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Comments and opinion about the Christian venture. Email
responses
April 3, 2007 "...voyage..."
Acts 21:11
Looking out over a snow covered landscape at the edge of the
northern Black Hills in South Dakota, USA, is an appropriate venue
for considering a different approach to presenting the Christian
faith. The Terrors of Christianity is the plan. Since
violence, intrigue and fear seem to be fascinations in this culture
let us look at the dark side of this religion. Present another view
of the company of people who for about 2000 years have been and are
the Christian Church.Peace and nurturing compassion are boring to
folks trained by videos and songs that exalt fast movement, blood
and torn bodies, erotic images and harsh language. If it does not
offend there is room for disimprovement.
I intend to present war, massacres, betrayals, rape, injustice,
dishonesty and hatred in the context of Christianity. Mostly in
words for now. The list of is courtesy of Richard Rohr in "Adam's
Return". As Rohr says "The Bible is honest theatre and healing
drama." This Holy Week happening now is a deliberate inclusion
of the negative in the story of the Christian Way. We name,
face and forgive the wounds of history.
Delton |
| June 22,
2006 "...Wild animals..."
Deuteronomy 7:22
Wild animals and religion is
not a good subject for starting the day. Not a lot of serenity or
happy talk in this field of endeavor. The people are just waking
up and starting a day of work or play and the wild animals are
probably getting a bit of rest after a night of hunting or hiding
out from fellow predators.
Then along comes the Bible and
this little bit of text wherein God is pictured as delaying the
destruction of people in a country about to be conquered in order
to hold the wild animals at bay until God's people can take over
the land. This is not a C.D. Lewis kind of "friendly
lion" sort of spiritual wisdom account. As a matter of fact I
have found the Aslan the Friendly Lion to be a stretch. Is a lion
that does not act like a normal lion still a lion?
So the Bible clearly gives a
person something to think about when it comes to wild animals and
their role in the creation. Today those animals are getting
crowded into smaller places so that it may come to a time with
Armadillos and Raccoons will alone be left to carry the flag for
the wild animal kingdom because they are urban survivors.
Whatever. I am off to deal with highway traffic and humans on the
loose.
Delton |
| June 10, 2006
"...terrifying miracles..."
Deuteronomy 4:32
On 6-6-06, when bad things were
to happen, the worst for my life was the purchase of an electronic
product that I did not need. When taking it back to Best
Buy the person who waited on me explained, in good humor, that
the date of purchase explained my problem.
So, for me, no terrifying
miracles happened on that day. However, good many terrifying
things happened this week. Violent deaths from Iraq to main street
America. How does one combine miracles with terrifying? Since I do
not have a clear definition for "miracle" it is little
wonder that I am at sea in this venue. Researching miracles
is a tough assignment. So much personal opinion and interpretation
complicates the whole business. See what I mean!
Terrifying is apparently
entertainment today. Let me off the train before we get to the
terrifying stop. I want to get off and see just a plain miracle.
Delton |
| June 6,
2006 "...Teach their children...."
Deuteronomy 4:10
This is a good day to be
reminded to teach
our children to set aside superstitious tales such as the 666
scare that is all the rage in some quarters right now.
The Deuteronomy text is Moses
being instructed by God to teach the people, especially the
children, the ways of life in the spiritual tradition. What
follows are a series of presentations by Moses. Scholars say that
this is a turning point in religion in than the spoken tradition
was now put into the written word.
The image of a child of six
reading beautifully illustrated book on weather
comes to mind. Native in- born curiosity rises up unbidden.
The realities of weather which surrounds us every day of life on
earth is a worthy subject for learning from early years.
Like all encompassing weather,
spiritual traditions envelope all people, and it is good to learn
about the dynamic effects of spirituality on us as we make our way
through life.
Delton |
| June 3,
2006 "...The Zamzummim...."
Deuteronomy 2:21
This long gone tribe of tall
people who blocked the way for the venturing Israelites have been
forgotten were it not for this Hebrew Scripture notation. One
wonders how the Zamzummim dealt with homo sexuality and other
gender issues.
My denomination and others are
today trying to figure out to deal with homosexuality without
first dealing with sexuality. It is not going well. People say
there are no answers because everyone has made up their minds and
meet only to argue.
Since I am a male Christian let
me make a real life proposal. What if church leaders were to
occasionally give males the opportunity to respond to the
following challenge. Ask those males present, and willing, in a
Christian gathering, to join in saying the following words while
standing and raising their right or left hand .
"I do solemnly swear
that I will not put my body parts into the body of any other
person or animal, without express unforced permission, and in a
committed long term relationship; so help me God - Creator, Savior
and Spirit."
This kind of statement applies
to both hetero and homo sexual males. It covers body parts without
using words that are accurate but offensive to some in a public
situation. Animals are included because for some folks who are
uncomfortable with people, animals serve their purpose. How do I
know that? From pastoral experience with people who for one reason
or another, do such things.
Sexuality issues are not going
to be resolved or go away. I believe in starting where males
are and taking steps toward responsibility while we get used
to living in the presence of one another. Females will have to
come up with their own approach.
Delton |
| May 27,
2006 "...Bunch Valley...."
Deuteronomy 1:23
This place was the limit of an expedition
by twelve men. They returned with fruit indicating a
productive place for settlement. No bother that it was already
home for another community. "Mission creep"
ensued. That same region continues to be a place of conflict
between people who desire a homeland. Fruitful land indicates
water - the source of life for individuals and communities. Water,
not oil, appears to me a primary issue in the Israeli/Palestinian
conflict.
Delton |
| May 21,
2006 "...end of the age,,,"
Matthew 28:20
In an era when Deep
Time has taken the place of religiously authorized ways of
approaching the subject of Time, the Biblical phrase "end of
the age" takes on a face alien to cultural assumptions.
Christians in particular are realizing that words placed in the
mouth of Jesus may well be a hindrance to the presence of Jesus
Christ in the Christian project. An alternative to the traditional
religious authority approach is to team up with the scientific
community in exploring Time as the very atmosphere in which all
human societies exist.
Delton
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May 20,
2006 "...baptize them..."
Matthew 28:19
The World Council of Churches is preparing a statement on the
etiquette of conversion. The bottom line appears to be that
believers should respect non believers while promoting their own
religion. Set that up next to the words of Jesus in the headline
and one has dissonance at best. Did the church put words in the
mouth of Jesus? I think we need to be candid about the agenda of
all religions and recognize that competition is the name of the
game. Perhaps good etiquette in religious promotion is about the
best we can do.
Delton
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| May 17,
2006 "...his feet..." Matthew
28:9
So they took hold of Jesus'
feet to show their devotion. Foot care as Christian devotion. The
science of Orthotics
may offer a helpful perspective. We may use Certified Pedorthists
to make life better for our bodies. So how about Pedorthists of
the Church who tend the feet of the Body of Christ?
Seminaries may need spiritual foot care classes. The
earth and the spirit connect at foot level.
Delton
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| May 15,
2006 "...A violent
earthquake..." Matthew 28:2
The death and resurrection
stories about Jesus involve natural earth centered events. What
was perceived to be an earthquake left a permanent impression on
believers. The whole of nature is central to the Christian faith.
Earthquakes are in fact movements of the earth's outer crust. I
will today consider the ground on which I walk as a means of
grace.
Delton
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