Poll

Apocolypse Now!

Tonight, February 20, 2008...

The moon has turned blood red... (lunar eclipse)

The stars are falling from the sky... (US Navy shot down a satellite)

And Hillary Clinton is running for president... (Do I need to explain?)

HEAD FOR THE HILLS!!

Rob Bell and Abraham's Faith

I saw Rob Bell speak at "The gods aren't angry tour" in Chicago. I loved the entire teaching and was especially impacted by the context he set for the old testament. He painted the picture that the world is trying to appease the gods by continual and increasingly terrible forms of sacrifice (human). There was a constant concern that you did not know where you stood with the gods. The sacrificial system that YHWH brings - Rob says - was a truly progressive system, one that allowed you to know where you stood with this God. That was revolutionary - according to Rob.

Rob then applies this context to the story of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his son. Abraham agrees to and almost does sacrifice Isaac. However, human sacrifice was common in that age so Abraham was just doing what was a cultural norm. Therefore, this story isn't about Abraham's faith but God's progressive, revolutionary sacrificial system. Rob points out that many preachers have wrongfully used this story to point out Abraham's great faith. Rob says this idea is not the point. Rob said,

"And sometimes there are Christians that are like, 'See! Abraham man of faith.' .... Ok, somebody help me out here, um, this is good? 'I'll show my son.' That's a religion I want to be a part of. What's that about? Put that on a flannel graph. See, we often hold this up as, 'ooo see, Abraham proved he was a man of faith.' But anyone in the back row - if they are even still there - are saying, 'the testing was if you'd offer your son.' Anyone with a conscience would say, 'No, I'm not [going to sacrifice my son]! Is there a door number two?' The story is not about Abraham. Now, there are many references to Abraham being a great man of faith... and it was credited to him as righteousness and such... but... perhaps the story is not about what Abraham is like... perhaps the story is about what God is like."

This is very interesting and I have a question. What are we to do
with the passage in James 2:21-22?

Was not our brother Abraham justified by works when he offered his son on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.

Or when the writer of Hebrews says in 11:19 says that Abraham "assumed God would raise Isaac from the dead"! (See: Dan Kent's Blog

It seems that James and Hebrews see it is important to note Abraham's faith in
the Isaac sacrifice story. What do you think? What should we take from this? Is this a both/and situation? Is the story about Gods revolutionary approach to knowing where we stand AND is it about Abraham's faith? What should we take from Rob's perspective?

I think this is a good reminder to make sure the entire bible signs on
to a contextual, historical perspective.

Smart or just knowledgeable?

I have this thought that passes through my mind that intelligence isn't worth anything without action. (Mostly because I get frustrated with myself and occasionally because I get frustrated with others. )


In fact, can we truly say someone is intelligent or smart if they don't use it or live according to their impeccable understanding or knowledge of 'stuff'? I mean, what does it really mean to be smart? To know, to understand and comprehend well? Can we divorce knowledge from how we live? Can you remain smart but live stupid-ly? Is there really any value to knowledge unapplied?



Jesus hits on this multiple times in the bible, here's a couple:

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. -John 13:17

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. - Matthew 7:26

Seems to me that knowledge unapplied equals stupidity or foolishness according to Jesus. Is that harsh? It at least can lead to pride. How good it feels to stand at a distance and say "I know more than you do", "if only you understood" etc... Even more, knowledge is dangerous because the mere possession of it puts us at risk of damnation by it. Paul hits on this in regards to the law multiple times.

Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."[b] 8But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. - Romans 7:7-8

So, then how do we define someone as smart or intelligent? Certainly knowledge is important but I submit we need to look at it's application as equally important...

Right?

Generous Greed

It's like the lotto... give and God will make your barns and wine presses 'burst' with plenty (Prov 3:10). The strange internal battle around generosity wars between true generosity and greed. I don't believe in the prosperity gospel (!!) but God says if we give he will bless... (wait... what is the prosperity gospel again?)

See, it's tough. I am supposed to give for generosity's sake, but I have these patterns of thought that God is obligated to bless since I gave. I was obedient, so pay up! How easily we can slip into greedy generosity?

A Challenge to the Emerging Church

Ok... I know the emerging church is a very, very broad catagory and very few churches call themselves emerging or emergent. They seem to be assigned the name from outsiders.

Anyway, I once heard a critique that emerging leaders often call those who criticize them intolerant, insensitive, mean and divisive. It seems when they get cornered they pull out that card. I see this when it comes to sermons. I have heard some of these emerging leaders say that preaching is an art. And I agree. The problem is that critiquing art is different than critiquing truth. And when you criticize some emerging leaders they take it personal and it attacks their identity and say it is out of bounds to critique because its an art.

Just saying...