Hypography Addendum 03312007
Lofitribe’s Hypography space is dedicated to the best Christian weblogs living wild out there in the mysterious Internets. I assure you, only the highest quality weblogs will make it onto my link page. Some are friends; others are just too good to keep off the page. This is my evolving linky network. Do enjoy the evolution! Read More »
An Emerging Celebration of Conversation
Emerging-Missional worship is reflective of the movement’s dedication to relationship built upon open and honest conversation. This is a different sort of expression, to say the least. Worship, throughout most of modernity, and ages prior, has been more reflective of a conscious and deliberate construction of relationship around celebrated doctrine, correct or otherwise. Modernity’s relational construct focused almost entirely upon correct belief; this focus was subsequently applied to relationships shared between individuals within the community, and relationships shared between those individuals and God (individually and cumulatively ala sacred community). This left virtually no room for honest exploration or discovery. Read More »
Cultural Captivity Vs. Cultural Fluidity: What Does It Mean To Be In The World But Not Of It?
I found David Harrington Watt’s thoughts on “cultural captivity” to be surprisingly interesting. No, I’m not a fanboy of his book, or its $50.00 price tag, or his so-called Ethnography, but I do think he is saying something seriously important as regards this particular subject. Well, he might not actually be saying anything at all, at least not specifically, but he is at least hinting at something important.1 I was left pondering a familiar but old question after this read of Bible-Carrying Christians: “What does it mean to be in the world but not of it?” Read More »
Evangelical Voices for Immigration Reform
Katie Barge, Director of Communications for Faith in Public Life (Faith in Public Life is a communications and organizing resource center for faith leaders sharing a call to pursue justice and the common good), forwarded the following very, very important information: Read More »
Copyright Law Violations, the Church and You!
One huge legal sinkhole bottoming out churches all over the globe is copyright law. More than a few churches violate copyright law every single Sunday morning. I promise you, it’s true. I’m not saying a word about all of the copyright law violations that occur in churches during the week. I’m just talking about Sunday morning, at the moment. Many, many churches violate copyright law during Sunday morning worship by using worship materials and songs without proper permission. This is usually called “stealing.” It is a legal violation of an incredibly obvious sort, is it not? Read More »
Lord, Forgive Us Our Crudely Literalistic Terms
This is the sixth and final installment of a series of posts collectively titled: “The Literal Tenor of the Metaphorical Hell: A Literary Critique of Scriptural Language concerning Hell, The Human Soul and a Defense of Metaphorical Conditionalism.” The following is a chronological, hyper-linked table of contents, of sorts: 1. The Literal Tenor of the Metaphorical Hell. 2. Mechanics of Metaphor: Hell is a Shabby Hotel of Vicious Circles. 3. Jesus of Nazareth’s Dialogue Regarding Hell. 4. Mixed Up Metaphors: Confusing Tenor and Vehicle. 5. Plato Won’t Surf Metaphorical Conditionalism.
Christianity is a faith which asks individuals to make a decision regarding life in this present. This decision consequently affects the next life. The Scriptures are clear – the alternative to life is death. Death is final; death is permanent. This is a message of cataclysmic importance for the humanity. It is a message that should not be lost to traditional and/or interpretive preferences, or, even worse, an illiterate handling of the Scriptures which are founded upon basic literary mechanics. A messenger is proportionately equal to his or her preparation; poorly prepared students of Scripture only advance poor interpretations of the Scriptures. The only fruit to be plucked from such a sickly tree is miscommunication, misunderstanding, and misleading. In other words, a messenger of this sort, sadly misses the target. Hell is a reality with which contemporary believers and non-believers must wrestle. The consequences – for both sides – are divinely ordained and tremendous, as the following excerpt illustrates: Read More »
Plato Won’t Surf Metaphorical Conditionalism
This is the fifth installment of a series of posts collectively titled: “The Literal Tenor of the Metaphorical Hell: A Literary Critique of Scriptural Language concerning Hell, The Human Soul and a Defense of Metaphorical Conditionalism.” The following is a chronological, hyper-linked table of contents, of sorts: 1. The Literal Tenor of the Metaphorical Hell. 2. Mechanics of Metaphor: Hell is a Shabby Hotel of Vicious Circles. 3. Jesus of Nazareth’s Dialogue Regarding Hell. 4. Mixed Up Metaphors: Confusing Tenor and Vehicle.
The Hell that does Exist. The Hell that does not exist. Learn to Differentiate! It’s Good for You!
The crux of the issue(s) concerning the existence or non existence of a realm called Hell are thoroughly eschatological. While many Christians find the idea/concept of eternal judgment difficult, they will easily admit and embrace the idea of eternal reward with exuberant hope and faith. However, one cannot exist without the other – especially if the Bible is used to build theology. Read More »
Mixed Up Metaphors: Confusing Tenor and Vehicle
This is the fourth installment of a series of posts collectively titled: “The Literal Tenor of the Metaphorical Hell: A Literary Critique of Scriptural Language concerning Hell, The Human Soul and a Defense of Metaphorical Conditionalism.” The first post was titled: The Literal Tenor of the Metaphorical Hell. The Second post was titled: Mechanics of Metaphor: Hell is a Shabby Hotel of Vicious Circles. The third installment was titled:Jesus of Nazareth’s Dialogue Regarding Hell
A literalist approach to the language of Scripture has been embraced not only by conservative aficionados, but also mainstream authors, poets, fictional entertainers, and dramatics. The result of this multi-faceted marketing, unfortunately, has been terrible misunderstanding and misrepresentation of metaphor as presented in Scripture. This misrepresentation is consequently accompanied by a syncretistic assimilation of misinterpretation into Christian faith and practice. The message of Jesus of Nazareth regarding a potential future state of separation between humanity and Deity, as a result, has been either demoted to cartoonish absurdity, or allied to petrifying fear and unhealthy conversion. The mishandling of metaphor (vehicle and tenor) has created a religious situation wherein it is very difficult to differentiate between fact and fiction. Read More »
The Week’s Must Read Blog Posts 03272007
The So-Called EFD: “I’m reading it all over the web, I’m hearing it from individuals, and I’ve read it in a few books. I call it the ‘Emergent False Dichotomy.’ Here’s the accusation: the emerging movement, especially its writers and leaders, constantly use false dichotomies. Is that so? Let’s take a closer look.”
Naming, Unmasking and Engaging the Powers - Part IX: “In our city the powers are at work. There are many people who are considering going on strike, fighting for fair wages. What powers are behind the war in Iraq? It takes a lot of spiritual discernment to name and unmask the powers, but it is something we should try to do, for the invisible powers are at work all around us, even in the church.”
Praying for Godspell “Today I have a little prayer request for you. Members of my church know that tonight our youth ministry is putting on a production of the musical Godspell … Godspell is based on the Book of Matthew, it is a powerful depiction of Christ’s love and atoning death and resurrection. And many unbelievers will be present.”
Jesus Christ as The True Vine in John 15.1-7
ASV John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Read More »
