A few weeks ago, a man knocked on our door and asked if we knew Jesus Christ. Of course, I found it ironic that this person mysteriously appeared at our door on the same day we hung the Halloween decorations in the window, but that's beside the point. My husband assured the man that we were Christians. After all, my husband was a Lutheran pastor for 12 years, and I am still a Lutheran pastor and a religion professor at a Christian school. We go to church regularly, we pray before meals and at bedtime, we read the Bible, give money to charities, all that stuff that Christians are supposed to do, right? Well, it seems this was not enough. I wasn't the one standing at the door, but I heard the conversation get a little heated. Apparently, the man at the door didn't think we were Christian enough, or we weren't Christian in the right way. His concern was that we could be lumped in with the ministers he knew who would "go to the bar on Saturday night and then try to tell people how to live on Sunday morning" (his words). My husband assured him that we were on the straight and narrow (aside from the pagan Halloween witch adorning our door), but it took a door in the face to persuade the man that we were good Christians and to please leave.
This sort of door-to-door evangelism has always baffled me, particularly since I come from a faith tradition that doesn't do it much. My question is, What's the point? Are "evangelists" trying to save the sinful? Are they trying to persuade a person to adhere to the evangelist's own faith perspective? Are they trying to spread some good news about Jesus' death and resurrection and leave it at that? And, what if they run into people who already believe? What is the point then? In addition, why is it that that person hasn't been back at our door in over 3 weeks?
I say all this to get us thinking about Paul, the evangelist. Paul saw it as his mission to spread the good news of Christ to the entire known world, and for the most part he did. Over the course of about 15 years, he established Christian churches from Palestine to Rome. He endured suffering and imprisonment. He stood before numerous heads of government pleading his cause. He went from town to town, preaching, healing, and teaching about Christ. I'm positive that many people wanted to slam the door in his face, and I'm positive that many did, but he kept at it anyway. Why? Because Paul felt he had been called to this particular ministry by none other than Jesus himself. And, the thing to remember about Paul is that he didn't stop after he built a church. He continued to correspond with the people of that church and to help them through the persecutions they faced. These correspondences are the letters we have preserved in the New Testament.
My question to you is this: What is the purpose of evangelism? Even if we start from the premise that people can and do change their minds about what they believe, why is evangelism necessary? Paul obviously thought it was necessary, and without his efforts, I'm not sure where the Christian faith would be today. Keeping in mind that Christianity is one of only a handful of faiths that evangelizes at all, and that there are different types of evangelism (like service work or working with some faith-based non-profits) what is the mission? Do you think it works? In other words, can Christian evangelism today have the same effect that it did in Paul's day? Why or why not?
10.31.2007
10.24.2007
Will the 'real' Jesus please stand up?
I have read several recent works of fiction that raise some interesting questions about Jesus. Cross Bones, by Kathy Reichs, examines the possibility that Jesus was not really raised from the dead, but rather lived to be an old man with a family who died on Masada in a Jewish revolt against the Romans. The Templar Legacy, by Steve Berry, also looks at the question of Jesus' resurrection, from the point of view of the ancient Templars, who tried to eradicate the Jews in the Holy Land in the Middle Ages. The Templars' secret, which has been hidden for ages, contains "proof" that Jesus did not rise from the dead, a notion that in the wrong hands could effectively wipe Christianity off the map. Finally, the Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown, confronts us with the question of Jesus' humanity. Christians typically emphasize Jesus' divinity, often to the detriment of Jesus' humanity. Brown asks whether it is possible that Jesus was married with children, a question that often makes Christians uncomfortable.
While I enjoy reading "junk novels" as I call them, because they get me away from the scholarly reading I do most of the time, I also enjoy reading these books because they make me question the things I already believe. I think this helps me grow in my faith and my ways of thinking about the world, as well as giving me an opportunity to articulate my positions better.
The Gospels tell us much about Jesus' life, ministry, and character. They tell us that Jesus could heal the sick (Mt 15:21-28), raise the dead (Jn 11:17-44), and take on the religious authorities (Lk 5:17-26). The Gospels tell us that Jesus was crucified, was raised from the dead, and appeared to people in the flesh after his resurrection. Finally, the Gospels tell us that Jesus God in the flesh, the Incarnation. And yet, questions about who Jesus is abound.
Why is it so difficult to get a clear picture of who Jesus is? The disciples never really understood, the people whom Jesus healed never quite got it, the authorities that killed Jesus certainly didn't understand. Even today, if you ask 10 Christians who they think Jesus is, you will receive 10 different answers. Who is Jesus? Why do you think so many people have such a hard time answering this question with certainty?
While I enjoy reading "junk novels" as I call them, because they get me away from the scholarly reading I do most of the time, I also enjoy reading these books because they make me question the things I already believe. I think this helps me grow in my faith and my ways of thinking about the world, as well as giving me an opportunity to articulate my positions better.
