1. The church as defined by Paul in Eph 5:23b "Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." (NIV), is the body or group of believers. That is all that it is. Anyone who believes that Jesus is Lord and accepts him as their savior is a member of "the church". The definition of the church is so simple because that is how God intended it to be. It is no different than when Christ walked this earth. Time and time again, the Pharisees tried to complicate things and bring up their man made laws and rules. And time and time again Christ chided them on that. Christs whole goal is to bring the lost back to his Father. Period.
Having said that, the nature of the church is that it is made up of believers both old and new; dead and alive; from all over the world. The mission of the church is to go, make , baptize and teach as given by Jesus. As far as the structure goes, God is the Father, Christ is the Son and intercedes for all believers and then everyone else is part of the family. There is no hierarchy. No one is above anyone else. In 1 Cor 12:12, Paul tells us "the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." (NIV) This tells us that not everyone is the same, but we all serve an important part of the church. Just as no one part is more important than the other, no one person is more important than anyone else.
Unfortunately, man, who is flawed, has decided to take what God has given us and improve it. Thereby creating denominations and separation and division. By dividing our efforts we actually weaken our ability to reach out to the lost instead of strengthening it.
Think of it this way, if you had a pane of glass, and took a handful of marbles and threw them one at a time at the glass you more than likely wouldn't break it. You might get lucky, but the probability if very small. Now, if you took that handful of marbles and put them in your sock and tied it tight so they were all together and then threw that against the glass you would most definitely break it. It is the same with Christians. As individual churches we are going to get some nonbelievers, but think of the impact we would have if all the churches in our towns would join together.
2. I think the church struggles with this task, especially in this postmodern world we live in. PMs don't believe in one truth, so as the church if we are presenting the "unmasking of the powers" as an absolute, we will more than likely be rejected which in turn, turns those unbelievers away before we can even really begin to tell them the Good News. I like the adage"people don't care about how much you know, until they know how much you care." To me that means that we as the church need to create, build and maintain those relationships with unbelievers and continue to show them what God has done for us and how because of his Son the "created powers, though fallen, are themselves now disarmed." (pg 134) In doing this we will create in others the desire to learn more about the one we call Savior.
3. Out here in PA we have quite a few dairy farms. When you drive by one you typically see these little white sheds lined up, and inside each shed is a calf. These sheds serve as a starting point for the young cow. It provides shelter, protection and an area where they can grow and not have to worry about being trampled on by the other adult cows. This is due to the fact that the dairy farms main goal is to produce milch so they can sell it. As much as they like to increase their herd size they can't very well let the calves wander around and get in the way of the others, besides the calves aren't ready for dealing with the entire herd. Their sheds allow them to grow and make mistakes and prepare to join the herd. This is similar to the purpose of Mobile Missional Structures (MMS). They are designed to bring in new believers and feed them spiritual milch, until they are ready for something more. Then they either send them out to start something new or they send them to join an existing church. Existing churches do bring in some new believers, but the MMS are designed to reach out to the unbelievers in such a way while at the same time not creating dissension and strife amongst the believers.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Session #12, Shenk
Welcome back from Holy Week, we had a meaningful week of worship, reflection, and celebration. Some reflections from our week, does our society care about death and resurrection? I have been pondering this question for a long time, why the big deal about Christmas (Incarnation) and minimal focus upon Easter (Resurrection)? All of this was floating around while Shenk's thin, dangerous little book prodded me on.
1) Reflect on Shenk's statement (p. 6), "We must concede that political freedom is not a correlate of spiritual vigor." I discussed this issue at length with my daughter and wife. Persecution appears to be a stimulus for missional eccelesiology.
2) What do you think of Luther's 7 characteristics of an ideal church (p. 36)?
3) Intriguing statement about transcendence by Berger, explain this phenomenon (p. 40).
4) One of my favorite maxims is noted, "The church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning" (Brunner, p. 87). How does one keep the fire going?
5) [Ponderings: "I have been reflecting on the 20th century. I was born in 1949, I don't feel that old, but in looking at one-half century of life in America. I wonder, where are we headed? My synopsis is that Christendom was at war with itself and lost; both sides lost in each war. German social conformed ideology, financial unrest, and political regret from previous wars were in conflict with British ideology of individualism in social contract ideology, colonialism, and triumphalism. Individualism won and community (socialism/Leninist-Marxist communism) lost; China, India, and Islam present new challenges to American political/economic individualism/triumphalism. Today, America is the world's third largest mission field, Britain & Germany (Europe) are post-Christian, postmodern."]
Respond to the statement about the crowning achievement of the Enlightenment Movement being the "autonomous self" in modern cultural development (p. 95). How does this perspective influence the church and community of faith we are striving to form in 2007?
1) Reflect on Shenk's statement (p. 6), "We must concede that political freedom is not a correlate of spiritual vigor." I discussed this issue at length with my daughter and wife. Persecution appears to be a stimulus for missional eccelesiology.
2) What do you think of Luther's 7 characteristics of an ideal church (p. 36)?
3) Intriguing statement about transcendence by Berger, explain this phenomenon (p. 40).
4) One of my favorite maxims is noted, "The church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning" (Brunner, p. 87). How does one keep the fire going?
5) [Ponderings: "I have been reflecting on the 20th century. I was born in 1949, I don't feel that old, but in looking at one-half century of life in America. I wonder, where are we headed? My synopsis is that Christendom was at war with itself and lost; both sides lost in each war. German social conformed ideology, financial unrest, and political regret from previous wars were in conflict with British ideology of individualism in social contract ideology, colonialism, and triumphalism. Individualism won and community (socialism/Leninist-Marxist communism) lost; China, India, and Islam present new challenges to American political/economic individualism/triumphalism. Today, America is the world's third largest mission field, Britain & Germany (Europe) are post-Christian, postmodern."]
