Are Evangelicals Really Interested in Social Justice – Synchroblog

First off, yes, I’m back for now.  I’ve been writing via other endeavors and have not had the time or had anything profound to say on my very own blog.  :-)

Thanks for those of you who have inquired via comment or email.  I am alive.

The synchroblog this month is social justice and I’m about three days late:

Since this is a near and dear issue with me, but it also is with many people now (thank God) I thought I’d take a slightly different angle.

It warms my heart that the evangelical community is beginning to embrace issues of social justice.  So much so that CNN gave a report about how some evangelicals may not vote the right wing party line because the left seems to be more aware and do more with social justice issues.  I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but what is true is that a shift seems to be taking place.  It’s not a large one.  I don’t see it happening in every evangelical church in Northern Colorado, but I hear stories coming from places like the Vineyard and Timberline (mega churches here in Fort Collins) that give me hope.

So, a question has emerged from this:  Is it just a fad for right wing bible believing Christians (and theologically I still consider myself one to a very moderate extent-although there will be plenty who are not as moderate that would disagree with me and that’s okay.  I’m all about embracing differences), or is it a real move?

I have my hopes and I have my doubts.  Maybe the evangelical church is trying to be cool by listening to Bono (and who doesn’t listen to him?), but maybe there is something growing in this segment of Christ’s church that desires to do more than ‘give them the word of God.’

In 20 years history may reveal itself.  I have doubts, but mostly I’m hopeful.

 

Adam Gonnerman on Guantanamo Bay in the eyes of God.

Julie Clawson on Human rights and Christian comfort.

Steve Hayes on Human rights and Christian faith.

Steve Hayes (again!) on Human Rights and Amnesty International.

Alan Knox on My charade is the event of the season.

Sally Coleman on If.

Sonja Andrews on Human wrongs.

Cobus van Wyngaard on Christianization and Humanization and our task in Zimbabwe.

Bryan Riley on Bloggers unite for human rights.

Prof Carlos Z on A new examination of human rights.

KW Leslie on For those who say Christians have no rights.

Mike Bursell on Human rights (and Christian responsibilities).

 

 

hi

I’m blog dry.  Hi.

 

Condoms and Christianity

I now volunteer for the Northern Colorado Aids Project and last Saturday I helped at a health fair booth in Windsor Colorado.  It’s a small mostly farming/ranching community east of Fort Collins.

I must admit it was a bit strange to sit behind a table with a two bowls of condoms on it along with information about STD’s, AID’s, and alternate sexualities.  Even stranger to do it in Windsor.

But I also must admit that I met some very interesting, wonderful, clever, people.  Some gay, some not.  Some had friends who they were concerned about regarding STD’s and Aids, other were just people that appreciated what we do for the community.

And then it occured to me that I think it’s pretty awesome to go to places and just be me…hopefully being a light… to people that many conservative Christians avoid:  Brilliant scientists who are mostly aesthists and agnostics at astronomy club, the gay and lesbian community, and those living with HIV,(for the record, almost as many hetrosexuals have HIV as do homosexuals so I choose to keep the gay community and the AID’s work seperate in my mind).

What a wonderful eclectic group of people that I have encountered and really enjoyed being around.

And on a side note:  I’ve never knew there were so many different types of condoms out there including banana flavor.  Now tell me that’s not funny…

My next post will be on my dinner at Astronomy Club that I also had a blast at; and there was no birth control involved…

The Creative…and Sadly Destructive Human

 

 

Speculation is that since ‘human’ has been around, we have been responsible for possibly the destruction of 75% of species on the planet in both plants and animals.

And it doesn’t matter your creation belief; the fact is, we humans are pretty destructive.

 

I think that makes God sad.

 

 

Can Jesus Be a Transhumanist?

 

 

In the podcast, “The Future and You”, Stephen Euin Cobb has mentioned a couple times that much of his family are dedicated Christians. Stephen, although I don’t know what his personal theological belief is, made these comments alluding to how Christians are fearful of transhumanism.

If you don’t know what ‘transhumanism’ or ‘transhuman’ is, click here  (I didn’t know the term until recently although I’ve found the whole thing fascinating for sometime).

Now I’m going to make a leap here, but I don’t think it’s a big one.  If one is afraid of something; there is usually one of two reactions to it:  Run from it and avoid at all costs, or attack it, pummel and destroy it.