The Gospels tell us much about Jesus' life, ministry, and character. They tell us that Jesus could heal the sick (Mt 15:21-28), raise the dead (Jn 11:17-44), and take on the religious authorities (Lk 5:17-26). The Gospels tell us that Jesus was crucified, was raised from the dead, and appeared to people in the flesh after his resurrection. Finally, the Gospels tell us that Jesus God in the flesh, the Incarnation. And yet, questions about who Jesus is abound.
Why is it so difficult to get a clear picture of who Jesus is? The disciples never really understood, the people whom Jesus healed never quite got it, the authorities that killed Jesus certainly didn't understand. Even today, if you ask 10 Christians who they think Jesus is, you will receive 10 different answers. Who is Jesus? Why do you think so many people have such a hard time answering this question with certainty?
10.01.2007
Who are the Chosen?
One of the questions I receive most often when I teach the Old Testament is, "Why did God choose the Israelites?" In other words, why are they the ones, out of all the people on the earth, chosen to represent God? Why does God let the Israelites defeat all those other people when they cross into the Promised Land? There is no satisfactory way to answer these related questions. I could say that the Bible doesn't tell us. As one progresses from Genesis to Exodus, it seems as if the patriarchs were chosen at random, particularly Abraham. At least the others come from his family. I could also say that when the ancestors were chosen, they weren't yet "Israelites;" they were only a random group of people from a small village in what is now western Asia. So, in fact, God didn't really choose the Israelites, God created the Israelites to be God's people, based on God's promises to Abraham in Genesis 15 & 17. Still, neither of these answers is truly satisfactory.
Even though the Bible doesn't really give a satisfactory answer to the question, this issue of chosenness or "election" as we call it in scholarship has caused a great deal of conflict in our world. The Jews believe they are the chosen, so they want to have their own state, without any other inhabitants. The Christians believe they are chosen because Christ's sacrifice on the cross superceded the law of Moses (which the Jews follow), so they damn everyone else to hell. The whites believe they are chosen, so they have initiated all sorts of atrocities against people of other ethnicities. The USA believes it is chosen, so "God Bless America" became the battle cry for the war on terrorism after 9/11.
In the Bible, the elect are given great responsibility. Yes, they are chosen by God. No, we don't know the exact reasons. Nevertheless, it is up to them to walk in God's ways, even when their neighbors don't. It is up to them to show justice and kindness to the poor, even when they don't really feel like it. It is up to them to convert the Gentiles, though this is such a difficult task. And, when the Israelites fail to fulfill these responsibilities terrible things happen. In the Bible, being chosen does not mean being powerful; in fact, just the opposite. The chosen ones are often at the mercy of other, bigger nations.
In a recent speech at Columbia University in New York, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that "[ruling powers] try to eliminate these cultures in order to separate the people from their identity and cut their bonds with their own history and values. they prepare the ground for stirpping people from their spiritual and material wealth by instilling in them feelings of intimidation, desire for imitation and mere consumption, submission to oppressive powers, and disability" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092401042.html [retreived Oct. 1, 2007]). President Ahmadinejad implicitly accused the United States and other "ruling powers" of using their wealth to brainwash and control scientists and researchers, as well as to oppress smaller, weaker countries.
Does he have a point? Do the "ruling powers," in our case, those who believe they are the chosen, willingly oppress the "not chosen"? If so, are they acting with the responsibility given to the elect? Why or why not?
Even though the Bible doesn't really give a satisfactory answer to the question, this issue of chosenness or "election" as we call it in scholarship has caused a great deal of conflict in our world. The Jews believe they are the chosen, so they want to have their own state, without any other inhabitants. The Christians believe they are chosen because Christ's sacrifice on the cross superceded the law of Moses (which the Jews follow), so they damn everyone else to hell. The whites believe they are chosen, so they have initiated all sorts of atrocities against people of other ethnicities. The USA believes it is chosen, so "God Bless America" became the battle cry for the war on terrorism after 9/11.
In the Bible, the elect are given great responsibility. Yes, they are chosen by God. No, we don't know the exact reasons. Nevertheless, it is up to them to walk in God's ways, even when their neighbors don't. It is up to them to show justice and kindness to the poor, even when they don't really feel like it. It is up to them to convert the Gentiles, though this is such a difficult task. And, when the Israelites fail to fulfill these responsibilities terrible things happen. In the Bible, being chosen does not mean being powerful; in fact, just the opposite. The chosen ones are often at the mercy of other, bigger nations.