Respond to the statement about the crowning achievement of the Enlightenment Movement being the "autonomous self" in modern cultural development (p. 95). How does this perspective influence the church and community of faith we are striving to form in 2007?
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Interview: Rock Daddy
I utilized the questions Dr. J. posted, however, being in a small town the only intentional communities I could come up with were Mennonites and an Elderly Care Facility. It was interesting to note that the Mennonite lady I spoke with commented on how they believe in a simple life, however, they do accept technology and realize that it is necessary for business. She commented on how the Internet is used in stores and such but that the elders of the church are really struggling with this new technology. I shared with her that I found it interesting that even with their simpler life and such that they too have struggles and issues that create tension and possible splits in the church. We had a very nice conversation and in the end we both agreed that the message of Jesus must remain the core, but that everything else needs to adapt and change in order to reach out to the lost. As far as the resident of the assisted living center goes, she really didn't add much of note. I think I would like to talk to one of the nuns up at Our Lady of the Pines this summer and see what their thoughts are.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Sessions #10 & #11, Van Gelder
[To focus time and energy for the class, I will be combining the multiple sessions of discussion on the course texts in one post.]
Missiological Ecclesiology is the focus of this text. Bringing together these two theological loci and disciplines requires a vision of the intrinsic, organic, and spiritual nature of the church. I want to make this discussion as effective and concise as possible, in light of Holy Week and your busy schedules. Van Gelder discusses core issues of this course, what is the church and its mission in the context of a culture.
1) What is the church? (In a course on Christ and Culture, this should be discussed and dissected.) Describe its nature (ontological reality, identity, membership), mission (purpose, function, role), and structure (organization, polity, administration).
2) Unmasking the powers was interesting discussion (p. 135), how does the church engage in this messy ministry in a broken world?
3) If the church is to be missional, why do we need Mobile Missional Structures? (p. 169)
Missiological Ecclesiology is the focus of this text. Bringing together these two theological loci and disciplines requires a vision of the intrinsic, organic, and spiritual nature of the church. I want to make this discussion as effective and concise as possible, in light of Holy Week and your busy schedules. Van Gelder discusses core issues of this course, what is the church and its mission in the context of a culture.
1) What is the church? (In a course on Christ and Culture, this should be discussed and dissected.) Describe its nature (ontological reality, identity, membership), mission (purpose, function, role), and structure (organization, polity, administration).
2) Unmasking the powers was interesting discussion (p. 135), how does the church engage in this messy ministry in a broken world?
3) If the church is to be missional, why do we need Mobile Missional Structures? (p. 169)
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Sessions 8 & 9: Rock Daddy
1. The obvious benefits of living in an intentional community stem from the word community. Which means, "a group or class having common interests." (The American Heritage Dictionary). So, if everyone who is part of the community is there because they want to be, then everyone will be working toward the same goal. However, the pitfall occurs when the communities governing body begins to become too strict and instead of encouraging freedom for its inhabitants, it imposes restrictions. This pitfall can be seen in most any homeowners association. Every home owner is part of that community because they chose to be there and when the association was first established it was created to ensure positive outcomes for the community. However, as time wore on there were certain people on the board who began to loose sight of the reason why the association was created and in turn used it to benefit them and not the community. The next thing you know they are making up laws stating that you can't have more than 2 cars in front of your house for more than 24 hours. And if you do then they will tow them and charge you for it. Never again will I live where there is a home owners association!
2. Volf's comment truly captures Matt 5:38-40 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." God is viewed as a father figure an so Volf's comment demonstrates God's perfect example for us to follow. The word "reception" in his comment implies that God knows that we, as hostile beings (sinners), are coming and therefore he is prepared for us.
3. I'm sorry, but I really struggled with this chapter and in particular this author. It just seemed to me that he droned on and on and on, but never seemed to get to his point. I got more out of the title of the chapter than I did in reading the chapter. I wholeheartedly agree that there is still segregation in the Christian world. I have personally seen it. When we lived in NC, we were trying out different Church of Christ churches. One of them turned out to be an all black congregation. Reflecting back now I realize that they showed my wife and I more of Jesus' love than any of the white congregations we visited. Naturally, we felt out of place but after our initial reactions, we worshipped right along with them. However, when I was in Iraq, I saw the exact opposite in the Gospel service I attended. True there were a lot of blacks, however, one of the preachers was white and several whites and other ethnicity's attended and I truly believe it was because of the love of Jesus that flowed from the people of the church.
4. In regards to being a novitiate in a NM, I think you run the risk of isolating that newbie in such a way that when they do return to the real world they are set up for failure. I think churches should take the culture and environment they are currently in and train their disciples, which should be everyone who is a member of that church, on how to interact and over come the world. In the Bible we are commanded to be in the world and not of the world. This means that we are to be reaching out from our churches to purposely interact, touch, come into contact with the people of our community. Anyone in our church who is not willing to learn and continue to grow should be treated the same way Jesus treated the Pharisees and scholars. They felt they were too learned to learn anything from Christ, but in reality even the most learned man has only begun his journey of life long learning.
5. I disagree with your comment that koinonia living is the nature of the NT church. I think that koinonia living is the nature of the EC, the church at Antioch and beyond, but not the church at Jerusalem. Yes the believers in Jerusalem spent time together, but they were more worried about the rituals (circumcision) and acts than allowing the Holy Spirit to flow thru them. At Antioch, the church was truly living in an intentional community. They fellowshipped together, they sold off their possessions and used that money to provide for those in need. And they didn't limit or restrict the Holy Spirit(Pentecost) but allowed it to work thru and with them in order to accomplish God's plan of bringing the lost back to him.
