Riverwood Presbyterian Church

Books

Censorship, or What Johnny Can’t Read Today

by Jeff Miller

I’ve heard a lot of talk recently about strange things such as censorship, banning books, etc. from people of our theological stripe.

Now I expect this from people who advertise themselves in certain ways. (Extreme hardline religious fanatics (of all religions), Fascists, extreme nationalists, Racist groups. etc.). The picture of Nazi Germany comes immediately to mind, but there have been and are many others. This comes from a two forked stream of ideas: control and fear. When a person or group decides that it is necessary to have control over another person or group, control of information is essential. Ideas have consequences and the wrong ideas can upset the whole cart. Fear of this happening begins with control and eventually leads to paranoia.

In the context of Christianity, this is very problematic. People will often use Scripture to try to support their argument for or against some particular issue. Many have positions of authority and therefore have ears ready to hear (and often adhere to or obey) whatever is said.

Here’s the problem: Once a little legalism slips in, the slope falls from underneath your feet. There is no end to legalism. Our base nature feeds on it. It only serves to increase the control of the leader or to puff up the adherents and root out the nonconformists.

Where am I going with this?

Some of our brethren in various parts of the country, I’m told, are taking it upon themselves to try to limit what the congregants in their local circles read and how they view theological issues, etc. Some, apparently, have lost jobs, for having read/subscribed to certain magazines. (Christian/theological magazines, at that- nothing that resembles immorality, etc.). Some are being told that certain subjects & theological ideas are off the table for discussion. This is absolutely insane! These people would be offended and appalled if you called them Papists (and they are not), but their current actions are reminiscent of an earlier time in which such things were done on a much larger scale. None of us is above this kind of foolishness if the conditions are right- we are, after all, idol factories and the most common idol of today is our autonomy, but I digress…

As believers in Christ, we are free in Him to enjoy all of life and to investigate ideas and critique them according to Scriptural principles.

Do I have disagreements with Biblical teachers- YES! (Probably most, actually.) Am I right to tell you that you and I can’t have fellowship if you read a certain book or author? NO. Not only would I not be right, but there is a very real sense in which I could be putting myself in what should be the jurisdiction of the Holy Spirit in someone else’s life.

Certainly, there are many books that you would be better off playing tennis or something rather than reading, that’s a different point. You only have a short time on Earth- don’t read poor books or drink bad wine. Again, I digress…

I came running to the Reformed tradition in order to get away from the aforementioned type of idiocy. I’m not going back…..

Books

RPC Book Group

by Jeff Miller

Actually, this shoud probably be in the category of “Shameless plugs”….

The RPC Book Group finished looking at Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath last night. It was a very compelling story, as you may know, of impoverished Plains people who moved to California in the early 20th century. looking for a way to survive. The discussions were, as always, scintillating.

We turn next, to a masterpiece of Tolstoy- Anna Karenina. This novel bridges the realist and modernist styles in fiction and has had long lasting impact on novelists which came in its wake. The story deals with many themes and ideas, but, like Dostoevsky, it is the presentation of facets of human nature shown in the various characters and their struggles which will likely spawn the most discussion. Although shown against the backdrop of stratified Russian society of the late 19th century, their struggles and ours are not as foreign to each other as we would think on first glance. And, as Jimmy says, it has one of the greatest opening lines in Literature: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

If you have opportunity & desire, please join us next Tues and following at Books A Million- 7 pm. Have some coffee or tea and enjoy some wonderful discussion about a whole host of ideas from a Reformed Christian perspective.

Culture Wars

A New Breed?

by Jimmy Hopper

Some of you have already read this since I sent the link out earlier but I thought it would be good to put it on the Riverblog since, as someone noted below, we’ve discussed the state of Christiandom quite a bit here. If you have e-mailed me with a comment, please feel free to repeat it here.

I read an article published in a recent New York Times about the death of Jerry Falwell and a shift in emphasis for what the authors say is a “new breed of evangelicals.” You can read the article here. This “new breed” still adheres to some base issues such as abortion and same sex marriages but are described as being more open to other social issues such as the environment, world poverty, and AIDS. Many of the leaders are megachurch pastors such as Rick Warren, author of the mega best seller, The Purpose Driven Life. Although the movement is still basically Republican, the authors see some problems with the upcoming GOP presidental candidates for various reasons. One of the really fascinating things about the article is that it doesn’t mention, even in passing, Joel O’Steen and the other light weight minds that comprise the “get rich off Christianity” group, thus dismissing them as any sort of factor. Maybe they never were taken seriously by anyone.

I found their views interesting, especially on the political evolution of this movement, and I have been almost totally critical of Christian political involvement and don’t see that changing. If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword, and I prefer not to see Christianity judged by the actions and standards (or lack thereof) of some of these people. Especially interesting to me was the quote by Gabe Lyons, raised in Falwell’s church, who has shunned politics and advocates involvement in the general culture, including the arts and media. That quote comprises the next to last paragraph in the piece and says that politics does not shape the morality of a culture but only reflects that culture. To change anything, you have to change the culture. One facet of this is something Jeff Miller continually advocates in his Salt and Light articles; Christians should work to take back the arts instead of a miserable concession, because “Ideas are important”!