In a recent speech at Columbia University in New York, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that "[ruling powers] try to eliminate these cultures in order to separate the people from their identity and cut their bonds with their own history and values. they prepare the ground for stirpping people from their spiritual and material wealth by instilling in them feelings of intimidation, desire for imitation and mere consumption, submission to oppressive powers, and disability" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092401042.html [retreived Oct. 1, 2007]). President Ahmadinejad implicitly accused the United States and other "ruling powers" of using their wealth to brainwash and control scientists and researchers, as well as to oppress smaller, weaker countries.
Does he have a point? Do the "ruling powers," in our case, those who believe they are the chosen, willingly oppress the "not chosen"? If so, are they acting with the responsibility given to the elect? Why or why not?
9.13.2007
God, the Bible, and Hurricane Katrina
About the same time the tsunami hit Southeast Asia, I was leading a women's Bible study at my church. One of the women in the group was absolutely certain that God sent that tsunami to punish the Muslims living in that region. Less than a year later, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast and Pat Robertson made the following statement: "Hurricane Katrina occurred because New Orleans is the epicenter of sinful jazz music in America" [http://www.datelinehollywood.com/archives/2005/09/18/pat-robertson-corrects-dateline-hollywood-article]. It should come as no surprise that human beings search for answers regarding the causes of natural disasters. Nations all over the world are in the midst of a frenzy about the state of the environment. People from all walks of life are concerned about global warming [though some refute that such a thing exists]; recycling has become second nature to a lot of individuals, and large corporations are beginning to "go green." The industrialized world is slowly becoming aware of the harmful effects of many chemicals used in the production of its goods, as well as the hazardous by-products of industry. Yet, even as awareness of environmental concerns is on the rise, the news is full of stories about the ravages of nature: wildfires out west, hurricanes on the East Coast, tornadoes and floods in the Midwest, drought in the south. Where does God fit into this picture? Genesis 6:12-16 states unequivocally that God sent the flood to destroy an earth and people that had become corrupt and violent. How do we wrestle with the claim that God uses the forces of nature to kill sinful people? Is God punishing a sinful, corrupt people? What, in your opinion, is the relationship between human corruption and natural disasters?
8.28.2007
The Bible and the Search For Meaning
A constant struggle we have in our home is the amount of time the t.v. is on and what shows are appropriate for our 8-year old daughter. Needless to say, her opinions differ from ours on both counts. In addition, the other day she complained about going to church because church is "boring." When I suggested that t.v was also boring, she was ready with a strong defense of television.
Our daughter's thoughts are reflective of the culture in which she lives. She wants to be entertained every minute of every day and she searches for entertainment and "fun" through the t.v. shows she likes to watch. She is not old enough yet to make a lot of use of the internet or make a lot of decisions about her clothes or the music she listens to, but that day will come soon.
Terry Mattingly, in his book Pop Goes Religion: Faith in Popular Culture makes the following observations: "The world of entertainment and mass communications -- through television, radio, contemporary music, movies, magazines, art, video games and pop literature -- is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world. from commercials to sitcoms, from biographies to hit songs, from computer simulation games to talk shows, God's principles are challenged every moment of every day, in very entertaining, palatable and discreet ways. Few Christians currently have the intellectual and spiritual tools to identify and reject the garbage" (xxi).
"Unbelievers wrestle with the same deep questions believers have . . . Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Does life make sense? Why is there suffering and evil in the world? What is my purpose in life? How can I learn to get along with people? (179).
The question for today: Do you agree with Mattingly's observations? Is there a way to reconcile the deep, ongoing questions people have about their lives with the ever-changing pop culture in which people often seek answers? Can the Bible have relevance for a culture that gets its theological training primarily through sound bites, song lyrics, and internet sites? If so, how? If not, why not?
Our daughter's thoughts are reflective of the culture in which she lives. She wants to be entertained every minute of every day and she searches for entertainment and "fun" through the t.v. shows she likes to watch. She is not old enough yet to make a lot of use of the internet or make a lot of decisions about her clothes or the music she listens to, but that day will come soon.
Terry Mattingly, in his book Pop Goes Religion: Faith in Popular Culture makes the following observations: "The world of entertainment and mass communications -- through television, radio, contemporary music, movies, magazines, art, video games and pop literature -- is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world. from commercials to sitcoms, from biographies to hit songs, from computer simulation games to talk shows, God's principles are challenged every moment of every day, in very entertaining, palatable and discreet ways. Few Christians currently have the intellectual and spiritual tools to identify and reject the garbage" (xxi).
"Unbelievers wrestle with the same deep questions believers have . . . Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Does life make sense? Why is there suffering and evil in the world? What is my purpose in life? How can I learn to get along with people? (179).
The question for today: Do you agree with Mattingly's observations? Is there a way to reconcile the deep, ongoing questions people have about their lives with the ever-changing pop culture in which people often seek answers? Can the Bible have relevance for a culture that gets its theological training primarily through sound bites, song lyrics, and internet sites? If so, how? If not, why not?
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