6. I really struggled with this chapter also. Having been a part of the military and having actually spent a year in Iraq, I just really struggle with some of the views. In fact I am dealing with a major struggle in my mind right now. My training and background tells me that what I did was right. Jesus himself commended the Centurion, so to say that military service is bad, is wrong. However, I think about a story about my step dad. He drives tour buses and occasionally semis for a little extra cash. One trip he was driving a semi and sees a hitchhiker and picks him up. Now my step dad is definitely non-violent, he was raised Mennonite. He is also a very devout Christian and always has his Bible with him no matter what. So, he gives the hitcher a ride to where he is going and it was only later that he found out that the hitcher was armed and had been avoiding the law. My mom was extremely upset and shaken but my step dad just told her that she didn't need to worry because he was "packing". When she asked him what exactly he was "packing", he told her his Bible. He said that before the guy got in the truck he placed his Bible on the seat between them. He said the guy looked at it and just sat there until they reached where he was going. Upon learning that story, I think of how much faith my step dad has, and hope to some day have the same.
7. All in all the Rutba book looks at good, wholesome, Christ like acts that we should try to emulate. However, the fact that people are involved inherently dooms any NM community. Why? Because we are all imperfect. Therefore, by bringing other imperfect people together only compounds the problem. I am not putting these ideas down, but rather saying that we have to keep in mind the reality of things. In the last chapter the author talks about being in Iraq and what a great experience he had. What he failed to tell us was, that when the wind kicks up over there you can't hide from the blowing sand. And when it finishes blowing you find you have sand in places you didn't think you could have sand. Or he didn't talk about having to share sleeping quarters with other men and praying that you fall asleep before the guy next to you, because his snoring is so loud and disruptive.
All I am saying is that if an intentional community masters some of these ideas then they should consider themselves blessed. But to think they are going to master all of them is unrealistic.
2. Volf's comment truly captures Matt 5:38-40 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." God is viewed as a father figure an so Volf's comment demonstrates God's perfect example for us to follow. The word "reception" in his comment implies that God knows that we, as hostile beings (sinners), are coming and therefore he is prepared for us.
3. I'm sorry, but I really struggled with this chapter and in particular this author. It just seemed to me that he droned on and on and on, but never seemed to get to his point. I got more out of the title of the chapter than I did in reading the chapter. I wholeheartedly agree that there is still segregation in the Christian world. I have personally seen it. When we lived in NC, we were trying out different Church of Christ churches. One of them turned out to be an all black congregation. Reflecting back now I realize that they showed my wife and I more of Jesus' love than any of the white congregations we visited. Naturally, we felt out of place but after our initial reactions, we worshipped right along with them. However, when I was in Iraq, I saw the exact opposite in the Gospel service I attended. True there were a lot of blacks, however, one of the preachers was white and several whites and other ethnicity's attended and I truly believe it was because of the love of Jesus that flowed from the people of the church.
4. In regards to being a novitiate in a NM, I think you run the risk of isolating that newbie in such a way that when they do return to the real world they are set up for failure. I think churches should take the culture and environment they are currently in and train their disciples, which should be everyone who is a member of that church, on how to interact and over come the world. In the Bible we are commanded to be in the world and not of the world. This means that we are to be reaching out from our churches to purposely interact, touch, come into contact with the people of our community. Anyone in our church who is not willing to learn and continue to grow should be treated the same way Jesus treated the Pharisees and scholars. They felt they were too learned to learn anything from Christ, but in reality even the most learned man has only begun his journey of life long learning.
5. I disagree with your comment that koinonia living is the nature of the NT church. I think that koinonia living is the nature of the EC, the church at Antioch and beyond, but not the church at Jerusalem. Yes the believers in Jerusalem spent time together, but they were more worried about the rituals (circumcision) and acts than allowing the Holy Spirit to flow thru them. At Antioch, the church was truly living in an intentional community. They fellowshipped together, they sold off their possessions and used that money to provide for those in need. And they didn't limit or restrict the Holy Spirit(Pentecost) but allowed it to work thru and with them in order to accomplish God's plan of bringing the lost back to him.
6. I really struggled with this chapter also. Having been a part of the military and having actually spent a year in Iraq, I just really struggle with some of the views. In fact I am dealing with a major struggle in my mind right now. My training and background tells me that what I did was right. Jesus himself commended the Centurion, so to say that military service is bad, is wrong. However, I think about a story about my step dad. He drives tour buses and occasionally semis for a little extra cash. One trip he was driving a semi and sees a hitchhiker and picks him up. Now my step dad is definitely non-violent, he was raised Mennonite. He is also a very devout Christian and always has his Bible with him no matter what. So, he gives the hitcher a ride to where he is going and it was only later that he found out that the hitcher was armed and had been avoiding the law. My mom was extremely upset and shaken but my step dad just told her that she didn't need to worry because he was "packing". When she asked him what exactly he was "packing", he told her his Bible. He said that before the guy got in the truck he placed his Bible on the seat between them. He said the guy looked at it and just sat there until they reached where he was going. Upon learning that story, I think of how much faith my step dad has, and hope to some day have the same.
7. All in all the Rutba book looks at good, wholesome, Christ like acts that we should try to emulate. However, the fact that people are involved inherently dooms any NM community. Why? Because we are all imperfect. Therefore, by bringing other imperfect people together only compounds the problem. I am not putting these ideas down, but rather saying that we have to keep in mind the reality of things. In the last chapter the author talks about being in Iraq and what a great experience he had. What he failed to tell us was, that when the wind kicks up over there you can't hide from the blowing sand. And when it finishes blowing you find you have sand in places you didn't think you could have sand. Or he didn't talk about having to share sleeping quarters with other men and praying that you fall asleep before the guy next to you, because his snoring is so loud and disruptive.
All I am saying is that if an intentional community masters some of these ideas then they should consider themselves blessed. But to think they are going to master all of them is unrealistic.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Sessions 6 & 7
1) Reflecting on Dryness (is this a Freudian slip..Dry?), how does our view of culture, church, and Christ impact our theology and practice of worship?
