Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Should I Smite them?
I'm reading through Jesus for President and stumbled upon this:
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Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination - end of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's law and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may posses slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not to Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is: how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor to the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are their degrees of abomination?
7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton-polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Garry Wills, What Jesus Really Meant (New York: Penguine, 2006). 34-35.
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May this be a reminder that we are limited in our understanding (as well as our epistemology) and should approach scripture with humility, gentleness, and love.
----------------------------------------------------
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination - end of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's law and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may posses slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not to Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is: how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor to the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are their degrees of abomination?
7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton-polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Garry Wills, What Jesus Really Meant (New York: Penguine, 2006). 34-35.
-----------------------------------------------
May this be a reminder that we are limited in our understanding (as well as our epistemology) and should approach scripture with humility, gentleness, and love.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
stories of the Story
Here is a good article from Christianity today reflecting on how different versions or faces of the gospel not only represent different salvation experiences but also represent Jesus' approach to spreading the Good News; rarely saying the same thing twice and using a world of metaphors and explanations to communicate the reality of the Kingdom of God.
I think my next pick up is going to be The Hauerwas Reader. I've been reading a little Hauerwas lately and I think I need some more. He is blunt and humble and those are two very difficult things to balance. Here is a quote of Hauerwas that I've been milling over for the past few days:
“I don’t have any faith in myself of living a virtuous life; but if I am surrounded by other people who are also formed by the same commitments, then we’ve got a better chance. We need one another to live up to the wonderful invitation we’ve been given to be other than we are.”
I've been thinking of a few commitments that I would like to make this next year as I plow through the ridiculous task of youth ministry.
I'm not one for New Years Resolutions or anything like that so I thought I would make this list short and achievable. I just hope it is the latter.
Peace and good things to you all.....
I think my next pick up is going to be The Hauerwas Reader. I've been reading a little Hauerwas lately and I think I need some more. He is blunt and humble and those are two very difficult things to balance. Here is a quote of Hauerwas that I've been milling over for the past few days:
“I don’t have any faith in myself of living a virtuous life; but if I am surrounded by other people who are also formed by the same commitments, then we’ve got a better chance. We need one another to live up to the wonderful invitation we’ve been given to be other than we are.”
I've been thinking of a few commitments that I would like to make this next year as I plow through the ridiculous task of youth ministry.
- Find ways to be invested in. I've been horrible at this so far. My church doesn't offer a young adult ministry and I have no idea where to go to learn and worship without having to lead something. I hope to spend the next few months praying about a mentor because I've never had one.
- Communicate. I've fallen short here for two reasons: one, I am unorganized and two, I didn't know I wasn't doing it well until recently. I have a lot to learn in ministry but I think this would help me and those whom I work with in significant ways.
I'm not one for New Years Resolutions or anything like that so I thought I would make this list short and achievable. I just hope it is the latter.
Peace and good things to you all.....
Thursday, April 3, 2008
New Life....
So I've never tried to garden before. I know nothing about it but I thought I would give it a shot. It is something I've been interested in for a little over a year. I bought a book to help me in my new endeavor.
I've read about 60 or so pages so far and it gives me confidence that I can do it. I only have enough room for about one row of vegetables so I've been mulling over what I might like to grow. So far I think I'll try cucumbers, brocolli, beans of some sort, and maybe some spinach. I might do some potted herbs as well.
I look forward to learning about the fruits of the earth first hand; To be more connected to the fruits that God has given us; Natural, lovely, fruits - little bits of mercy.
Also, I took this picture tonight that I liked so I thought I would share.
Peace to you!
I've read about 60 or so pages so far and it gives me confidence that I can do it. I only have enough room for about one row of vegetables so I've been mulling over what I might like to grow. So far I think I'll try cucumbers, brocolli, beans of some sort, and maybe some spinach. I might do some potted herbs as well.
I look forward to learning about the fruits of the earth first hand; To be more connected to the fruits that God has given us; Natural, lovely, fruits - little bits of mercy.
Also, I took this picture tonight that I liked so I thought I would share.
Peace to you!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Part of Something Big; smallitude
I keep running into this pastor from a church plant who has a very specific language surrounding his new church. He uses lots of buzzwords that I'm convinced more and more don't mean anything. Now don't get me wrong, he's a good guy and his church is in the more progressive camp of the Church of God, Anderson "movement" (we aren't a denomination, apparently) which I like. My only problem is with the jargon that he, and many other church planters, is using. "At "insert church name here" we have this saying that....." is a pretty common way for him to start a sentence.
I'm 24. If you know anything about 24 year olds it's that most of us just got out of college where we thought everything should be a movement and that if we weren't a part of some revolution we probably weren't good people or didn't love Jesus enough or cared too little about poverty. We now are, for the most part, out of college and having to figure out what it means to live out our convictions while working 40+ hours a week and most of us are finding that it isn't easy. You can't just join a movement. We're finding that going to a benefit concert, no matter how well intentioned, doesn't change the world and that signing up for an email from Sojourners or World Vision doesn't actually propel us to do much more than ignore emails.
We are an entire generation of people who want to be part of something big. I think churches tend to prey on this. They use language that makes people feel that something more significant than paying bills will happen in your life if you become part of their church. You will join a movement, so to speak. So they buy cool screens that count down the minutes until the sermon on Sundays and drink elite brands of fair trade coffee. They watch all the right videos and sing all the right songs and highlight the few people that have a relationship with the church who are actually living gospel centered lives somewhere in the world. They see a generation thirsting for something beyond themselves and they offer them mediocrity packaged as revolution.
