Archive for category Religious News

Thoughts on Finding our Way – The Return of the Ancient Practices

Posted by Joel in Book Review on November 29, 2010

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For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. (Rom 10:3 NRSV)

As I read this book, this verse kept coming into remembrance. While I respect many of the things that McLaren has stood for, especially in the realm of social justice and generous orthodoxy, upon reading a complete work by him, I have to wonder if that respect was not misguided. I do not intend to step upon the personal piety of those who have thoroughly enjoyed his work, but I found it lacking in real substance and often times, seems to be still searching for what I only assume is his own redefinition of θέωσις, as his understanding of it doesn’t match the understanding which I have seen from Eastern theologians. But, this is not the first of his series of ‘reunderstandings’ that McLaren offers, most notably, his redefinition of liturgy (p101) or his entire notion of what the early church used as memorization. I would think that McLaren should spend some considerable amount of time reading Mike Aquilina, but I suspect that he would simply reevaluate those works to suit himself.

I fully sympathize with his notion that for many, especially in the West, even among Weslyans, Christianity has become more of a system of beliefs, rather than a way of life (p3). He is right that Christians have given up the walk with God mentality of our ancient forbearers and replaced it with a codified legal system which has only served to separate us from the Kingdom of God. Again, I enjoyed his take on the Imperialization of the Church with Constantine where soon afterwards, being born a Roman citizen counted as being born a Christian. Finally, I empathize with his feelings that had he been forced to remain in his previous denomination, he would have left Christianity (p58). Yet, McLaren notes these problems and offers solutions meant only to mimic what he believes is a return to ancient practices, as he calls them. There is no depth to his solutions, no substance to his call to return. He offers meditative prayers and the belief, sound as method but completely unfounded as a practice, of preparing yourself for the indwelling of the Spirit of God and to be made ready to share the divine nature (1st Peter 1.5), although, again, he attempts to redefine this doctrine to suit his attempt at charisma.

What he calls ancient practices is a hold-over from monasticism interpreted through the eyes of the New Monastics. There is no real history presented for these practices and what he does give history to, I would question. I try to keep in my mind the fact that this book is a primer to the serious which will entail the call to ancient practices, but to be honest, after reading this book, I have no real desire to read the other ones. Further, while I count myself a Christian Liberal, I reached the limit of it with his constant elevation of Islam to Christianity. The limit to my liberality is the exclusivity of Christ. While he may have meant other things, his constant appeal to an application of what he assumes are Christian precepts to the allowance of other religions is beyond my level of tolerance. Had he meant something else, which I don’t think he did (p6; p21, et al), he should have explained what he meant. As he noted, our ancient practices are meant to draw us to Christ and to a closer relationship to God in Christ; yet, he notes that the same practices draw other religions closer to their religious figures. His regulation of Christ to that of Moses and Mohammed didn’t help the matter either (p22). I make note again, that while this book is intended to be an introduction to the series, it doesn’t make me want to read the rest of them.

Could a book like this be used in local church ministry? Perhaps. With all of its negatives, McLaren focuses on Community, although generally without Scripture in said Community. He is not one for an individualistic faith which often helps to create that system of belief lifestyle and pushes us further away from the ancient practices. The first ancient practice to be recovered should be community and here, McLaren drives home the point continuously. Further, he makes room for divergent practices among believing Christians, such as the high church of Rome and the East, the low church of Baptist and Brethren, and the loud church of Charismatics and Pentecostals. He understands the appeal, across the board, and encourages believers to unite with others for fellowship. But, this is the limit of the usefulness of this book for local church ministry.

 

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Thoughts on War in the Bible and Terrorism in the 21st Century, Essay 4

Posted by Joel in Book Review, Religion and Politics on November 29, 2010

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For an introduction to the series, see here.

It was is looking to be a timely discussion tensions rising again around the Korean Peninsula, Rodas examines Isaianic impulses toward peace in a country at war. He first tells his story of how he came to his conclusions on biblical theology of war and the impetus of this search, followed by a thorough review of Isaiah’s prophecies dealing with Hezekiah, a king who in the midst of a war turned to human innovations instead of relying upon YHWH. It is not about what we can do, but about who we are that confirms what we should do.