Our theology and practice of worship are directly affected by our view of the three. As Dyrness discusses the group cannot be separated, but instead each offers understanding of the other. We can see the thoughts and feelings of a group towards Christ reflected in the style of their worship and certainly their theology. I think by definition our thoughts on culture, church and Christ is our theology. Dyrness I’m sure would agree that worship being a form of art reflects our thoughts on these three. I guess all this to say that our theology is informed by these three things and it seem as though Dyrness would agree.
2) Reflect on the art presented on pages 110 and 112.
I think, like much of modern art, this period of time was a reaction to the mainstream in society. This is represented in the apparent absurdity of Pollock’s Convergence, or in the exaggeration of Warhol’s Campbell soup pictures. There is always an element present in artists that wrestle with the tension of submitting to the common cultural norms versus blazing a new trail. If the timing is right, and the artist persistent enough, he/she can develop a very simple idea into a living. Artists need to have an identity in the art world, something that becomes their style. This doesn’t need to be great by a number of standards, but it does need to be unique. The splattered cans of paint with multiple colors that taxes a canvas with its weight is Jackson Pollock’s. That’ his thing, and no one can imitate it without his name being mentioned. From some perspectives he beat that horse to death, but it also made him famous and wealthy. I think what makes these artists notable is their timing. They, through their art, raised a question about something mainstream in society, and they did it in a different way.
3) Why do think modernism is collapsing? Or do you think that modernity will survive the onslaught of PM? (I work with philosophers who do not like PM and avoid teaching it. They can't argue with a system that has no presuppositions to argue (That actually is a presupposition.).
I think modernism is collapsing because one of the major foundational concepts supporting it was proving things factually. I think today there is much effort to disprove things and as a result there is less and less information that is true without a doubt. A professor in college would use the “invisible goat” theory. He would point to a spot in the room and tell us to look at the invisible goat. We all thought he was crazy, and eventually someone told him there was no invisible goat. He told them to prove it didn’t exist. Someone else (I wish it was me) told him to prove that it did exist. Thus the situation, the only thing we proved is that there was no actual way to prove whether or not the invisible goat existed. We are in the same situation with PM. Because the scientific method is based upon repeatable experiments, there is always a point where things cannot be proven or dis-proven. We are at an impasse. I’m not sure if PM will change, but rather morph into another form of itself in which the presupposition that things cannot be proven with 100% accuracy will continue. I think in the future it will evolve into probabilities and percentages.
4) How do you envision and/or practice utilizing the arts in your ministry?
I like to use the arts to focus interaction with people. It is great to use to create a starting point among people. For example, a photograph, painting, movie, song, etc. can be used just to get people on the same page for a discussion. Then depending on how the time is structured it can expose feelings and emotions, sharing and vulnerability that might otherwise not have been revealed. It is much easier for a person to talk about which movie character they relate to most and why than it is to ask a person to tell you about themselves. I would envision using the arts in two ways in my ministry in the future. The first would be using it as I have been talking about; a centering focusing agent that fosters better interaction. The second would be as a type of measuring device that might help me to learn about someone. The first initiates and controls a situation, and the second allows the other person to control. This would be asking a person about their favorite movies, etc. and also connecting teachings to what is already popular.
5) What arts are emphasized in your church, family, and local community?
Currently, music is really the only art that is really valued in our church community. There is some appreciation for the performing arts, but not much. Even movies are not really appreciated all that much. I think there is still a lingering idea that art is a superfluous part of life. It tolerated in small doses, but can often be a distraction from the really important parts of life.
In my family, things are a bit different, but not much. I think my wife and I appreciate the arts more than most, but my extended family isn’t all that interested. My parents really enjoy music, but that is about the extent of it.
In the local community (Bowling Green) there is a considerable amount of emphasis put on the arts, at least compared to a non-college town. While there are certainly a number of people that are not involved at all in the “artsy” community there are a number of people that are very active. The art community is pretty strong and perceived and chic and sophisticated in a college town.
6) Explain the value and emphasis of word, sacrament/ordinance, and the arts in your life and ministry?
Tough question. I guess I would have to put these things at about an even level in my life as far as time and involvement. Although my study of the Word is probably more in depth (because of preparations for teaching times, and school) I don’t think that there is a tremendous difference between the time I might commit to these three things. Often during the week I am reading articles, watching movies/videos, listening to music, and noticing art in such a way that I hope it inspires me or affects me. I wish that the quality of the “art” I viewed during the week was more classic and less pop culture. I think the value of observing art and pop culture is simply a way to keep in touch with what people are faced with during their week. It is also valuable so that I caan be informed in such a way to show people that there alternatives out there to just gulping down the “art” that is served to us by the media.
7) Reflect on pages 151-154, Does art play a role in discipleship? Have you died to self and allowed your life's work to take on a life of its own? Can you kill a dead person?
I think the most value here is in his comparison to living the life of an artist and the life as a Christian as being a process. There certainly is value as an artist to the process of struggling with passion and pressure. There is value to the process of expressing yourself or your feelings through something. These are valuable things. It is also true that often times the value of the process is on the other side of difficulty and hardship. In these ways I believe the process of being a artist is similar to the process of being a Christian. I am a bit concerned though because I think this is a very inclusive definition of artist and one that would surely bother “real artists”. Of course the snobbery of “real artists” is relative to where you live and the art community there, but that same snobbery can exist amongst Christians. A true artist is one that totally sacrifices themselves for the art. They might live in poor conditions and struggle financially even resisting conventional success for fear it might corrupt the artistic process. However, I do not believe this is the only definition for a true artist. I know plenty of true artists with health insurance and 401K’s. It is the same for Christians, or true disciples. While outward appearance may offer clues about the condition of his heart, we must be careful not to judge a book by its cover. I think the driving question here is whether we are engaged in the process of dying to self. As soon as I say I have died to self I can think of a handful examples in my life that illustrate otherwise. However, the real question is whether or not I am committed to the process of dying to self. Much of that is allowing God to handle the results of ministry. I wish I could say I had a real handle on this, but I don’t. I still find myself trying to control and influence results. I think it will be something that I struggle with for some time.
