(Source: noisyman)
Ignorance does not result from what we don’t know. Ignorance results from what we think we know—but don’t. Most ignorant people are, in fact, quite certain. The most dangerous person in the world is the person that doesn’t know they’re interpreting scripture; they think they’re just reading scripture, and they just believe what scripture says.
Wayne Jacobsen quoting Richard Rohr
the end of apologetics
I’ve been reading How (Not) To Speak of God and found this bit particularly engaging and insightful; from a section titled “The end of apologetics.”
Unlike the discourse of apologetics and the discourse of the miracle (which each attempt to forcibly bring people to their knees), the discourse of Paul acts as an aroma. Following this approach, we can draw out how the believer ought to be seen as the poem, parable and salt of God in the world rather than God’s proposition to the world. Indeed, Jesus offers the paradigmatic example of a powerless discourse by saying radically different things to different people, relating in a singular manner to what each individual requires rather than extrapolating upon some universal abstract system. He gave neither philosophical reflection to those who sought wisdom nor miracles to those who desired a sign. If we are to guess a motive for Jesus’ miracles, then we would have to think that he performed them out of love rather than a means of compelling belief. Indeed, he often asked that people keep the healings a secret (unlike much of the Church today, which would use miraculous signs in a public manner in order to compel people to believe) and did not follow them up with a sinner’s prayer. A powerless discourse is not against the use of word or wonder at all, for it is reason that helps us understand the limits of reason and it is the miraculous which can bring the healing of God.
In order to better understand understand this approach, it is helpful to make a distinction between the ideas of a hint and an order. Take the example of two people in a room. If one has authority over the other and commands the other to close the door, the other will of course close it, regardless of whether or not he or she likes the authority figure, since if an authority figure gives a command, obedience is the sole requirement. Yet, in opposition to this power discourse, the powerless discourse is analogous to one person saying to their equal that they are a little cold. In this way, one speaks in such a way that hints (but does not demand) that they would like the door to be closed. If the other is a caring individual, he or she will be likely to close the door, and if not, he or she will probably ignore what was said. The hint speaks to the heart and will only be heard by those with a sensitive and open ear. This powerless discourse of the hint can be seen at work in Jesus’ parables, which can only be heard by those with a sensitive and open ear. Instead of religious discourse being a type of drink designed to satisfy our thirst for answers, Jesus made his teaching salty, evoking thirst. Instead of offering a scientific explanation that would convince, or publicizing the miracles so as to compel his listeners, Jesus engaged in a poetic discourse that spoke to the heart of those who would listen. In a world where people believe they are not hungry, we must not offer food but rather an aroma that helps them desire the food that we cannot provide. We are a people who are born from a response to hints of the divine. Not only this, but we must embrace the idea that we are also called to be hints of the divine.
“We sat and discussed that we want to change this. We don’t want to change just the regime in Syria, but also this kind of stuff. So we will marry them in front of everyone”I may assume too much, but I expect these men are Muslims. The question is then begged: can those who don’t live in Christ actually participate in his redemptive work in the world? Because that’s exactly what it sounds like these men are doing. Oh that more Christ-followers (myself included) would act like this.
This. You say you still don’t know what Google+ is? This comprehensive walkthrough from Ars Technica should take care of that. Let’s just say that I have cautiously high hopes about it.
The Devil
As the boy was on his way to buy a loaf of bread, the mayor of the city passed him on the street.
A very devout woman in the street told the boy, ‘The reason he is so powerful is because he’s made a pact with the devil,’ and the boy was intrigued.
Some time later, while traveling to another town, the boy passed an enormous farm filled with big, beautiful crops. Wanting to know who the farm belonged to, he asked the first person he could find once he got to the town.
‘All this land belongs to the same man. I’d say the devil had a hand in that,’ answered one of the villagers.
Later the same day a beautiful woman walked past the boy. A priest who was standing near by muttered, ‘That woman is in the services of Satan.’
From then on the boy decided to seek the devil out. Years later it so happened that he managed to see him face to face.
‘They say you can make people powerful, rich, and beautiful.’
‘To be honest, this is not true,’ replied the devil. ‘You have just been listening to those who are trying to promote me.’
Adapted from this post…not written by Peter Rollins.
A few weeks ago I had a number of discussions here and there with different people about the end of the world, Christ’s return, completed redemption, the possibility of a rapture event, and Matthew 24’s two men walking etc. (You might remember that some mistakenly claimed the end of the world was upon us.) The folly of their claims not withstanding, I found that week or two to be interesting and enjoyable because of the conversations that arose for me. Two of the most fantastic things I found at the time were a modern-day parable and a bit of exegesis that both look at Matthew 24.
Peter Rollin’s parable, Left Behind, explores the likelihood that the man and woman who are left behind are in fact the “Christians” who will inherit and rule over the world with Christ at the time of his coming; the taken ones, on the other hand, are those who, having forfeited the little humanity they had, would have no place in Father’s restored heaven-earth.
Wade Burleson’s exegesis of Matthew 24 is, I suspect, mostly self-explanatory: Christians Need to Know the Bible Teaches Christ Ends the Age, Not the World. I also suspect that it touches on things that most have never considered; much of it was certainly new, eye-opening, and thought-provoking for me. If nothing else, it is worth the few minutes of your time it will take to read.
“I offer this post as a response to some of my fellow Southern Baptist pastors who have gone ballistic over Dr. Al Mohler’s comments regarding homosexuality at the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Mohler had the audacity to propose that Southern Baptists have practiced a form of homophobia and have often “lied” about homosexuality by using the language of “choice” without acknowledging the deeper internal conflict (the sin nature) at work within. Dr. Mohler believes we could do more to love militant homosexuals while we share the gospel with the world. I agree with Dr. Mohler. “
Some sweet portraits of “powerful” people here. I love the variety. And the piercing stares.
Colbert at the top of his game here.
Some excellent thoughts here on doing away with altar calls. Youth minister and summer camp leader types (and everyone else) would do well to give this a think or two. Here’s another excellent quote before you click through to read the whole thing:
I propose that we begin to view salvation as a much more communal process rather than an isolated event. In the New Testament we find people joining a movement called The Way as they commit to following Christ. For these people there was no sense of personal salvation outside of the Christian community. This is why the unity of Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free is such a huge deal to the Apostle Paul. Recently a missionary I know by the name of Phil Bergen commented on the process of salvation, “In Burkina Faso becoming a Christian isn’t a conversion. It’s trading one community for another.” Phil gets it because he’s a missionary. Community is the place and means of salvation. This is first-century Acts stuff!
