Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Words and Meaning
I continue to grow to have a strong dislike for the term "lovable." I especially dislike it in Christian circles. "God loves the unlovable," has alwasy struck me as oxymoronic - if God loves someone, then definitionally, they are lovable.
Therefore I was disappointed when the usually more astute John Piper fell into this semantic trap (although less so than most:
Now, none of what I am saying here should be confused with arguing Piper's central thesis which is genuine love transforms, deeply and completely. But that said, in an age where "self-worth" seems paramount, this seems more than a mere argument over word choice. We are lovely be because we are loved and the the statement ends. But even the lovely are ungodly.
Which leads to the converse statement, worth does not equate to good, worth equates to "worth saving - worth making good."
God loves us so much, we are so lovable in His eyes, that we meed to be saved, but make no mistake - we NEED to be saved.
These things matter. We have walked down a slippery slope of redefinition until all we need is worth - no we need loving transformation, but mostly, we need.
Therefore I was disappointed when the usually more astute John Piper fell into this semantic trap (although less so than most:
One of the most transforming forces in our lives is being regarded as better than we are.And there you have the rhetorical slip - ungodliness is not the same thing as unlovable.
There is something profound and paradoxical about the way God creates godly people by first justifying the ungodly (Romans 4:5).
[...]
Then—and the order here is all important—he says, “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart” (Jeremiah 24:7). They did not have a heart to know God when he “regarded them as good.” But now he will give them a new heart. That is the order. First justification of the ungodly. Then transformation of the heart.
Now the question is: Can we do something similar? Can we, by God’s grace, love someone into loveability? Chesterton said, “Unlovely things must be deeply loved before they become loveable.”
Now, none of what I am saying here should be confused with arguing Piper's central thesis which is genuine love transforms, deeply and completely. But that said, in an age where "self-worth" seems paramount, this seems more than a mere argument over word choice. We are lovely be because we are loved and the the statement ends. But even the lovely are ungodly.
Which leads to the converse statement, worth does not equate to good, worth equates to "worth saving - worth making good."
God loves us so much, we are so lovable in His eyes, that we meed to be saved, but make no mistake - we NEED to be saved.
These things matter. We have walked down a slippery slope of redefinition until all we need is worth - no we need loving transformation, but mostly, we need.
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Kitty Kartoons
Related Tags: Monday, June 06, 2011
Often Confused
Justin Taylor looks at a book "The Triumph of the Therapeutic". The book is from 1967 and it seems quite prophetic is terms of pronouncing the direction the church has taken in the ensuing decades.
I note simply how often we confuse our spirituality with our emotional states. They are not one in the same thing. The reason the church has progressed along the lines the author saw is because worship now seems more about emotional stimulation that spiritual.
Here is a core question for me, from whence has the confusion arisen. It's not "bad doctrine" - it's consumerism. That's where society is so the church followed along so we could keep people coming through the doors. Society got there by a variety of mechanisms, not the least of with is the overwhelming affluence even the poorest among us enjoy in comparison the the rest of the world. Who has time to worry about how they feel when they do not know where the next meal is coming from?
So how does the church appeal in a society so situated? I would suggest, as I have so many times before, that it is by being radically winsome - by following the example of Christ in the middle of our affluence and media filled society and being demonstrably different. It is by discovering our own spirituality in unique and different ways.
Christ was a Jew in Roman occupied Israel. The Apostles were all Jews and some affluent Roman citizens. They changed the world. Think about it.
I note simply how often we confuse our spirituality with our emotional states. They are not one in the same thing. The reason the church has progressed along the lines the author saw is because worship now seems more about emotional stimulation that spiritual.
Here is a core question for me, from whence has the confusion arisen. It's not "bad doctrine" - it's consumerism. That's where society is so the church followed along so we could keep people coming through the doors. Society got there by a variety of mechanisms, not the least of with is the overwhelming affluence even the poorest among us enjoy in comparison the the rest of the world. Who has time to worry about how they feel when they do not know where the next meal is coming from?
So how does the church appeal in a society so situated? I would suggest, as I have so many times before, that it is by being radically winsome - by following the example of Christ in the middle of our affluence and media filled society and being demonstrably different. It is by discovering our own spirituality in unique and different ways.
Christ was a Jew in Roman occupied Israel. The Apostles were all Jews and some affluent Roman citizens. They changed the world. Think about it.
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Saturday, June 04, 2011
Comic Art
HEROES AND ARTISTS - HOURMAN
Freddie Williams II
Rags Morales
Scott McDaniel
Tony Harris
Freddie Williams II
Rags Morales
Scott McDaniel
Tony HarrisTechnorati Tags:comics, comic books, comic art, jeroes and artisits, hourman
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Friday, June 03, 2011
You HAVE To Ask
MMI asks about megachurch pastors and money. He answers his own question:
Secondly, the "ease" of a job is a relative thing. Depending on one's particular set of abilities what is an easy job for one person is hard for another and vice-versa.
