here is a great post from The Faithful Skeptic, "Theology Doesn't Matter".
An excerpt:
"People seem to change churches all the time for reasons that have nothing to do with theology. It amazes me that people can step from a liberal Methodist congregation to a conservative/fundamentalist congregation without blinking. What does that say about the theology of our church?
What it tells me is that of all the reasons people go to church, theology is probably not near the top of the list. People go for social activities, support, companionship, worship, music, etc. What bothers me is that I think theology is really important. What we're about as a church is more than the sum of our activities or the format of our worship. What we believe matters a great deal. How is it that our message is making so little impact? Do we have a coherent message?"
I often think this, as I watch people switch in and out of various churches, mine included, in my community. It is a challenge for us to wrestle with.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Isaiah 58
At the "No Room for Poverty" rally I attended last week, Rev. Dr. James Forbes was one of the first (and best, in my opinion) speakers. He urged us to go home and read Isaiah 58. I did, finally, and had to put some verses up here today - what a great chapter, one I don't remember noticing before....:
from the NRSV -
:3 "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. :4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. :5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a da y acceptable to the Lord?
:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? : 8 Then light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
good stuff.
from the NRSV -
:3 "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. :4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. :5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a da y acceptable to the Lord?
:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? : 8 Then light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
good stuff.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Luke 15:1-10 from Dylan's Lectionary Blog
A great parable from Sarah Dylan Breuer at her lectionary blog, which closes with these thought-provoking questions:
"Three questions:
Where is the shepherd?
Where are the ninety-nine?
If one sheep is with the shepherd and ninety-nine aren't, who's really the stray?"
having trouble with permalinks on her site, so I'm just linking to her main page, but definitely worth the read. She calls it the parable of the ninety-nine, and the story is hilarious and accurate.
"Three questions:
Where is the shepherd?
Where are the ninety-nine?
If one sheep is with the shepherd and ninety-nine aren't, who's really the stray?"
having trouble with permalinks on her site, so I'm just linking to her main page, but definitely worth the read. She calls it the parable of the ninety-nine, and the story is hilarious and accurate.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Steve Waldman on why evangelical Christians love George W. Bush so much. -- Beliefnet.com
Found this article from beliefnet.com, titled, "Why evangelical Christians love George W. Bush so much", written by belief net editor-in-chief Steve Waldman. He writes:
"First, Christians feel persecuted. This idea is nearly unfathomable to people in New York City or non-evangelicals. How could they feel persecuted? The country is 83% Christian! They're always trying to impose their views on us. But many evangelical Christians believe they are despised, misunderstood and discriminated against by journalists, Hollywood, other elites, and almost anyone not in their pack.
And there is a grain of truth to their concerns. A recent poll showed that while most Americans say a candidate's religion would not affect their vote for presidency, there is one religious type that they would vote against just because of their beliefs: an evangelical Christian. (Actually there were three faith-based non-starters: evangelical, Muslim, and atheist--perhaps they should form a new coalition?) The film, called 'George W. Bush: Faith in the White House' intersperses clips of Bush with photos of school kids who had been punished for praying in the cafeteria."
Intriguing, and makes some sense to me. I find particularly interesting who we won't vote - anyone we perceive to be extreme one way or another - an evangelical, a Muslim (I think most people still stereotype Muslims as extremists, despite inaccuracy and despite attempts to correct our stereotypes through interfaith dialogue!) or an atheist - the other extreme. It's like Goldilocks and the Three Bears - this candidate has too much faith, this candidate has not enough faith - but this candidate is just right....
"First, Christians feel persecuted. This idea is nearly unfathomable to people in New York City or non-evangelicals. How could they feel persecuted? The country is 83% Christian! They're always trying to impose their views on us. But many evangelical Christians believe they are despised, misunderstood and discriminated against by journalists, Hollywood, other elites, and almost anyone not in their pack.
And there is a grain of truth to their concerns. A recent poll showed that while most Americans say a candidate's religion would not affect their vote for presidency, there is one religious type that they would vote against just because of their beliefs: an evangelical Christian. (Actually there were three faith-based non-starters: evangelical, Muslim, and atheist--perhaps they should form a new coalition?) The film, called 'George W. Bush: Faith in the White House' intersperses clips of Bush with photos of school kids who had been punished for praying in the cafeteria."
Intriguing, and makes some sense to me. I find particularly interesting who we won't vote - anyone we perceive to be extreme one way or another - an evangelical, a Muslim (I think most people still stereotype Muslims as extremists, despite inaccuracy and despite attempts to correct our stereotypes through interfaith dialogue!) or an atheist - the other extreme. It's like Goldilocks and the Three Bears - this candidate has too much faith, this candidate has not enough faith - but this candidate is just right....
Friday, September 03, 2004
"No Room for Poverty" Rally
2004 'No Room for Poverty' National Rally
Heading down to DC tonight/tomorrow for this rally - have no idea what to expect, but hopefully it will be fun and informative!
Heading down to DC tonight/tomorrow for this rally - have no idea what to expect, but hopefully it will be fun and informative!
last thoughts on Marva Dawn's Unfettered Hope
Finally finished Marva Dawn's book Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living in an Affluent Society. I was less impressed with the last chapters than the first, but in all a good read.
A quote she lifts out from Martin Luther's Christmas sermon that really struck me:
"There are many of you who think to yourselves: 'If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the baby!' . . . You say that because you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem . . . Why don't you do it now? You have in Christ you neighbor."
Why don't I do it now?
A quote she lifts out from Martin Luther's Christmas sermon that really struck me:
"There are many of you who think to yourselves: 'If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the baby!' . . . You say that because you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem . . . Why don't you do it now? You have in Christ you neighbor."
Why don't I do it now?
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Bishop William Willimon on Luk 14:25-33
Just reading over an article from Pulpit Resource magazine, written by William Willimon, and found his words for September 5th's readings to be right on target with what I've been thinking about lately.
On page 43 of the Sept. 5th article he writes, "Forgive me, forgive the church, for sometimes implying that Jesus will make life easier for you, will fix everything that's wrong with you, will put a little lilt in your voice, a little sunshine in our life. Chances are, he won't. He can do even better than that. He can make you a disciple. Fogive the church for sometimes being guilty of false advertising."
I wish I could quote the whole article - one of the best of his I've read in Pulpit Resource. Worth a look!
On page 43 of the Sept. 5th article he writes, "Forgive me, forgive the church, for sometimes implying that Jesus will make life easier for you, will fix everything that's wrong with you, will put a little lilt in your voice, a little sunshine in our life. Chances are, he won't. He can do even better than that. He can make you a disciple. Fogive the church for sometimes being guilty of false advertising."
I wish I could quote the whole article - one of the best of his I've read in Pulpit Resource. Worth a look!
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