I can't hardly describe the day I have had, although I will do my best here. The day has truly been riddled with showers of blessing right from the beginning:
1. Greek class. It was the final Greek class I may ever have to take in my life. God be praised for a great year of relearning a pretty neat language.
2. My last paper for Spiritual Formation finished in half an hour giving me lots of time to get to Chapel, which is number three...
3. Chapel was EXCELLENT. We had a substitute organist who ROCKED the keys. Possibly the best we have sung And Can It Be. Dr. Mulholland brought the word. Yes he did. We were all blessed.
4. Nice chat at the lunch table about feelings and cognitive behavior therapy. Could work well with some people I am sure. God has blessed some people with great wisdom.
5. Spiritual Formation class was awesome. It was our last so that was the worst part. My song went pretty well, thanks to Cherith Meeks at the piano, but it was clear how God worked it all together to make a really wonderful class. My text has been a sort of them or the Seminary the past semester and Dr. Mulholland spoke on the text as well. Sometimes God knocks us over the head with themes like this and we actually get it.
6. I showed the car to a person today. I hope he makes the right decision for him. God knows I want Him to take the car back and for the right person. Maybe this is he?
7. I talked tonight for half an hour with my best friend from the age of, well, ever. Ben lived next door to me growing up (even when we moved from the trailer to the house) and was an ever constant companion. God has shown himself to Ben in the last year in ways he could only tell you because they are so amazing. We are the sought not the seeker. Praise Jesus for holding us close even when we are dead set against running away.
8. I talked to another buddy from home living in Lancaster. He and his wonderful wife have had a rough go of the last three years but will tell you with his mouth how faithful God has been through the ugliness. Little sparks of hope are all around for us to find.
9. Said friend's wife told me to grow a pair and call her in a week. I mean, how could you NOT love a person like that! ;) Thanks, Rachel. :)
10. The Office season finale rocked.
What an exercise - why don't we keep a list of 10 blessings for each day like this all the time?
Sweet Lord - how is it that I have been showered with these gifts? May they drive a response from within that reveals even more of your reckless love.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Relief
God finally showed me a confidant to reveal my burdens to - what a blessing. Have you ever thought to yourself, "self - are there really any other skeletons in your closet?" Today I can answer a confident "no" and go on my merry way rejoicing at the new-found freedom that is mine. My God has freed me from an astounding guilt and will continue to renew me each day in different measure, but oh how sweet the conscience of a soul unburdened.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Happenstance Conversation
A man I just met on my rounds is in town for his daughter's graduation. I told him I was going to be a preacher so his advice was to "preach the Word and step on toes if you have to. If people complain you know you are doing it right."
When a person tells you to preach the Word, and do so unappologetically, what do they mean exactly? What do you "preach" to the man whose son conceives a child out of wedlock who serves your church as an elder - is "the word" for him to resign? Are you preaching the Word to a family whose son died in Iraq when you picket his funeral as a protest to our domestic, national waywardness on issues like homosexuality and abortion? What relation is there between "Word" and "gospel"? Are they the same - can you swap one for the other? Are we spineless stand-for-nothings when we care about how we are received?
When a person tells you to preach the Word, and do so unappologetically, what do they mean exactly? What do you "preach" to the man whose son conceives a child out of wedlock who serves your church as an elder - is "the word" for him to resign? Are you preaching the Word to a family whose son died in Iraq when you picket his funeral as a protest to our domestic, national waywardness on issues like homosexuality and abortion? What relation is there between "Word" and "gospel"? Are they the same - can you swap one for the other? Are we spineless stand-for-nothings when we care about how we are received?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Disappointment
I started this post some time ago and am just now finishing it. For whatever reason blogger post these things in order of draft and not post.
So...the title is inspired by a situation with a friend. Part of our conversation addressed moral gray areas I thought my friend and I were on the same page with, but it turns out we aren't. That got me thinking...
Disappointment has to be one of the worst feelings. I was disappointed in a friend, but I cannot imagine being disappointed by a spouse or worse - a child. How would a parent deal with that? Is it so hard because we paint an unreaslitic picture of these loved ones in our minds - or something else?
EDIT - I found the post date and time function. All is well in the world!
