Preparing for Discussion - Salvation: Abundant Life Now

Shane Hipps challenges us in session 4 of Animate: Faith to think of salvation as something that happens in the here and now as we're living life in this world, rather than something that we are looking forward to when this life is over. How have you understood the meaning of "salvation?"

A large portion of the discussion guide for this week is devoted to an exploration of the word "salvation," where it is used in scripture, and what it means. Let's start by just taking a look at several Old and New Testament verses regarding salvation (note: 2/3 of the references to salvation in the Bible come from the Old Testament):

Exodus 15:2
2 Chronicles 6:41
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 62:5-6
Luke 1:77
Acts 13:47
Romans 1:16

What is salvation in these scriptures? Does it differ from Old Testament to New Testament? 

If salvation is something happening in our lives now and something that we can see in specific moments in our lives, what does it mean to "be saved?" The jailor asked Paul & Silas this question in Acts 16:16-40.

What does this understanding of salvation mean about "tent revivals" and televangelists, about groups of people coming forward to "be saved" at an event? How does this understanding of salvation apply to the question of whether or not a person can lose their salvation?

How does James 2:14-26 inform this discussion? What do these verses say about salvation?

In our previous discussion we read the story of Zacchaeus, as a radical, risky act of Jesus. Now read it with this conversation about salvation in mind. (Luke 19:1-11) Verses 9-10 say:

⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

What does THAT mean? Is salvation a one time event here? Was Zacchaeus saved from then on? Or is salvation something that is unfolding throughout the story? Is "salvation" what is meant my Zacchaeus' response to Jesus? As in, "Today you are experiencing salvation," versus, "Salvation has come to you today once and for all."

In Luke 4:16-21 Jesus quotes the words of the prophet Isaiah and declares that he is the fulfillment of these words:

¹⁶ And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. ¹⁷ And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

²⁰ And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus describes in this passage the work he has come to do, his "saving work," the salvation he brings. These things are very present, not future, oriented. Do you think these verses describe what is meant by salvation? Are these verses literal or figurative? (Fun fact: The "year of the Lord's favor" is in reference to the Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25, which adds another layer of meaning to the words of Jesus.)

Hipps tells a story of a moment of salvation in his own life when his father laid hands on him and prayed silently for him. Take a look at these moments in scripture, which may also be described as "salvation moments" or "God moments:"

John 4:29
John 8:10-11
John 3:1-10
John 21:15-19

Do you think these moments describe salvation? Is this what salvation is? Why or why not?

Have their been moments of salvation in your own life like those described above?

Shane Hipps also links up the idea of time and salvation, speaking of the time we have hear on earth as a valuable opportunity to experience salvation and to share salvation experiences with others. Take a look at these verses and think about how they might apply to this time/salvation concept:

Romans 13:11-12
2 Corinthians 6:1-3
Ephesians 5:15-16
1 Peter 4:7-11
1 John 2:15-17

Lastly, read Ephesian 4:26-5:2. What is the Day of Redemption? And what does it mean to be "sealed" for it? Is it possible that the time is BOTH now AND later?

Fruit of the Spirit song

Here's a great kids song that goes really well with the scriptures and discussion we had during Week 3: Spirituality is Not Enough. Go Fish now does kids music, but I find myself singing this song throughout the day, too!

5 Uncomfortable Issues the Church Needs to Start Talking About

A girlfriend of mine posted a link to this article on facebook from Relevant Magazine. I thought it was pretty relevant to the conversations we've been having:

5 Uncomfortable Issues the Church Needs to Start Talking About

Who is Shane Hipps?

Shane Hipps is the presenter of the 4th session of Animate: Faith, entitled "Salvation: Abundant Life Now."

Shane is a sought-after speaker and former teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also served as the lead pastor of a small Mennonite church in Arizona. He came to ministry from the world of high-end advertising, so it’s not surprising that he has a knack for unpacking the deeper layers of the gospel message. He has written three books, is featured in three films, and has hosted hundreds of podcasts.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with his family in Grand Rapids, Michigan
2. Worked on a multimillion-dollar communications plan for Porsche
3. Went to seminary as a Calvinist and is now a Mennonite
4. Wears Vibram Five Fingers when he runs
5. Has a BA from Texas Christian University and an MDiv from Fuller Theological

(bio from: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/faith/voices/shane/)


Visit Shane Hipps' website here: http://shanehipps.com/

Preparing for Discussion - Jesus: The Revolution of Love

Mark Scandrette challenges us in session 3 of Animate: Faith to put actions to our faith, to live out what we say we believe. Take a look at 1 Timothy 4:4-16. What actions do these verses suggest that believers should take?

What are some beliefs of the Christian faith that are especially important to you? In what ways have you already put those beliefs into action? How would you challenge yourself to more fully live out your faith?

Scandrette mentions how putting our beliefs into practice can be a risk. We risk an honest look at our own lives, and we risk doing things that are difficult and unpopular, that may not necessarily have immediate positive outcomes for ourselves. Jesus took many risks to live out the Kingdom of God here on earth:

John 4:1-42
Luke 19:1-10
John 11
John 9

How might the risks Jesus took in those passages look in our current times? What would be a "modern" version of these stories? How were Jesus' actions revolutionary? And what do/would you find most challenging about living your life in the "way of Jesus."

John 17:14-18 is part of  the prayer that Jesus prays for those who follow him. Clearly, it isn't expected to be a comfortable life. If you have time, read the whole chapter. I find this prayer both troubling and comforting.

The following scriptures are yet another set of challenges for those who endeavor to follow Jesus:

Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 5:43-48
Luke 10:25-37
Matthew 25:31-40

This calling is scary, difficult, and risky. And it holds the additional risk of leading believers to become focused on works and motivated by guilt, driven to do the "right" thing but always falling short. Jesus intended us to be motivated by love (John 13:34-35) and carried by the indwelling of the Spirit (John 14:15-17).  Have you seen this tension play out in your own life? What feelings come up for you when we begin talking about being "doers of the Word and not hearers only?"  Do you feel guilty? Worried? Do you begin making a plan for how you're going to start doing the right thing? How do we rely on our connection to Jesus and the strength of the Holy Spirit as we live out a calling to be like Jesus?

Who is Mark Scandrette?

 Mark Scandrette is the presenter of the 3rd session of Animate: Faith, entitled "Jesus: The Revolution of Love."

Mark is the founding director of ReIMAGINE, a center for integral Christian practice, where he leads an annual series of retreats, learning labs, conversations, and projects designed to help participants integrate the teachings of Jesus into every aspect of life.
A sought-after voice for creative, radical, and embodied Christian practice, he speaks nationally and internationally at conferences, universities, and churches, offering training and coaching to leaders and organizations.
He is the author of FREE: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most, Practicing the Way of Jesus, and Soul Graffiti.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with his wife in the Mission District of San Francisco
2. Has three young adult children
3. Enjoys running, biking, cooking, and home coffee roasting
4. Was a child evangelist
5. Has a BA in applied psychology from Bemidji State University and studied towards an MDiv at Bethel Theological Seminary

(bio from: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/faith/voices/mark/)

See Mark Scandrette's website here: http://markscandrette.com/

Preparing for Discussion - Religion: Spirituality is not Enough - Part 3

For a recap of Lillian Daniel's thoughts on religion and spirituality, visit her blog post here: Spiritual But Not Religious? Please Stop Boring Me. It's pretty short. Go ahead. Look it up.

