Trying to comment here at From the Pew? Several commenters (myself included while trying to comment on my own blog!) have had a difficult time commenting. It seems that Blogger has made some people try to prove they aren't spambots before allowing a comment. Wordpress is having issues, too, as they apparently require logging in with an already existing Gravatar account. What is going on in the blogging world?
If any of my readers can try to comment on this post (or send me an email to fromthepew [at] yahoo [dot] com if you are unable to comment) I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Because theology is everybody's task
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Book of Revelation: A Very Different View
Kevin Johnson at Reformed Catholicism proposes a very different way of viewing the book of Revelation in his most recent post, The Meaning of Revelation for Today. He notes that many different ways of understanding this book have existed throughout history, and one's applications of its truths to the current day will vary accordingly. He dispenses with the common interpretations that Revelation is a condemnation of world empires, a blueprint for worship, or a wild eschatological ride consisting of rapture, tribulation and destruction. Johnson then counters with a simpler motive:
Rather, the main purpose of Revelation is wrapped up in its original witness to the first century church. In short, Revelation exists to encourage, comfort, and signal for believers that God is sovereign and in control and that all things will ultimately be transformed in and through Jesus Christ. Revelation then is a retelling of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a working out of its fulfillment through the ages. The church as a whole then is encouraged to be faithful in obedience to God’s Word in anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s reconciling work.
The most fascinating point to me is that he dispels the widespread notion that the great city Babylon is a reference to Rome, and offers in its place the idea that Babylon is a reference to - of all things - the city of Jerusalem. If you have an interest in the book of Revelation, please give Kevin's post a read.
Rather, the main purpose of Revelation is wrapped up in its original witness to the first century church. In short, Revelation exists to encourage, comfort, and signal for believers that God is sovereign and in control and that all things will ultimately be transformed in and through Jesus Christ. Revelation then is a retelling of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a working out of its fulfillment through the ages. The church as a whole then is encouraged to be faithful in obedience to God’s Word in anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s reconciling work.
The most fascinating point to me is that he dispels the widespread notion that the great city Babylon is a reference to Rome, and offers in its place the idea that Babylon is a reference to - of all things - the city of Jerusalem. If you have an interest in the book of Revelation, please give Kevin's post a read.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday Night Potpourri
Well, it's about time. Without further adieu:
- There's several sets of new tires in our family. Those couldn't have come at a better time. The thinning treads wouldn't have made it through the wet spell we're enduring.
- My first St. Patty's Day Guinness came in the wee hours. Working late swing shift certainly helps that.
- St. Patrick used the three leaf shamrock to teach the Irish people about the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I'll celebrate that!
- I'm at least part Irish, one eighth. My mother's grandmother was Irish and she married a Lithuanian man. I'm not sure how much Irish, if any, is in either of my grandfather's lineage.
- I wore a green shirt to work last night on the chance that I would work past midnight. Did it work?
- It was really nice to jog in the rain yesterday. It started sprinkling just as I left and by the time I got to the park, it was raining. Mrs. Scott always remarks that I bring a fresh smell back home with me.
- It all goes together very well.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Does Your Church Honor the Less Honorable?
But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:20-26
Paul is saying here that the weaker, the uncomely, the unseemly, the less honorable (or whatever other words used by the various English translations) are not only necessary in the body of Christ, but are given more honor than the rest. Not only is this to be the case with us, but this is the way God designed it to be. Do we really carry this out in reality?
Our natural tendency is to honor the strong, the acceptable, the ones with the bible degrees, the rich, the good looking, the refined, the ones who have the best jobs. And we tend to neglect, ignore or marginalize the weaker. But note what Paul says about the result of bestowing more honor upon the weaker: "...our less presentable members become much more presentable." Much more presentable? If this is so, why not make it a point? When one is weaker and not presentable, being neglected sure is felt and a pattern of neglect can make weakness permanent. Who wouldn't want a more presentable body?
Paul is saying here that the weaker, the uncomely, the unseemly, the less honorable (or whatever other words used by the various English translations) are not only necessary in the body of Christ, but are given more honor than the rest. Not only is this to be the case with us, but this is the way God designed it to be. Do we really carry this out in reality?
Our natural tendency is to honor the strong, the acceptable, the ones with the bible degrees, the rich, the good looking, the refined, the ones who have the best jobs. And we tend to neglect, ignore or marginalize the weaker. But note what Paul says about the result of bestowing more honor upon the weaker: "...our less presentable members become much more presentable." Much more presentable? If this is so, why not make it a point? When one is weaker and not presentable, being neglected sure is felt and a pattern of neglect can make weakness permanent. Who wouldn't want a more presentable body?
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