Culture Wars

Epicurus, Diogenes, Cynic, and Jerry Falwell

by Tim Lien

ap•ro•pos 1 : at an opportune time 2 : by way of interjection or further comment : with regard to the present topic

As I was studying for the first part of Thessalonians, I came across this quote:

After watching clip after clip on CNN of comments by Jerry Falwell, I wanted to create a blog about how my faith differed from Mr. Falwell. And although Mr. Falwell and I seem to be world’s apart, I could not escape the video clips that showed him affirming and proclaiming almost every orthodox tenet that I, too, believe. Sans his political activism and Arminianism, Mr. Falwell and I are brothers in Christ. (That was an incredibly difficult sentence to write.) But Calvin’s quote reminded me that in my Reformed-Intellectualism, I must affirm the supernatural up and against the Cynic, Diogenes, and Epicurus of our day. So, I guess that was me in the background to the right of Mr. Falwell. Yes, I was almost falling off the stage, but I was there.

Education

A Little More than “Poor Judgment”

by Clay Staggs

This is outrageous. Absolutely outrageous. While on a field trip to a state park, the assistant principal, teachers, and other staff members from the Scales Elementary School in Murfreesboro, TN, decided to have a little drill with their 6th graders (11 and 12 year olds). They staged a fictitious attack by an assailant with a gun, yet told the terrified children that it was not a drill. The kids, who were hiding under tables sobbing, later were told that this was a “learning experience.”

According to the AP account:

During the last night of the trip, staff members convinced the 69 students that there was a gunman on the loose. They were told to lie on the floor or hide underneath tables and stay quiet. A teacher, disguised in a hooded sweat shirt, even pulled on a locked door.

Now, I suppose that there’s nothing wrong with having drills for emergencies. After all, we had tornado and fire drills regularly when I was in school. But to tell the children that it wasn’t a drill? And the teachers were the ones who apparently cooked up this idea and executed it? What is going on here?

One might be tempted to think that it would go without saying that the adults involved would be immediately dismissed or at least disciplined in some fashion. But not so fast:

Principal Catherine Stephens declined to say whether the staff members involved would face disciplinary action, but said the situation “involved poor judgment.”

That’s the understatement of the year.

Maybe I’m just having an emotional reaction to this, but if this were my kid, I’d be apoplectic. What’s to be gained by this? I suppose that (sadly) it may not be a bad idea to have an emergency plan in the event of an intruder, but to stage such a thing off campus and to lie to the children that it’s real? Isn’t this just like the little boy who cried wolf? Who will believe the teachers the next time if there’s a real threat from a gunman? I mean, don’t we learn these types of lessons as kids? Where is the thinking and discernment on the part of the adults in charge?

Yeesh.

Culture Wars

Movie Commentary - “Jesus Camp”

by Jimmy Hopper

As noted in the bulletin this morning, we are providing a forum on the Riverblog to discuss our current Movie Night movie, Jesus Camp. The suggestions below are just that, suggestions, and everyone is free to discuss any ideas as comments. Please join in with your thoughts on the important concerns raised by this movie.

-The New York Times reviewer of this feature stated that this movement is “partly a response to the steady coarsening of mass culture in which the dominant values are commercial and the worldview is Darwinian in its amorality.” Is this completely accurate? Is commercialism really widely considered to be an enemy of evangelicalism? Will Christianity always be at odds with the world?

• The methods of Ms. Fischer and her group are obviously very effective in achieving their goals. Mass manipulation always seems disturbing when seen from outside but seems especially odious when the ones manipulated are children. How is this type of manipulation different from Joel O’Steen , Benny Hinn Billy Graham, James Dobson and Don Wildmon?

•These children are home-schooled and so are many reformed Christians. This obviously doesn’t lead to Kids on Fire. Are the motives different? If so, how are they different?

•There are scenes of children in camouflage with wooden swords in mock fights to heavy metal Christian music. There is also much talk about how Muslims indoctrinate children to go to war. Is this a viable response for a Christian? Are these the weapons of the New Testament for the cause of Christ?

•Ted Haggard makes an appearance ironically speaking against homosexuality. Should evangelical Christianity have someone who speaks for them on a high political level? Can any man really do this? Is it truly effective? Is it right and ethical?

•One of the children has been told and speaks of Protestant churches whose services are like Riverwood as being “dead churches where Jesus doesn’t visit.” Is emotionalism a requirement of the Church in the New Testament ? Can this be maintained? What is the proper place of emotionalism in Christianity?

•Ms. Fischer declares that “Extreme Liberals who look at this should be quaking in their boots.” Is she correct? Is this something to be desired?

•The interaction between Ms. Fischer and Mike Papantonio, the Air America talk show host, is very telling. Papantonio is a protestant Christian of Ms. Fischer’s “dead” church variety. Who “wins” the debate? What are their respective attitudes after the debate?