I’m hoping for all you transhumanist’s out there reading this that your experience has not been hostile.  If it has, on behalf of all who profess to follow Jesus, I would like to ask your forgiveness.

 

Michael Anissimov, a futurist, made a wise comment when he was interviewed by Cobb.  I’ll paraphrase by saying that he believes that not all Christians are against transhumanism (I’m not), of which I’m glad to hear that because that opens the door for future dialogue. 

So, without going into much detail (you can find more information on the links within and at the end of this post if you want to read further.  If anyone has other good links to share, I’d be happy to add them or you can add them in the comments) can transhumanism and Christianity be compatible?

I think it can – at least to the extent that both sides don’t have to run away or attack each other.

First let’s look at the obvious:

Both groups want a better planet to live on.  Both groups want immortality.  Both groups want to live life (virtual or not) to the fullest.  I also think that both groups are looking for a spiritual experience.  I would even argue (loosely) that an atheist transhuman – because s/he is looking to be a part of something bigger and more amazing than her/himself – is longing for a spiritual experience even though they may not use the same language.

All that aside, to me, comparing the two are a bit like comparing apples and carburetors.  Why can’t a transhuman be a Christian or a Christian be a transhuman?

Am I wrong in assuming that there is no rule in “World of Warcraft” or “Second Life” that says you have to renounce religious beliefs before joining?  I’ve heard of virtual churches that take place in Second Life.

The question then rather is (unless I’m wrong on the first one) is there a rule that in order to become a Christian you need to renounce all transhumanism?  Obviously these is not the case for all Christians.

I know that transhumanism has generated quite a bit of debate about reality and truth and I say we need to welcome that.  I think Christians need to be a part of this conversation.  Not to denounce, demean or throw virtual Bibles, but to dream, explore, and engage; to build relationships in the virtual and not so virtual worlds in which we live.

It is in my opinion that Christians who are afraid of transhumanism also have a theology that the world is going to hell so we need to hold up and wait till Jesus comes back.  But let us remember that even Paul expected Jesus to return in his lifetime and here we are 2,000 years later.  So Jesus could come back before I finish this sentence… nope, didn’t happen, or it could be another 2,000 years or more.

 

Christians who wish to love and make the world a better place, and understand that God has called us to care for the poor, the widow, and the virtual and very real earth, should embrace transhumanism and more importantly embrace those who call themselves as such.

I could say more on this topic and probably will in the future (no pun intended), but as I’m exploring this and the science of futurists, I’ll stop before I say something really stupid – if I haven’t done so already.  ;-)

 

Some other links:

Lifeboat

Mustard Seed

Second Life

And the links in the post and these provide more links so venture virtually and enjoy. 

 

What if Good Friday ended with a period and not a semi-colon…

 

 

For most of my life I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should.

For the rest of my life, I skipped Friday and went right to Sunday.

 

But something I’m re-appreciating and hopefully doing so on a deeper level is… what if I, like those who followed Jesus, didn’t know?  What if Friday was all I knew for three agonizing days?

What if I was a disciple, or Mary, or Nicodemus?  What if I was Lazarus or the man blind from birth, or even the Roman soldier?

 

What if the end was Friday?  Or so I thought.

Forget the prophecies about Jesus coming back, it is my pure speculation that it might have crossed some minds of Jesus followers, but then dismissed like mere fantasy.

I had dreams for years that my Dad would rise and hold me again (he died when I was five) but it never happened.  I know what it feels like to have dreams die…. Literally.

 

Hiding in a room for fear of Rome or religious leaders.  The Master is dead, the bloodhounds are out, and visions of the man you loved hanging on a cruel instrument of torture for all to see keep you in hiding.  As much as you loved him, you don’t want to end up like him either.

Afraid, hungry, sleep deprived, and maybe the worst of it, your entire life, the entire direction and calling you thought God had revealed to you is now gone.  Your memories flash from Jesus drinking wine at a party to Jesus declaring that the Elijah cup at Passover was his blood.  From Jesus healing, to the betrayal of Judas mere hours ago.

 

Your life is in shatters.  And frankly, you don’t know what the fuck to do.

 

Can we camp there for a bit.  For just a couple days can we smell the sweat and the dead and the spices?  Can we feel the wind in our face and stumble blindly about in the dark?  Can we be so afraid of our own lives that we hide and lie and deceive?  Can we feel complete hopelessness because our friend, our Rabbi, and our God is dead?