Now consider these passages of scripture as you continue to sift through your ideas of religion and/or/vs spirituality:

-> Matthew 13: 1-43 This is the parable of the sower and the seeds. What does this passage mean about putting down roots? How does one put down roots and grow into a flourishing, fruit-producing plant?

-> Hosea 14 This is a passage about God renewing Israel, causing them to "bloom" again. The facilitator guide asks: Where is God in this passage? What is God doing? What are the qualities of God? And what insights does this text offer with regard to God's role in our blooming and growth?

-> 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 

-> Romans 12:3-8

These last two passages deal with "the body of Christ," the community of believers that make up the church. What does it mean that the we are all members of one body? Does this mean that we cannot possibly practice faith on our own? What about people, who find themselves unable to be part of a community of believers?

The facilitator guide also asks some questions for more personal reflection: What is your part in the body of Christ? What gifts do you bring? How do/could you contribute to the strength of the community? How challenging would it be to try to create a community with only your own personal gifts and strengths?

One final question that I continue to find myself asking: Why does the church community consider the early New Testament church to be the beginning of our religious and spiritual tradition? Is it not true that our tradition goes all the way back to Genesis? Why doesn't the church (as a general whole) celebrate Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, etc..., but we readily embrace Advent, Christmas, and Easter? When and why did this shift happen?

I thought it might also be fun and interesting to include this article on the role of traditions in families: Direction: Rituals and Family Strength. The role of traditions and rituals are much the same in the church "family," as they are in each of our individual families. Food for thought...

Peace!

Racial Identity in the Emerging Church and the World

I found this podcast just tonight. I haven't listened to it yet, but it seems pertinent to many of our recent discussions. The interview features Vincent Harding and Phyllis Tickle:

Racial Identity in the Emerging Church and the World

Preparing for Discussion - Religion: Spirituality is Not Enough - Part 2

This is the definition of religion according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary online:

1a :  the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion>

1b (1) :  the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) :  commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance

2:  a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices

3 archaic :  scrupulous conformity :  conscientiousness

4 :  a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

 And the definition of spirituality:

: the quality or state of being concerned with religion or religious matters : the quality or state of being spiritual

1 :  something that in ecclesiastical law belongs to the church or to a cleric as such

2:  clergy

3:  sensitivity or attachment to religious values

4:  the quality or state of being spiritual

If we go by these definitions, it is nearly impossible to have spirituality without religion. Is this how you would define these words? 

Lillian Daniel makes a case for being rooted in church history and tradition, grounded in community. Do you think it is possible to have a religion or spirituality that is not rooted in church tradition? Do you agree that developing your own individual practice of faith and spirituality amounts to a bouquet of wilting flowers? How might you go about choosing your own faith practices outside of church tradition?

And what happens when church tradition is wrong? We see, even as early as the New Testament writings of Paul, that the church has always had scruples over traditions and practices. Many of Paul's writings seem intended to address those things.  When is it right to stick with tradition, and when is the time to make a stand against something you believe to be wrong? How do we avoid dismantling the entire ship when we remove planks here and there?

Reflect on these verses about spiritual growth, religion and spirituality:

James 1:19-27
Galatians 5:13-25
2 Peter 1:3-8
Romans 12

How do these passages inform this discussion?

Preparing for Discussion - Religion: Spirituality is Not Enough

In the first session of Animate: Faith, Brian McLaren, describes faith as a boat with travelers on a quest to experience God...the God, who is the sea and the wind and the source of the whole quest itself. He describes our beliefs as the planks that hold the boat together and theology as the necessary maintenance of the ship. He is careful to point out that theology/maintenance is NOT the point, the point is the quest, the journey, the experience of and with God.

Lillian Daniel addresses the "issue," if you will, of other travelers on the ship, on the quest...of the travelers that have come before us and those that will come after us, the "great cloud of witnesses" from Hebrews 12. These travelers have formed the planks of our beliefs that hold our boat together...or, in Lillian Daniel's flower plant/analogy, these travelers formed the roots of tradition, our faith. It's roots that hold the plant together, planks that hold the ship together. Without these things, we have a pretty bouquet of wilting flowers with no roots.

How does that analogy sit with you? Do you think of church tradition in this way? In what ways do church traditions nurture your faith? Have you gathered things from other traditions that have made your journey more meaningful?

What do you think of when you hear the word "religion?" Do you tend to think of yourself as religious? What other words and images come to mind when you think of religion? What comes to mind when you hear the word "spirituality." Have you been one of those people who describes themselves as, "spiritual but not religious?"

Our journal books include a Venn diagram with spiritual people on one side, religious people on the other, and people who are both spiritual and religious in the middle. Where do you fit? Where do you think Jesus fits?  Consider these verses from the gospel of Luke:

Luke 9:1-6
Luke 11:1-4
Luke 11:37-44
Luke 13:22-30
Luke 14:1-6
Luke 17:11-19
Luke 18:9-17
Luke 21:1-6
Luke 24:13-35

(Link to Book of Luke: here Use the arrows at the top - above the chapter heading - to skip from chapter to chapter.)

Who is Lillian Daniel?

Lillian Daniel is the presenter of the 2nd session of Animate: Faith, entitled "Religion: Spirituality is Not Enough."

Lillian is a pastor, writer, speaker and teacher. She has served as the Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn since 2004. Her book, When Spiritual but Not Religious Is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church is a provocative case for why religious community matters.
She is the editor-at-large for the Christian Century Magazine, and contributing editor at Leadership Journal. She has taught preaching at Yale Divinity School, Chicago Theological Seminary, and the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Five fast facts

1. Lives in Illinois and has two teenaged children
2. Has more than 20,000 subscribers to her daily email devotionals at www.ucc.org
3. Co-hosts weekly TV program in Chicago called 30 Good Minutes
4. Won the distinguished alumni award at Yale Divinity School
5. Has a BA from Bryn Mawr College and an MDiv from Yale Divinity School

(bio from: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/faith/voices/lillian/)

Check out Lillian Daniel's website here: http://www.lilliandaniel.com/

Who are the folks behind Animate?

On the front pages of our journals, it tells us that the writers are Carla Barnhill and Tony Jones. Just who are these folks in the background of our spiritual journey?

WHO IS TONY JONES?

According to his web site, http://tonyj.net, Tony Jones is the author of The Church Is Flat: The Relational Ecclesiology of the Emerging Church Movement and is theologian-in-residence at Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary and St. Cloud State University. Tony serves as a senior acquisitions editor at sparkhouse. He’s developed an iPhone app called Ordain Thyself.

