Author: Wick

Growing up, there were a few bands that would get me literally “giddy” with excitement. Their energy, and ability to create an experience that was much more than a concert or an album was uncanny. They possessed raw talent, and entertained well beyond the usual one genre most were getting in their day. Christian, secular, ska, rock, swing, jazz, punk, opera…..hehe…these guys were incredible.

And then they were no longer.

Sure, Roper (who didn’t sign autographs, but totally gave me a piece of gum at a show, that I kept on my shelf throughout high school) went on to do multiple projects, and is still kickin’ it from what I hear. But FIF was no more. All has been silent.

Until now.

Relevant Magazine had a pretty decent article online recently, about how we approach the parts of the Bible that don’t seem to match up. Normally, when you hear this issue discussed, it’s either an Atheist throwing everything out the window, or a very conservative believer defending against such heresy.

We cannot deny that there are portions and verses in scripture that don’t seem to make sense, in the light of history or in the light of each other. So how do we respond? Is all scripture God-breathed (yes), or is all scripture assembled/remembered/written by humans (yes)? Can we trust the word of God as a resource for Truth, even if we can’t always trust it as a source of truth?

Or should we just assume it all makes sense to God, and the reason some things seem to not make sense is some larger message that will all fit together when God finishes all that He is working towards? After all, who are we humans to try and understand all of the divine this Book contains?

Is there a way to study the truths found in scripture, and the Truths found in scripture, and still faithfully proclaim the message about Jesus Christ and God’s Kingdom found throughout? YES!!!!

Barna’s new study shows that our current approaches to Scriptures are not doing a whole lot of good in view of how they are being related to by the next generations. We need to be Christians who are knowledgeable, not only on the blunt facts and histories and obvious Truths found in scriptures….but also believers who are wrestling and honest with the truths and more difficult Truths found throughout. This is a word meant to be active and alive, becoming flesh through us as we’re transformed by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

God is calling us to proclaim the Truths of His Word so much more than the truths found in scriptures, yet they needn’t be considered separately. We can honestly say “I’m not sure”, and may God’s Spirit guide us to a better understanding and living out of the Word He has breathed, and brings to life each day.

Granted, Barna has his own notions I’m sure influence how such stats are reported….choosing home cells over a congregation any day. But may we be a Church that lives out a hunger for scripture as something that is Sacred, Accurate in the Truth it proclaims, Jesus-centered, God-breathed, and engaging the world around us….

It’s been a while since I last posted a review of a chapter from “The Holiness Manifesto”, but I’ve finally finished Caputo’s book (amazingly provoking), and figured it would pass the time until Donald Miller’s newest book arrives in my mailbox.

Chapter 7 is entitled “Holiness and the Five Calls of God: Holiness in Postmodernity” by Howard Snyder, another ridiculously educated and intelligent author employed by an educational body. This chapter begins a new section of the book, which focuses on “Holiness in Ministry”. The title of this chapter turned me away a bit, simply because I’m a bit weary of authors who are still writing about how “postmodernity” is changing things. But I suppose there are some out there still being impacted by the first wave of postmodern concepts, while most of us are riding some sort of “post-post-post-modern” wave, thanks in large part to the internet.

He talks about 5 concentric circles, starting with the outer ring, and moving towards the center. Starting with the outer circle as he sees them, they are calls to:

1. Earth Stewardship (not just tree huggers)
2. Covenant Peoplehood (community)
3. God’s Reign (Kingdom citizens)
4. Specific Ministry (for every believer)
5. Holiness (which he mentions could also be the outer circle)

I do like that here we have a discussion on Holiness that involves both how we relate to creation, others, systems of the world, and ourselves in response to God’s Spirit within us. To end with a quote from Snyder:

“Thus holiness is community – koinonia with God and with one another in a new kind of fellowship, the church, which simultaneously lives in two worlds – the one we now see visibly around us, and the one which is to come and which in fact is constantly, invisibly, penetratingly around us right now.”