10, 2004
Sacrifice...
[Listening to: She Must and Shall Go Free - Derek Webb - The House Show (3:16)]
Tuesday I was with a national friend. He is an amazing man. He started his own business, led almost all his employees to the family. Now he has a piece of the body meeting each week in his house. He does incredible things.
They just finished Acts and John. Now he wants to lead them towards the OT. I have been pondering on his words since he mentioned them. I asked what books. He mentioned two different ones based on their call to sacrifice. He said that no believers here are willing to sacrifice anything. They are all taught that joining the family is about blessings you receive.
This land is desperate. I wonder if we (Westerners) did that blessing thing to them. I don't remember many sermons on sacrifice. I didn't preach any either, I don't think, it is a good way to not get invited back. All of our favorite books in the Bible and at the bookstore deal with all the great things we get by believing. Not many tell us that God might decide to kill off our family (Job). We aren't often told we might get so frustrated with how different God is than what we expect him to be we might kill ourselves (Judas). We aren't told that we have a good chance of being hated by everyone and eventually killed (most of the disciples). We aren't told God might ask us to kill our son, only to change his mind at the last minute (Abraham). We aren't told that we may get run out of our own home and have to live in the desert for a while (Moses). We aren't told that it may mean we have to wander in the wilderness our whole lives (Israelites).
Instead we read that we will have peace in all things. We read that our inheritance will be multiplied. We focus on jewels in crowns and blessings from above. Now I am not making the claim that there aren't wonderful blessings for us in the kingdom. My claim is that they don't look the way we expect them to. My claim is that it seems clear in the Bible that believers get more sacrifice than blessing. In the annals of our tradition it seems that a mark of faithfulness was persecution. Many of the great bearers of truth sacrificed their life, their family's lives, their freedom, their respect, their power, their authority, their wealth, etc. for the kingdom.
My friend is upset because no one here sacrifices anything to be called a child of God. It hurt me to think of how much more they sacrifice here than I ever sacrifice...here or at home.
After all of that, is it bad to say I got a new refrigerator this week? I was pretty excited about it. It has a freezer. I can actually fit Cokes and leftovers in it!
Friday, October 29, 2004
Missing the Point...
Today is the day to worship the saint Gabriel. I know this because there is a church built for Gabriel on the way to a restaurant I have become quite a regular at. Typically there are not many people at late at night (Note that late is not too long after dark.). On this night the street was packed. There was lots of traffic and numerous people just standing beside and in the roadway.
I asked the man in front of me on the taxi what was happening. He affirmed my guess. This place is so deceived. I believe fully that we can follow the same Master and do it in different ways. The problem is that the people here have completely abandoned the pursuit of following the Master. Instead they follow good deeds and saints and luck that can bless their lives. Their pursuit of religion is all about the benefits for self.
According to the book, Notes from the Hyena's Belly the orthodox here have, "263 saints' days, 52 Sundays, 9 other Christian holidays, 13 abdar days [They worship the traditional sacred tree of the family.], 36 Wukabi days [They worship spirits.], and 12 days to worship ancestor's spirits." On these days they are supposed to worship all day and do no work. Do the math! It comes up to about 368 days. Now they do use a different calendar here, but there are still 365 days in the year.
They spend all of their time earning the respect and "grace" of their God.
On another front. I hooked up with some old friends from last summer. I got to visit their university today and watch one of the guys play football (soccer). I was amazed; most of them were terrible. I guess I had some pretty high expectations. Perhaps if ever become able to make it up my 5 flights of stairs without sounding like I ran a marathon, I might try to play some ball. At the current rate, I will guess the possibility will never become reality…these stairs are gonna be the death of me.
I asked the man in front of me on the taxi what was happening. He affirmed my guess. This place is so deceived. I believe fully that we can follow the same Master and do it in different ways. The problem is that the people here have completely abandoned the pursuit of following the Master. Instead they follow good deeds and saints and luck that can bless their lives. Their pursuit of religion is all about the benefits for self.
According to the book, Notes from the Hyena's Belly the orthodox here have, "263 saints' days, 52 Sundays, 9 other Christian holidays, 13 abdar days [They worship the traditional sacred tree of the family.], 36 Wukabi days [They worship spirits.], and 12 days to worship ancestor's spirits." On these days they are supposed to worship all day and do no work. Do the math! It comes up to about 368 days. Now they do use a different calendar here, but there are still 365 days in the year.
They spend all of their time earning the respect and "grace" of their God.
On another front. I hooked up with some old friends from last summer. I got to visit their university today and watch one of the guys play football (soccer). I was amazed; most of them were terrible. I guess I had some pretty high expectations. Perhaps if ever become able to make it up my 5 flights of stairs without sounding like I ran a marathon, I might try to play some ball. At the current rate, I will guess the possibility will never become reality…these stairs are gonna be the death of me.
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