•All “evangelical” Christians tend to be perceived by the world as if their children were part of Kids on Fire. We are all lumped together. Can this be addressed? If so, how?

•What is laudable about the evangelicals that were portrayed?

Arts & Aesthetics

Kindly Whispering Illogical Obscenities

by Tim Lien

A writer friend of mine sent me a poem by Jack Gilbert entitled “Failing and Flying.” This person told me that this was a poem to “savor.” Read on:

Jack Gilbert: Winner of the National Book Critics Award for Refusing Heaven (2005), published in The New Yorker, and winner of the Guggenheim Fellowship. All of these accolades point to critical acclaim and acceptance in the collegial club of Fine Literature. Additionally, this exclusive membership assumes and that good clear thinking has accompanied Gilbert’s creativity, thus, making Gilbert an “intellectual,” as well.

Needless to say, I was bothered by Gilbert’s poem. Yes, it was beautifully written, but it was devoid of coherent thought. Gilbert confused descriptive and romantic prose with good thinking. At first glance, an unwitting reader could sigh and say, “I never thought of it that way; how romantic and tragic!…maybe Icarus had succeeded on some level.” But this ignores some of the cold un-descriptive facts: Icarus did not heed instruction; he aspired to ascend to the gods, and consequently, Icarus descended beneath the waves—dead, failed, and definitely not flying.

Writing is powerful. And one could argue, that creative writing can be even more powerful. However, powerful and creative writing does not guarantee that it makes sense. I can beautifully describe illogical thought, yet, creatively rendered writing:

Regardless of the sensational romantic images that were conjured up by my silly poem, the poem asserts something completely idiotic: It attempts to slip by your normal defense of common sense by announcing that 2 plus 2 is now 5. Stupidity? Of course. And accompanied by lush, descriptive images— it still remains to be stupidity. Unfortunately, the postmodern mind has placed such an emphasis on experienced sensation, that it has literally lost its mind.

There are good reasons why Icarus isn’t among our pantheon of heroes—it’s because he failed and he is dead. Or maybe let me phrase it this way: After his lungs heaved water inward for the last time, Icarus’ limbs jerked in exasperation, finally resting and pointing to the waning light above.

General Theology

Rescue from the South

by Clay Staggs

I ran across two interesting comments on National Review’s blog, The Corner. Here’s the first, by Mark Krikorian:

The head of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, is complaining about Nigerian Anglican bishops coming to Virginia this weekend to formally install the head of the conservative breakaway denomination in this country. Here's what she said: "Such action would violate the ancient customs of the church."

I kid you not. The female head of a church with a practicing homosexual bishop planning to "marry" his lover, a church that could accept into seminary the adulterous homosexual governor of New Jersey, a church that embraces splitting open babies' skulls and vacuuming their brains out, is complaining about violating ancient customs? Wow.

Then the follow up from Mark Steyn, one of my favorite writers in the commentary business today:

Mark, what’s interesting about the Episcopal breakaway faction in the US is the indestructible assumption of the Presiding Bishop and her colleagues that they are the mainstream and the inevitable progressive future, and that the Nigerian bishops are the fringe and the doomed reactionary past. On any Sunday morning, there are more Anglicans in the pews in Nigeria than in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada combined. So much for head office.

If the Anglican Communion has a future, it won’t be thanks to Bishop Katharine Jefforts Schori and the predictably reductive preoccupations of her ministry.

There’s been a good bit of discussion on this blog recently about the state of modern Christendom. One undeniable fact is that, geographically, the center of gravity in the Christian world is shifting south. Isn’t it interesting that the very folks who were colonized and converted, are the ones to whom it is falling to salvage the wreckage of modern Western Christianity?

Pastoral Musings

Profundity

by Tim Lien

Two weeks ago, baby Addie Elizabeth Crawford was baptized on Sunday morning. Although I am not much of a sensationalist or an experientialist, upon reflection, I was struck with the grand significance of the occasion. There was only one part of that holy sacrament that was interchangeable. You could not find other earthly parents for little Addie, because there is only one set ordained by God. You could not have had another little girl, because it would not have been Addie E Crawford. We couldn’t have changed the element of water, because it would have ceased to be a baptism if we did so. We couldn’t have found another deity, because this sacramental ceremony highlights the initiation and proactive work of One God, who reaches out to man before man even knows it himself/herself. But you could have changed one element. It could have easily been another pastor, priest, or bishop. Our denomination accepts any “Trinitarian baptism.” (done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.) Highlighting, again, that the clergy, temperature of the water, sincerity of prayer, or faith of the parents are not the key “ingredients.” The validity of infant baptism is placed squarely upon the covenantal promises of a faithful God to perennially unfaithful people.

And this is what struck me: I was a part of that. I was there. I witnessed it. I repeated the promises of God to little Addie. I didn’t do anything in the spiritual sense, but I was allowed to be a tool. A completely interchangeable tool. But it was me. Part of the beauty of the sacraments is the humility which they bestow. Not the fake brand of humility, but the real stuff—the kind that just gives you awe at something greater than yourself.