Tony is the author of many books on Christian ministry and spirituality, including The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, and he is a sought after speaker and consultant in the areas of emerging church, postmodernism, and Christian spirituality.

He co-owns a social media consulting and event planning company.  Tony is married, has three children, and lives in Edina, Minnesota. In his spare time, he trains his yellow lab, Albert, and takes Albert hunting for ducks, grouse, and pheasants.

He has a blog housed at Patheos: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tonyjones/

WHO IS CARLA BARNHILL?

According to twincitieslive.com, Carla Barnhill has been a writer and editor for more than fifteen years, working in both magazine and book publishing. She is the author of numerous articles and several books, including The Myth of the Perfect Mother and Shaping Your Family's Future. She teaches College Writing at Bethel University in St. Paul and often speaks to women's groups about issues such as motherhood, spirituality, and keeping your sanity in the midst of family life. She was recently chosen as one of four finalists to be the Advice Guru on Good Morning America and is a regular guest on Twin Cities Live, where she gives advice on everything from wedding etiquette to friendship problems to workplace drama.

Carla is a native of Alexandria, MN, a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and a fan of all things Minnesota. Between writing projects, Carla loves to camp, hike, ski, or just sit on the end of a dock with a cold Diet Coke. She's a reader, a writer, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a talker, a listener, and a minivan driver.

She blogs with another woman at: http://themommyrevolution.com/.

According to her blog, Carla Barnhill has been in Christian publishing for 15 years. She is the former editor of Christian Parenting Today magazine. She also served as Associate Editor of Campus Life magazine. Carla now works as a freelance editor and writer, working for publishers such as Zondervan, WaterBrook, Baker, Tyndale, HarperOne, and Sparkhouse. She is the author of Blessings Every Day and The Myth of the Perfect Mother.

Carla has also spoken to thousands of mothers at MOPS conventions, women’s retreats, and churches around the country. She is a sought-after source of new ideas about motherhood, parenting, and the spiritual formation of children.

Preparing for Discussion - God: Faith is a Quest

Next Wednesday we will be discussing session 1 of Animate: Faith,  God: Faith is a Quest, presented by Brain McLaren.

The following are some questions from the dvd and our books to help get us started in the conversation:

McLaren talks about not even being able to recognize the God that some people speak of, because they describe a God that doesn't seem anything like the God he knows. Are there "images" of God that you once had that you have since let go?

What Biblical images of God speak to you most? If you have time, look up these images in Scripture and come prepared to share them with the group.

Are there other images of God, like McLaren's boat, that are not found in scripture but that also speak to you? Do these come from books or teachers or your own imagination?

Do you, personally, tend toward a more fortress castle idea of God or a castle in the sky? Why do you think that is? And do you have more trouble with one or the other when relating to other people?

Do you tend more toward the kataphatic (cataphatic) or apophatic traditions? I did a quick google search to see if I could find some simple definitions or an article explaining the difference between the two. This is what I came up with: Kataphatic and Apophatic Theology. I don't really know who the blog author is (Green Baggins?), but it was a relatively succinct explanation of the terminology. Basically:

Kataphatic theology assumes that we can know something about God as He truly is. Especially it assumes that the revelation of the Bible describes God truly as He is. However, the danger is an arrogance that we can know God fully, and find out everything there is to know about Him. Apophatic theology assumes much more mystery about God. Oftentimes, it assumes that we cannot know God as He truly is. The danger here is complete agnosticism about God, that we cannot know anything truly about God.

In other words, kataphatic tradition is that we can say something true about who God is. Apophatic tradition is that words are always limiting and God cannot be contained in words or images.

Another helpful little blurb I found was this one here: Kataphatic or Apophatic Prayer. It's very short. Follow the link. I can't seem to copy & paste from this one.

Peace!

“Kataphatic” prayer has content; it uses words, images, symbols, ideas. “Apophatic” prayer has no content. It means emptying the mind of words and ideas and simply resting in the presence of God. - See more at: http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/2026/#sthash.FLJWxf1q.dpuf

VIDEOS: Jay Bakker on Animate: Bible and an interview

Tony Jones and Jay Bakker on Animate: Bible

Popular theoblogger Tony Jones talks to author Jay Bakker about his role in the new Animate: Bible adult ed resource from Sparkhouse. Visit the Patheos Book Club for more on the Animate video series! http://www.patheos.com/Books/Book-Club



If you can't see the embedded video, go directly to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quj_0K7_1t0

Jay Bakker and Christian Piatt: The Interview

Published on Aug 15, 2013

Jay and I chat about Exodus International, radical theology, his latest book and his recent move to Minneapolis.

CLICK HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab0HLEdsXGU

Revolution Church

Revolution Minneapolis meets every Sunday at 4 pm at
Bryant-Lake Bowl
810 W. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN

More on Progressive Christianity courtesy of Brian McLaren

Throughout the Animate study, I’ve noticed that many of the speakers we’ve heard have been attached to the Progressive Christianity movement. I went looking for more information on the movement, and ran into an article by Bryan McLaren, the pastor who kicks off the Animate: Faith series.

The article is titled:
Not Conservative, Not Liberal: Progressive
Being a progressive Christian means more than being lax, lazy, fuzzy, flimsy, proud, and dying.

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Not-Conservative-Not-Liberal-Progressive-Brian-McLaren-06-13-2011?offset=2&max=1

Consider this description of Progressive Christians:
“When it comes to fuzziness and flimsiness, the progressive Christians I know are making great strides beyond old liberalism. What initially seemed like a morass of complexity—the quest(s) for the historical Jesus, biblical criticism, revisioning the Bible's inspiration and authority—is turning out to be highly productive. The scholarly process just needed some time to mature. As a result, Progressive Christians aren't disregarding the Bible; they're studying it even more diligently than their conservative counterparts, and they're producing sparkling, challenging, inspiring theologies rooted in the Bible. Fueled by this renewed biblical engagement, they aren't simply functioning as the religious chaplains of the Democratic party (as their counterparts have often been for the Republican party); they're articulating a vital political theology and a vigorous theological politics that challenges everybody to seek the common good.”
McLaren’s article is part of the symposium, "What Is Progressive Christianity?" presented by the newly launched Patheos Progressive Christian Portal and in partnership with the Wild Goose Festival, which was held in 2011.

There’s a long list of articles about what Progressive Christianity is and isn’t on Patheos, including one by Phyllis Tickle comparing Progressive Versus Emergence Christianity. Check them out here: http://www.patheos.com/Topics/What-Is-Progressive-Christianity-06-13-2011.html

A large number of our speakers throughout the Animate: Bible series have used Patheos to host their blogs. So, what is Patheos?

“Founded in 2008, Patheos.com is the premier online destination to engage in the global dialogue about religion and spirituality and to explore and experience the world's beliefs. Patheos is the website of choice for the millions of people looking for credible and balanced information about religion. Patheos brings together faith communities, academics, and the broader public into a single environment, and is the place where many people turn on a regular basis for insight, inspiration, and stimulating discussion. Patheos is unlike any other religious and spiritual site on the Web today.

