Torture!!

I hate buying a new car. I mean I really hate it! As a rule, I only agree to buy a new car when my current car consistently leaves me stranded miles from home. However, for good reasons I won’t recount here, Bill and I bought a new car yesterday. Correction, we bought a new minivan yesterday. (Yes, I know I am well beyond my soccer mom years, but trust me I had my reasons for choosing a minivan.) Because we had spent hours on internet research, I foolishly thought we could accomplish this dreaded in task in four to five hours. We left home at 10 AM and by noon I remembered why I hate buying a car. One salesman left us standing in the scorching mid-day sun while he went in search of a key. We waited twenty minutes before we left; I hope he finally found a key. At another dealership, a young man refused to talk to us about price until we had eliminated all other makes and models from consideration. Another salesman tried to sell us a pre-owned car when all we wanted was directions to the new car lot. One man spent two hours of our time researching the competition’s offer to sell us a different make and model, rather than negotiating price on the car we wanted to buy from him. Eventually, we went back to the very first salesman and purchased a new Entourage, but we returned home feeling curiously unexcited. I think Bill’s “depression” came from the enormous check he had to write. I was down because after ten hours of torture, I have to wait another two days for delivery. It‘s a real bummer to spend all that time and money and have nothing new in the driveway.

More from Eat This Book

Eugene Peterson quotes to ponder: "The Christian Scriptures are the primary text for Christian spirituality. Christian spirituality is, in its entirity, rooted in and shaped by the scriptural text....God does not put us in charge of forming our personal spiritualities. We grow in accordance with the revealed Word implanted in us by the Spirit." "But the 'text' that seems to be most in favor on the American landscape today is the sovereign self.... It has become characteristic of our burgeoning, contemporary spirituality in its various manifestations to take the sovereign self as text. But the results are not encouraging: the groundswell of interest in spirituality as this new millennium has opened up does not seem to be producing any discernible outpouring of energetic justice and faithful love, two of the more obvious accompaniments of a healthy and holy Christian life." "There is an enormous interest these days in the soul. In church this interest is evidenced in a revival of attention in matters of spiritual theology, spiritual leadership, spiritual direction and spiritual formation. But there is not a corresponding revival of interest in our Holy Scriptures.... Those who are enthusiastic about this work, are frequently, even typically disinterested in the Holy Scriptures, the book that is given to us by the Holy Spirit. It is a matter of urgency that interest in our souls be matched by an interest in our Scriptures--and for the same reason: they, Scripture and souls, are the primary fields of operation of the Holy Spirit." Peterson is right; an interest in the Holy Scriptures is essential if we are to experience a healthy and holy Christian life. But more is required than an interest in the Scriptures. I belong to a faith tradition that, through the generations, has placed a high value on Scripture as inspired and authoritative. Yet, in many ways we failed to manifest justice and faithful love. We valued a knowledge of Scripture and we read Scripture searching not for the message that would transform our lives, but as a means of proving our doctrinal position. We used Scripture not to promote love but as a dividing wedge. We used Scripture not to advance justice in the world but to divide us from the world. As a result we are at a crossroad; we have three choices. We can continue on the same path the generations before us trod; we can continue to aquire biblical knowledge and use it in a way that harms the body rather than heals it. Or we can turn down the path that honors the sovereign self as the authoritative text. Or we can turn down the path that reads the Bible to experience the transforming power of its message. If we choose the last path we will need a new way of reading. In future posts I'll say more about Eat This Book, including a new approach to reading Scripture.

Eat This Book

The number one best selling book of all time is The Holy Bible with approximately six billion copies in circulation over the past five hundred fifty years. Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung (The Little Red Book) comes in a distant second with nine hundred million copies sold. What makes the Bible the best selling book of all time? What makes it different from all the other bestsellers? The Bible is God’s revelation of himself. Through the Scriptures God reveals his reality and his relationship with human beings in the story of his actions from creation to the cross and beyond. The Bible, as God’s revelatory word, demands a method of reading that is compatible with the story it tells. In Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson asserts that the Bible demands “…the kind of reading named by our ancestors as lectio divina, often translated ‘spiritual reading,’ reading that enters our souls as food enters our stomachs, spreads through our blood, and becomes holiness and love and wisdom.” Peterson takes the title of his book and the image of spiritual reading from the book of Revelation.

I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, “Take it, and eat it; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. (Revelation 10:9-10)

Our tendency is to read the Bible for information. When we read for information we gather data that we can use for our own purposes—to support our doctrinal position, to exert pressure on others, to justify our behavior. Informational reading is safe reading. Informational reading is safe because it requires little of us. However, spiritual reading requires us to “eat the book”—chew on it, digest it, metabolize it. With spiritual reading, we assimilate the Holy Scriptures into our lives in a way that draws us into God’s world. It makes us participants in God’s reality. When we read spiritually, we read not to gather information for our purposes but so that our lives may serve his purposes. Spiritual reading is not safe reading. It is not for the faint of heart but for those who seek transformation through God’s word, who seek to live in harmony with God’s world, with his saving grace, and with his church. Is that you?

Lazy Summer?

