Kneading Bread

I highly recommend reading “Fear and Trembling” by Soren Kierkegaard. The view espoused is as vibrant today as it was a century and a half ago, and just challenging. The challenge is both to us spiritually and to our society. How real is our pursuit of God? What does living in this reality “really” mean? I feel that despite being out of favor with the current “hip” christianity, it asks questions that might help bring us back from the brink of madness that we teeter on.

Kierkegaard is regarded by some as the father of existentialism, but I believe he is the most one the most fruitful authors we can presently read in this post-existentialist, post-modern period.

The short of this story is a skating rink in NY has a “christian skate time” on Sunday afternoon received a warning that it was a human rights violation by the state Division of Human Rights. This is a terrible thing on several levels, but the author goes on to quote a gentleman (whom I mean no disrespect) from the “Traditional Values Coalition” for his expertise on this. I feel that is this kind of reference that actually does damage to the reputation of christians in the public eye. If this was related any other issue I feel that the journalistically sound thing to do would be to contact a non-biased academic with an expertise in the subject area. Consulting the Rev. Lou Sheldon for an issue with a “christian skate time” is the kind of media coverage that makes christians look weaker in the eyes of the public.

As for the argument by the state of NY, it is equally shameful. Christians are just as protected by the rights to operate establishments as anyone else. A Christian bookseller certainly wouldn’t meet the criteria set forth by New York. The article says that the letter from the state said that a “Christian skate denies or at a minimum, discourages non-Christian patronage.” I would have to say that I have been discouraged from entering the Wiccan stores here in Salem, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have the right to do business.

Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, which can make decrees on matters that apply universally throughout, the Anglican Church can’t. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, made an impressive statement yesterday which revealed an intense care for the preservation of the core tenants of scripture. The Anglican Communion has been in the midst of great tectonic theological stress since the Episcopal Church (in America) began to ordain active homosexuals. The reaction to this was one of shock from the international communion, but thus far nothing has been done to reply to these actions on a corporate level.

While Rowan Williams has no power to change the way things are by himself, his voice carries great weight. His heartfelt statement, made with great compassion while retaining great Biblical conviction, impressed me. Regardless of what you say about the issue of homosexuality, the Anglican/Episcopal Church, or Biblical interpretation I pray that you can see that he is trying to reconcile in the most caring and bible-based manner he can. I pray for the Anglican communion to know Christ more and more. I also pray that homosexuals can see that the church can love them, not because they are homosexuals, but because they are wonderful created souls who God came to save through Jesus Christ and that we are universally in need of repentance and change.

It seems it is all the rage right now in religious circles to point out the christ-like-ness of Superman. If you put superman and christ into google news you will see over 40 entries in the last 24 hours. I feel like this is symptomatic of an issue within Christianity today – we want heroes in our media, but we are so artistically stunted that we aren’t creating out own.

At present “christian” music struggles with credibility, “christian” filmmaking is even more of a joke and “christian” art makes me cringe. It is not like we don’t have valuable source material, it seems that we’re just in a dark age of inspired art. Take a look on the shelves of modern fiction, Tolkien, Lewis, L’Engle, O’Conner, Greene — all managed to build credible respect in “the real world” of literature with works inspired by their faith (some are even clearly allegorical.) I wish that the modern church, in all its forms, would embrace artists.

I hope that in my lifetime I can see a movie in a theater by a Christian filmmaker who crafts a story, not just simple pandering to the “christian” audience. Just once, I want to feel proud of a modern author who steps beyond the mediocrity of the “christian” publishing industry.

I think I’ll see it, I can feel the tension across my generation… a tension to do amazing things for Christ. I think we’ll have heroes on the big screen that we know we can be proud of. Sure, it is fun to dissect and analyze a film to find the Christian symbols and metaphors, even if they’re just classical archetypes… I just pray for richer sustenance.

Check out the blog Biblicalia, the author is doing his own translation work on the earliest preserved complete commentary on the Apocalypse of John. I find this exceptional and fruitful reading. His initial post is a few days ago, I’ve been following it since it was posted and think this is well worth sharing.

I might not agree with the idealized “protestant work ethic,” but I can say that I get pretty down if I don’t have a job. Looking for a job has similarities to regular mail and e-mail, but I swear it has more in common with throwing things down the garbage chute. Now, with the wonders of the internet, I can send even more e-mails and get even fewer responses.

Interesting article on the power of bloggers and religion… (via Get Religion)

Check it out. I’m not even sure what to think of these Jesus Bandages. (from boingboing)

Okay, nothing is worse than a blogger that doesn’t post and I’m guilty of that. I have excuses, but you don’t need to hear them! Just I pray that I can spend enough time on this that it becomes of value to those who check this out! FYI to all you folks out there, I’ve moved to Salem, MA and am getting my ducks in a row for seminary! Seminary is some time off, but it is certainly in my future, Lord willing.

Peace.

I’ll be posting more often (at least once a day, I hope.)