Justice

In Romans 13, Paul has some interesting things to say about this topic. There seems to be a difference between individuals carrying out justice (i.e., "vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord"), and governments carrying out justice. Paul seems to okay the carrying out of justice by governmental authorities, who have been appointed by God. But then . . . what about the person who actually carries out (or authorizes) the governmental action? Is this person under the strictures of the governmental authority or of the individual? I am sure God knows the answer to this, but I'm at a bit of a loss.

One of the many things about the Lord that causes my head to spin when I think too much about it.

Epiphany / Twelfth Night

I am attempting to integrate some aspects of the Church Calendar into my devotions for this year. This is a stretch for someone who: a) never attended church until he was 17; and b) spent the next 20+ years in the ritual-less-ness of the Evangelical world.

So I note that today is Epiphany, celebrating the arrival of the Magi, and by extent the revelation of the Christ to Gentiles. As one, that is worth celebrating.

A Martin Luther sermon on the topic makes note of the message inherent in the King of Kings revealing himself to the lowest of the low: "It is both a terrifying and consoling [tale]: terrifying to the great and wise, the self-satisfied and the mighty, because they all reject Christ; consoling to the humble and despised, because to them alone Christ is revealed."

Resolved

In reflecting on the last few years, I can now dub 2005 as the year of "Stress and Struggle" and 2006 as one of "Recovery and Restoration."

Instead of waiting to decide what 2007 was after the fact, I am going to now declare my intention to make this a year of "Productivity and Progress."

May it be so.

All is Calm, All is Bright

Like a stone cast in a still river
Pushing the ripples out forever
Redemption rips through the fabric of time
In the cry of a tiny babe (Bruce Cockburn)

God bless us every one.

Book Review

Second Coming Attractions, by David Prill.

This book takes place in the Christian entertainment industry, and follows the struggles of a family-friendly, Christian film company trying to keep up with changing times and tastes. It is a satirical look at the Christian subculture by one who is clearly not a part of it -- this is not a "Christian" book in the sense that neither Prill nor the publishers are part of the evangelical world. It is not a "CBA" book, to use the industry jargon.

As satire, it exaggerates the eccentricities of the Christian sub-culture, and is certainly not an accurate portrayal. But for what it is, it is intriguing -- I think it often good to get a fresh "outsider's" perspective on the little world we inhabit. I don't have enough free time in my life to be able to spend all of it reading things that I already know, or otherwise agree wtih. Art is to be challenging, and some books that I read, I read to be challenged.

I enjoyed this book until a very uncalled-for scene late in the novel that turns the Christians from lovable weirdos to dangerous weirdos. It's a shame, because the work is otherwise a very worthwhile read, if you don't mind your own community's shortcomings being pointed out.

More Than an Icon

This is a work of mine that was published in my church's advent devotional:


There is a 14-inch statuette on my mantle that has been in family since my parents visited Brazil nearly 50 years ago. It’s a statue of Mary, holding her newborn babe. At this time of year you may think that is not unusual; plenty of people display similar pieces of art for the holidays. But this statue is not surrounded by Joseph and donkeys and angels and shepherds. And it doesn’t get put away in early January. Mary retains her place of honor in our house all year round.

I love Mary.

She is my favorite character in the Bible, and there is no close second. There are times I wish I were a Catholic so I could even more open in my respect and admiration for Our Lord’s mother. Mary speaks to me of faith, trust, and belief. My own character pales in light of hers.

Consider the arc of her faith walk. As a young woman, she has a powerful encounter with God that changes her life, and then never doubts what happened. Every moment of her life seems to flow with the will of God. I like to think that if I had had such a powerful experience, I would have responded the same way. Yet I have had a personal encounter with the King, and his Holy Spirit lives within me, supposedly beating in time with my own heart. And still I question, still I waver, still I doubt.

As the events at Cana show, Mary did not always understand what Jesus was doing, but she never doubted His authority: “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). Is there a better summation of what it means to be a follower of Christ?

In so many ways, Mary is my model. She received Christ in a way that transformed her as completely and radically as I hope my own encounter with Christ will one day transform me.

I love Mary.

Book Review

The City of God, by Saint Augustine.

This tome is considered a classic work of theology, and as I read it I understand why. So much of what we think of as orthodoxy derives directly from this work, and is really the template for Christian apologetics. In this case, much of what Saint Augustine is arguing against is the Roman gods (Zeus and that bunch), and so is not directly applicable today. But the idea of taking on the "gods of the age" and comparing the truth of their claims to the truth of Jesus taught the Church how to face the claims of the false gods that have arisen to challenge Christ in the 1600 years since.

The work is much longer and more academic than The Confessions, the other great literary contribution of Saint Augustine. That is the template of the spiritual biography, and is probably the place to start with Saint Augustine.

I am not recommending that others read this (it is long, and some parts are not applicable and others are dry), but it is important work, and we should know that it is an important work.

Thankful

In the spirit of the season, I wanted to post what I am thankful to God for:

* my wife and daughter, and the unconditional love (and grace) they show me
* my job, which is almost literally a "one of a kind" opporutnity for me
* the Church in general, and my local church in particular
* all of the good books I have read, and the ones I hope to read in the future
* my health, and that of my family

I like my life, but am looking forward to the next one

Book Review

The Suburban Christian, by Albert Hsu. Intriguing little book about finding (and bringing) Christianity to the suburbs. Hsu points out that suburbs have always existed, but their growth in modern America makes them a stronger influence than ever before.

There is a long history of urban Christianity, as well as country/wilderness/small town Christianity, but it is the suburbs where people are moving, as well as some of the biggest churches. He gives some thought-provoking ideas about how to forge community in these areas, where garage doors close us off from neighbors in a way that front porches used to bring us closer to our neighbors.

I am a suburban Christian myself, and am weighing some of the suggestions Hsu makes regarding how to behave Christianly in this setting, in terms of: shopping, work, neighbors, etc . . .

Plagairizing Pastors?

Do not underestimate the front page of Wall Street Journal as a source for fascinating articles on religious/spiritual/church things.

Today (Nov. 15) had another really interesting article -- this about the debate over pastors delivering other pastor's sermons as their own, and including the wide range of positions on the issue. Now as a writer and as a professor, I admit that my bias is in favor of attribution -- crediting the souce from which you get an idea or a story or an interpretation -- anything less than that is a violation of professional ethics and/or copyright law. I will also mention that my pastor (a former lawyer and university professor) practices attribution, mentioning the author and the book from which he gets concepts, facts, etc . . .

Another pastor in my denomination who I respect is quoted in this article as saying that pastors should feel free to use whatever truth they find, wherever they find it, and that attirbution can get in the way of the flow and point of a sermon. The arguement is that as long as the work is not printed, then copyright has not been violated. But with sermons being sold on CD, I wonder about that legal analysis.

But to me, legality is not the key issue, it is honesty. It is OK for pastor to not have an "original" idea every week, but if they are using resources, they should mention the resources they are using. Again I recognize my bias, but I have trouble seeing the other side of the argument.

But I also think that attribution models pastoral humility. In a setting where we have seen the "pastor as rock star" mentality -- and the excesses and moral trouble that comes along with that mentality -- I think a pastor pointing out that he is not the font of all new wisdom is a very good thing.