Whatever happened to the lazy days of summer? Lazy certainly doesn't describe my summer. Last week was the first week of a two week summer class in New Testament Theology. The class is taught by Dr. Tom Olbricht, who is a renowned New Testament scholar. This week I am busy preparing for the second week of class and the CbW trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. Still, I am determined to whittle away at my books-to-be-read stack. Right now I am reading Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene Peterson. He has some powerful things to say about the way we approach Scripture. I plan to share some of what he says in this space. The books-to-be read stack also includes: Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp Simply Christian by N.T. Wright Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard What's So Amazing About Grace by Phillip Yancey The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life by Tony Jones From Symposium to Eucharist by Dennis Smith The Christian Life by Karl Barth What are you reading this summer? Let me know, I may need to add it to the stack.

Theological Reflection

I remember a time when it was impolite to discuss your religious beliefs. Times have changed; Christians of differing faith traditions are entering into dialogues. Christians and non-Christians are participating in a free exchange of thoughts and ideas. There seems to be a greater interest in religious discussion. However, for many Christians one topic still seems to be off-limits--theology. At best, they are disinterested in theology and at worst, they are openly hostile to it. Many consider theology to be the realm of academics and scholars, totally unrelated to the faith and practice of ordinary Christians. Yet, every Christian is a theologian. A theologian is simply someone who thinks about God and his or her relationship with God. In addition, everyone who comes to any understanding of God has a theology. Not only does every Christian have a theology, but we all engage in theological reflection to some degree. Reflection is simply intentional, critical thinking. Therefore, theological reflection is critical thinking about what we believe and do as Christians. Over the last several months I have been observing some of the hardest working Christians I know. These men and women consistently step forward to meet needs in their local congregations and communities. They give selflessly of their time and energy and their only ambition is to glorify God and bring others to Christ through their ministries. They are busy, active Christians but their lack of time for significant theological reflection is taking a toll. Twenty years ago, the church bulletin was the primary marketing tool of ministry. Today, ministry is a multi-media endeavor. As churches seek to connect with members and the community, they employ art, drama and music to convey the gospel message in a way that resonates with those in the pews. Colorful mailings, web pages, banners and videos promote the programs and ministries of the church. Memorable tag lines and eye-catching graphics build "brand recognition" for congregations and ministries. High profile marketing is the latest ministry tool. In ministry, we reveal our understanding of God and of what it means to be a follower of Christ. The way we promote and carry out our ministries sends a message about what we value and believe to be truth. Unless we take the time to reflect on the theological implications of our ministries and the marketing tools we use to promote them, we may send a message that we never intended.

Movie Thoughts

Last night Bill and I watched The Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith. Set in 1981 and based on the life of stockbroker Chris Gardner, the film chronicles his struggle with poverty and homelessness as he cares for his young son and serves an internship with a large brokerage firm. This movie is not Academy Award material and many, if not most, reviewers were anything but ecstatic about it. Some called it melodramatic; others found it gloomy and depressing. At least one critic panned the movie because it glorified materialism and the pursuit of wealth. Yet, for some viewers, The Pursuit of Happyness is a "feel good" movie. It reinforces the idea that America is the land of "boot strap opportunity." It reassures the audience that anyone who works hard enough, long enough, will be successful. After all, Chris Gardner's hard work was rewarded with a full-time job at Dean Witter and today he is a multi-millionaire. For me it was a disturbing movie. For every Chris Gardner who struggles and overcomes, there are thousands of people in this country who continue to struggle, who never overcome the grip of poverty. Thirty-seven million Americans live below the poverty level. Minimum wage is $5.85 an hour; a gallon of gas costs $3. As I sat in my comfortable living room watching the movie, secure in the knowledge that I had a place to sleep, I couldn't get Matthew 25: 35-40 out of my mind.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’"

The Pursuit of Happyness is a disturbing movie.

Cleaning

I believe my mother spent her entire life incognito. I am convinced that in reality she was Mrs. Clean. Her home was spotless. No dust bunny had the courage to enter my mother's house, much less take up residence under a bed. Those beds were made every morning, with military precision, almost before the sleepy occupant vacated. Her hardwood floors shined with paste wax, hand applied and hand buffed. The second greatest day of my life was the day she bought a power buffer. The greatest was the day she could finally afford carpet for the entire house. Yes, boys and girls, there was a time when hardwood floors cost less than wall-to-wall carpet. My father was definitely not Mr. Clean. He was an accumulater. A complete set of law books--he worked for the electric company. A drawer of pencil stubs--he always wrote with a hard lead pencil, the shorter the better. Dad wore a hat every day and I believe he kept every one he ever owned. He kept all his important doucuments using the file-by-pile system. I am a genetic blend. I am definely not Mrs. Clean (dust bunnies are my pet of choice) but I do need a neat house. Unfortunately, I inherited the accumulater gene from Dad. Since visible clutter messes with my mind, in busy times I tend to stuff things into closets and drawers. This preserves my sanity during the school year when reading, research and exams consume all available time. This is a workable system for six or seven months but before the spring semester ends, the closets reach critical mass. Today we have reached the point of no return; it is time to re-organize the closets, bookcases, desks, etc. So unless something really profound strikes me, the next few days will be postless as I tackle the dark and dangerous caverns of my home.