Our theology and practice of worship are directly affected by our view of the three. As Dyrness discusses the group cannot be separated, but instead each offers understanding of the other. We can see the thoughts and feelings of a group towards Christ reflected in the style of their worship and certainly their theology. I think by definition our thoughts on culture, church and Christ is our theology. Dyrness I’m sure would agree that worship being a form of art reflects our thoughts on these three. I guess all this to say that our theology is informed by these three things and it seem as though Dyrness would agree.
2) Reflect on the art presented on pages 110 and 112.
I think, like much of modern art, this period of time was a reaction to the mainstream in society. This is represented in the apparent absurdity of Pollock’s Convergence, or in the exaggeration of Warhol’s Campbell soup pictures. There is always an element present in artists that wrestle with the tension of submitting to the common cultural norms versus blazing a new trail. If the timing is right, and the artist persistent enough, he/she can develop a very simple idea into a living. Artists need to have an identity in the art world, something that becomes their style. This doesn’t need to be great by a number of standards, but it does need to be unique. The splattered cans of paint with multiple colors that taxes a canvas with its weight is Jackson Pollock’s. That’ his thing, and no one can imitate it without his name being mentioned. From some perspectives he beat that horse to death, but it also made him famous and wealthy. I think what makes these artists notable is their timing. They, through their art, raised a question about something mainstream in society, and they did it in a different way.
3) Why do think modernism is collapsing? Or do you think that modernity will survive the onslaught of PM? (I work with philosophers who do not like PM and avoid teaching it. They can't argue with a system that has no presuppositions to argue (That actually is a presupposition.).
I think modernism is collapsing because one of the major foundational concepts supporting it was proving things factually. I think today there is much effort to disprove things and as a result there is less and less information that is true without a doubt. A professor in college would use the “invisible goat” theory. He would point to a spot in the room and tell us to look at the invisible goat. We all thought he was crazy, and eventually someone told him there was no invisible goat. He told them to prove it didn’t exist. Someone else (I wish it was me) told him to prove that it did exist. Thus the situation, the only thing we proved is that there was no actual way to prove whether or not the invisible goat existed. We are in the same situation with PM. Because the scientific method is based upon repeatable experiments, there is always a point where things cannot be proven or dis-proven. We are at an impasse. I’m not sure if PM will change, but rather morph into another form of itself in which the presupposition that things cannot be proven with 100% accuracy will continue. I think in the future it will evolve into probabilities and percentages.
4) How do you envision and/or practice utilizing the arts in your ministry?
I like to use the arts to focus interaction with people. It is great to use to create a starting point among people. For example, a photograph, painting, movie, song, etc. can be used just to get people on the same page for a discussion. Then depending on how the time is structured it can expose feelings and emotions, sharing and vulnerability that might otherwise not have been revealed. It is much easier for a person to talk about which movie character they relate to most and why than it is to ask a person to tell you about themselves. I would envision using the arts in two ways in my ministry in the future. The first would be using it as I have been talking about; a centering focusing agent that fosters better interaction. The second would be as a type of measuring device that might help me to learn about someone. The first initiates and controls a situation, and the second allows the other person to control. This would be asking a person about their favorite movies, etc. and also connecting teachings to what is already popular.
5) What arts are emphasized in your church, family, and local community?
Currently, music is really the only art that is really valued in our church community. There is some appreciation for the performing arts, but not much. Even movies are not really appreciated all that much. I think there is still a lingering idea that art is a superfluous part of life. It tolerated in small doses, but can often be a distraction from the really important parts of life.
In my family, things are a bit different, but not much. I think my wife and I appreciate the arts more than most, but my extended family isn’t all that interested. My parents really enjoy music, but that is about the extent of it.
In the local community (Bowling Green) there is a considerable amount of emphasis put on the arts, at least compared to a non-college town. While there are certainly a number of people that are not involved at all in the “artsy” community there are a number of people that are very active. The art community is pretty strong and perceived and chic and sophisticated in a college town.
6) Explain the value and emphasis of word, sacrament/ordinance, and the arts in your life and ministry?
Tough question. I guess I would have to put these things at about an even level in my life as far as time and involvement. Although my study of the Word is probably more in depth (because of preparations for teaching times, and school) I don’t think that there is a tremendous difference between the time I might commit to these three things. Often during the week I am reading articles, watching movies/videos, listening to music, and noticing art in such a way that I hope it inspires me or affects me. I wish that the quality of the “art” I viewed during the week was more classic and less pop culture. I think the value of observing art and pop culture is simply a way to keep in touch with what people are faced with during their week. It is also valuable so that I caan be informed in such a way to show people that there alternatives out there to just gulping down the “art” that is served to us by the media.
7) Reflect on pages 151-154, Does art play a role in discipleship? Have you died to self and allowed your life's work to take on a life of its own? Can you kill a dead person?
