Category: Michael D
DOC Character . . . Nailed
These careful, moderated theological approaches are increasingly important voices and advocates for Americans in times of cultural and political polarization, division and distance. Ministers graduating and serving churches across the country from Brite truly are, according to the hymn, “the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.”(1)
For the past fifteen years my denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has been in a full-blown identity crisis. I don’t know if we are “middle-aged”, but we have certainly lived that stereotypical struggle. Many, in an attempt to woo the Church consumer, have moved away from education to edutainment and from covenant community to commercial consensus. I think of my denomination as “pragmatic dabblers” which can be deadly without a well-formed identity. A seminary professor reminded our class, Christian Theology of World Religions, that one cannot join a inter-religious dialogue without first knowing your own religious identity, heritage, and by checking your need to “convert” at the door. Pragmatic dabbling is healthy when you know who you are and religious dialogue important when you have a clear sense of self and respect for the other participants. In our world of polemics, economic, political, and religious, the Disciples identity and voice is needed more than ever before.
The quote above comes from Pearce Edwards writing for the Daily Skiff. He is covering the opening of a new building at Brite Divinity School which is on the campus of Texas Christian University. Near the end of his article, “Harrison Building Reflects Brite’s Importance”, he offers this short sentence that nails what I would call “classic” Disciples identity and work in our nation and world. Disciples theology and practice will have to evolve rather than transform, reform, or conform to current consumer or corporate preferences if we are to remain a relevant voice of Gospel in our Regions, nation, and world. The next fifteen years will define the kind of Christians and citizens of the kindom that our denomination will be.
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Reference
1. Pearce Edwards, “Harrison Building Reflects Brite’s Importance”, TCU 360, contributor to the Daily Skiff, January 19, 2012.
Offending?
Gov. Rick Perry is the latest example of misrepresenting, at worse, or simply misunderstanding what being a follower of Jesus is about. He ran a pandering ad in Iowa that claims that President Obama was waging a war on religion picking up the Fox opinion noise machine that has suggested that there is a war on Christmas. See the previous post about speech and philosophy to consider what those that create phony “outrage” maybe really doing.
Enter a website called, FunnyorDie. I think of this site as a web version of Saturday Night Live with no censors. Some of the sketch comedy is funny, some questionable, and some just folks seeking their 15 minutes of fame. They created a spoof response ad to Gov. Perry’s Iowa ad that is as offensive, for some, as what Gov. Perry created and entered into homes in Iowa. I cannot imagine how often people have to use the mute button or change the channel in Iowa to escape the Republican ads. At least with FunnyorDie’s ad, you have to choose to visit their site to see it. So, be warned. This ad, “Jesus Responds to Rick Perry’s ‘Strong’ Ad” can offend, but notes how religion is “used” rather than practiced.
Click here to visit the site and watch the short.