Waving or Drowning?

Theological Frustration

I've just been going through my blog reader this morning, and I am frustrated.

First, Glenn points us to this article in The Herald. Here are the paragraphs Glenn highlighted, with his emphasis:

Israel last night suspended its aerial bombardment of southern Lebanon for 48 hours to allow for an investigation into bombing in Qana which killed at least 60 people including 37 children.

Israel insisted it launched its strike on Qana because Hizbollah guerrillas had fired 40 rockets into northern Israel from there, wounding five Israelis.

Next on my Bloglines tour I went to one of the 20-25 professional theologians I follow. Let me check... Yes, they are all academics. You would know a lot of their names. A lot of authors in there. These are smart people that I admire and respect, and I constantly learn a lot from them.

Yet, on a day (or day after) when the above quote can be found in the paper, and, more to the point, the above actions can be found on our planet, not a single one of these theologians is talking about what is happening in the Middle East. Not one. (Yes, its a very small sampling, but work with me on this - this is my world this morning.)

Wait, Let me check again...

Yup. No on is talking about Israel and Lebanon. Come to think of it, no one is talking about Palestine.

No one is talking about Iraq.
No one is talking about Sudan.
No one is talking about HIV/AIDS.
No one is talking about Afghanistan.
No one is talking about global warming.
No one is talking about corporate greed.
No one is talking about the minimum wage.
No one is talking about corrupt politicians and regimes.
No one is talking about starvation and our overflowing garbage cans.
No one is talking about the millions (in their own countries) living below the poverty line.

No one is talking about what it means to be a follower of Christ in this environment, at this time.

Look, I've already said I learn a lot from these smart people, and it's true. But, I also remember hearing the late Stan Grenz say something about theology being for all the community of the people of God, or else it was a waste of time. (God, have I mentioned lately you took Stan too early? Somebody messed up there.)

Some time ago I expressed my own concerns as a new grad student of theology.

Well, all this is just to say that I'm feeling it again this morning.

"A Brilliant Red Barchetta"

Today I'm taking a break from making bold and outrageous claims.

Actually, that's not true. But, today's bold and outrageous claim will be different. I'm not going to talk about the insanity of the world right now, or the hypocrisy of how we live out so much that we call "Christianity".

Instead, I'll simply assert that Red Barchetta is one of the greatest rock songs ever written.

Yes, I know I've talked about Rush before. Yes, I know I'm dating myself (again.) Doesn't matter. For you iTunes people out there, I dare you to risk the $0.99 to see if you agree. I dare you.

Let me know. If you disagree I'll send you your money back. Not really.

iSeeU

My iSight camera arrived a few days ago, so Thursday night found Sue, Jen and I huddled around the laptop having a fantastic conversation with Wes & Judy. You gotta love it!

While I'm thinking of it... When I switched I lost track of most of my MSN friends. Now you can find me on iChat at miketodd07 ( a t ) mac dot com. I'm not always signed on, and I don't always hook up the camera, but you might track me down there.

2006

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

LHM 2 SA 2007 II

Further to my earlier post on Linwood House Ministries' planned trip to South Africa next year...

Props go out to friend and fellow whatever-ite David DuC (of Fearfully Human and Pixelated Image fame - BTW Dude - I love what you've done with the PI site...) for coming up with our trip image.

We must be legit because we've got a logo! (Click on the image for the larger cool version)

Cease Fire, Anyone II

America doesn't feel the time is right for a cease-fire yet. These orders must be COD.

UK protests at bomb flights' stop in Prestwick
IAN BRUCE and CATHERINE MacLEODJuly 27 2006
July 27 2006

THE British government is to complain formally to the United States over its decision to use Prestwick Airport as a stopover point for at least two cargo aircraft carrying consignments of "bunker-buster" bombs to Israel for use in Lebanon.

Article here. Previous post here.

On any other planet the arms sales could be considered a conflict of interest. I'd like some reactions in the comments, please. Meanwhile some Evangelicals figure Israel can do no wrong. Sometimes this Christianity stuff makes me want to cry.

Insane World II

I just left this as a comment over at Glenn's place, and thought I'd throw it up here:

Interesting how "He punched me first" never worked for me as a kid, but seems to be acceptable foreign policy now (and also seems to be totally justifiable by the people who claim to follow the guy who said "love your enemies.")

Strange world we live in.

Earlier thoughts here.

Phil continues to post on the subject, including these thoughts.

Quick Thoughts on Being "Missional" - UPDATED

Just sitting here at the library working on yet another paper. It's shaping up to be about being missional in a postmodern culture. (It better be shaping up to being about something because it's due on Monday...)

Some very quick, unprocessed thoughts... feedback appreciated

• In previous cultures missiology was all about presenting previously unavailable information. (This was true from Paul's time right through modernity.)


• In this postmodern era we live in, the information is available elsewhere. (The internet is more efficient at making information available than we could ever be.)


• If we're still about distributing information, we are redundant.


• Now, we must present evidence of redemption, transformation, etc. In other words, we need to demonstrate that the Good News actually "works".


• This is a stage the modern era never prepared us for - it was all about the information, how to make it appealing to various cultures and times, etc.


• Information (and it's packaging) is time sensitive.


• Transformation, on the other hand, is timeless.


• Love too is a universal, unchanging language.


• The injustices may (appear to) change, but the seeking of justice never changes

So, as the people of God, are we still stuck in information-delivery mode (which has a very short shelf life anyway), or are we seeking to demonstrate the power of the redemptive, transformational message of the Kingdom of God (which is timeless)?

UPDATE: Good feedback from Glenn in the comments section. The church in Acts was certainly missional in that they walked the talk. Perhaps its more accurate to say that the process of modernization turned the gospel into information to be transmitted, received and processed.

Go Jays!

Pete, Daniel and I made the pilgrimage down to Safeco Field last night to see the Toronto Blue Jays play the Seattle Mariners. (The Jays outhit the Mariners, but pitching failed them and they lost 7-3. The 3-game series continues tonight.)

A fantastic venue, a decent game, and lots of Canadians in the stands. A trip to another country for a ball game, then home and in bed by 1 am. Good times - thanks for the great birthday present, Pete!

Striped Candy

I think I would have liked A.W. Tozer. This dude knew how to get worked up...

Without Biblical authority, or any other right under the sun, carnal religious leaders have introduced a host of attractions that serve no purpose except to provide entertainment for the retarded saints.

It is now common practice in most evangelical churches to offer the people, especially the young people, a maximum of entertainment and a minimum of serious instruction. It is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God. One can only conclude that God's professed children are bored with Him, for they must be wooed to meeting with a stick of striped candy in the form of religious movies, games and refreshments.

This has influenced the whole pattern of church life, and even brought into being a new type of church architecture, designed to house the golden calf.

So we have the strange anomaly of orthodoxy in creed and heterodoxy in practice. The striped candy technique has been so fully integrated into our present religious thinking that it is simply taken for granted. Its victims never dream that it is not a part of the teachings of Christ and His apostles.
(Man: The Dwelling Place of God, 135, 136.)