So...the title is inspired by a situation with a friend. Part of our conversation addressed moral gray areas I thought my friend and I were on the same page with, but it turns out we aren't. That got me thinking...
Disappointment has to be one of the worst feelings. I was disappointed in a friend, but I cannot imagine being disappointed by a spouse or worse - a child. How would a parent deal with that? Is it so hard because we paint an unreaslitic picture of these loved ones in our minds - or something else?
EDIT - I found the post date and time function. All is well in the world!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Synthesis
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I am going to do a recap of some thinking I have been doing lately. There is no way to say clearly where I am going with this thing, just that it will combine some thoughts on values, postmodernity, psychology and spirituality of personality, to name a few threads I will try to tie together in some meaningful way.
Much of what we think about God and the church is affected by the way we view the world God has created. Of these three the most important is our view of God. If we think we cannot possibly know God in our limited, human state (agnostic) the way we treat the world, the church - really, our whole lives will be affected. If we believe in an apersonal, set-the-world-in-motion-and-let-it-be, anti-miraculous sort of God (deism) we will necessarily react in certain ways to the idea of God, our families and cultures familiar and foreign.
In much the same way our personalities are large factors when it comes to how we behave as spiritual beings. Spiritual giants such as Thomas a Kempis such as Evelyn Underhill have been talking about the role of Spiritual Direction in the life of mentees Modern Psycho-social research on personality suggests that within the first few years of life we have already adopted a paradigmatic way of relating to the world. Myers-Briggs researchers identify four main avenues: feeling, thinking, sensing and intuition. It is observed that over the next few stages of life we learn to use the other three modes. I think (along with several personality and spirituality experts) that the person God created you to be will a large factor in how you relate to God. Thinkers will tend to think about God, just as they will do to every other relational situation. I think you get the idea.
In much the same way I believe communities tend to share similar approaches to God. Certain things can be said of the faith of the Amish, Methodists, Anglicans, Catholics and Charismatics. The way people view God's imminence, transcendence, the role of the Spirit, etc.
Thinking still larger, people across certain periods in history (within the same culture) can be said to think in similar ways. Nowadays Americans, Western Europeans, Australians and a few others could be said to have similar world views. We share similar cultures, cultural origins and economic conditions. One of the reasons institutions like Asbury Theological Seminary are blessed is because of the Beeson International Center which brings Christian leaders from all over the world to our campus. We are blessed to study and worship together - to share life.
People from other parts of the globe have a very different way of looking at the world. Their frames of reference are totally different than ours. This differing world view has repercussions with regard to the way these guests of ours relate to God.
Now we have come full circle to the modern - postmodern thing. Beginning with art critics and historians a movement has arisen to describe a shift of paradigms going on in our culture. Unlike any other period in history we are trying to describe the shift while it is happening and even forecast where we may be headed. These are educated people to be sure. They are, however, in among this shift as we all are. Some people claim the future can be forecasted to some degree by following trends in Europe, Australia and New Zealand which have tended to be anywhere from 20 to 50 years ahead of the US in similar shifts. These and other techniques can only be so helpful, however, since the period we are in can only truly be considered once we are out of it.
So here is a twist to our normal conversation: To what degree does talking about the direction our society is taking actually determine where its course?
Much of what we think about God and the church is affected by the way we view the world God has created. Of these three the most important is our view of God. If we think we cannot possibly know God in our limited, human state (agnostic) the way we treat the world, the church - really, our whole lives will be affected. If we believe in an apersonal, set-the-world-in-motion-and-let-it-be, anti-miraculous sort of God (deism) we will necessarily react in certain ways to the idea of God, our families and cultures familiar and foreign.
In much the same way our personalities are large factors when it comes to how we behave as spiritual beings. Spiritual giants such as Thomas a Kempis such as Evelyn Underhill have been talking about the role of Spiritual Direction in the life of mentees Modern Psycho-social research on personality suggests that within the first few years of life we have already adopted a paradigmatic way of relating to the world. Myers-Briggs researchers identify four main avenues: feeling, thinking, sensing and intuition. It is observed that over the next few stages of life we learn to use the other three modes. I think (along with several personality and spirituality experts) that the person God created you to be will a large factor in how you relate to God. Thinkers will tend to think about God, just as they will do to every other relational situation. I think you get the idea.