In other words, absent his personal assurances, Tod offers no evidence against the premise. And that is my biggest problem with the whole enterprise - the lack of checks and balances. That lack is also why the suspicion is out there to begin with.
ONe of the major roles on institution is to provide mechanisms by which such suspicions, and realities can be avoided. In a sinful world, without such institution checks and balances, the corruption is inevitable. Heck it even happens with the checks and balances, but without them the probably is much, much higher.
That is not accusation, that is fact. The question is justified.
But it brings up a point that I've heard leveled against large church pastors quite a few times. They thrive on the ego and money and glory of having a large church.There are some points on which I have to disagree. The odds of ANY business reaching "mega" levels of success are pretty small - the church is not unique that way. In fact, I would bet tat if you measure success by making a living rather than hitting the lotto, churches success rate is a bit better than other types - the food service business for example has an awful failure rate.
Knowing a fair number of megachurch pastors, I can say that this is just not the truth. That's not to say that there isn't a large degree of ego thrown in the mix in some situations... but really no more than I see if a pastor of any sized church.
Truthfully, the notion of anyone getting into the 'megachurch business' is ludicrous. With 300,000 churches in America, very few ever reach megachurch size. Those aren't very good odds from a business standpoint.
Besides... there are a lot of much easier ways to make a buck. Much easier.
Secondly, the "ease" of a job is a relative thing. Depending on one's particular set of abilities what is an easy job for one person is hard for another and vice-versa.
In other words, absent his personal assurances, Tod offers no evidence against the premise. And that is my biggest problem with the whole enterprise - the lack of checks and balances. That lack is also why the suspicion is out there to begin with.
ONe of the major roles on institution is to provide mechanisms by which such suspicions, and realities can be avoided. In a sinful world, without such institution checks and balances, the corruption is inevitable. Heck it even happens with the checks and balances, but without them the probably is much, much higher.
That is not accusation, that is fact. The question is justified.
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Friday Humor
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Thursday, June 02, 2011
There Are No "Good" Idols
Kruse quotes Joel Garreau:
The first is the wisdom of the prohibition against idolatry throughout scripture. Evan as Christians we seems to make idols of only portions of the package (worship, church growth, emotional well-being....) This is one of those "Thou Shalt not's" that is really a positive. YOU SHALL FOCUS ON THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
The second thought that occurs to me is that the apologetic that is inherent in all this. Without Christianity, there is a void we seek to fill. That void is a very powerful apologetic.
Finally, there is the idea that we let very good stuff become our idols. Worship is good, provided we do not make an idol of it. Creation Care is good, provided we do not make an idol of it. When we become enthusiastic about something, anything, we must guard against the temptation to make an idol of it.
So what are the idols in our lives?
The rejection of traditional religion in these quarters has created a vacuum unlikely to go unfilled; human nature seems to demand a search for order and meaning, and nowadays there is no shortage of options on the menu of belief. Some searchers syncretize Judeo-Christian theology with Eastern or New Age spiritualism. Others seek through science the ultimate answers of our origins, or dream of high-tech transcendence by merging with machines — either approach depending not on rationalism alone but on a faith in the goodness of what rationalism can offer.I think that is exactly right and it puts several thoughts into my mind.
For some individuals and societies, the role of religion seems increasingly to be filled by environmentalism.
The first is the wisdom of the prohibition against idolatry throughout scripture. Evan as Christians we seems to make idols of only portions of the package (worship, church growth, emotional well-being....) This is one of those "Thou Shalt not's" that is really a positive. YOU SHALL FOCUS ON THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
The second thought that occurs to me is that the apologetic that is inherent in all this. Without Christianity, there is a void we seek to fill. That void is a very powerful apologetic.
Finally, there is the idea that we let very good stuff become our idols. Worship is good, provided we do not make an idol of it. Creation Care is good, provided we do not make an idol of it. When we become enthusiastic about something, anything, we must guard against the temptation to make an idol of it.
So what are the idols in our lives?
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Illuminated Hymn
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Things to Avoid
Ron Edmondson offers
You know what is really troubling, is when the church breeds only followers, there is no one else to carry the gospel forward. That's pretty sad.
7 Warning Signs You May Be a Controlling LeaderThey are:
People start apologizing prior to approaching you with a new idea..The thing speaks for itself, I think, but I would add one other symptom. If you have a hard time recruiting leadership (not middle management mind you - leadership) you are probably a controlling leader. That one about "fear of others" is a deep, deep hint.
You don’t really know how people feel about you, but you assume they all approve of your leadership…
You assume you are always right…
You enjoy keeping others with less information than you have…
You think you should be involved in making all the decisions…
You fear others being in control of a project…
You ARE the final word on every decision…
You know what is really troubling, is when the church breeds only followers, there is no one else to carry the gospel forward. That's pretty sad.
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