I think the most value here is in his comparison to living the life of an artist and the life as a Christian as being a process. There certainly is value as an artist to the process of struggling with passion and pressure. There is value to the process of expressing yourself or your feelings through something. These are valuable things. It is also true that often times the value of the process is on the other side of difficulty and hardship. In these ways I believe the process of being a artist is similar to the process of being a Christian. I am a bit concerned though because I think this is a very inclusive definition of artist and one that would surely bother “real artists”. Of course the snobbery of “real artists” is relative to where you live and the art community there, but that same snobbery can exist amongst Christians. A true artist is one that totally sacrifices themselves for the art. They might live in poor conditions and struggle financially even resisting conventional success for fear it might corrupt the artistic process. However, I do not believe this is the only definition for a true artist. I know plenty of true artists with health insurance and 401K’s. It is the same for Christians, or true disciples. While outward appearance may offer clues about the condition of his heart, we must be careful not to judge a book by its cover. I think the driving question here is whether we are engaged in the process of dying to self. As soon as I say I have died to self I can think of a handful examples in my life that illustrate otherwise. However, the real question is whether or not I am committed to the process of dying to self. Much of that is allowing God to handle the results of ministry. I wish I could say I had a real handle on this, but I don’t. I still find myself trying to control and influence results. I think it will be something that I struggle with for some time.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Sessions 6 & 7
1) Reflecting on Dryness, how does our view of culture, church, and Christ impact our theology and practice of worship?
First, my confession. I found this book to be the toughest going - not on the basis of anything Dyrness wrote, but (in a strange irony for a book on visual arts) in the physical makeup of the book. I had issues with the type and the page size which made the reading seem rather like trudging through molasses in January. I kept feeling like I was getting no where with it. Of course, it may be my background as a page designer that brings that criticism to the table.
In a sense, it is analogous to the relationship between our view of culture and how it impacts our theology and practice of worship. The physical layout of the words on the page were an impediment to my understanding of what the author was trying to communicate. Likewise, the way we worship can sometimes be an impediment to someone seeking Christ. I do not, and will never, advocate diluting the gospel or dumbing it down. Quite the contrary, I found working with the youth that they rise to the challenge of difficult material and, more often that not, prefer to be challenged. As it stands, I think effective teaching as it exists as part of the worship service will take its culture into consideration. Perhaps in our culture that means visual elements.
2) Reflect on the art presented on pages 110 and 112.
This will (no pun intended) paint me somewhat as a traditionalist, I suspect, but I have seen similar "art" to the Jackson Pollock piece on the drop cloths left over from a work project with my youth group that had far more meaning to me (especially when I think about how the drop cloth was created and who created it) than this piece. Perhaps it would have been better in color, but, as it stands, it means nothing to me. It's chaos. It's unbalanced. Having read the material around it, I understand that process was a vital component, which actually accounted for more in the mind of the artist than did the end product. All the same, it does nothing to bring me into the painting. I have as much desire to look for the meaning behind it was I would to look for meaning behind the Spaghettios smeared on a high chair tray by a toddler. (Hmm ... maybe I am being a bit harsh, but I suspect that makes my point.)
Now, as far as the Warhol piece, I think this loses something in being in a photo rather than seeing it in person. The text tells us it was a large model of the Brillo box. It would be interesting to see a picture with some sort of spatial reference in it. As it stands, it's just a piece of household history. But, if I were to see it in person or see that it is truly an oversized box, I would at least wonder what possessed Warhol to create it. In that sense, it pulls me in much more than the Pollock piece. Actually, even in the photo in our book, I still at least wonder about it a little bit.
3) Why do think modernism is collapsing? Or do you think that modernity will survive the onslaught of PM?
Modernity as we now know it may not survive the onslaught of postmodernism any more than mindset of the medieval period survived the coming of the Renaissance or the Renaissance survived the modernity. Vestiges of each previous philosophy remain as the new takes hold, but it does not remain as a dominant force. So, we will see elements of modernism in the culture in the foreseeable future, but it, too will gradually give way as even postmodernism becomes passe.
I think one reason modernism is collapsing is that people can feel the rug being ripped out from under them. The presuppositions that supported modernism - science can provide answers, society can take care of its members, peace can be achieved, etc., etc., etc. - are ringing false to a culture that has seen two World Wars, a Cold War, diseases that remain incurable as new incurable diseases emerge, poverty continues to ravage communities, etc., etc., etc. Now, terrorism has even come to our shores, taking away what I think many saw as the last safe refuge in a crazy world. The old adage of "question authority" has taken on a totally new life in this culture that questions everything as if they were fooled once and won't be fooled again.
4) How do you envision and/or practice utilizing the arts in your ministry?
In the past, I have done a "digital gallery" by asking artists to submit slides or photos of their work which we put into a PowerPoint presentation set to music. I also have a student who is rather talented at drawing. In a study of Isaiah 6 one night, she showed an interest in the seraphim and I suggested that she could try drawing one from the description given there. I also suggested that she could draw scenes from the Bible as a form of journaling. We're also talking about having her do drawings to accompany the messages for the contemporary service at our church. I realize the answer thus far really focuses on one student, but my interaction with her is indicative of how I watch for a student's talent and try to find ways to incorporate it into the ministry.
As far as future endeavors, some of the students are talented musicians who would like to try writing their own music so we plan to get together this summer to see what transpires. I would also like to have a gallery of art open as people are coming in for the contemporary service (and maybe expand it to other times). I like using videos and other visuals in my talks, so I would also like to find students who are interested in creating such things and work with them to make such visuals.
5) What arts are emphasized in your church, family, and local community?
All three place quite a value on music. At church, we have choirs for the youngest children to the teens to the adults in addition to a fledging "praise team" which at present consists of four girls - one pianist and three singers. In the summer, the adult choir, which typically sings during the morning worship service, takes a break and a sign-up sheet is posted to allow members of the congregation and their friends or family to provide the special music for the services.
At home, I grew up with music playing in the house frequently, if not constantly. That, however, was back in the days before televisions were in every room as is the case in most families today.
I am blessed to live in a community that places a fairly even emphasis on the arts. Music and drama productions - as well as independent films - are featured at a local theater. There are galleries here and there. There are colleges nearby that open their doors to the public for musical events, theater productions and art exhibits. To be honest, I have often thought that I need to pay more attention and take greater advantage of these opportunities.
6) Explain the value and emphasis of word, sacrament/ordinance, and the arts in your life and ministry?