 

Paul says that in order to rise with Christ we must die with him.  I know there’s a deep, true spiritual meaning to this; but I also think it’s very simple.  Paul was not a stranger to seeing people executed by Rome as they happened publicly all around him.  Paul himself was no stranger to pain and torture.  I think Paul doesn’t want us to create a spiritual meaning while forsaking the memory of those who lived it.

 

So let us, till Sunday, end Good Friday with a period and imagine that Sunday never comes.  For me, it will make Sunday much more meaningful if I pretend it’s not coming.

 

 

 

Membership Requirements for a Revolution

 

Welcome to the Revolution.

We are so ‘anti’ membership, if people come too much we ask them to leave (okay not really but we are ‘anti’ membership in the traditional sense of the word)

Here is our ‘anti’ membership requirement list:

 

You do not need a salvation testimony 

We clearly follow Jesus and worship Him, but if you don’t, that’s cool.

Disagree with our Statement of Faith 

We like people who disagree with us as long as it’s for the purpose of learning from each other and it’s all done in love.  But please please please, if you disagree, speak the hell up!

Disagree with our Core Values 

Well, we’re a missional run community, chances are  if you think the same way, you’ll like it, but if you think differently you won’t and probably seek community elsewhere, BUT you can come.  We still love you!  Just re-read the explanation about our ‘anti’ Statement of Faith above.

Sprinkle or Dunk, if you choose to follow Christ, we don’t care, just get wet 

And we’ll share bread and wine together too. 

Don’t get involved with us

Get involved in your community and your world.  Go be light in darkness.  Build relationships.  Invite the sinners and tax collectors to dine with you and you with them.

Don’t Participate in Ministry

Live the Revolution. 

The “WTF” new Christian Witnessing T-Shirt

 

 ”Heart of the Artist : behind the design

If you ask Al Gore, Global Warming is the biggest threat to humanity. Not abortion or the absence of God in our homes and schools. Wake Up America! This is not your biggest problem. It is not even in the top 100. The bible tells of a dark future for the lost and the wicked. God has given us a chance to make a difference today, even now.”

 

 

Well at least the last sentence is correct; that we have a chance to make a difference.  But this is not exactly my idea of “Kingdom Theology”.  But I believe Jesus was an environmentalist as well as savior of humanity.

Thanks to the magazine “Geez” for putting this in their letters to the editor section from a guy Timothy.

Like my new friend Tim says, “I’m sure it will have so many people flocking to churches all over the country that we won’t know what to do.”

If that happens Tim, I’ll recant this post immediately.  But I’ll still be an environmentalist. 

 

 

 

synchroblog list

Here are the other links to NeoMonastacism

Phil Wyman at Phil Wyman’s Square No More
Beth at Until Translucent
Steve Hayes at Notes from the Underground
Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill
Jonathan Brink at JonathanBrink.com
Sally Coleman at Eternal Echoes
Bryan Riley at Charis Shalom
Cobus van Wyngaard at My Contemplations
Mike Bursell at Mike’s Musings
David Fisher at Cosmic Collisions
Alan Knox at The Assembling of the Church
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian
Erin Word at Decompressing Faith
Sonja Andrews at Calacirian

Posted by Adam Gonnerman at 3/12

Is the new monastic fantastic? Synchroblog

From Wikipedia -

[The following paragraph needs verification. It appears to be original research.]

New Monastic communities vary in their particular values. Some emphasize very specific marks, as below, where others emphasize other principles. The most common occurring principles among New Monastic communities are

1. Thoughtful, prayerful, and contemplative lives.
2. Communal life (expressed in a variety of ways depending on the community).
3. A focus on hospitality.
4. Practical engagement with the poor.

Well to me, isn’t that they it should always be done?

I didn’t realize it for the longest time, but over the past couple years it become one of those moments where one goes, “How come I didn’t see it before?”  Scripture makes more sense and my life with God and others suddenly became deeper and more meaningful.

But I still needed to see it in practice and I think my greatest inspiration came from the Emergent Gathering last October in New Mexico, where I watched, and participated in the living out the holistic view of how Jesus lived and calls us to live. 

 

So is it fantastic?  In one sense it is, but in another sense, it’s the way it should be since the beginning and we’ve just lost ourselves a bit along the way.  So in the way that a person has amnesia and suddenly remembers his/her life – it’s fantastic.

 

Selah 

 

Synchrolist to be posted tomorrow