"As evidenced by the company founders' story, religion and spirituality continue to be an important part of American life, with more Americans today than ever before identifying themselves as spiritual. In fact, according to the Pew Internet Project, more than 82 million Americans (and 64 percent of all Internet users) utilize the Web for faith-related matters. The importance of religion and spirituality, coupled with the growing use of the Internet for religious matters, point to the ongoing need for an online resource for religious and spiritual engagement and dialogue. Patheos fills this need.”

From: http://www.patheos.com/About-Patheos/About.html

“Faith Channels” on Patheos include:
    Atheist
    Buddhist
    Catholic
    Evangelical
    Hindu
    Jewish
    Mormon
    Muslim
    Pagan
    Progressive Christian
    Spirituality

You can compare religions. You can read blogs. There are teacher resources, a religion library, and a book club.

Sound like a great resource for us all!

Who is Brian McLaren?

Brian McLaren is the presenter of the 1st session of Animate: Faith, entitled "God: Faith is a Quest."

Brian is an author, speaker, activist, and networker among innovative Christian leaders. He was a college English professor when he and his wife started a church in their living room. That church became Cedar Ridge Community Church, Spencerville, Maryland, where he was pastor for nearly 20 years.

His dozen-plus books include A New Kind of Christianity, A Generous Orthodoxy, Naked Spirituality, and Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?

Five fast facts

1. Lives with his wife in Marco Island, Florida
2. Has four adult children and two granddaughters
3. Released an album of original music called Learning How to Love in 1978
4. Is an avid wildlife and outdoors enthusiast
5. Has a BA and MA in English from University of Maryland

(bio from: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/faith/voices/brian/)

You can visit McLaren's website at: http://www.brianmclaren.net/ 

Listen to McLaren on NPR (just an 8 minute interview) here: Embracing Diversity in a 'Multi-Faith World.'

*****************
January 2016 Update:
Listen to Brian McLaren and hear about his most recent book on the podcast Newsworthy with Norsworthy here: We Make the Road by Walking.

What's Brewing at Morning Blend November 2013-January 2014? Animate:Faith!

For the next several months Morning Blend will be using a DVD study series called Animate: Faith. The following is a list of topics and presenters:

God: Faith Is a Quest by Brian McLaren

Religion: Spirituality Is not Enough by Lillian Daniel

Jesus: The Revolution of Love by Mark Scandrette

Salvation: Abundant Life Now by Shane Hipps

Cross: Where God Is by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Bible: A Book Like No Other by Lauren Winner

Church: An Imperfect Family by Bruce Reyes-Chow

Check out the video intro to Animate: Faith. This study was the first Animate study put together by Spark House. You can see how excited all the participants are to be offering this study!

Read more and see sample sessions at: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/faith/try/

Wrap-Up Questions

Here are some wrap-up questions that come to mind for me as we come to the close of the Animate: Bible series.

Jay Bakker makes the comment that understanding love and grace and viewing scripture through the lenses of Jesus and Paul allows him to just "move past" some of the difficult passages of scripture. Should we do that? Is it ok to just gloss over the difficult passages? How, then, do we respond to people, who don't have that understanding of grace and love, and want to discuss those difficult passages? Should we just tell them that it's a mystery? Is it impossible to understand without an experience with God? Should we try to understand those passages using our tools of interpretation and study?

We have talked a lot about relying on prayer and relationship with God to guide us in our interpretation to scripture. How should we respond to the mis-use of scripture in the church community? What do we do when the collective community uses scripture as a weapon? or a fortune cookie? or a fairy tale? What do we do when people, who seem very honest and sincere in their prayer and relationship with God also seem to be using scripture wrongly?

Maybe some of my questions are answered by Starr's question! Here is what Starr had to say:

One of my questions I'd like to think about is, Are we asking the right question when we say is this right or wrong in God's eyes.  I struggle with wanting to clearly define things at times .  Honestly, to not be so preoccupied about right and wrong could be very freeing in some ways .. But a difficult path to walk.

Please feel free to send more thoughts and questions in the comments or in email, and I will continue to add them to THIS post as late as 10pm tonight...

*************************************

I wanted to add some quotes from C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, chapter 22, as I think they relate to the topic at hand. From the beginning of the chapter:

If this Chapter means nothing to you, if it seems to be trying to answer questions you never asked, drop it at once. Do not bother about it at all. There are certain things in Christianity that can be understood from the outside, before you have become a Christian. But there are a great many things that cannot be understood until after you have gone a certain distance along the Christian road. These things are purely practical, though they do not look as if they were. They are directions for dealing with particular cross-roads and obstacles on the journey and they do not make sense until a man has reached those places. When ever you find any statement in Christian writings which you can make nothing of, do not worry. Leave it alone. There will come a day, perhaps years later, when you suddenly see what it meant. If one could understand it now, it would only do one harm.

And from the end of the chapter:

I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at the first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things, except perhaps as a joke. Every one there is filled full with what we should call goodness as a mirror is filled with light. But they do not call it goodness. They do not call it anything. They are not thinking of it. They are too busy looking at the source from which it comes. But this is near the stage where the road passes over the rim of our world. No one's eyes can see very far beyond that: lots of people's eyes can see further than mine.

 You can read the whole chapter here: http://readanybooks.net/fantasticfiction/Mere-Christianity/14792.html

A Poem - How Have I Judged You

Pat Clark shared with us this poem that she wrote. Thank you so much, Pat, for being willing to be so vulnerable and for sharing this part of your journey with us.

How Have I Judged You?

 Let Me Count the Ways:

I saw your sin but not the person within.

I saw your shame and said you were to blame.

I saw the pain in your face but didn’t take

      the time to listen or embrace.

I saw your joy but felt my envy instead.

I listened to the gossip but didn’t’ go to the source.

I heard of your need but held onto my greed.

I used the literal word of God to keep you

       in your place instead of offering

         God’s mercy and His grace.

But worst of all I saw only your difference,

      made many assumptions and

          failed to get to know YOU!

Will you and God please forgive me?


Pat Clark, October 23, 2013


James 2:13 (ESV)
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

On accepting grace for ourselves

Not to make this blog all about me, but this morning's discussion about how we fail to accept grace for ourselves reminded me of a blog post from my own personal blog. I wanted to share these thoughts with all of you. I wrote this last year between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah. A new year. Also sometimes called the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah. A time to make a joyful noise. This is the time when the Rabbis believe that the world was created. It is a celebration of God as King and Creator. We are reminded that God brought the world into being and continues to uphold the world, a continual outpouring of life and creativity.
These days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are days of Teshuvah, repentance. A time to reflect on our mistakes and make the conscious choice to turn toward the only one who can offer unconditional grace and forgiveness, toward the King and Creator, toward the only one who can heal our brokenness.

