My colleague, Beth Newman, Professor of Theology and Ethics at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond wrote a thoughtful Lenten opinion piece for ABP. Read it here.
Yesterday someone asked me what I meant when I said I �don�t question people�s motives.�
I find that engaging in questioning (or second-guessing) the motives people have for doing things is a fruitless exercise. First of all, the cause of why people do things, especially in times of anxiety, rarely has rationality to it, therefore has no “reason” to it.
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I was given the book, Call 2 Ministry, by Dana Matheson. I’ve just begun the read. The author states in the Introduction, “If after reading this material you realize that God is not leading you into vocational ministry, then I pray He will place an abiding peace in your life to help you understand your (in italics) personal life ministry. However, if the Lord is leading you to serve Him voacationally, then this material can give you confidence to prepare for the next step.”
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You know, Baptists just don�t have to worry about any of this, but it may be fun to give a quiz in a pastoral leadership class on clergy liturgical vestments. I always enjoyed visiting Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal) and watch the student aspiring clergy ordering their vestments along with their graduation regalia. They LOVE this stuff!
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You can see an interesting pictorial survey of the anatomy of megachurches.
The church at which I formally served had a worship room (the �sanctuary�) that has frequently been referred to as an architectural �jewel� for the worship of its faith tradition. Churches are a form of �faith community,� and as such have a culture, including corporate memory as well as tradition. But I was reminded recently of how quickly congregations can experience a form of �corporate amnesia� as the community evolves.
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Some of these little video podcasts are examples of excellent media design. Here is a model use of technology with media (script, music, images)�see the link on the right for the �Don’t Waste Your Life Video Podcast� then click on the link to “video podcasts” in the first paragraph for the (Feb 16, 2007) podcast segment.
What makes this one an excellent example are: (1) it has a narrative arch in both message and delivery. There are plenty of other examples out there that use this very same �style� and template and the same �medium� but they lack impact and do not connect with the viewer-listener because of that one important missing element: narrative. (2) It hits both the cognitive and the affective domains of the listener. The concept of a value (not wasting one’s life) is provided with an emotional impact on the viewer through the use of image, sound, that reinforces the narrative. All that in about six seconds.
A friend, following up on a conversation about the currently popular �purpose-driven� phenomenon, wrote:
�Noah Hutchings, of the “Watchmen On The Wall” fame, has stated that he sees five fundamentals of the faith that Dr. Warren objects to, namely,
1. The inerrancy and full authority of the Bible
2. The virgin birth and full authority of the Bible
3. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4. Christ’s atoning, vicarious death for the sins of the world
5. The literal Second Coming of Jesus Christ
�I have spoken with many who have “rather switched than fight,” who now revel in the “new light” that they don’t have to be concerned about old taboos like sin anymore. That today, they are more concerned about “finding their place,” or “solving problems.” Didn’t that used to be called the “Social Gospel”?
�The previous basic tenants of redemption and atonement are today considered to be “prehistoric,” and of little use in churches that want to be big and financially successful. I first heard that diversion preached by Robert Schuller of the famous glass cathedral in California, who used to say that we don’t need people feeling guilty; it is more important to make them happy and feel good.
�I guess in that regard, my beliefs now categorize me as one of the “old farts!’ In this regard, part 2 of my question would be, What are your ‘feelings’ in this area.�
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A person wrote to me the other day about disabilities ministries. She wrote, �I have a question in regards to disability’s ministry. In most of my readings over the past 2-3 years on disability’s ministry, most of the material published has been by the Assembly of God churches. I’m not sure that I’ve read anything Baptist. Some stuff comes from Methodist and very minimal Catholic. Therefore, it seems that the Assembly of God is more open to people with disabilities. So the question is: are they more inclusive because of their evangelical nature? While I’m on this topic, is it practical and/or possible for all churches to offer ministry to those with disabilities?�
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Attached is a catalogue of the posters I’ve been posting on the blog. To see the on-line gallary, go here.
<%media(common/20070223-artpostercatalogue.pdf|Religious art poster catalogue.)%> (This is a .pdf document. It’s best to right-click and use the “Save as…” option).