All three have a particular value in my life, but each in a different way. That is, one is not more valued than another, necessarily, but that are valued differently. The word - and the Word - have been important to me since I was a child. I don't remember ever not knowing how to read - family legend says I could read by the time I was 18 months old, but that's anecdotal evidence from my mother. I learn best from reading. I read voraciously. I love writing. I love agonizing over just the right word to convey a meaning just as I cringe when I see poor word choices. These characteristics become most evident in my teaching and in my blog (which I believe to be a new form of ministry, but that could be a discussion for another day).
Yet, as previous answers acknowledge, there is a visual side to my life and ministry. I rarely do a talk that doesn't include a visual element and have found that to be effective. For example, I freely admit that I talk with my hands. It's so apparent that the students have asked me never to wear one of my tops with wide sleeves when I speak because they are terrified that I will swing an arm too close to a candle and go out in a blaze of glory. One night, I wore handcuffs during the entire message to accentuate how the choices we make can be like wearing these handcuffs. The students could see clearly how much that restricted my usual form of expression. The students still talk about that night. On a personal, devotional level, I love to take scenic pictures that reveal the wonders of God's work.
Sacrament and ordinance represent connection for me. Connection to the followers of Christ who have come before me who also took of the bread and the wine and connection to the people in my church who are taking the bread and the wine in the same communion service in which I am participating. More importantly, it is a tangible connection to Christ.
7) Reflect on pages 151-154, Does art play a role in discipleship? Have you died to self and allowed your life's work to take on a life of its own? Can you kill a dead person?
Art absolutely has a place in discipleship. Of course, the easy way to see that might be in the artist who draws, paints or takes photographs that reflect creation in all its forms as it celebrates and seeks to understand the One who created it all. It's also easy to see in the writer who reflects on the Word of God or on what she sees in the created order and conveys it through written forms - or the musician who combines the words with music to convey those same thoughts. It's harder, but no less true, to see art in other areas of life, but it is there nonetheless.
Part of me wants to say that I have totally died to self and allowed my life's work to take on a life of its own, but I can't say that I believe it has. Let me say it this way. I know one thing. I'm with God. I want to do what He wants me to do. I just pray that He will give me a willing spirit to follow Him when and as He reveals his will to me. Am I running from a call? No, but in some ways, I still wonder what my life work is. I worked for an art professor once who said that the artist can't not create (which I thought was a lovely use of the double negative). I'm still discovering what passions consume me to the point that I can't not do them - that is what I consider to be ultimately dying to self. Clearly, youth work and writing are two options at work in my life right now, but I haven't "pulled the trigger" and become possessed by these activities to the point that they are anything more than side activities that are continually taking up more of my time (so maybe I am closer than I think). Though the free-spirited artistic side of me is gaining strength daily as I write more and more and as I start to give way to the compulsion to write, there is still a side of me that remains utterly practical and somewhat afraid of what will happen if I do let that passion to write take over my life completely (and, no, my work at the newspaper doesn't count as that's not the kind of writing I am talking about).
Obviously I am posting this after Jason's post and agree with what he said about killing a dead person - except for one thing. I believe that once someone finds that all-consuming passion - it becomes their life. They become a dead person following that passion where it leads them. Take away that passion and you kill them or, at the very least, a vital part of their identity. They may continue to live, but they must do it as they seek something to fill the void of what has been taken from them
First, my confession. I found this book to be the toughest going - not on the basis of anything Dyrness wrote, but (in a strange irony for a book on visual arts) in the physical makeup of the book. I had issues with the type and the page size which made the reading seem rather like trudging through molasses in January. I kept feeling like I was getting no where with it. Of course, it may be my background as a page designer that brings that criticism to the table.
In a sense, it is analogous to the relationship between our view of culture and how it impacts our theology and practice of worship. The physical layout of the words on the page were an impediment to my understanding of what the author was trying to communicate. Likewise, the way we worship can sometimes be an impediment to someone seeking Christ. I do not, and will never, advocate diluting the gospel or dumbing it down. Quite the contrary, I found working with the youth that they rise to the challenge of difficult material and, more often that not, prefer to be challenged. As it stands, I think effective teaching as it exists as part of the worship service will take its culture into consideration. Perhaps in our culture that means visual elements.
2) Reflect on the art presented on pages 110 and 112.
This will (no pun intended) paint me somewhat as a traditionalist, I suspect, but I have seen similar "art" to the Jackson Pollock piece on the drop cloths left over from a work project with my youth group that had far more meaning to me (especially when I think about how the drop cloth was created and who created it) than this piece. Perhaps it would have been better in color, but, as it stands, it means nothing to me. It's chaos. It's unbalanced. Having read the material around it, I understand that process was a vital component, which actually accounted for more in the mind of the artist than did the end product. All the same, it does nothing to bring me into the painting. I have as much desire to look for the meaning behind it was I would to look for meaning behind the Spaghettios smeared on a high chair tray by a toddler. (Hmm ... maybe I am being a bit harsh, but I suspect that makes my point.)
Now, as far as the Warhol piece, I think this loses something in being in a photo rather than seeing it in person. The text tells us it was a large model of the Brillo box. It would be interesting to see a picture with some sort of spatial reference in it. As it stands, it's just a piece of household history. But, if I were to see it in person or see that it is truly an oversized box, I would at least wonder what possessed Warhol to create it. In that sense, it pulls me in much more than the Pollock piece. Actually, even in the photo in our book, I still at least wonder about it a little bit.
3) Why do think modernism is collapsing? Or do you think that modernity will survive the onslaught of PM?
Modernity as we now know it may not survive the onslaught of postmodernism any more than mindset of the medieval period survived the coming of the Renaissance or the Renaissance survived the modernity. Vestiges of each previous philosophy remain as the new takes hold, but it does not remain as a dominant force. So, we will see elements of modernism in the culture in the foreseeable future, but it, too will gradually give way as even postmodernism becomes passe.