These words from John Parsons at Hebrew4Christians spoke to me today,

"God is both infinitely loving and infinitely just, and both of these "attributes" are inseparably a part of who he is. God is One. Nonetheless, the cross of Yeshua proves that "love is stronger than death, passion fiercer than the grave; its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame, the very flame of the Lord" (Song. 8:6). It is at the cross that "love and truth have met, righteousness and peace have kissed" (Psalm 85:10). This implies that we must drop our defenses – even those supposed objections and pretenses voiced by our shame – and "accept that we are accepted." It is God's great love for you that leads you to repent and to turn to him. Allow yourself to be embraced by his "everlasting arms."

It truly is a time of celebration. We, so often, wallow in our mistakes, grovel in our repentance. We view repentance as a time to hate ourselves. I think of self-flagellation and penance...something church history has taught us. This isn't it at all, though. Repentance is confession and turning away. It is starting fresh. It is acknowledging that we are loved enough to be forgiven.
I read in the book To Forgive is Human that people don't admit mistakes or ask forgiveness unless there is some possibility that they will be forgiven. This is the basis upon which relationships are built. You cannot be honest and truthful in your relationship, admitting mistakes & moving on to be a better person unless you can reasonably expect some grace.
The King and Creator offers us this kind of acceptance, love and grace. Repentance is impossible without this grand acceptance.  And self-hatred isn't necessary. In fact, it's contradictory. Possibly, it's even a defense mechanism. If we hate ourselves, we don't actually have to believe that we can change, be different, be loved, be forgiven. If we drop the defense of self-hatred, we can repent, turn, start fresh, walk new...right into a sweet new year. This is joyous, indeed!
Shanah Tovah!

The Cyrophoenician Woman

This week we are looking at some of the difficult passages of scripture:

There are so many passages in the Bible that are troubling...that can lead to a somewhat difficult relationship with the Bible, including this passage from the gospels: Mark 7:25-30. How can we understand this scripture in light of all the things we've learned in this series? In light of the message of grace and love offered by Jay Bakker in session 7? How about Deuteronomy 20:1-20?

 I thought I'd offer links to a few different discussions of the Mark 7 passage.

In Desperate Need is a somewhat traditional interpretation of the passage hosted on the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Website.

Jesus Was Not Colorblind is an article posted on the Patheos website by David R. Henson. Patheos hosts the bio pages for the Animate: Bible presenters and a blog featuring articles by leaders of the progressive Christian community.

Preparing for Discussion - Grace: Love is the Bottom Line

Next Wednesday we will be discussing session 7 of Animate: Bible, Grace: Love is the Bottom Line , presented by Jay Bakker.

 The following are some scriptures and questions from the journal and facilitator guide to get us started:

We talked already this week about some of the things that keep people from the church, from scripture, and from God. Bakker experienced a much more public crisis of faith than most of us, but the fact remains that most of us have been tripped up by one thing or another in our faith journey. The journal book lists some things that might create hurdles and challenges in staying connected to the church and the Bible - science, shame, guilt, and bad theology... Are there things that have pushed you away from the church at different points in your life? How did you come back?

Turn to Galatians 3:26-29. How does this passage "help us reconsider the social, political, and theological boundaries" of our current culture?

How might we help ourselves and others heal from the the misuse of the scriptures? Bakker has been especially active in homosexual communities trying to bring healing from the wounds that have been inflicted by the use of scripture as a weapon. I have mentioned before that some of the places where I have seen the most wounding is in the treatment of women and children.

Are there other times when you have seen scripture used as a weapon? ....or as a fortune cookie? ...or a fairy tale? The journal book suggests looking at these scriptures in reference to those misuses of scripture:

Leviticus 19:28
Proverbs 10:10
Matthew 10:34

There are so many passages in the Bible that are troubling...that can lead to a somewhat difficult relationship with the Bible, including this passage from the gospels: Mark 7:25-30. How can we understand this scripture in light of all the things we've learned in this series? In light of the message of grace and love offered by Jay Bakker in session 7? How about Deuteronomy 20:1-20?

How can we see these difficult passages in the light of the message of love throughout the Bible? In light of 1 Corinthians 13?

Are there things that keep you from reading the Bible? Fears about what the Bible really says or of misunderstanding the Bible? Has your relationship with scripture changed over the course of this study? Are you more inclined to look away or to dig deeper?

I want to say that I think both responses - to look away for a time or to dig deeper - are equally valid. There is a time and a place for hanging on to what you DO know and leaving the rest alone. There have been many times in my life when I've clung blindly to a faith and a God I just can't even come close to understanding. The minute I claim to understand God, I've made it clear that I don't really understand.  I think the key is to hang on to the things you know to be true. God created you. God knows you. God is a God of love and grace.

Peace!

Who is Jay Bakker?

Jay Bakker is the presenter of the 7th and final session of Animate: Bible, Grace: Love is the Bottom Line.

Jay came into the public eye early, when his parents built and lost a Christian television network and entertainment complex. As a result, Jay dropped out of school and church, spending his teenage years rebelling against just about everything.

When he found his way to sobriety and back to faith, he founded a church called Revolution, which has branches in Phoenix, Atlanta, New York City, and Minneapolis. He’s written several books, his most recent is Faith, Doubt, and Other Lines I’ve Crossed: Walking with the Unknown God.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with his wife and their cat in Minnesota
2. Is a comic book aficionado, and he builds superhero dioramas
3. Known to consume massive quantities of Diet Coke
4. Won an award from GLAAD for his advocacy for gays and lesbians in the church
5. The podcast of his sermons is heard by thousands every week

(bio from:  http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/bible/voices/jay/)

Read more on Jay Bakker's website: http://jaybakker.com/

It appears that Bakker is, indeed, here in Minneapolis, though his website still lists him as living in Brooklyn and pastoring Revolution Church NYC. Several recent podcasts are listed as happening at Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. A letter on his blog also references his move to Minneapolis.

Letting the Bible Speak

Last week, after I posted some of the discussion questions for this week's study, Shanna posted this comment:

I have to admit that I was a little discouraged when the speaker implied that "letting the bible speak to you" was ridiculous. No everyone has a source of spiritual support to help them navigate the bible in an intellectual manner. I remember being 14 and desperately seeking God with no one around me to act as a Shepard. I prayed about what I was about to read in the bible, asking God to guide me, and the passage I read turned my life around. This a situation where "letting the Bible speak to you" is far from ridiculous.

 (see here: Preparing For Discussion - Interpretation: Scripture Reads Us)

On Sunday, Pat sent me an email with a story that begins in this way:

A cab driver in the Philippines became radically saved. He was taught that he now had the power of God in his life to transform his community. Because he had not had any prior religious training to the contrary, he took a literal approach to believing what the Bible says about prayer and miracles.

Read the rest of the story here: Prime Time With God: Transforming A Workplace)

I am beginning to ask myself if it isn't so much "letting the Bible speak" that can be a problem sometimes, as putting our own interpretations on the Bible in the absence of relationship with and surrender to God. If we earnestly seek God while we are reading scripture, I believe that God will speak...BUT we have to be open to the possibility that what God will say with not fit within our current understanding of the world or even within our current understanding of God.