Rodas begins his essay by detailing his personal pilgrimage during the years which he spent in war-torn Guatemala. It was in the midst of this struggle that he searched for ‘an appropriate evangelical response’ to what was happening around him, and as we know now, war and terrorism in general. In this struggle, he began to dialogue with voices such as Niebuhr who seemingly urged responses within the “ethics of responsibility” (p62). But, this was not to Rodas’ liking and was countered by the theology of Stanley Hauerwas. It was here that he formed his notion of response to violence as a test of identity. He expands this personal theology as he examines the attack faced by Hezekiah as recorded from the prophet’s viewpoint in the Book of Isaiah.

Throughout the remainder of the essay, Rodas is able to build up the notion that because those who hold to the legacy of Jewish monotheism as preached by Isaiah hold to a unique God, then we have a unique identity which requires a unique response to war and terror. And what is preached of a righteous king was never fulfilled an earthly king, which as we now live in the Kingdom of Christ, it behooves us to know our identity. If we identify with Christ, then we accept that while the Kingdom is come and is coming we must actively participate in it (p78).

In the end, maybe the best way to say what is happening so far in this book is “If God is our Warrior, then why not let Him fight?”

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WikiLeaks Release Imminent – U.S. World Standing in Jeopardy?

Posted by Joel in Religion and Politics on November 28, 2010

I don’t usually post on Sunday beyond the usual, but… this story really has me concerned. If there are lives at risk, should these leaks be stopped (can anyone)? But on the counter, what about the lives which may be saved because Governments have to act more responsible? Further, are we about to become intimately aware of the way our Government has been operating for a few years (more than the last two)? I think we are.

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“The material that we are about to release covers essentially every major issue in every country in the world,” he told reporters in Jordan by video link when asked if the new leaks again focused on U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan….

….

The cables are thought to include candid assessments of foreign leaders and governments and could erode trust in the U.S. as a diplomatic partner.

Crowley said the release will place “lives and interests at risk. We are all bracing for what may be coming and condemn WikiLeaks for the release of classified material. It will place lives and interests at risk. It is irresponsible.”

Diplomatic cables are internal documents that would include a range of secret communications between U.S. diplomatic outposts and State Department headquarters in Washington.

This is one of those times that a citizen should sit back and wonder what type of government do we really have? And, to what level are we, the American public, really knowledgeable about international relations… We sit here and watch as the tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula. Will we one day learn that governments were behind this?

The world is about to get scarier and brighter.

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  • U.S. braces for WikiLeaks (politico.com)

 

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Gordon Fee, Pentecostalism and Scholarship

Posted by Joel in Religious News on November 27, 2010

[[[Gordon Fee]] has become one of the widely read scholars, and the more so with his new book on Revelation (which I really, really, want). Anyway, here is a portion, read the rest at link below.

Among evangelicals, few have looked to Pentecostals for in-depth biblical teaching. A commonly held view has been: “Pentecostal theology? What’s that?”

Says Fee: “In defense of my Pentecostal tradition, we grew up with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that swept the world like a storm. For many Christians, it was ‘Father, Son and Holy Book.’ They would say, ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit,’ but that was it. The Pentecostal movement brought people into a direct encounter with the living God.”

So, do Pentecostals need Bible scholars?

“The question is not do we need Bible scholars, but are we willing to embrace them?” Fee responds. “If we are willing to embrace someone with a Ph.D. in history, why not embrace someone with a Ph.D. in New Testament studies, which, after all, is a branch of history?”

Fee adds: “Having a Ph.D. has not stopped me from being Spirit-filled.”

Fee is a sought-after author, and many Christian publishing houses want the rights to his books that help readers delve deeper into the Word. His most popular, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (co-authored with Douglas Stuart), is in its third edition and has sold more than 1 million copies. Perhaps the reason for its runaway success is Fee’s simplistic approach. “The worst enemy of Scripture is the numbers and verses,” Fee says. “Get rid of the numbers, and you can read the Scriptures.”