I remember reading an article a few years ago by an African scholar. He was criticizing hyped up Western events to raise awareness or money(One Campaign, concerts, etc.), saying that aren't actually helpful (most of the money goes to corrupt officials and such) and serve mostly to make American's feel good about themselves. I think something that my generation has yet to realize is that big doesn't necessarily mean better. I think something that the church has failed to do is help young adults to understand this and have instead reinforced the notion that all good Christians are a part of something big that you can point to and make billboards about.
As I read Acts and as I read about the early church I'm always surprised by how upside down their revolution seemed. People were coming to the faith daily. Real disciples, many of whom died for it; thousands of people picking up their crosses and spending the rest of their lives pleading the case of the widows, the fatherless, and the immigrants. But there was no hype. They didn't throw concerts, they didn't have commercials with celebrities and they didn't even have cool videos to watch. They met in secret. They would paint a fish on a wall so people would know where to meet. Women would open up their homes and they would share a meal and worship God. Every day they had to reevaluate where they met so they didn't draw too much attention to themselves and every day more of their neighbors would come and see what it meant to be a people of God's Kingdom.
I say all of this to point out one thing: God's Kingdom is unassuming. Kingdom people are not people of hype because hype doesn't represent God's Kingdom. Kingdom people know their neighbors and serve in their local communities. Their revolution is one of love, and not some esoteric and unattached emotion but real, concrete, burden carrying, empathetic, difficult messy love. And it isn't big. It isn't something you feel towards people in Africa and it isn't a cause that you can sign up for an email update about. It is small. Very small. It is doing the dishes. It is babysitting for free or voting against unjust laws. It is making cookies for your neighbors or teaching somebody how to read. It is eating together and hurting together and more importantly rejoicing together.
I'm just tired of people trying to sell me a revolution. I want somebody to model for me what it means to love and I want their jargon and their lifestyle to be about that.
"Anyone who does not love remains in death."
-John, the apostle-
I'm 24. If you know anything about 24 year olds it's that most of us just got out of college where we thought everything should be a movement and that if we weren't a part of some revolution we probably weren't good people or didn't love Jesus enough or cared too little about poverty. We now are, for the most part, out of college and having to figure out what it means to live out our convictions while working 40+ hours a week and most of us are finding that it isn't easy. You can't just join a movement. We're finding that going to a benefit concert, no matter how well intentioned, doesn't change the world and that signing up for an email from Sojourners or World Vision doesn't actually propel us to do much more than ignore emails.
We are an entire generation of people who want to be part of something big. I think churches tend to prey on this. They use language that makes people feel that something more significant than paying bills will happen in your life if you become part of their church. You will join a movement, so to speak. So they buy cool screens that count down the minutes until the sermon on Sundays and drink elite brands of fair trade coffee. They watch all the right videos and sing all the right songs and highlight the few people that have a relationship with the church who are actually living gospel centered lives somewhere in the world. They see a generation thirsting for something beyond themselves and they offer them mediocrity packaged as revolution.
I remember reading an article a few years ago by an African scholar. He was criticizing hyped up Western events to raise awareness or money(One Campaign, concerts, etc.), saying that aren't actually helpful (most of the money goes to corrupt officials and such) and serve mostly to make American's feel good about themselves. I think something that my generation has yet to realize is that big doesn't necessarily mean better. I think something that the church has failed to do is help young adults to understand this and have instead reinforced the notion that all good Christians are a part of something big that you can point to and make billboards about.
As I read Acts and as I read about the early church I'm always surprised by how upside down their revolution seemed. People were coming to the faith daily. Real disciples, many of whom died for it; thousands of people picking up their crosses and spending the rest of their lives pleading the case of the widows, the fatherless, and the immigrants. But there was no hype. They didn't throw concerts, they didn't have commercials with celebrities and they didn't even have cool videos to watch. They met in secret. They would paint a fish on a wall so people would know where to meet. Women would open up their homes and they would share a meal and worship God. Every day they had to reevaluate where they met so they didn't draw too much attention to themselves and every day more of their neighbors would come and see what it meant to be a people of God's Kingdom.
I say all of this to point out one thing: God's Kingdom is unassuming. Kingdom people are not people of hype because hype doesn't represent God's Kingdom. Kingdom people know their neighbors and serve in their local communities. Their revolution is one of love, and not some esoteric and unattached emotion but real, concrete, burden carrying, empathetic, difficult messy love. And it isn't big. It isn't something you feel towards people in Africa and it isn't a cause that you can sign up for an email update about. It is small. Very small. It is doing the dishes. It is babysitting for free or voting against unjust laws. It is making cookies for your neighbors or teaching somebody how to read. It is eating together and hurting together and more importantly rejoicing together.
I'm just tired of people trying to sell me a revolution. I want somebody to model for me what it means to love and I want their jargon and their lifestyle to be about that.
"Anyone who does not love remains in death."
-John, the apostle-
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Philosophical Decunstructionism
This is what I've looked like for a few months now......
Then this happened......
Then this..........awesome.
Angry Mustache Man!!!!
Almost done......
This is me.......
And I'm spent.....
Then this happened......
Then this..........awesome.
Angry Mustache Man!!!!
Almost done......
This is me.......
And I'm spent.....
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