September 10, 2008
2008 Presidential Election
When people ask me if I'm a Democrat or a Republican, my answer is usually neither. I'm a vacillating member of the Cynical party. Traditionally, I'm drawn to the Democratic party for local issues: green space, responsible development, etc., and the Republican party for national issues: abortion, foreign policy, etc. Despite my historic voting record and regardless of party, I just don't trust anyone who has "succeeded" in a career of "public service" at the national level. At some point during their career I assume that their success was acquired at the expense of ethics or morals. I know this is a pretty bleak stance to take and recognize that it's much easier to trust no one (e.g. Fox Mulder) than to take on the huge task of independently vetting each candidate. I could only hope that the mainstream media would assist in this venture, but don't get me started on where they stand the in my ethical pecking order.
Regardless, I recently ran across a couple essays that accurately portray both my conundrum as a Christian voter and my stance on certain political hot potatoes.
This article by Dr. Mark Noll was penned in 2004 and I agree with all 7 of his "political convictions." I was even surprised to marginally agree with his views on taxation. Incidentally, I had Mark Noll as a history professor while at Wheaton. I can't say that I appreciated him as much then as I do now; I was a lousy student and he was tough.
The second article exists solely, to the best of my knowledge, as a Facebook note, so there's no externally available link. If you're my friend, I posted a reference to the note on my profile. It's titled, "Status Update: A Brief Expansion on my McCain Comment," by Chuck DeGroat.
Chuck's post didn't appear to be forthcoming, and I assume Dr. Noll will maintain the same stance for this election, so I'm still perfectly confused, despite and perhaps because of their eloquence -- Thanks guys.
Posted by mark at 9:57 AM | Comments (4)
February 21, 2007
How should the church answer the MySpace revolution?
My friend Andy recently posted a great blog entry about communication, social networking and what that means for relationships. He quotes Stephenie Bennett of BreakPoint,
"Using MySpace broadens the reach of interpersonal communication but also tends to devalue and diminish the richness of relationships by truncating the process of communication itself."
You should read the rest.
Posted by mark at 9:32 AM
October 11, 2005
Truth
I recently reread the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. While reading the final book, The Last Battle, I was struck by a radical passage. In the book, the antagonists are Calormenes. A dark skinned people with curved scimitars that wear turbans around their metal spiked helmets (aka Muslims). They worship a god named Tash (aka Satan/Allah). In one scene there's a noble and honorable Calormene soldier named Emeth who boldly risks everything to meet Tash face to face. He says to his captain (who is in the midst of trying to trick loyal Narnians into a stable where they will be killed by a Calormene soldier):
"Thou has said that Aslan and Tash are all one. And if that is the truth than Tash himself is in yonder. And how then sayest thou that I have nothing to do with Him? for gladly would I die a thousand deaths if I might look once on the face of Tash."
When in fact, Emeth eventually faces Aslan instead,
"...He was more terrible than the Flaming Mountain of Lagour, and in beauty he surpassed all that is in the world, even as the rose in bloom surpasses the dust of the desert. Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honour) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down with his golden head and touched my forhead with his tongue and said, Son, thou art welcome. But I said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of Thine but the servant of Tash. He answered, Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me. Then by reason of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one? The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou has done to him, for I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore, if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath's sake, it is by me that he as truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Dost thou understand, Child? I said, Lord, thou knowest how much I understand. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), Yes, I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek."
Wow! I don't know about you, but this is a pretty radical ... and yet beautiful passage.
In my experience, in evangelical circles, anything written by C.S. Lewis is considered excellent and almost beyond reproof. Lewis managed to make his way into the evangelical canon of literature that is deemed safe for consumption. I would guess that Lewis ranks in the top 5 of most-quoted authors in sermons today. If I wanted to be argumentative, and I don't, there are any number of inflammatory things I could conclude from the above passage, however the purpose of this post is not to decide what Lewis meant. I'll leave that up to you.
I've been reading a number of books on Postmodernism lately, and I've been surprised at how polarizing the topic can be. I think there are two ways to view Postmodernism. First you can see it as an age we are entering into from Modernism, which in the most literal textbook definition would eschew any statement of absolute truth. Secondly, you can see Postmodernism as a movement/shift within whatever sphere you happen to be looking at -- in this case, the church. There are a number of relational/missional elements to Postmodernism that are essential, but for now I'm really just commenting on truth.
Warning: Broad sweeping generalizations to follow ;-)
Many evangelical Christians are afraid of crossing an intellectual line in the sand. They guard truth like it needs to be defended at the expense of losing their faith. Books are read actively looking for flaws, rather than looking for truth -- and new ways of seeing our faith and our role in this world. These same people are quick to toss aside certain controversial authors like Brian McLaren and Donald Miller because their writing is dangerous. I do think we need to be discerning, but I think we've moved from discernment to avoidance. We're living in a safe evangelical bubble, and we're afraid that we might lose our faith if we read something that doesn't parrot the same theological maxims that we've grown up with. I can just hear someone saying, "I may be able to discern where these authors stray, but what about a new Christian." There are many things that I've read in McClaren and Miller that raised my hackles, and statements that very well may be false. However, the Gospel message shines through in the works of each, and I'm trusting in God to give me discernment in everything that I read.
I am a Christian. I am not a student of theology. I do not have the time nor the inclination to learn Greek and Hebrew, read books on systematic theology, and devour the works of historically acclaimed Christian authors. That's not how I'm wired. I do pray and read the Bible, and I trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in my life. When I read books by Lewis, McClaren, and Miller they encourage me. They challenge me to act like Christ. They're books I actually finish. ;-)
[This post started a lot more than it finished. I may choose to pursue some of the threads in subsequent posts, but then again I may not. In that respect, it's very postmodern.]
Books I've read that influenced this post:
A New Kind of Christian
The Last Word and the Word after That
Blue Like Jazz
Searching For God Knows What
The Chronicles of Narnia
Posted by mark at 10:27 AM | Comments (2)