Fee admits to being amazed that no Pentecostal had theological books published before him. Students would listen to his lectures and ask, “Where can I find this published?” Realizing such a book did not exist, Fee decided he would fill the gap. Since the 1970s, he has written numerous books examining the New Testament and, in particular, the apostle Paul’s teachings.

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Study Finds White Evangelicals Believe in American Exceptionalism

Posted by Joel in Religion and Politics on November 27, 2010

"Progress of America," 1875, by Dome...
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I thought that this might interest some of you, actually. Who do you feel about it?

As a Christian, I tend to believe that God has a “special role” for every person and every nation. Too often, however, we confuse “special” with “exceptional.” If we agree that God has granted the United States a special role in history, then shouldn’t we also agree that God has granted Thailand and Kenya a special role?

Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s what most of the respondents in the study had in mind, and the research of Robert P. Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, seems to agree. In Jones’ analysis he found:

“Americans who affirm the idea of ‘American exceptionalism,’ a belief that God has given the U.S. a special role in human history, have a distinctly more militaristic approach to foreign policy than those who do not affirm this idea. Those who believe in American exceptionalism are more likely to favor military strength over diplomacy as the best way to ensure peace, and they are also more likely to say torture can be justified than those who do not believe God has given the U.S. a special role.”

Jones is referring to the disturbing finding in the same study that a majority of white Americans who say God has a special role for the U.S. also believe that peace is best found through the use of military strength rather than diplomacy and that torture can be justified in at least some cases.

Study Finds White Evangelicals Believe in American Exceptionalism – Evan Trowbridge – God’s Politics Blog.

In someway, I can see the idea of a ‘special role’, especially if one believes in a Sovereign God who is pushing all of humanity towards a consummation of history. I wouldn’t, however, go so far as to believe in American Exceptionalism. Nor would I assume that I would need to have a militaristic viewpoint if I did believe in the special role.

So, what do you think?

ht – Charles Harrison, via Facebook

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The Tea Party and Israel?

Posted by Joel in Religion and Politics on November 27, 2010

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If we are going to cut social welfare programs, then we need to cut foreign aid programs first. Even foreign aid to Israel. The problem, however, is that many on the Right (and the Left in many cases) have their own pet projects. For those on the Right, it is Israel. And for the life of me, why is it that Rand Paul is actually sticking to his guns on this and earning my respect on this single issue?

But while Mr. Cantor and other newly empowered Republicans are eager to promote themselves as Israel’s staunchest defenders in Washington, the reconfigured American political landscape is a more complex and unpredictable backdrop for Middle East peacemaking.

Scores of Tea Party-backed candidates are entering Congress, many of whom favor isolationist policies and are determined to cut American foreign aid, regardless of its destination.

Rand Paul, the newly elected Tea Party-backed senator from Kentucky, bluntly told the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel lobbying group, that they were going to disagree about the need for foreign aid and suggested that they move on to other topics, according to a person briefed on the meeting.

….

Representative John A. Boehner, the Ohio Republican who is the House speaker-designate, sent out fund-raising literature aimed at Jewish voters, criticizing the administration for its pressuring of Israel on issues like settlements.

“That was the first time I had seen Israel used in a partisan political way,” said Representative Gary L. Ackerman, a New York Democrat and outgoing chairman of the House foreign affairs subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.

NYT: Is Tea Party a blessing or curse for Israel? – Politics – The New York Times – msnbc.com.

So, what do you think? Do you think that while we cut social programs and foreign aid to other nations, that Israel alone must continue to collect American tax-dollars?

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Are we better than this? Good Bye America – God help the downtrodden

Posted by Joel in Religion and Politics on November 27, 2010

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Originally, from here, which is a webpage for those unemployed for such a long and extended time.

