Sunday, July 23, 2006
'Liberating Word' and 'False Stewardship'
Just a couple of interesting articles from unapologetically liberal -- and unapologetically Christian -- magazines.
The first one is profound and humbling to me. The second one (hat tip to commenter GP) is pointed and interesting.
--ER
From The Christian Century
Liberating word
The power of the Bible in the global South
by Philip Jenkins
Gatherings of the worldwide Anglican Communion have been contentious events in recent years. On one occasion, two bishops were participating in a Bible study, one from Africa, the other from the U.S. As the hours went by, tempers frayed as the African expressed his confidence in the clear words of scripture, while the American stressed the need to interpret the Bible in the light of modern scholarship and contemporary mores. Eventually, the African bishop asked in exasperation, "If you don't believe the scripture, why did you bring it to us in the first place?"
Read all about it.
From Sojourners
False Stewardship
Dobson's is a fringe position gussied up in mainstream garb.
by Steve Thorngate
James Dobson believes that Christians should be good stewards of the earth. He said so on his radio show in May—right after he harshly criticized the National Association of Evangelicals’ Rich Cizik, who has led a tireless crusade against global warming. (Dobson’s censure also included Jim Wallis and Sojourners.) According to Dobson, Christians should not let environmental “doomsday theories” distract them from abortion and same-sex marriage. Stewardship, while crucial, doesn’t require any particular action on global warming.
Read all about it requires registration, but it's free).
The first one is profound and humbling to me. The second one (hat tip to commenter GP) is pointed and interesting.
--ER
From The Christian Century
Liberating word
The power of the Bible in the global South
by Philip Jenkins
Gatherings of the worldwide Anglican Communion have been contentious events in recent years. On one occasion, two bishops were participating in a Bible study, one from Africa, the other from the U.S. As the hours went by, tempers frayed as the African expressed his confidence in the clear words of scripture, while the American stressed the need to interpret the Bible in the light of modern scholarship and contemporary mores. Eventually, the African bishop asked in exasperation, "If you don't believe the scripture, why did you bring it to us in the first place?"
Read all about it.
From Sojourners
False Stewardship
Dobson's is a fringe position gussied up in mainstream garb.
by Steve Thorngate
James Dobson believes that Christians should be good stewards of the earth. He said so on his radio show in May—right after he harshly criticized the National Association of Evangelicals’ Rich Cizik, who has led a tireless crusade against global warming. (Dobson’s censure also included Jim Wallis and Sojourners.) According to Dobson, Christians should not let environmental “doomsday theories” distract them from abortion and same-sex marriage. Stewardship, while crucial, doesn’t require any particular action on global warming.
Read all about it requires registration, but it's free).
Comments:
<< Home
Indeed, why take the simple to answer a complex need?
ER,
Taos 58 degrees.
High 80 with 15% humidity.
Don't think I'll come home.
ER,
Taos 58 degrees.
High 80 with 15% humidity.
Don't think I'll come home.
# posted by 
: 8:22 AM
: 8:22 AM
Dang. Bottle up some of that 58-degree air and bring it back to me! I'll never open it, 'cause it would escape. But I'd always know it was in there, which would be at least something of a comfort next time it hits 100-plus!
"Stewardship, while crucial, doesn’t require any particular action on global warming."
hmmm... is that like saying, "Celibacy, while crucial, doesn't require any particular action on adultery...?"
hmmm... is that like saying, "Celibacy, while crucial, doesn't require any particular action on adultery...?"
Global warming is the biggest lie that Satan has put forth on the human race since the beginning of time. He has people more worried about the earth than they are about their own souls. After the earth is burned 20 stories deep there will be no trace of human existence. Then God will utter to the new Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and mutiply, and replenish the earth". Notice: "replenish"
If it had never been "plenished" how could it be "replenished"?
How many times has he washed, burned and otherwise wiped man from the face of the earth. If we are on schedule a disease, war, or something of that nature will kill off about 80 or 90% of the population and the planet will cool right down into the next ice age. Sorry for my rant, but in 1936 with millions less cars, air conditioning, or spray cans the United States nearly dried up and blew away. And the population has doubled since then. Less people is what we need to fix global warming and I'm afraid the planet is going to get a lot cooler before it gets hotter. Rant over and out!
If it had never been "plenished" how could it be "replenished"?
How many times has he washed, burned and otherwise wiped man from the face of the earth. If we are on schedule a disease, war, or something of that nature will kill off about 80 or 90% of the population and the planet will cool right down into the next ice age. Sorry for my rant, but in 1936 with millions less cars, air conditioning, or spray cans the United States nearly dried up and blew away. And the population has doubled since then. Less people is what we need to fix global warming and I'm afraid the planet is going to get a lot cooler before it gets hotter. Rant over and out!
# posted by : 1:30 PM
: 1:30 PM
...or how about, "speaking out authoritatively on topics, while crucial, doesn't require any particular thinking..."?
Mr/Ms Mous, do you believe in personal responsibility? Do you think God would be cool if you threw your feces in your neighbor's yard? What if your crap made your neighbor sick and die - is God cool with that?
