12.14.05
Good Times
My roommates and I. Left to right: Erik, Nathan, me. Taken in our kitchen.
12.11.05
Disposability
Kleenex, saftey razors, pencils, ballpoint pens, paper napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, paper and plastic grocery bags, disposable diapers, disposable batteries, cars, houses, churches, friendships, marriages, pregnancies.
Our culture seems to value short-lived relationships that can be terminated at one’s convenience–whether with a product, service, or person. It seems to me that there was a time when homes, bed sheets, and razors were heirlooms, and a pen lasted one’s whole life. 50 years of marriage hasn’t always warranted applause any more than 70 years of life. I’m not discussing the ecological or economical implications of our way of life, nor am I passing judgement. I use this stuff too, and probably always will. I simply think it’s worth noting that our attitude toward stuff and people seems very similar. Hm.
12.08.05
Funny Things
Sometimes we as Christians like to hold on to funny things. We have convictions, some of which are biblical, and some of which are, well… spurious. Whenever we read something that seems to agree with our convictions, a feeling of affirmation stirs in our hearts. Yes! we think. Exactly!
Sometimes our opinions even colour our reading. We take something to be agreeing with our position when in reality it is saying something else entirely, or even disagreeing with us. This happens with the Bible. All of us have denominational (or non-denominational) biases. We are influenced by the people we interact with, the messages we listen to, etc.
For example, some of us get defensive when scholars suggest that a certain portion of the Bible was not written by the person to whom we attribute it, or that it has been edited, or that there is a mistake or human element in it. Some of us try really hard to show that Paul didn’t really mean the things he said about women. Some of us are really sure that it’s a sin for alcohol to touch our lips. Some of us are really sure that prophecy and tongues are a thing of the past and future, but not of the present. Some are convinced of a de facto ecclesiastical hierarchy outlined in the Bible. Some of us don’t like to imagine that God still pours out judgement. Some of us don’t really see anything wrong with homosexuality. Some of us are Calvinists. Or Arminians.
I’m a Charismatic. I’m biased. I’m wrong about some things, and there are times when I like to think the Bible says things it doesn’t really say.