In much the same way I believe communities tend to share similar approaches to God. Certain things can be said of the faith of the Amish, Methodists, Anglicans, Catholics and Charismatics. The way people view God's imminence, transcendence, the role of the Spirit, etc.
Thinking still larger, people across certain periods in history (within the same culture) can be said to think in similar ways. Nowadays Americans, Western Europeans, Australians and a few others could be said to have similar world views. We share similar cultures, cultural origins and economic conditions. One of the reasons institutions like Asbury Theological Seminary are blessed is because of the Beeson International Center which brings Christian leaders from all over the world to our campus. We are blessed to study and worship together - to share life.
People from other parts of the globe have a very different way of looking at the world. Their frames of reference are totally different than ours. This differing world view has repercussions with regard to the way these guests of ours relate to God.
Now we have come full circle to the modern - postmodern thing. Beginning with art critics and historians a movement has arisen to describe a shift of paradigms going on in our culture. Unlike any other period in history we are trying to describe the shift while it is happening and even forecast where we may be headed. These are educated people to be sure. They are, however, in among this shift as we all are. Some people claim the future can be forecasted to some degree by following trends in Europe, Australia and New Zealand which have tended to be anywhere from 20 to 50 years ahead of the US in similar shifts. These and other techniques can only be so helpful, however, since the period we are in can only truly be considered once we are out of it.
So here is a twist to our normal conversation: To what degree does talking about the direction our society is taking actually determine where its course?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
On Balance and Christianity
Many late night conversations with the roommate turn out to be blog-worthy chats. The problem is that these exchanges occur in the wee hours of the morning once I have arrived home from work. This post is one such conversation from my point of view. It draws heavily on what I have come to understand is an Eastern concept of balance and the writings of Richard Foster and Marjorie Thompson on spiritual disciplines.
Like many of our conversations this started with drinking. A friend of Ted's is heading up a singles ministry that involves twenty-somethings from a few area churches. One gathering announcement on facebook or somewhere talked about an upcoming event and had a strangely awkward sentence at the end talking about drinking. "Remember, we are being watched and must put forth the best witness we can. Therefore, we will not be drinking at our event."
Many of my readers can likely tell where I might be going with this. I am part of the Wesleyan Church, a Wesleyan-Arminian Church in the Holiness movement. We are a "dry" Church, meaning that we, as a people of like faith, have seen that alcohol in many respects has been an agent for evil and victimized children, wives and families. At the same time I have many family members, friends who were Wesleyans or friends who went to Houghton with me (a Wesleyan school) who do drink from time to time. Certainly I cannot say that each of these are responsible adults, but I respect these people and the integrity of their faith. I have come to believe that people of faith and good conscience can fall on both sides of this fence.
That brought my thoughts to a chapter of Marjorie Thompson's book Soul Feast discussing the importance of fasting. She sees two main reasons for fasting in the Bible. Primarily, fasting is seen as a personal or corporate means of repentance "and humble supplication before God in the face of imminent destruction or calamity (See Joel 2, Jonah 3 and Esther 4). The second purpose of a fast was to prepare oneself inwardly for receiving the necessary strength and grace to complete a mission of faithful service in God's name." (Thompson, 76)
Thompson goes on to explore fasting from the perspective of the Church's Lenten season. Founded on the idea of Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Jesus' own 40 days of wilderness temptations, the Christian Church has long observed a period of fasting for 40 days prior to the Easter feast. She describes the entire Church calendar as "rhythms of feasting and fasting." (Thompson, 78)
Further back we can find foundations of this practice in the garden. "In Eden, God gave Adam and Eve every fruit of the garden but one. That one fruit, out of a world of variety, indicated a limit to human freedom. Accepting that limit was the single abstinence required by God. It was a way of recognizing that human beings are dependent on God for life. But Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be seduced by the serpent (a figure of God's enemy, Satan). The serpent's question inverts the reality of the situation, 'Did God say, "You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?" (Gen. 3.1, emphasis added). Instead of a prohibition against one fruit, God's warning is presented as a prohibition against all fruit. The temptation, it seems, is to see a single boundary as so restrictive that it negates the good of all other freedoms. Adam and Eve took the bait. Metapohorically, they "broke the fast," transgressing the one limit required of them. In refusing to accept the natural bounds of their creaturehood, they reached for the very place of God. They wanted it all." (Thompson, 79) We are, then, returning to the garden in our 40 days of Lent to remember that God is God and we are not. God is the source and sustenance of creation, including humanity.