This always leaves me with such a feeling of responsibility, maybe even vulnerability. It's my responsibility to tend my relationship with God in such a way that I can hear the still, small voice amidst the clamoring of my experiences, the world around me, and my own misgivings and intellectual scruples.  I have to silence the clamor and be still. And trust. I have to trust that God will speak, that I won't have to chase God down the rabbit holes of scriptural interpretation, that God is right there with me while I chase after truth.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

One of the passages we have been asked to consider this week is the parable of the workers in the vineyard from Matthew 20:1-16. I thought I would find some possible interpretations of this passage:

Fairly "standard" interpretation from Bible.org: Workers in the Vineyard

Strongly social justice oriented reading from the National Catholic Reporter: What the Parable of the Vineyard Workers Really Says

Sermon by Nadia Bolz-Weber including commentary on the Vineyard parable: Sermon from Sierra Pacific Synod Service

Rather radical interpretation by Boyd Collins in his blog, Jesus Radicals: The Power That Springs From Weakness

From the blog of Wycliffe Bible Translators missionaries, Mark & Laura Woodward: A Missional Reading of Matthew 20:1-16

If there are others you have found, feel free to post them in the comments!!

Preparing for Discussion - Interpretation: Scripture Reads Us

Next Wednesday we will be discussing session 6 of Animate: Bible, Interpretation: Scripture Reads Us, presented by Will Willimon.

The following are some scriptures and questions from the journal and facilitator guide to get us started:

Read the 10 Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:4-21), keeping in mind that scripture is all about God. How does it change your thinking to view scripture this way, rather than being all about us?

Read Colossians 3:18-4:1, remembering that this is a letter to the Colossians. What information might be helpful to put these words in context? Is it possible to make meaning of this passage without some sort of scholarly interpretation?

Read Matthew 20:1-16, and think about how you, personally, understand or interpret this passage. Have you heard other interpretations?

Check out:
Psalm 1
Isaiah 53:1-9
Matthew 9:11-13

How do we interpret the above passages in light of what we know of Jesus? Our context changes how we understand scripture that pre-dated Jesus.

How does this week's topic relate to earlier discussions about how the Bible has been made available to more and more people over the years...with translations into the language of the people, the invention of the printing press, and the development of the internet? Is it "dangerous" for the Bible to be in the hands of people, who have no knowledge of the cultural context of the Bible, no information about genres or history?

Will Willimon talks about people reading the Bible and "just letting it speak." Are there times when this is a good thing? Willimon seems to, first, be saying that it's not a good thing, that we always need to be aware of the context of the Bible and to be informed about where the text is coming from. But then he tells the story of the young man who said, "Did it ever occur to you to just do it?" That seems like a case of just letting the text speak.

Have there been times in your life when just the simple reading of the Bible has been important to your faith journey? Are there times when the simple reading has been detrimental? Can you think of examples of times when you've seen either of these things happen in the lives of others or the church as a whole?

Have the tools of  "community, context and prayer" ever changed your understanding of the Bible?  What do we do with the fact that there are divisions between communities of believers (think denominations) in the interpretation of scripture?

What does it mean to say that the Bible is "a book of imagination?" Are you comfortable or uncomfortable with that thought? Why?

How do we hold on to a childlike faith in the midst of such complex questions?


There are SO MANY questions to consider and so few definitive answers! I am so proud to know all of you and to see such honest wrestling with the questions! Thank you for being my community!

Who is Will Willimon?

The 6th presenter in the Animate: Bible study is Will Willimon. His topic is Interpretation: Scripture Reads Us.

Will is the professor of the practice of Christian ministry at Duke Divinity School. He is a former dean of the chapel at Duke and is regarded as one of America’s foremost preachers. He’s also a retired bishop in the United Methodist Church, formerly serving North Alabama.

He has written many books on preaching and the church, and he recently penned a novel, Incorporation, about a pastor in a small, struggling mainline congregation. His preaching is known for being humorous, insightful, and often having an unexpected hook.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with his wife in North Carolina
2. Has two grown children
3. Was named one of the 12 Best Preachers in the World by Baylor University
4. He doesn’t tweet, but someone runs a Twitter account with wise statements Will has said
5. Has degrees from Wofford College, Yale Divinity School, and Emory University 

(bio from: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/bible/voices/will/)

Read more from Will Willimon's blog here: http://willwillimon.wordpress.com/

Visual Depictions - Genres of Scripture

From Credo House Ministries:

The book of Jonah...

I found this straightforward article in the Jewish Heritage Online Magazine: Jonah the Reluctant Prophet. The article highlights the fact that the story of Jonah has traditionally been understood as parable or allegory, as midrash in the Jewish tradition. The understanding of this book as allegory, rather than history, has not in any way diminished it's meaning. In fact, this book is such a poignant parable that it is recited as part of the services for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the most holy day of the Jewish year.

From the article:

The underlying theology in the book of Jonah is two-fold:
1. God’s compassion extends to all nations of the earth; and
2. Israel is under responsibility to be the vehicle by which that compassion is made known.

The sages consciously chose this book to be read in the afternoon service, as the Sabbath of Sabbaths, the Day of Atonement, draws to an end. As we pray for forgiveness and for a year of life, we recall that God is the God of all mankind, of all the Ninevehs of the world, and man, created in God’s image, is obligated to embrace and extend that compassion.

I have begun to wonder if sometimes we resist the idea that a story from the Bible may not be literal and historical because we think that somehow diminishes the value of the story; that it is somehow less true. Is it possible that the story is still true but not literal and historical?

Preparing for Discussion - Genre: Rhythm of the Text

On Wednesday this week, we will be discussing session 5 of Animate: Bible, Genre: Rhythm of the Text, presented by José Morales.

First, I want to say that I anticipate that this will be a bit of an intense topic. I appreciate how willing this group has been to dig into the harder topics and work through what these things mean for ourselves and our lives in community together as Christian people. You are all so amazing!!

Here are some scriptures and questions to get our brains in motion for this week's discussion:

* What is your initial reaction to Morales' proposition that the book of Jonah ought to be read as an allegory?

* Read the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11. Consider what difference it makes to your reading of the story if you think of it as history or as allegory. 

* Consider the the following passages and how genre informs your reading:

• 1 Kings 6:2-10 (history)
• Psalms 71:14-18 (poetry)
• Amos 7:1-9 (prophecy)
• Revelation 5:1-5 (apocalyptic)

* Are there scriptures you hear quoted often in conversations and arguments that could be understood differently if genre was considered?    What comes to mind most readily for me is Paul's letters, including mandates for how women should behave in church. These are letters, written within a cultural framework, most likely in response to questions that were culturally embedded.

* Is there a particular genre of scripture that you most drawn to? Are there those that you avoid? Why do you think that is? Does this match up with the type of reading you like to do in general?

