Saturday Ramblings 6.25.11

Good morning. Welcome to the iMonastery where we specialize in unique dishes made from the finest ingredients. For breakfast today we are serving up heaping helpings of Saturday Ramblings.

D.H. Williams, a professor at Baylor University, has some interesting observations after recently attending a megachurch service. Nothing new that we haven’t discussed often times before here at iMonk, but it is always interesting to hear it from another perspective.

Jack Van Impe has coined a new word—Chrislam—to describe what he sees as a uniting of Christianity and Islam. And he named two well-known preachers as advocates for Chrislam on his TV show broadcast on TBN. Before the show could be repeated, TBN pulled that episode. In response, Van Impe cancelled his contract with TBN. My question is: How long will it be until someone names their rock back Chrislam?

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Follow-up Post: “Quivering Daughters”

By Chaplain Mike

Consider this a follow-up to last week’s discussion on Bill Gothard and the related topics that were brought up in the comment thread, such as patriarchy, homeschooling, courtship, separatism, rules-based spirituality, and so on.

It seems the post uncovered a lot of hurt, confusion, and questions. In our comments we heard from several folks who had grown up under one form or another of patriarchal teaching and others who wondered about these movements and what they involve.

For example, the following words came from Donna (who also blogs at The View from My Window):

To make a super long story just a little shorter, my parents bought into Bill Gothard’s teachings, pulled us out of school, and homeschooled us in his cultic homeschool program (ATI). I missed out on getting a high school diploma and was forbidden to attend college. I even wanted to go to an ultra-conservative Bible College and they refused to allow me to go. I went with the organization on several missions trips and then served time at the Indianapolis Training Center. During my time a way from home, my eyes were open to the religious noose I’d been experiencing for so many years. I ended up meeting a man “on the outside” that scared my parents to death. We tried to do the courtship thing as they wished, but it turned into an absolute mess. At the age of 24, after physical threats and complete suffocation, (my mom asked me to commit to remain single for life and stay under their authority at home) a pastor in Indianapolis encouraged me to move out.

Fast forwarding over the past 14 years… I am married with three gorgeous children and I’m experiencing freedom in Jesus and am learning that my Heavenly Father loves me and has only the best intentions for me.

There were many, many others who added their own stories about themselves, their families, friends, and churches who have been caught up in these movements and who found them spiritually deadening and in some cases abusive.

Today, on my customary look at Christianity Today, I saw they have posted a book review of Quivering Daughters, by Hillary McFarland. I have not read this book yet, but after our recent discussion, my own reflections on some of the folks I have known in the past who have been taken in by these teachings, and the content of the review, I’m going to get it soon.

In the meantime, I’d like to use the CT review as an opportunity for further discussion on this matter. We welcome your stories, reflections, and perspectives. How pervasive are these movements? What are you seeing of their influence where you live? Perhaps you are even an advocate of one form or another of patriarchy as it is practiced in some of these groups. State your case.

For preparation, you can go read the review for yourself, but I will also summarize its points here to prompt our conversation. As you will see below, I’ve also included a link to a blog that exists to answer and debunk McFarland’s point of view. Feel free to read the counter-arguments too.

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But Then …

This is difficult for me to write because it is both humbling and humiliating. My pride is being shattered to admit on a stage before tens of thousands of readers (our stats show more than 80,000 unique visitors come to the iMonastery every month) what I am going to share. But I suppose it’s not a bad thing to have my pride shattered, is it?

For almost 40 years now I have been involved in either broadcasting or publishing, mostly in the Christian realm. I worked at the pioneer Christian FM radio station, one of the first to drop all paid programming and play contemporary Christian music supported by—Gasp!—commercials. I taught radio broadcast at two highly-respected schools for a combined fifteen years. I have been in the Christian publishing world for the last dozen years, serving as senior acquisitions editor for a large Christian book publisher, and then as a literary agent representing many bestselling authors. Up until about 18 months ago I was bringing in a six-figure annual income. But then…

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Prayer During Ordinary Time

Pentecost has been and gone, the Spirit has descended upon us, and now we are in the season of Ordinary Time up until Advent, where the liturgical color is green (for hope) and we get on with our ordinary lives, living as Christians in the world.  We’re out of the upper room and down in the streets, and frankly we’ll be lucky if the neighbors just think we’ve been hitting the bottle a bit early in the day.

