Tuesday, April 24, 2012
3/13 - Jesus Death
Jesus death and the events surrounding it are simply miraculous. Every time I study them, or learn about them, or listen to a sermon on them I am brought back to the incredible power, usually somehow with nuance. His gift is amazing. His sacrifice is ultimate. The torture and ridicule he took, the betrayal he endured, and his fantastic character though it all is almost unbelievable because I can't imagine anyone besides him doing the same.
SO WHY IS IT SO EASY TO FORGET?
I just don't get it. I should be living life with this message in my heart, living zealously for him in a way that shows the world the power of his sacrifice. But that is rare, because I am constantly forgetting. I am constantly self-seeking.
Lately I have been called to defend a God that lets the world be so hard. I do this with diligence, but it gets hard after a while. Why IS it so hard. If it's so astounding to me, then why do I act as if it's boring and trivial? I lack such discipline sometimes. I wish it was easier to WANT to live in light of this revelation more, but frankly, my flesh is weak.
And that's why God's grace and forgiveness is so amazing in the first place.
SO WHY IS IT SO EASY TO FORGET?
I just don't get it. I should be living life with this message in my heart, living zealously for him in a way that shows the world the power of his sacrifice. But that is rare, because I am constantly forgetting. I am constantly self-seeking.
Lately I have been called to defend a God that lets the world be so hard. I do this with diligence, but it gets hard after a while. Why IS it so hard. If it's so astounding to me, then why do I act as if it's boring and trivial? I lack such discipline sometimes. I wish it was easier to WANT to live in light of this revelation more, but frankly, my flesh is weak.
And that's why God's grace and forgiveness is so amazing in the first place.
3/6 Reading - A Gospel Today
Sometimes I see Christians living in America as similar to the Jews living under Roman rule. We both endure persecution for our beliefs, and have a lot to say about the evils of the society we live within.
I wonder, if there was a gospel of Jesus coming to give teachings to Americans, Christian and non-Christian alike, what would he say? Here is a list of topics I think he might address, relevant to today, but like what is presented in the Gospels:
I wonder, if there was a gospel of Jesus coming to give teachings to Americans, Christian and non-Christian alike, what would he say? Here is a list of topics I think he might address, relevant to today, but like what is presented in the Gospels:
- The fragmentation of the church - Jesus set up a church through Peter, but what is the church today? Broken over controversy
- Hyprocrisy in condemnation of sins (especially of the sexual sin (especially of heterosexual vs homosexual sin)) a la the woman caught in adultery in John 8.
- Churches/church members and wealth/money - Nothing much would change from his original message, in my opinion!
- Our "worship" of our ingenuity/technology/science
- Atheism is relatively new in its popularity. Instead of rebuking false gods, I wonder what Jesus would say about no god, and explaining god away with science.
- American comfort and the resulting apathy.
- Our government could be considered very similar to Rome in many ways, I wonder if Jesus would regard it similarly.
- Gluttony? Kind of going with the comfort and apathy ideas, this is much more of a problem now than in the first century AD.
- Maybe there would be healings for diseases that are relatively new today or recognized differently such as eating disorders, HIV/AIDS, anxiety disorders, and who knows, maybe even some demon casting
- Performing miracles that are meaningful to us today, and a believable as miracles, not explainable on earth.
- I'm sure there is much more.
Monday, April 23, 2012
2/28 Text
Time for some Borg... I hope I don't get assimilated. Budum tch!
Borg often seems.... disappointed in who Jesus was on earth. As such, his eschatology is a little disappointing too. He talks so much about how disappointed the early Christians were when he didn't come back right away. However, I think that they were still wallowing a bit in their view of the Messiah and his purpose. They were still hoping for freedom from Rome! But His plan was much greater and for all people. We just have to be patient.
Now Borg seems to want to continue to put Jesus in a box in the future too, and limit who he is, since it seems like he doesn't think that Jesus is the Son of Man in the Second Coming. I feel like the Bible is full of references to Jesus coming back himself, but Borg refuses. How much of the Bible can you ignore! That's a very limited vision he has of Jesus. Why would be even be lovable when he is so limited? Well, I guess he wouldn't be. In fact..... he would be a bit disappointing. Little faith leaves you disappointed!
Borg often seems.... disappointed in who Jesus was on earth. As such, his eschatology is a little disappointing too. He talks so much about how disappointed the early Christians were when he didn't come back right away. However, I think that they were still wallowing a bit in their view of the Messiah and his purpose. They were still hoping for freedom from Rome! But His plan was much greater and for all people. We just have to be patient.
Now Borg seems to want to continue to put Jesus in a box in the future too, and limit who he is, since it seems like he doesn't think that Jesus is the Son of Man in the Second Coming. I feel like the Bible is full of references to Jesus coming back himself, but Borg refuses. How much of the Bible can you ignore! That's a very limited vision he has of Jesus. Why would be even be lovable when he is so limited? Well, I guess he wouldn't be. In fact..... he would be a bit disappointing. Little faith leaves you disappointed!
2/21 Text - My Greatest Mentor
In response to 435-452 of Strauss
I like to think of Jesus as my greatest mentor, because I aspire to be something that Jesus also was: a teacher. As a pre-teacher in an education program, I am taught all sorts of methods for how to be a teacher and to do it well. But Jesus never had that, and he was an amazing teacher. What did he use to teach? A whole host of things!
Jesus used lots of stories and parables. He got people thinking by using metaphors, riddles, and paradoxes. He used proverbs a lot. Jesus taught to people from what he knew, and what they knew. He taught grounded in the culture he was in, but wasn't exclusive of other cultures.
How do he teach? He taught with authority! He taught with grace and justice. He was slow to anger, and in fact, he was of the greatest moral fiber in every aspect of this teaching, so you could say taught to all the fruits of the spirit. He promoted integrity. He gained a deserved respect and treated his followers well. He protected his flock, but was not afraid to stretch them at all. He gave everything for them.
These are all of the makings of a truly great teacher when it comes down to it. It's not the specific strategy you use with a student, your ability to plan a lesson, or how well you can grade work that makes a good teacher. These things are not what are really important. It's the character and attitude that drives you to care for and serve your students. If you teach like Jesus, you will teach them well, with respect, integrity, and a dedication to their holistic wellbeing and growth.
I like to think of Jesus as my greatest mentor, because I aspire to be something that Jesus also was: a teacher. As a pre-teacher in an education program, I am taught all sorts of methods for how to be a teacher and to do it well. But Jesus never had that, and he was an amazing teacher. What did he use to teach? A whole host of things!
Jesus used lots of stories and parables. He got people thinking by using metaphors, riddles, and paradoxes. He used proverbs a lot. Jesus taught to people from what he knew, and what they knew. He taught grounded in the culture he was in, but wasn't exclusive of other cultures.
How do he teach? He taught with authority! He taught with grace and justice. He was slow to anger, and in fact, he was of the greatest moral fiber in every aspect of this teaching, so you could say taught to all the fruits of the spirit. He promoted integrity. He gained a deserved respect and treated his followers well. He protected his flock, but was not afraid to stretch them at all. He gave everything for them.
These are all of the makings of a truly great teacher when it comes down to it. It's not the specific strategy you use with a student, your ability to plan a lesson, or how well you can grade work that makes a good teacher. These things are not what are really important. It's the character and attitude that drives you to care for and serve your students. If you teach like Jesus, you will teach them well, with respect, integrity, and a dedication to their holistic wellbeing and growth.
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