When people are concerned about our impact upon the environment, for most of us, it is about personal and corporate responsibility. Wouldn't you think that a good thing - something that would please God?
If not, please don't move next door to me.
Mr/Ms Mous, do you believe in personal responsibility? Do you think God would be cool if you threw your feces in your neighbor's yard? What if your crap made your neighbor sick and die - is God cool with that?
When people are concerned about our impact upon the environment, for most of us, it is about personal and corporate responsibility. Wouldn't you think that a good thing - something that would please God?
If not, please don't move next door to me.
That's a heckuva rant.
But I think the biggest lie that Satan ever put in the minds of humans is this:
"I am God."
But I think the biggest lie that Satan ever put in the minds of humans is this:
"I am God."
Oh, and on the 1930s dust: That was due to two main things:
A drought, which was natural.
Plowing up so much of the grass cover in the windy Plains.
The drought eventually ended.
The dust finally settled. But it's stayed mostly settled because of windbreaks and shelterbelts (trees planted at the edges of fields to help block the wind), improved farming methods, and the Conservation Reserve Program, which -- horrors! -- pays landowners to keep their dang land in grass (36 million or so acres, or thereabouts), to keep it from blowing away, as a national reserve for agricultural, ecological and humanitarain purposes.
A drought, which was natural.
Plowing up so much of the grass cover in the windy Plains.
The drought eventually ended.
The dust finally settled. But it's stayed mostly settled because of windbreaks and shelterbelts (trees planted at the edges of fields to help block the wind), improved farming methods, and the Conservation Reserve Program, which -- horrors! -- pays landowners to keep their dang land in grass (36 million or so acres, or thereabouts), to keep it from blowing away, as a national reserve for agricultural, ecological and humanitarain purposes.
I'm so tired of either/or thinking. As in, "Either you can be concerned about your soul and God or you can be concerned about the planet and your effect on it."
Um, how about both? How about taking care of the beautiful planet God so graciously provided us? How about loving the creatures of this earth as a devotion to our Creator? How about caring for the flora of the planet as a way of demonstrating our love for God?
What if we thought of all of nature as belonging to God, as Divine property? Makes a lot of sense to lovingly, attentively, tenderly care for Divine property, does it not?
ER--I am literally moving across the country in the next week, so you won't hear from me for a while. I promise to come back once the dust from the move settles.
SuperB
Um, how about both? How about taking care of the beautiful planet God so graciously provided us? How about loving the creatures of this earth as a devotion to our Creator? How about caring for the flora of the planet as a way of demonstrating our love for God?
What if we thought of all of nature as belonging to God, as Divine property? Makes a lot of sense to lovingly, attentively, tenderly care for Divine property, does it not?
ER--I am literally moving across the country in the next week, so you won't hear from me for a while. I promise to come back once the dust from the move settles.
SuperB
# posted by : 3:49 PM
: 3:49 PM
ah
My work is done.
Took a bland blog and stired it up.
I don't really burn tires, throw car batteries in creeks or pour my used motor oil in the creek. But mark my words 20 or 30 years from now we'll be told "Beware the Ice age Cometh". Whatever sells the most books.
My work is done.
Took a bland blog and stired it up.
I don't really burn tires, throw car batteries in creeks or pour my used motor oil in the creek. But mark my words 20 or 30 years from now we'll be told "Beware the Ice age Cometh". Whatever sells the most books.
# posted by : 4:31 PM
: 4:31 PM
So, anny, you are PRO-personal responsibility, then? A direct answer helps in conversations sometimes.
Everyone is here for a reason. If you do more than is required you may get an extra stone in your crown.
# posted by : 7:21 PM
: 7:21 PM
And this what's required:
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
That'd be Micah 6:8. Note that it's not an easy row -- and I don't claim to hoe it very well, myself. But I try.
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
That'd be Micah 6:8. Note that it's not an easy row -- and I don't claim to hoe it very well, myself. But I try.
Oh yes, you can't take "The Word" for what it says because some human bean rit it. I'll remember that. So we're back to reading the bathroom wall for answers. That says a lot about the K-Man.
# posted by : 9:41 AM
: 9:41 AM
No. We're back to thinking about what the Bible says, rather than embracing it unthinkingly.
We're back to worshiping "The Word" as meant in John 1:1, the Logos, Christ, which is not the samje thing as "The Word" when used as a colloquial name for the Bible.
We're back to backing away from the idolatry of worshiping the Bible, since, in fact, human beans did write it, inspired, yes, but human nonetheless.
And we're back to our knees because we see through a glass darkly.
Post a Comment
We're back to worshiping "The Word" as meant in John 1:1, the Logos, Christ, which is not the samje thing as "The Word" when used as a colloquial name for the Bible.
We're back to backing away from the idolatry of worshiping the Bible, since, in fact, human beans did write it, inspired, yes, but human nonetheless.
And we're back to our knees because we see through a glass darkly.
<< Home