This is a beautiful picture of fasting on a personal level - even the whole of the spiritual disciplines. We seek to place God back at the center of life, and in the case of fasting and other disciplines of restriction, we do this by voluntarily limiting our own freedoms. Could not the same be said of communities? Mennonites and Holiness communities and denominations (among others) are by their example seeking to create "fasts" to offset the "feasts" the rest of the world seems to be bingeing on.
The question is this, I suppose. Has God asked you to exercise freedom in Christ - and in that freedom display restraint - or has God asked you to participate in the self-giving of fasting for the sake of humanity?
Like many of our conversations this started with drinking. A friend of Ted's is heading up a singles ministry that involves twenty-somethings from a few area churches. One gathering announcement on facebook or somewhere talked about an upcoming event and had a strangely awkward sentence at the end talking about drinking. "Remember, we are being watched and must put forth the best witness we can. Therefore, we will not be drinking at our event."
Many of my readers can likely tell where I might be going with this. I am part of the Wesleyan Church, a Wesleyan-Arminian Church in the Holiness movement. We are a "dry" Church, meaning that we, as a people of like faith, have seen that alcohol in many respects has been an agent for evil and victimized children, wives and families. At the same time I have many family members, friends who were Wesleyans or friends who went to Houghton with me (a Wesleyan school) who do drink from time to time. Certainly I cannot say that each of these are responsible adults, but I respect these people and the integrity of their faith. I have come to believe that people of faith and good conscience can fall on both sides of this fence.
That brought my thoughts to a chapter of Marjorie Thompson's book Soul Feast discussing the importance of fasting. She sees two main reasons for fasting in the Bible. Primarily, fasting is seen as a personal or corporate means of repentance "and humble supplication before God in the face of imminent destruction or calamity (See Joel 2, Jonah 3 and Esther 4). The second purpose of a fast was to prepare oneself inwardly for receiving the necessary strength and grace to complete a mission of faithful service in God's name." (Thompson, 76)
Thompson goes on to explore fasting from the perspective of the Church's Lenten season. Founded on the idea of Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and Jesus' own 40 days of wilderness temptations, the Christian Church has long observed a period of fasting for 40 days prior to the Easter feast. She describes the entire Church calendar as "rhythms of feasting and fasting." (Thompson, 78)
Further back we can find foundations of this practice in the garden. "In Eden, God gave Adam and Eve every fruit of the garden but one. That one fruit, out of a world of variety, indicated a limit to human freedom. Accepting that limit was the single abstinence required by God. It was a way of recognizing that human beings are dependent on God for life. But Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be seduced by the serpent (a figure of God's enemy, Satan). The serpent's question inverts the reality of the situation, 'Did God say, "You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?" (Gen. 3.1, emphasis added). Instead of a prohibition against one fruit, God's warning is presented as a prohibition against all fruit. The temptation, it seems, is to see a single boundary as so restrictive that it negates the good of all other freedoms. Adam and Eve took the bait. Metapohorically, they "broke the fast," transgressing the one limit required of them. In refusing to accept the natural bounds of their creaturehood, they reached for the very place of God. They wanted it all." (Thompson, 79) We are, then, returning to the garden in our 40 days of Lent to remember that God is God and we are not. God is the source and sustenance of creation, including humanity.
This is a beautiful picture of fasting on a personal level - even the whole of the spiritual disciplines. We seek to place God back at the center of life, and in the case of fasting and other disciplines of restriction, we do this by voluntarily limiting our own freedoms. Could not the same be said of communities? Mennonites and Holiness communities and denominations (among others) are by their example seeking to create "fasts" to offset the "feasts" the rest of the world seems to be bingeing on.
