Friday, January 30, 2009
Just for Fun
If you're in the mood for a little irreverent British biblical humor, this video is for you. It's kind of along the line of Monty Python's Life of Brian. My Hebrew Bible Professor showed this in class last semester.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Theology of Religions
I'm taking a class entitled "Theology of Religious Pluralism." I am only two lectures and half a book into the class, however I am enjoying the theological inquiry that naturally results from such a discipline. Here are a few questions worth asking. Feel free to add your own or even begin a dialogue.
Does grace alone incur Christian alone?
Are we to quick to claim John 14:6 without first working through John 1? In other words, what do we do with the fact that God was at work through the Word before the Word took on flesh? Would not such a theology point us toward a continual work of the Spirit outside the church?
Is Christianity, or even the church, the goal of God? If not, does this not open up the possibility of God's grace working through other means?
I believe this is a good starting point. Obviously, certain questions arise about the distinctiveness of Christianity as found in Christ. How is that we can retain a Christocentric theology and not perpetuate the often negative exclusivism that the church creates?
These may not be the best questions, and they may lead us/me to even more questions, but I think that are worth asking and reflection.
Does grace alone incur Christian alone?
Are we to quick to claim John 14:6 without first working through John 1? In other words, what do we do with the fact that God was at work through the Word before the Word took on flesh? Would not such a theology point us toward a continual work of the Spirit outside the church?
Is Christianity, or even the church, the goal of God? If not, does this not open up the possibility of God's grace working through other means?
I believe this is a good starting point. Obviously, certain questions arise about the distinctiveness of Christianity as found in Christ. How is that we can retain a Christocentric theology and not perpetuate the often negative exclusivism that the church creates?
These may not be the best questions, and they may lead us/me to even more questions, but I think that are worth asking and reflection.
Monday, January 5, 2009
How Long Oh Lord?
My heart is sad. A few weeks ago we as a church were in a period of waiting. We waited in quiet anticipation for the babe of peace, God as Man. We recognized the darkness of the world and eagerly awaited a glimmer of light. On Christmas we were jubilant as our expectation and our hope was recognized in the most absurd way. We worshipped a baby, the Prince of Peace, who would in turn have to flee for his life during political unrest.
And now Israel is once again in political unrest. The death toll of Palestinians in the past few days is astounding. Of the over 500 killed, 200 have been civilians. That’s over 500 who are now widowed, orphaned, childless, or homeless. I am reminded of that poignant moment in “Children of Men” when the child is born and the violence ends. For a moment, that child is seen as the culmination of struggle and hopefulness. For a moment, differences are set aside and there is only the reality of the baby. And then the fighting resumes.
I am reminded of the words of Martin Luther King, “It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it’s nonviolence or nonexistence.”
May our hope in this world not be misplaced. May it ever rest on that child who thought being born in a cave was a better way to usher in a new Kingdom than in a mansion with a military.
Jesus: be now with dying, the injured, the destitute, and their families.
And now Israel is once again in political unrest. The death toll of Palestinians in the past few days is astounding. Of the over 500 killed, 200 have been civilians. That’s over 500 who are now widowed, orphaned, childless, or homeless. I am reminded of that poignant moment in “Children of Men” when the child is born and the violence ends. For a moment, that child is seen as the culmination of struggle and hopefulness. For a moment, differences are set aside and there is only the reality of the baby. And then the fighting resumes.
I am reminded of the words of Martin Luther King, “It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it’s nonviolence or nonexistence.”
May our hope in this world not be misplaced. May it ever rest on that child who thought being born in a cave was a better way to usher in a new Kingdom than in a mansion with a military.
Jesus: be now with dying, the injured, the destitute, and their families.
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