I think one reason modernism is collapsing is that people can feel the rug being ripped out from under them. The presuppositions that supported modernism - science can provide answers, society can take care of its members, peace can be achieved, etc., etc., etc. - are ringing false to a culture that has seen two World Wars, a Cold War, diseases that remain incurable as new incurable diseases emerge, poverty continues to ravage communities, etc., etc., etc. Now, terrorism has even come to our shores, taking away what I think many saw as the last safe refuge in a crazy world. The old adage of "question authority" has taken on a totally new life in this culture that questions everything as if they were fooled once and won't be fooled again.
4) How do you envision and/or practice utilizing the arts in your ministry?
In the past, I have done a "digital gallery" by asking artists to submit slides or photos of their work which we put into a PowerPoint presentation set to music. I also have a student who is rather talented at drawing. In a study of Isaiah 6 one night, she showed an interest in the seraphim and I suggested that she could try drawing one from the description given there. I also suggested that she could draw scenes from the Bible as a form of journaling. We're also talking about having her do drawings to accompany the messages for the contemporary service at our church. I realize the answer thus far really focuses on one student, but my interaction with her is indicative of how I watch for a student's talent and try to find ways to incorporate it into the ministry.
As far as future endeavors, some of the students are talented musicians who would like to try writing their own music so we plan to get together this summer to see what transpires. I would also like to have a gallery of art open as people are coming in for the contemporary service (and maybe expand it to other times). I like using videos and other visuals in my talks, so I would also like to find students who are interested in creating such things and work with them to make such visuals.
5) What arts are emphasized in your church, family, and local community?
All three place quite a value on music. At church, we have choirs for the youngest children to the teens to the adults in addition to a fledging "praise team" which at present consists of four girls - one pianist and three singers. In the summer, the adult choir, which typically sings during the morning worship service, takes a break and a sign-up sheet is posted to allow members of the congregation and their friends or family to provide the special music for the services.
At home, I grew up with music playing in the house frequently, if not constantly. That, however, was back in the days before televisions were in every room as is the case in most families today.
I am blessed to live in a community that places a fairly even emphasis on the arts. Music and drama productions - as well as independent films - are featured at a local theater. There are galleries here and there. There are colleges nearby that open their doors to the public for musical events, theater productions and art exhibits. To be honest, I have often thought that I need to pay more attention and take greater advantage of these opportunities.
6) Explain the value and emphasis of word, sacrament/ordinance, and the arts in your life and ministry?
All three have a particular value in my life, but each in a different way. That is, one is not more valued than another, necessarily, but that are valued differently. The word - and the Word - have been important to me since I was a child. I don't remember ever not knowing how to read - family legend says I could read by the time I was 18 months old, but that's anecdotal evidence from my mother. I learn best from reading. I read voraciously. I love writing. I love agonizing over just the right word to convey a meaning just as I cringe when I see poor word choices. These characteristics become most evident in my teaching and in my blog (which I believe to be a new form of ministry, but that could be a discussion for another day).
Yet, as previous answers acknowledge, there is a visual side to my life and ministry. I rarely do a talk that doesn't include a visual element and have found that to be effective. For example, I freely admit that I talk with my hands. It's so apparent that the students have asked me never to wear one of my tops with wide sleeves when I speak because they are terrified that I will swing an arm too close to a candle and go out in a blaze of glory. One night, I wore handcuffs during the entire message to accentuate how the choices we make can be like wearing these handcuffs. The students could see clearly how much that restricted my usual form of expression. The students still talk about that night. On a personal, devotional level, I love to take scenic pictures that reveal the wonders of God's work.
Sacrament and ordinance represent connection for me. Connection to the followers of Christ who have come before me who also took of the bread and the wine and connection to the people in my church who are taking the bread and the wine in the same communion service in which I am participating. More importantly, it is a tangible connection to Christ.
7) Reflect on pages 151-154, Does art play a role in discipleship? Have you died to self and allowed your life's work to take on a life of its own? Can you kill a dead person?
Art absolutely has a place in discipleship. Of course, the easy way to see that might be in the artist who draws, paints or takes photographs that reflect creation in all its forms as it celebrates and seeks to understand the One who created it all. It's also easy to see in the writer who reflects on the Word of God or on what she sees in the created order and conveys it through written forms - or the musician who combines the words with music to convey those same thoughts. It's harder, but no less true, to see art in other areas of life, but it is there nonetheless.
Part of me wants to say that I have totally died to self and allowed my life's work to take on a life of its own, but I can't say that I believe it has. Let me say it this way. I know one thing. I'm with God. I want to do what He wants me to do. I just pray that He will give me a willing spirit to follow Him when and as He reveals his will to me. Am I running from a call? No, but in some ways, I still wonder what my life work is. I worked for an art professor once who said that the artist can't not create (which I thought was a lovely use of the double negative). I'm still discovering what passions consume me to the point that I can't not do them - that is what I consider to be ultimately dying to self. Clearly, youth work and writing are two options at work in my life right now, but I haven't "pulled the trigger" and become possessed by these activities to the point that they are anything more than side activities that are continually taking up more of my time (so maybe I am closer than I think). Though the free-spirited artistic side of me is gaining strength daily as I write more and more and as I start to give way to the compulsion to write, there is still a side of me that remains utterly practical and somewhat afraid of what will happen if I do let that passion to write take over my life completely (and, no, my work at the newspaper doesn't count as that's not the kind of writing I am talking about).
Obviously I am posting this after Jason's post and agree with what he said about killing a dead person - except for one thing. I believe that once someone finds that all-consuming passion - it becomes their life. They become a dead person following that passion where it leads them. Take away that passion and you kill them or, at the very least, a vital part of their identity. They may continue to live, but they must do it as they seek something to fill the void of what has been taken from them
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