Part of all this getting on with what is happening in secular time while we’re waiting for the advent of the Kingdom is prayer.  Now this is going to be massive cheek on my part, since all you Protestants have flourishing prayer lives and have gone much deeper into the topic than I can ever hope to do.  But for the ordinary lazy idiot – the likes of me – Holy Mother Church once again comes to the rescue.  We don’t have to be original, we don’t have to be inspired, we certainly don’t have to be spontaneous – thanks be to God!  We just have to learn a few simple prayers off by heart and (here’s the hard part) maintain the discipline to say them.

This is not, by the way, to say that we ordinary Catholic slobs aren’t supposed to have a personal prayer life, or to deepen it, or to develop our spiritual resources.  We are, and we (the vast majority of us) don’t do as much as we should.  While you may not enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless you become as one of these little ones, unfortunately too many of us are happy to slip along with the same kind of basic prayers we learned when we were six and go no farther.  I’m hoping to drag us up to at least a twelve year old level.

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Case Study: A Pastoral Conversation

By Chaplain Mike

Occasionally, I would like for us to consider case studies, so that we can discuss actual life situations rather than just theological ideas or religious issues.

As iMonk readers know, I am deeply concerned about the state of pastoral ministry (especially pastoral care) in our churches. Today’s study is a snapshot from a situation involving a hard conversation in a pastor’s office between the minister and a couple that came to complain about someone in the church.

You who are pastors will recognize this conversation. I’m sure you will join me in acknowledging that we have had many such talks with people. I will confess I have not always handled them well, for various reasons. As we reflect on this meeting today, feel free to relate your own experiences with such encounters.

Nor are these kinds of conversations limited to ministers, though that is today’s focus. As Christians, we all feel a “burden” to minister to our brothers and sisters, our neighbors. We don’t always do it well. In particular, we don’t always listen well, and we tend to jump in with “answers” when it is not appropriate. Perhaps this case study can help us all relate to others with more grace and sensitivity.

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Open Mic: What Is the Prosperity Gospel?

By Chaplain Mike

This post might also be called: “Ask Chaplain Mike: Eagle’s Questions, part 2.”

But I would like to take a different approach this time. Instead of me simply answering our friend’s question, I’d like the iMonk community to take part. In fact, Eagle himself asks for this when he writes:

What exactly is the prosperity gospel? How would you define it? What is the difference between being blessed versus believing in the prosperity gospel? Could the iMonastery have a basic discussion on what the prosperity gospel means, vs. what is being blessed by God? I’d like to know where a person draws the line.

Thanks, Eagle. I am looking forward to the discussion.

To prime the pump, here is a web reading list that will give you some good material and commentary to consider—

For Further Reading:

OK, I’m Blushing…

Modesty, Bouguereau

By Chaplain Mike

Why does everything have to be an “issue” for Christians?

Why do we feel the need to speak publicly about every matter under heaven?

Why is so necessary to make it clear “where we stand” on everything?

Can’t (shouldn’t) there be some things that we deal with quietly, privately, personally, face to face and heart to heart, rather than in public venues?

When and why did Christian leaders start to think we would serve the world better by adding to the cacophony of voices about sexual matters rather than quietly, humbly giving perspective to our overly sexualized culture in wiser, more discreet ways?

When did privacy, modesty, and restraint cease to be important virtues for us?

Are we so afraid of being called “prudes” that we feel we must talk publicly about sexual matters in detail in order to stay edgy and relevant?

Don’t we realize that buying into the world’s practice of making sex a matter for public discussion only adds to the confusion our society faces when it comes to sexual morality?