The question is this, I suppose. Has God asked you to exercise freedom in Christ - and in that freedom display restraint - or has God asked you to participate in the self-giving of fasting for the sake of humanity?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Sabbatical
Blogging and journaling have been closely related in my experience. Content traditionally reserved for one medium has often found its way onto the other. This season has changed that to some degree. In Spiritual Formation we talked about praying through Scripture as a spiritual exercise, especially the Psalms.
The Psalms? Really? The Psalms have been an enigma to me for as long as I can remember. After all, what enemies have I that are at my feet? I am an emotional person (no matter how well that is normally held back) but the Psalms? They are totally removed from the story of my life. Then I tried journaling with the sort of abandon David and his contemporaries needed to be expressing these raw feelings to God. Now the Psalms, though distant still, have been given new life in my reading.
So, lately I am bearing my soul to God in a new way and a different forum reducing my blog load. (I had some good comments on a few recent posts - yes, I will respond! The Beauty post was part of a Postmodern fan-hitting in the groups in which I travel so I had to take a step back from the conversation/argument to collect my thoughts.)
How about you? Have you allowed yourself journal - or even pray - to God without using "thees" and "thous"? Have you exposed your innermost feelings to him? Have you yet discovered the intimacy that comes from not only knowing God knows all about your thought life, but have determined to take God on a guided-tour through your innermost secrets? You would be amazed at what new ways God is given permission to renovate your life if you take him in further - not stopping at just those prayers that really match a life more holy than the one you are living.
There is a push at school for a sort of bloggers convention - to gather together and promote this "craft." Me? I will be taking a sabbatical with God and my journal.
The Psalms? Really? The Psalms have been an enigma to me for as long as I can remember. After all, what enemies have I that are at my feet? I am an emotional person (no matter how well that is normally held back) but the Psalms? They are totally removed from the story of my life. Then I tried journaling with the sort of abandon David and his contemporaries needed to be expressing these raw feelings to God. Now the Psalms, though distant still, have been given new life in my reading.
So, lately I am bearing my soul to God in a new way and a different forum reducing my blog load. (I had some good comments on a few recent posts - yes, I will respond! The Beauty post was part of a Postmodern fan-hitting in the groups in which I travel so I had to take a step back from the conversation/argument to collect my thoughts.)
How about you? Have you allowed yourself journal - or even pray - to God without using "thees" and "thous"? Have you exposed your innermost feelings to him? Have you yet discovered the intimacy that comes from not only knowing God knows all about your thought life, but have determined to take God on a guided-tour through your innermost secrets? You would be amazed at what new ways God is given permission to renovate your life if you take him in further - not stopping at just those prayers that really match a life more holy than the one you are living.
There is a push at school for a sort of bloggers convention - to gather together and promote this "craft." Me? I will be taking a sabbatical with God and my journal.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Spring in Kentucky
Although Easter is earlier this year than it will be again for another 150 years (or so I have heard), spring still hits here in Kentucky far earlier than in Maine. This beautiful tree was spotted while I was at a stoplight leaving church today. Enjoy!
Via Crucis
Easter Craziness
Happy Easter, everyone!
Here is a crazy link the suitemate found today. Check it out at your own risk...
Easter Ritual
Here is a crazy link the suitemate found today. Check it out at your own risk...
Easter Ritual
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Beauty
Our church is in the middle of a wonderful transition to a Postmodern paradigm marked by many encouraging things. Among them is the demotion of reason (some may say truth) and the elevation of beauty. What does this mean, you may ask? Let me give you a good illustration - or at least give my best shot at it.
Today in Spiritual Formation we listened to a eulogy delivered by the former president of Asbury College, Dr. Dennis Kinlaw. He was memorializing the life of Dr. Caruth (spelling?) who was the previous Prayer and Spiritual Formation professor, and in fact, the first such professor in a Protestant Seminary.
Dr. Kinlaw's words were gracious and honoring. Without ever having known about Dr. Caruth's life, his ministry, his passions or his calling we came closer to knowing the type of Child of God he strove to be, endeavored to be, encouraged others to be. He was truly intimate with God - a true God hearer who lived life for the sake of others.
