Letting God be God in Light of Sandy Hook

                Originally I was going to stay silent on the blogosphere concerning the tragedy in Connecticut.  The last thing I thought we needed was a bunch of pastors and wannabe theologians (like myself) theoretically waxing on why God would allow such a tragedy to happen.  As the days progressed though explanations began to surface that to me seemed contradictory, unbiblical, and even cruel.

gravity always wins: Radiohead and Christianity Part III

Part I and Part II.

“Ecclesiastes 1:15  ¹⁵ What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.”

                These words penned by Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes are some of the most penetrating in the entire cannon of the Bible.  In one sentence the great teacher poignantly expresses what we all know: something is wrong that we can’t quite fix.  Thousands of years later the Apostle Paul expanded on Qoheleth’s observations by plainly stating just what is crooked and lacking. 

"gravity always wins:" Radiohead and Christianity Part II

View Part I here.

                Outside of Christ we are all under the law.  Whether we wish to acknowledge it or not, this is a universal fact of existence.
  Now, when I say law, I’m not speaking of any particular laws found in the Bible, but rather any form of outward standard that plays the voice of accusation in our lives.  Sure, the laws found in the Bible are included in this, but the fact of us being under the law is something we all know deep down (Romans 2:14-16).  Paul Zahl is insightful here:

The principle of the divine demand for perfection upon the human being is reflected concretely in the countless and external demands that human beings device for themselves.  In practice, the requirement of perfect submission to the commandments of God is exactly the same as the requirement of perfect submission to the innumerable drives for perfection that drive everyday people’s crippled and crippling lives.  The commandment of God that we should honor our mother and father is no different in impact, for example, than the commandment of fashion that a woman be beautiful or the commandment of culture that a man be boldly decisive and at the same time utterly tender.[i]  

Simply put, the world is full of laws.  We can see this in every facet of life.

"gravity always wins": Radiohead and Christianity Part I

                I really like Radiohead.  They’re not my favorite, but they never fail to move me.  The first reason is because their music is from another planet.  From the aggressive guitar work and multi-instrumental genius of Jonny Greenwood, to the rhythmic bass of his brother Colin, to the subtle brilliance of Ed O’Brien’s guitar creativity, to the drum machine precision of Phil Selway, and the utter id like artistry of Thom Yorke; Radiohead is second to none when it comes to stretching the musical horizons of rock.

Afterthought: "Pulpit Freedom Sunday"

To last week's Colbert inspired post on Pulpit Freedom Sunday I'd like to add this bombshell of a quote from Kierkegaard:

"What Christianity needs is not the suffocating protection of the state; no, it needs fresh air, it needs persecution, and it needs God's protection.  The state only works disaster, it wards off persecution and thus is not the medium through which God's protection can be conducted.  Above all, save Christianity from the state.  By its protection it smothers it to death."

Colbert on "Pulpit Freedom Sunday"

I thought Colbert had some interesting insights last night into the intersection of politics and religion.  This is true particularly in his interview (see second clip).

Keller, "Center Church"

"Though we may have an area or ministry that we tend to focus on, the gospel is what brings unity to all we do.  Every form of ministry is empowered by the gospel, based on the gospel, and is the result of the gospel...

When the preaching of the gospel is either confused or separated from the other endeavors of the church, preaching becomes mere exhortation (to get with the church's program or a biblical standard of ethics) or informational instruction (to inculcate the church's values and beliefs).  When the proper connection between the gospel and any aspect of ministry is severed, both are shortchanged"

-Timothy Keller "Center Church" pg. 36, 37