Each time a faction of the Church of England gains an overwhelming position, it proceeds to destroy itself.
This works for me as an explanation of evangelicalism’s present autophagy.
Author Archives: Elizaphanian
TBTM20070428
Is it not koinonia?
The worst theological invention
Ben Myers is stirring up some fun again – here.
I’m with Steve that the doctrine of penal substitution (tightly defined as post-first millenium) is one of the worst. But actually, what I believe is the worst is to do with the Eucharist – the shift in meaning of ‘The Body of Christ’ in the Western church in the first two hundred years of the second millenium. I think that is responsible for almost all the disasters that have happened to the faith since then – including penal substitution and biblical inerrancy (which is what I voted for). But I’ll say much more about that in week 3 of my learning church sequence (Cavanaugh talks about it, but our present understanding stems primarily from the work of de Lubac).
TBTM20070427
Busy busy busy
Is Christ Divided? session 2
Week two, beginning Sunday 22 April: 1 Corinthians 1.18 – 2.5
Click ‘full post’ for text.
Introduction of major theme: the folly of the cross
cross is absolutely counter-cultural – it is the verdict on the culture, judgement on the world (Jn 12.31) – three sections
- the message (1.18-1.25): a reversal of worldly values – consider Psalm 37.25; Deut 28.1-8 – how does this link with the ‘prosperity gospel’ (God’s rewards are in this life)?
- the recipients (1.26-31): gospel is for the marginalised and weak, not for the high and mighty; the things which are not – we are the ‘nobodies’ – are we nobodies who still want to be ‘somebodies’?
- its proper medium (2.1-5): not by worldly power but by spiritual – what is spiritual power or God’s power? how do we know what is of God?
what is the ‘wisdom’ of the Corinthians? wisdom of the world? wisdom of Mersea?
issue of eloquence – what is the effect of Paul’s own rhetoric?
what is rhetoric? in philosophy, contrasted with ‘dialectic’ – big argument in ancient philosophy, which is the background for Paul’s own argument here – can truth be discerned solely by logical analysis (dialectic – Plato, ‘philosophy’) or is it important to consider the context (rhetoric – the poets, the ‘sophists’)? rhetoric is concern with the form of an argument, the eloquence of the words
was Paul effective as a person (charismatic)? as a speaker? see 2 Cor 11.6
why counter cultural? what is being opposed, ie what wisdom – Greek ‘sensibility’ (moderation, balance, beauty) – Jewish law(?) ‘cursed be he that hangs on a tree’?
in what ways can we see the church pursuing worldly renown? when in history? when today?
1.18 – those who are perishing/ those who are being saved – what does it mean to be _being_ saved? (NB Paul doesn’t talk of those who have _been_ saved)
1.23 – the stumbling block – crucial Christian concept – consistency often obscured by being translated in different language each time – we’ll return to this!
- compare Ps 118.22 (quoted in Mk 12.10/Lk 20) Isaiah 8.12-15, 1 Peter 2 4-10
- literally ‘skandalon’ in Greek – something which causes offence (scandal)
- if we can be ‘not offended’ by the cross – then we are saved
- Mt 11.6 – “blessed is the one who takes no offence at me” – ie is not scandalised by Jesus
- Jn 6.53-61 – teaching about communion – “Does this offend you?” – communion shares in the scandal of the cross
- Mt 5.29 – if your right eye causes you to sin, literally ‘if your eye causes you to be scandalised’ pluck it out
- Mt 9.42 – whoever causes one of these little ones to be scandalised….
- Jn 16.1 – “these things I have told you so that you will not be scandalised” (go astray)
scandal is the expression of worldly values – Satanic – Jn 12.31 – consider the nature of gossip – devil is literally ‘the accuser’ – contrast with the spirit, the ‘paraclete’ – the defender (both legal terms)
1.29 – so that no-one may boast – priority of grace – to boast is to boast in the Lord, not in anything human, especially wisdom, power, wealth – in what do we rest our own sense of self? what is it that matters the most to each of us – worldly value, or God’s scale of value?
Christian protests….
Having just recommended him, I found this on Peter Chattaway’s blog. Very interesting, see especially the links to the discussion. WARNING – crude language and humour at the beginning (though I think he was making an interesting point – all the best humour does).
Thinking blogger
Patrik tagged me/ flattered me with this Thinking Blogger meme.
These are the rules (from here):
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn’t fit your blog).
I’m glad that the choices aren’t restricted to theology, as I’d find that a bit restrictive. Anyhow, five blogs that make me think:
1. Rob Hopkins at Transition Culture – Rob is a bit of a hero of mine, really, in that he has managed to get a community of 8000 people switched on to the implications of Peak Oil and what it means. If I can achieve half of what he has done then I’ll be happy. His blog is always a good read.
2. Robert Rapier at R-Squared. I was going to reference The Oil Drum itself, but I decided against that because it is a group project (and full of trolls in the comments). Robert’s voice is very sane and reasonable, and he offers a healthy dose of scepticism against some of the more outlandish Peak Oil voices, from a position of significant expertise. He’s one of those people who make you feel much cleverer after you’ve read something he’s written.
3. *Christopher, now at Betwixt and Between (previously at Bending the Rule). Christopher’s had a big influence on my thinking over the last two or three years, mainly on the obvious questions, but also on liturgical issues more generally. I find him a very congenial thinker, although sometimes I have to save up time to read him as his posts tend to the long side.
4. Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk, who comes at church questions from a completely opposite end of the spectrum to me, but ends up arguing for all sorts of things that I believe in. I imagine that loads of people are already familiar with him, but I only discovered him comparatively recently.
5. Peter Chattaway, at FilmChat. I read lots of film sites – one reason why my reviews tend to be so short, I feel that everything has already been said! – but this is my favourite, and he often makes me look at a film differently. I think that what I like most about him is the lack of stridency; he seems to be a man at peace with the world, and that comes through in his writing. He’s also writing from a Christian perspective, if that wasn’t obvious.
So there we go.
On books
By the way, I also read four ‘Dune’ books, as I am working my way through them, but I don’t think I’ll do a further review until I’ve finished the whole sequence. I’m also half way through ‘What are people for’ by Wendell Berry, and ‘Torture and Eucharist’ by Cavanaugh – both of which are extremely good, so they will each get their own post before long.
Neverwhere (graphic novel)
Saw this in a shop in Aberystwyth and had to indulge my Neil Gaiman craving, even if this was originally a novel rather than a comic. Loved it – but will now have to read the novel itself to go into the world more deeply. Wasn’t there a TV series as well???
Gilead (Marilynne Robinson)
This was tremendously good – another one that I’ve been meaning to read for a long time. I’m going to quote it in another post which I plan to write – at some point – but for now let me just say that I agree with all the positive reviews that have been written about it. Lovely, gracious book, deeply human.