Today in chapel we heard a lecture delivered by Dr. Francis Watson of Durham University in England. The comment that links to this story was quite off-the-cuff (especially in a lecture setting like we had). Of the sacrificial system he was describing at the time, he said, "the priests were given the flesh of the burnt offering to eat and God was given the aroma."
I parallel these sacrifices in my mind, and with that of Jesus' sacrifice. God was pleased with the perfect sacrifices brought to the altar, with his son's body, anointed by a prostitute for burial, and with the life given to service to himself through intimacy and service to others.
I was inspired by these thoughts to think of the sort of bride I am preparing to be for Christ's return, both in the respect that I am his bride the same way the church I serve is his bride. Let me be the sort of mate befitting the Prince.
No longer Gomer. No longer Gomer.
Today in Spiritual Formation we listened to a eulogy delivered by the former president of Asbury College, Dr. Dennis Kinlaw. He was memorializing the life of Dr. Caruth (spelling?) who was the previous Prayer and Spiritual Formation professor, and in fact, the first such professor in a Protestant Seminary.
Dr. Kinlaw's words were gracious and honoring. Without ever having known about Dr. Caruth's life, his ministry, his passions or his calling we came closer to knowing the type of Child of God he strove to be, endeavored to be, encouraged others to be. He was truly intimate with God - a true God hearer who lived life for the sake of others.
Today in chapel we heard a lecture delivered by Dr. Francis Watson of Durham University in England. The comment that links to this story was quite off-the-cuff (especially in a lecture setting like we had). Of the sacrificial system he was describing at the time, he said, "the priests were given the flesh of the burnt offering to eat and God was given the aroma."
I parallel these sacrifices in my mind, and with that of Jesus' sacrifice. God was pleased with the perfect sacrifices brought to the altar, with his son's body, anointed by a prostitute for burial, and with the life given to service to himself through intimacy and service to others.
I was inspired by these thoughts to think of the sort of bride I am preparing to be for Christ's return, both in the respect that I am his bride the same way the church I serve is his bride. Let me be the sort of mate befitting the Prince.
No longer Gomer. No longer Gomer.
Can you read this?
Fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae an itnerseting mnid too!
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt
blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a
rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in
waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt
tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit
pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed
it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos
not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was
ipmorantt!
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt
blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a
rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in
waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt
tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit
pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed
it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos
not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was
ipmorantt!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Trivial Trivialness
This is a fun link for all you fellow bloggers. Not sure how the algorithms work, but it is interesting!
Blog Readability Test
Blog Readability Test
Saturday, February 23, 2008
How am I the Weaker Brother?
A natural extension to the conversation we have had below is the practical workings-out of the weaker brother consideration.
A friend posited whether we should, as Christian leaders, be educating ourselves in the identification of such weaker brothers (or perhaps weaker siblings). There may be ways Psychologists, Sociologists and Theologians together may be able to help us identify the issues some believers have with certain behaviors that may not be expressly prohibited in the Bible.
Then we might also consider an introspective approach - how am I the weaker sibling? What things cause me to stumble?
The real question is, though, how do we create an environment where these things can be shared? How do we share these things with others if we are the "weaker" sibling? How exactly do we respond if we have been told of a weakness in a sibling? What limits ought I put on my freedom? Do I limit these freedoms at all times or only around those who would be offended? What of institutions and denominations that ask us to limit our freedoms for the sake of others as an oath of community - do these apply when I am in my home alone with family? What about on the road visiting unbelieving friends who wouldn't understand if I refused to participate with them? Who does it hurt?
A friend posited whether we should, as Christian leaders, be educating ourselves in the identification of such weaker brothers (or perhaps weaker siblings). There may be ways Psychologists, Sociologists and Theologians together may be able to help us identify the issues some believers have with certain behaviors that may not be expressly prohibited in the Bible.
Then we might also consider an introspective approach - how am I the weaker sibling? What things cause me to stumble?