To the unemployed, sick, disabled and poor:

Hello,

I’m unemployed over 2 years now, a 99er without any benefits for 3 months. I followed Unemployed Friends almost from its start, never posted until now, but am grateful for my time with you all. I did as asked with calls and emails, etc. I’ve a confession to make to you all. I’m a criminal.

I’ve obeyed the 10 commandments and all laws except: I’m unemployed and that’s now a crime, I’m poor and that’s a crime, I’m worthless surplus population and that’s a crime, I’m a main street American Citizen born and raised in the USA and that’s now a crime, and I’m euthanizing myself as I write this note — so arrest my corpse. This isn’t a call for help, the deed is done, it’s not what I wanted. Death is my best available option. It’s not just that my bank account is $4, that I’ve not eaten in a week, not because hunger pangs are agonizing (I’m a wimp), not because I live in physical and mental anguish, not because the landlady is banging on the door non-stop and I face eviction, not that Congress and President have sent a strong message they no longer help the unemployed. It’s because I’m a law abiding though worthless, long-term unemployed older man who is surplus population. Had I used my college education to rip people off and steal from the elderly, poor, disabled and main street Americans I would be wearing different shoes now — a petty king. Hard work, honesty, loving kindness, charity and mercy, and becoming unemployed and destitute unable to pay your bills are all considered foolishness and high crimes in America now. Whereas stealing and lying and cheating and being greedy to excess and destroying the fabric of America is rewarded and protected – even making such people petty king and petty queens among us.

Since the end of 2008, when corporate America began enjoying the resumption of growth, profits have swelled from an annualized pace of $995 billion to the current $1.66 trillion as of the end of September 2010. Over the same period, the number of non-farm jobs counted by the Labor Department has slipped from 13.4 million to 13 million – there is no recovery for the unemployed and main street. We taxpayers have handed trillions of dollars to the same bank and insurance industry that started our economic disaster with its reckless gambling. We bailed out General Motors. We distributed tax-cuts to businesses that were supposed to use this lubrication to expand and hire. For our dollars, we have been rewarded with starvation, homelessness and a plague of fear – a testament to post-national capitalism.

12 years ago I lost the last of my family. 10 years ago I lost the love of my life, couldn’t even visit him in the hospital because gays have no rights. I fought through and grieved and went on as best I could. 7 years ago I was diagnosed with Diabetes and Stage 2 high blood pressure with various complications including kidney problems, mild heart failure, Diabetic Retinopathy. These conditions are debilitating and painful. I am on over 8 prescribed medications, which is very difficult without insurance and income. But I struggled on and my primary care giver was very pleased with my effort overtime with my A1C at 7. Still these physical disabilities have progressively worsened, and I have had a harder and harder time functioning in basic ways. All the while I give thanks to God because I know there are many more worse off than me – and I tried to help by giving money to charities and smiling at people who looked down and sharing what little I had.

I am college educated and worked 35 years in management, receiving written references and praise from every boss for whom I worked. Yet, after thousands of resumes, applications, emails, phone calls, and drop ins, I’ve failed to get a job even at McDonalds. I’ve discovered there are 3 strikes against me — most 99ers will understand. Strike 1 — businesses are not hiring long term unemployed — in fact many job ads now underline “the unemployed need not apply.” Strike 2 — I am almost 60 years old. Employers prefer hiring younger workers who demand less and are better pack mules. Strike 3 – for every job opening I’ve applied there are over 300 applicants according to each business who allow a follow up call. With the U3 unemployment holding steady at 9.6% and U6 at 17% for the past 18 months the chances of me or any 99er landing a job is less than winning the Mega Million Jackpot. On top of that even the most conservative economists admit unemployment will not start to fall before 2012 and most predict up to 7 years of this crap.