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Ruth among the Writings

Ruth in the Fields, Hugues

By Chaplain Mike

Ordinary Time Bible Study 2011
The Book of Ruth (1)

During Ordinary Time this summer, we will have a weekly Bible study on the Book of Ruth. I think this especially appropriate, for Ruth is a story about ordinary people in ordinary settings, in and through whom God did extraordinary things.

For our text, we will be using the NetBible, so that you can make use of their online study tools, including the ability to view parallel translations, study notes and articles, and the ability to download the text to your computer or mobile device.

The two commentaries that have helped me most as I have studied Ruth, that I will be referring to throughout the study, are (1) Ruth (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries), the classic work by Edward F. Campbell, Jr., and (2) Five Festal Garments: Christian Reflections on the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther (New Studies in Biblical Theology), by Barry G. Webb.

Before we start reading and discussing the text of Ruth itself, we must understand the book’s context in the Hebrew Bible, particularly its canonical placement among the Writings, the third part of the Tanakh. The Hebrew Bible is called Tanakh because the three consonants T-N-K represent the names of its three major divisions: (1) Torah (Law), (2) Nebi’im (Prophets), (3) Kethubim (Writings).

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Guest Post: Rachel Held Evans, “Blessed Are the Un-Cool”

Note from Chaplain Mike: Today’s guest post is from Rachel Held Evans’ blog, which is rated “iMonk Highly Recommended Reading,” and is used with her permission.

Thanks, Rachel!

Come see usphoto © 2006 Valerie Everett | more info (via: Wylio)BLESSED ARE THE UN-COOL
By Rachel Held Evans

People sometimes assume that because I’m a progressive 30-year-old who enjoys Mumford and Sons and has no children, I must want a super-hip church—you know, the kind that’s called “Thrive” or “Be” and which boasts “an awesome worship experience,” a  fair-trade coffee bar, its own iPhone app, and a pastor who looks like a Jonas Brother.

While none of these features are inherently wrong, (and can of course be used by good people to do good things), these days I find myself longing for a church with a cool factor of about 0.

That’s right.

I want a church that includes fussy kids, old liturgy, bad sound, weird congregants,  and…brace yourself…painfully amateur “special music” now and then.

Why?

Well, for one thing, when the gospel story is accompanied by a fog machine and light show, I always get this creeped-out feeling like someone’s trying to sell me something. It’s as though we’re all compensating for the fact that Christianity’s not good enough to stand on its own so we’re adding snacks.

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Trinity Sunday

Old Bed and New, pitcha.mosaicglobe.com

By Chaplain Mike

Today’s Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

in this bed, two lovers fumbled
as they found their way
and it was holy when they knelt
beside this bed to pray
it kept them warm through many nights
of cold, elusive fear
when tender sweet caresses
answered softly falling tears
some secrets whispered in this bed
have never left this room
dreams both dreamt and spoken
in this bed lie silent too
souls and bodies here unveiled
in private rendezvous
this bed has known the mystery of two

in this bed were babies born
in labor and travail
life launched on clean white linen
weighing anchor, taking sail
pain and laughter mingled
with exhaustion at the sight
as mother nurses infant
in the stillness of the night
children nestled in this bed
a fortress sure and strong
when dreams and midnight noises
signaled gothic monster throngs
sing-song rhymes and morning hugs
in sleepy soft debris
this bed has known the mystery of three

in this bed an aged one
has taken now to rest
she should be serving dinner
but the children thought it best
they come each day to see her
and brush her hair out with a comb
while she stares out the window
and sighs a wordless moan
one morning here they found her
in this bed, but she was gone
they gathered all around her
and sang her favorite song
the bed went to the attic
’til the day the sale would come
this bed has known the mystery of one

“this bed you see before you
has some stories it could tell
now, who’ll begin the bidding?
we’ve got many things to sell
sold! to number thirty
for a hundred dollars there
a good price for a piece
that’s neither old, nor fine, nor rare”