Narrative wins (most of the time)

June 1, 2007

Most of my friends don't have a clue what the Emerging/Emergent Church movement is - but they do share some of the same concerns that the Emerging church has with Reformed/Presuppostional Theology. My friends (and I) like narrative. As Paul Helm points out:

What happens is that in this effort to combine a narrative and a logical approach to theology the narrative approach invariably wins out. Stories are so much more fun than logical deductions and discriminations.

Donald Miller, known for his lived or hated "Blue Like Jazz", and his influence in the Emerging Church movement says in this month's issue of Christianity Today:

"Truth is rooted in story, not in rational systems. The Christian mission is not well served when we speak in terms of spiritual laws or rational formulas. Propositional truths, when extracted from a narrative context, lack meaning. "The chief role of a Christian," he says, "is to tell a better story."

The tension between the two is magnified on both sides - presuppositional apologetics vs. emerging metanarratives. I like Helm's piece because it highlights the strength of Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology.

Yes, I would agree that great minds like Helm and even Miller (in very different ways) probably can't hold the tension between the two. Me, I like my Biblical Theology with a strong dose of Systematics thrown in - my small mind has no problem holding the two as compatible.

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Missionaries, Trick-or-Treating and Chavez

November 1, 2005

In a bizarre linkage - I think we need to protest Hugo Chavez's decision to order all U.S. - based evangelists and missionaries to leave Venezuela immediately. He is accusing them of being CIA spies and exploiting the mineral rich tribal areas.

Chavez is also asking all of Venezuela to ban trick-or-treating and Halloween costumes. He said it is a "gringa" custom that is part of the U.S. culture of terror.

I know its too late - but I hope we all sent our kids out trick-or-treating last night. Don't feel guilty, you were protesting Chavez!

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Happy Resurrection Day

March 27, 2005

Christ is Risen - He is Risen Indeed!

Like the women at the tomb - I am surprised by Christ's faithfulness. Praise God He is faithful!

Happy Easter!

Women at the Grave
Adolpe Bouguereau

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Bible Bookstore closes

March 5, 2005

Today I found out that the largest Bible bookstore in Massachusetts recently closed. Whittemore's was a place I would go once or twice a year, to look at new Bibles and the occasional book. It was always a enjoyable experience. I loved paging through the new Bibles; thinline Bibles, the new study Bibles, the leather bound, gold-leafed Bibles, and even went down memory lane with a Scofield Reference Bible. I usually left with a new Bible - which is always a treat.
Of course I had to make my way past the Thomas Kinkade T shirts and dayplanners, the Left Behind display, and the Veggie-Tale monitors. But instead of being critical right now - I'm sad.
According to National Endowment for the Arts' survey in July, only 57 percent of Americans read a book in 2002. The study "Reading at Risk" found the number of adults reading literary works declined over the last decade.
Another sobering statistic: 97 percent of the books purchased last year were bought by 3 percent of the country.
What does this have to do with the closing of Whittemore's Bible bookstore? Well, I'm only guessing, but I think it is the confluence of a number of issues. 1)The decline in all reading in the United States 2)The dying of the evangelical church in New England 3)The desire for evangelical Christians that do read to read popular, quick answer, formulaic books like 40 Days to this, or 7 Effective Habits to that, or possibly say the Prayer of whatever, or seek Your Best Life .... These books litter the best-seller lists and can be easily found at your local Borders, if not the Super Wal-Mart. Why go to a Bible bookstore?
I guess my occasional trips are over. Now I'll have to buy my Bibles without touching, leafing, smelling and sizing up the print. That is really sad!

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Passion Recut

February 18, 2005

The Passion of the Christ is going to be recut to be less intense. Mel Gibson said in this article that he was trying to focus more on Christ's sacrifice than his suffering. I'm anxious to see this recut.
Last Lenten season we made a tough decision - we let our than 12 year old son decide if he wanted to see The Passion. He had heard so much about the movie, he'd read articles and heard many conversations. He decided to go. We of course over-prepared him. By the time the opening scene came across the screen we were a nervous wreck. We feared we were scarring our child for life.
My son is glad to this day he saw the movie. We are planning on viewing it again on Good Friday (he will again have the choice). I've gone to the Lord's supper since seeing the movie with a new appreciation of Christ's sacrifice. I'm glad the movie will be more accesible to teens who are ready.

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Poor and Pagan

February 2, 2005

An uprising of traditional social gospel is hitting our shores. Daily Kos links to this: Morality Isn't Guaranteed By Politics in Jesus' Name. Here's a quote: 

As the emotions from the 2004 election recede, it is time to contemplate its meaning. There is a multitude of exit poll data to examine, but here is a set of numbers that caught my eye. 

 --Persons who say they attend church more than weekly: Bush 64 percent, Kerry 35 percent.
--Persons whose annual income is greater than $200,000: Bush 64 percent, Kerry 35 percent.
--Persons whose annual income is less than $15,000: Bush 36 percent, Kerry 63 percent.

These numbers are so stunning that it takes a moment to recognize what they are saying. It is apparent that there has been a major shift in the identity of the church, and it is difficult to imagine a more searing indictment of Christianity in America.

If those who attend church more than weekly represent its most committed members, those whose identity is most closely connected to the church, then what do the numbers tell us?

They tell us that the church votes just like rich people and just the opposite of poor people.

Compassionate conservatism is being challenged by this illogical mixing of numbers.
I guess these same numbers show Kerry voters are poor and pagan.

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It Takes A "Puny Man"

January 28, 2005

Tod Bolsinger writes at It Takes A Church.... that John Calvin said we receive spiritual blessings when we hear the word from a "puny man".  Read the quote, it will make you listen differently on Sunday mornings.

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