Nadia Bolz-Weber interview, blog & sermon links

I found the interview of Nadia Bolz-Weber on Krista Tippett's show On Being here: podcast, video or transcript. THANK you so much, Beth, for mentioning this in your comments! I listened to the podcast on my drive to Rochester yesterday, AND I listened to it again with my husband last night.It was that good.

Intro from the transcript:

Ms. Tippett: The church Nadia Bolz-Weber founded is called the House for All Sinners and Saints. At six feet tall with spiky hair and a body covered in tattoos, she is an original voice in a loosely defined movement called the emerging church.   ...  She spent years as an addict and a stand-up comic before being surprised by what felt like a call to be a minister to people on the underside of life.   ...   These days, convicted felons and elected officials join teenagers with pink hair at this church and others like it redefining what church is and with a deep reverence for tradition.

I would recommend listening to the podcast, rather than reading the transcript, if you have the time. There is so much life and character in Nadia's voice that you miss a lot only reading her words.

A few gems from the interview:

Ms. Nadia Bolz-Weber: I really feel strongly that you have to be deeply rooted in tradition in order to innovate with integrity. So, for example, we celebrate the Easter vigil, where you start with a new fire and you light it and you have this paschal candle and you parade in chanting, and we have these baptisms and we have the Eucharist and it's like amazing.

And...

Ms. Nadia Bolz-Weber: I feel like the Christian life is a life of continual death and resurrection. Also, I think some sectors of Christianity think, well, you're saved and then you're good, right? And then you just lead a really nice life and you're a good person and you're redeemed and you sort of climbed this spiritual ladder so that you're close to God. And that's just not been my experience.

My experience is of that disruption, over and over again, of going along and tripping upon something that I think I know or that I think I'm certain about, and realizing I'm wrong. Or maybe fighting to think I'm right about something over and over and over again until I experience what I call the sort of divine heart transplant.

Also, Tesha mentioned that Nadia's blog seems like it has not been updated recently. I found more recent blog posts and links to sermons (both audio & transcript) here: Patheos.

Who is José Morales?

The 5th session of Animate: Bible, Genre: Rhythm of the Text, is presented by José Morales.

José grew up in Chicago, where his parents were pastors of a Hispanic Pentecostal Church. He attended Judson College and McCormick Theological Seminary before becoming a minister in the Disciples of Christ denomination.

He’s currently the regional minister in the Central Rocky Mountain Region of the Disciples and travels the region to support pastors and churches. He also speaks and preaches regularly, and serves as an adjunct professor at McCormick. Prior to this work, he was a pastor at Iglesia del Pueblo Church in Hammond, Indiana.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with his wife in Denver
2. Is a DJ and can be found working late into Saturday night at a club
3. Still gets up early on Sunday to preach at church
4. Was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico
5. Wishes he could speed-read

(bio from:http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/bible/voices/jose/)

The Gospel of Q

The journal notes for session 4 make brief mention of an additional gospel called Q, which is considered by many scholars to have been a source for pieces of the synoptic gospels Matthew & Luke. If you're interested in reading more about Q, this article is one of the best I've found. It's lengthy and dense, but readable:

What is the Q Gospel?

Preparing for Discussion - Gospels: Unexpected Good News

On Wednesday this week, we'll be discussing session four of Animate: Bible, entitled:  "Gospels: Unexpected Good News." The DVD presentation for session four is by Nadia Bolz-Weber.

I suggest going through the journal questions backward this week, in an effort to get to the scripture-based discussion questions before running out of time.

* Take a look at the opening lines of the gospels of Matthew and John. Think about how these introductions differ and how they fit together. How do they complement each other?

* The gospels give us both stories and descriptions of what Jesus SAID and what he DID. Do you tend to put more weight on one than the other? These scriptures may help guide your thinking:

• Matthew 5
• Mark 1:40-42
• Luke 9:12-17
• John 8:1-11

* Nadia Bolz-Weber talks about how Jesus kept company with the wrong crowds of people (John 4:4-26 & Luke 19:1-10). Have you ever experience of finding the Good News in unexpected places or people?

* How about John the Baptist? What do you think about the description of John the Baptist from the DVD, and what do you think it says about Jesus that this is really the beginning of the gospel story?  He was, most likely, not what people expected for a preamble to the appearance of the Messiah. 

* If you have a couple of Bibles around your house, see if you can find one that has some footnotes about Mark 16 and bring that Bible with you to Morning Blend on Wednesday. What thoughts do these notes bring up for you? Is it unsettling that there are some different possibilities for the ending of Mark?

* And following from that question, how do you make sense of the differences between the 4 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Which stories about Jesus are really essential to your faith, and does it change how you feel about a story if it is included in more than one gospel?

* From the facilitator guide: "Nadia talks about the word "gospel" as a proclamation that demands a response. Does our faith feel like a response to the good news? In what ways does it succeed and in what ways does it fail?"

* What was your response to Nadia's story of the conversation with her friend, who said that she didn't really need anything outside herself to have a sense of hope and life? How do we see that same conversation playing out in the world around us? Does it seem to you that more and more people think they don't really need God or even religion or spirituality to have hope and life? Do you think that people can really and truly feel that way? Or are they covering up their true fears and longings?

* In what ways do you see the gospel still unfolding around you?

Peace!

Understanding Old Testament Stories

I know it's late to get this in for this morning's discussion of the Testaments, but I wanted to post the following links anyway for those of you who want to go back and read some more.

This is an article by Crystal Lutton, mother, pastor and author of Grace-Based Living and Biblical Parenting. Her response to the difficulties we find with the Old Testament Bible stories attempts to shed light on the cultural and spiritual context of those stories:

Atrocity in the OT
 
Ms. Lutton wrote her article as part of a continuing online discussion of the blog article by Rachel Held-Evans:

The Scandal of the Evangelical Heart

Who is Nadia Bolz-Weber?

Session Four of the Animate: Bible series, Gospels: Unexpected Good News, is presented by Nadia Bolz-Weber.

Nadia is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints, an innovative, urban Lutheran church in Denver. That church has received wide acclaim for its programs like curbside communion and distributing turkey dinners to people who have to work on Thanksgiving.

Her first book chronicled 24 hours of watching Christian television, and her second book, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint, tells of her transition from alcoholic stand-up comic to world-renowned Christian leader.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with her two children and husband (also a Lutheran pastor) in Denver
2. Can usually be found in the gym
3. Has spoken to 35,000 people in the Superdome
4. Collects belt buckles and loves tattoos
5. Has a BA in religious studies from University of Colorado at Boulder and holds an MDiv from the Iliff School of Theology

(Bio from: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/bible/voices/nadia/)

Learn more at Nadia Bolz-Weber's website: http://www.nadiabolzweber.com/

Preparing for Discussion - Testaments: One Story, Two Parts

On Wednesday this week, we'll be discussing session three of Animate: Bible, entitled:  "Testaments: One Story, Two Parts." The DVD presentation for session 3 is by Rachel Held-Evans.