The real question is, though, how do we create an environment where these things can be shared? How do we share these things with others if we are the "weaker" sibling? How exactly do we respond if we have been told of a weakness in a sibling? What limits ought I put on my freedom? Do I limit these freedoms at all times or only around those who would be offended? What of institutions and denominations that ask us to limit our freedoms for the sake of others as an oath of community - do these apply when I am in my home alone with family? What about on the road visiting unbelieving friends who wouldn't understand if I refused to participate with them? Who does it hurt?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
Lenten Reader
This season the seminary has a new reader. It is simply amazing - both in content and in style. You can get a taste of the reader at its website, www.asburyreader.com.
Come read scripture with us!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Orders
The idea I am about to express is not mine - it came up during a Theological theme exploration last semester at the Asbury Wesleyan Community and I think it was Dr. Dongell who first posed the possibility.
My last two posts have been a result of this same drive a few of us Wesleyans at Asbury are feeling. Where is our slavery? Where is this generation's fight for civil rights for women and other minorities? What is our generation's incarnation of the activist spirit? A few possibilities were offered; environmentalism, immigration, etc, but then the question of mode comes. In their day, Orange Scott, Luther Lee and company were compelled to create a new denomination. Certainly it is not necessary to create a new body based on new convictions held by a pioneering few, especially if I am among that few and have no particular idea what sorts of issues will be so important. What other courses of change have we as a Protestant, Holiness movement?
The Catholic Church is our example here, I believe. A friend of mine spent last night at an abbey on retreat. The Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky, is a Benedictine order. As I understand them, orders are a particular kind of regimented here are many Cistercian orders who are Benedictines who wanted to return to the strict observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict. This abbey is the home of Thomas Merton who was a very popular and well-published monk of our century.
Orders are important to the faith and within the Catholic Church especially. Rather than start denominations certain faithful believers of the first century took upon themselves the task of convincing the church that the Spirt asked them to live a lifestyle contrary to the norm. After gaining recognition from the church they began following the Spirit and have enriched the church by their example.
We modern Christians tend to think there is a singular Christian life we are to all imitate - that of Christ. I believe this is a valid goal. However, rather than think of ourselves as imitators of God, orders tend to make us think of the church as an imitator of Christ. In such a way we embrace the Spirit's leading individuals on different paths and enrich our own faith by communing with them.
Monastic life is often criticized as contrary to the great commission. I think this is a valid point. Certainly there are many abbeys and convents whose orders do not include vows of silence where mission work does occur.
The question for commenting: In light of this post, how does the Spirit work?
Another question: How could the Wesleyan Church (or your own denomination) embrace the concept of orders today?
My last two posts have been a result of this same drive a few of us Wesleyans at Asbury are feeling. Where is our slavery? Where is this generation's fight for civil rights for women and other minorities? What is our generation's incarnation of the activist spirit? A few possibilities were offered; environmentalism, immigration, etc, but then the question of mode comes. In their day, Orange Scott, Luther Lee and company were compelled to create a new denomination. Certainly it is not necessary to create a new body based on new convictions held by a pioneering few, especially if I am among that few and have no particular idea what sorts of issues will be so important. What other courses of change have we as a Protestant, Holiness movement?
The Catholic Church is our example here, I believe. A friend of mine spent last night at an abbey on retreat. The Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky, is a Benedictine order. As I understand them, orders are a particular kind of regimented here are many Cistercian orders who are Benedictines who wanted to return to the strict observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict. This abbey is the home of Thomas Merton who was a very popular and well-published monk of our century.
Orders are important to the faith and within the Catholic Church especially. Rather than start denominations certain faithful believers of the first century took upon themselves the task of convincing the church that the Spirt asked them to live a lifestyle contrary to the norm. After gaining recognition from the church they began following the Spirit and have enriched the church by their example.
We modern Christians tend to think there is a singular Christian life we are to all imitate - that of Christ. I believe this is a valid goal. However, rather than think of ourselves as imitators of God, orders tend to make us think of the church as an imitator of Christ. In such a way we embrace the Spirit's leading individuals on different paths and enrich our own faith by communing with them.
Monastic life is often criticized as contrary to the great commission. I think this is a valid point. Certainly there are many abbeys and convents whose orders do not include vows of silence where mission work does occur.
The question for commenting: In light of this post, how does the Spirit work?
Another question: How could the Wesleyan Church (or your own denomination) embrace the concept of orders today?
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