I believe the Congress and President have no intention of really aiding the unemployed – due to various political reasons and their total removal from the suffering of most Americans, their cold-hearted, self serving natures. Had they really wanted to help us, they could have used unspent stimulus monies or cut foolish costs like the failed wars or foreign aid, and farm subsidies. The unspent stimulus money alone cold have taken care of ALL unemployed persons for five years or until the unemployment rate reached 7% if Congress and the President really wanted to help us – and not string us all along with a meager safety net that fails every few months. In any case if I were to survive homelessness (would be like winning the mega-millions) and with those 3 strikes against me, in 7 more years I’ll be near 70 with the new retirement age at 70 — now who will hire an old homeless guy out of work for 9 years with just a few years until retirement?

So, here I am. Long term unemployed, older man, with chronic health problems, now totally broke, hungry, facing eviction. My landlady should really be an advocate for the unemployed – she bangs on my door demanding I take action. A phone call and a “please” are not enough for her – she is angry. She is right to be angry with me, I am unemployed – as apparently everyone is now angry with us unemployed.

211 and social services cannot help single men. Food banks and other charities are unable to help any more folks – they are overwhelmed with the poor in this nation. So I have the “freedom” to be homeless and destitute and “pursue happiness” in garbage cans and then die – yay for America huh? It’s the end of November and cold. A diabetic homeless older person will experience amputations in the winter months. So I will be raiding garbage cans for food, as my body literally falls apart, a foot here, a finger there. I have experienced and even worked with pain from my diseases – hardship I can face. I just cannot muster the courage to slowly die in agony and humiliation in the gutter.

I have no family, I have no friends. For the past 2 years I’ve had nobody to talk with as people who knew me react to the “unemployed” label as if it were leprosy and contagious. I am not a bad person, in fact people really like me. But everyone seems to be on a tight budget these days and living in incredible fear. It is hopeless since we all are hearing more and more that we unemployed are to blame for unemployment, that we are just lazy, that we are no good, that we are sinners, that we are druggies, yet we are the victims who suffer and are punished while the robber baron banksters and tycoons become Senators, Congress, Presidents and petty kings. So the only option left for me is merciful self euthanasia.

It is with a heavy heart that I have set my death in motion, but what I am facing is not living. So off I go, I have made peace with God and placed my burden on Jesus and He forgives me. This nation has become evil to the core, with cold-hearted politicians and tycoons squeezing what little Main Street Americans have left. It is not the America into which I was born – the land of the free and the home of the brave with kind folks who help neighbors – it is now land of the Tycoon-haves and the rest of us have-nots who march into hopelessness and despair.

Every unemployed person I have met over these past 2 years have been saintly. Sharing what little they have, and being charitable – being kind and patient and supportive. Isn’t it amazing that we Americans who suffer so much, have not taken to the streets in violence, riots or gotten out the guillotines and marched on tycoons and Washington in revolt as would happen in most other nations? But rather we plead with deaf politicians to please help us. We don’t demand huge sums – just 300 bucks a week, barely enough to cover housing for most. Most of all we say, please help us get a job, please allow us dignity.

I can’t help juxtapose our plight to the tycoons and politicians. They are never satisfied with their enormous wealth, and always want more millions no matter whom it hurts. They STEAL from pension funds, banks, The People and government, and little Wall Street investors. Then rather than face punishment, they become petty kings in this world. They are disloyal to America, unpatriotic, and serve their own foreign UN-American greedy causes and demand more and more and more. I feel that this is not the nation into which I was born. I was born in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. America, where people give as much as they receive. America, where all people work for the common good, and try to leave a better and more prosperous nation for the next generation. American, where people help their neighbors and show charity and mercy. This new America is alien to me – it is an America of greed and corruption and avarice and mean spirited selfishness and hatred of the common good – it is an America of savage beasts roaring and tearing at the weak, and bullying the humble and peacemakers and poor and those without means to defend themselves. I am not welcome here anymore. I don’t belong here anymore. It’s as if some evil beast controls government, the economy, and our lives now.

I must go now, my home is someplace else. Goodbye and God bless you all. God bless the unemployed and poor and elderly and disabled. God bless America and the American people except the tycoons and politicians – may God retain the sins of tycoons and politicians and phony preachers and send them to the Devil.

Mark

700 billion dollars for bailouts to the corporate people who caused this mess… Just saying and all.

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