This week's facilitator guide asks us to consider our favorite Bible stories from childhood and what we notice about those stories now that we are adults. We are challenged to think about how we present Bible stories to children and whether or not it is appropriate to simplify stories to make them more child-friendly.

* Take a minute to think through the Biblical stories that are meaningful to you AND the those that don't sit so well. Write a list!

If we clean up and create sanitized versions of the Bible stories for children, what does that mean about how we view God? Are we pitting the "bad" God of the Old Testament against the "good" Jesus of the New Testament?

Rachel Held-Evans uses this quote in her presentation:

* How does this relate to the stories of the Old Testament? What is the point she is trying to make? Does it help you harmonize the two testaments?

* Where do you see God at work, even in the dark places of our current world? 

Scriptures to read (all links go to the English Standard Version at BibleGateway.com):

• Genesis chapters 8-9 
• 1 Kings 6:3
• Leviticus 21:17-20
• Ezekial 5:1-2
• Exodus 16:1-16
• Matthew 4:1-11
• Romans 3:9-20

* Think about what place these scriptures have in the Bible, what they tell us about God and how they link the testaments.

If you'd like to leave a comment, click where it says "comments" below.  Feel free to ask questions or begin the discussion early!

Who is Rachel Held-Evans?

The third session of Animate:Bible, Testaments, is presented by Rachel Held-Evans.

Rachel is considered the preeminent Christian blogger in the world. Her blog, which has thousands of readers every day, is challenging and comforting—covering topics from the role of women in the church to poetry.

She also speaks and writes books. Her first book, Evolving in Monkeytown, is about growing up in the city made famous by the Scopes Trial. Her second, A Year of Biblical Womanhood, is a bestseller about her attempt to live out all of the biblical commandments directed at women for one year.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with her husband in Dayton, Tennessee
2. Loves Alabama football
3. Dressed up as an author for career day in third grade
4. Was named one of Christianity Today’s “50 Women to Watch”
5. Has been featured on NPR, Slate, Washington Post, Huffington Post, and Oprah.com

(bio from: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/bible/voices/rachel/)

See Rachel Held Evans' blog at: http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/

Helpful links on the History of the Bible

Here's a written and more comprehensive timeline of the English Bible than what Phyllis Tickle is able to cover in her 7 minute video: English Bible History.

And here is a chart of many of the available versions of the Bible with some interesting notes on how they came to be: Bible Version Chart.

My personal favorite translations are New Revised Standard (NRSV) and English Standard (ESV). NRSV used to be one of the most literal English translations available while still being comprehensible. I like the flow and the poetry of the NRSV. The ESV is currently one of the most literal English translations available. I like it when I want to know the closest possible translation from the original language, though it doesn't flow as well as the NRSV.

Do you have a favorite translation? Write about what translation you like & why in the comments!

Preparing for Discussion - History: Parchment to Pixel

On Wednesday this week, we'll be discussing session two of Animate: Bible. Session two is entitled,  "History: Parchment to Pixel" and is presented by Phyllis Tickle. The primary question is how our access to the Bible changes how we view it.

If you want to do some advance preparation for our discussion on Wednesday, you might begin with the following:

Read Exodus 25:10-22 and think about how the ancient Jews viewed the Word of God. This raises Phyllis Tickle's question of what we gain from our easy access to the Bible and what we lose. Do we lose our sense of reverence? Do we take it for granted? Is that necessarily a bad thing? 

Read John 1:1-5 in several different translations. You can search the Bible by passage and translation at biblegateway.com. Think about how our easy access to various Bible translations has changed our discussion of the Bible.

Read Hebrews 4:12 about the role of the scriptures in the early church. Is that really what this passage is talking about?

In what ways does all of this relate to our discussion of the canon? People did not previously have access to the Bible, much less a canon to discuss. Were they more reliant on prayer, reflection and discernment? How is that different for us?

Are we better off leaving the Bible and its interpretation in the hands of experts? Or in the hands of the masses? What are the dangers of each? 

Please feel free to leave thoughts, comments or other interesting readings in the comments! You can also just add questions you'd like to discuss!

Peace!

Extra-Canonical Books

This is an article on Extra-Canonical Old Testament books, complete with summaries of each:

Extra-Canonical Books Based on the Hebrew Bible.

And a listing of Extra-Canonical New Testament books:

Extracanonical Gospels.

An article about midrash

I found this article helpful in thinking about midrash, the Jewish "family conversation" about the scriptures, the "extra-Biblical" interpretations that seek to fill in the gaps - gaps in the stories and gaps in our understanding:

Is Your Bible as Incomplete as Mine? Participating in a Midrashic Conversation.

Some quotes to spark your interest:

"It [midrash] lives in the thought that there is not “one true meaning” in what is being read; that the text has never been able to communicate itself quite clearly; that there is still an openness in what is being read, to something (anything) “new.” The text, it is thought, gains its life in this gap, flux, ambiguity, and ebb and flow, which history instils in everything..."

 A question I continue to wrestle with is, "What is the role of the community, of the church, and of church tradition in understanding and interpreting scripture, and, moreover, in understanding God?" This article about midrash begs that question yet again.

Who is Phyllis Tickle?

The second session, History, is presented by Phyllis Tickle:

Phyllis’s current career as a Christian author and speaker is really her third career. First she was a Latin and humanities professor at an art college. Then she was the founding editor of the religion department at Publishers Weekly.

Among her most notable books are The Divine Hours, which are seasonal books of daily prayer, and The Great Emergence, about the massive transition in which the church currently finds itself. A highly sought-after speaker, she has announced that she will retire from public speaking in 2014.

Five fast facts

1. Lives with her husband on a farm in Lucy, Tennessee
2. Raised nine children
3. A lay Eucharistic minister and lector in the Episcopal church
4. Was the academic dean to the Memphis College of Art
5. Has an honorary LHD from the Berkeley Divinity School of Yale Divinity School and from North Park University

(Bio info from Spark House: http://wearesparkhouse.org/adults/animate/bible/voices/phyllis/)

Read more on Phyllis Tickle's website: http://www.phyllistickle.com/.

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Update on January 24th, 2016: As we prepare to begin another Animate study (Animate: Practices), I realize that it is time to update this post on Phyllis Tickle. Ms. Tickle passed away on September 22nd, 2015, just a year after the Practices study came out. She was 81 and had lung cancer. The New York Times reported:

In May, reflecting on her life, Ms. Tickle told the magazine The Christian Century that she had always been guided by an inner voice, even as she coped with a terminal illness.

“Which is why it doesn’t bother me,” she said. “The dying is my next career.”

She was a powerful woman leader in the Christian community, and her voice will be missed as the community continues to wrestle with the hard issues! We are so glad to be able to continue to learn from her through the books and videos she left behind.

Listen to Brian McLaren speak about Phyllis Tickle's legacy on the Newsworthy with Norsworthy podcast here: Brian McLaren: Phyllis Tickle's Legacy.