Category Archives: Culture

Seth Godin on the Future of Publishing and the Office

Posted on August 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

I love Seth Godin. He reads the currents of our times like a comic book and articulates the shape of things to come like a painter. I haven’t gotten to read his magnum opus, Linchpin yet but I have read articles, watched interviews, and know people who know him personally. So with that background, I usually listen to what Seth Godin has to say.

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Posted in creativity, Culture

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10 Symbols To Look For in The Adjustment Bureau

Posted on February 26, 2011 | 3 Comments

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Thursday night I was invited to an early showing of The Adjustment Bureau. In this morning’s post, I would like to suggest a few symbols and themes that I noticed in the movie (please share any you may have in the comments section below).

1. Water – Water played a significant role in the movie. It disrupted the “adjusters” powers and abilities to track the plans of humans. What does this symbol suggest? Baptism? The Holy Spirit? Some Primal Force that all life arose from?

2. Race and Gender. An interesting theme and possible social critique arose with the selection of characters. All the members of the Adjustment Bureau are all men and most of the antagonists are White old men, except one who is Black that turns out to be a “good guy.” Likewise, the only main character who is a female is the love interest of Matt Damon’s character and is an up-and-coming dancer in modern ballet. There are also hints of men (damon) deciding what is the best for women (ie- a dance career or a life together and teaching 6th grade dance).

3. Doors. The agents in the movie (imagine angels who work for the FBI) move throughout our world, adjusting decisions and ensuring people stay on their “life plans” by crossing through doors. They must wear hats (see #5) and turn the door knob to the right to cross space and time to locations. They can  travel across the city by walking through an ordinary door. Also, they can travel to another realm of reality by entering these doors (think Narnia). What do the doors represent? Opportunity? Sacraments/Spiritual Practices? Prayer?

4. Books and Maps. The “plans” for humans that the agents ensure we stay on are disclosed on what appears to be books that have a moving map on them much like a GPS. This is another limitation of the angels/agents in the movie. To see the plans of humans they must look on these books/maps, so they rely on technology to succeed in their mission. What do these books represent? Knowledge? Power of information? Accessible Wisdom? Limited Foresight? The Bible? The Quran?

5. Hats. Another revelation of the “angels”/agents lack of power in the movie is the presence of hats. To travel through the doors and utilize their powers, they must be wearing a hat. What does this represent? Head coverings? Power coming only from God (or the”chairman”)? Privilege? Election?

6. Colors. The colors in the movie are always contrasting with one another. The final agent called in to deal with Matt Damon’s case views things clearly as “Black and White.” This is evidenced in the attire, architecture, and grit that is present with the agents. Contrasting this are the Blue of Damon’s character and Red of his romantic interest played by Emily Blunt. Liturgically speaking colors matter, and in this movie they are repeatedly brought up.

7. The Chairman. You never explicitly “see” the Chairman (who the agents/angels suggest could be “god”); however, in the end of the movie it is suggested that Matt Damon has seen The Chairman  at some point in the movie… since the Chairman appears in various forms to different people (I  missed this, so keep your eyes peeled). But who is the Chairman? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? The Father of Jesus Christ? A distant impersonal God? Is it Satan? Is it the collective consciousness of all creation? Or is the chairman a really powerful agent? Is the chairmen just “the man” of society?

8. Fundamentalism. As JD Walt (www.jdwalt.com) mentioned during the talk-back session after the screening, The Adjustment Bureau takes a swing at forms of religious fundamentalism. The agents (except one) view the world according to a certain black/white plan for all people and are ruthless in their pursuit of keeping people on their paths.

9. Chance. What is chance according to the Adjustment Bureau? At one point an unanticipated meeting occurs that the agents/angels chalk up as “according to chance”; however, you later will find out that there is no chance, but only “ripples” (remnants) of previously adjusted plans (this opens an interesting sidebar, that I may explore on middle knowledge). So is there such a thing as chance? How do chance, choice, and determinism exist together?

10 Who are we in the story? This brings me to this final question. Who are we (humans) in the story? Are we the “adjusters/angels” or are we the humans?  Can we be both? Instantly we would be compelled to say the humans, right? But could it be that we also are meant to identify with the agents? Could the agents represent the Church or a particular religion (power from God, head coverings, books of wisdom, plans for people’s lives, ability to go near God through portals in the ordinary)?

Are we Matt Damon’s character filled with emptiness that only a vocation can fulfill until we find that love can better satisfy that longing? Are we the minority who embraces love in a world controlled by rules? Is this movie not about God/Angels as much as it is about society/culture?

There are definitely other symbols/motifs/images that are being conveyed in the movie, but these are a few to consider.

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Posted in Culture, Humanity, Metaphysics, Movie Preview, Philosophy

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Preview of The Adjustment Bureau

Posted on February 25, 2011 | 2 Comments

Last night I got to attend a special screening of The Adjustment Bureau that will be released to the general audience on March 4th. The event was hosted by Asbury University and was followed by a talk-back session with faculty and staff from the University (and JD Walt from the Seminary).

The story is yet another brilliant adaptation from Phillip K. Dick’s writings and seeks to play with some important human themes such as: levels of reality; fate/destiny and free-will/choice; love and career/vocation; gender & race and society; and of course how “God” is sovereign and is he “Good”. The Adjustment Bureau is an entertaining synthesis between Minority Report and a Romantic Drama. I would recommend you go see it in theaters and take some time afterwards to unpack some of the strong themes and symbols used in the movie with your friends. The movie is much like a Christian icon – the more you look the more you will see…. I will be unpacking some of these symbols in a later post.

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Posted in Culture, Movie Preview, Philosophy, Theology

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The Language of “T.G.I.F.”

Posted on February 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

When you read the title of this Blog and you came across the acronym, “T.G.I.F.” what came to your  mind? If you were born in the 80s like me, perhaps a picture of Steve Erkel  comes to mind? If you are a little older than me (or a little younger) perhaps the restaurant T.G.I.F. Fridays comes to mind?

Recently I read an article written in my weekly Anglican Mission News feed from their Winter Conference (click here for entire article). At one point in the article Dr. Len Sweet called Christ followers to,  ”Learn the language of today’s “TGIF” generation (Twitter, Google, iPhone and Facebook).” Social media like the Internet is not going away any time soon. In fact, both will evolve and change with advancements in technology and education.

Christians neither should consider T.G.I.F. to be the only form of language nor forsake meeting together physically for the convenience (and dangers) that a Web-streamed service can bring. Consider T.G.I.F. not to be a language, but a dialect or medium to convey the Gospel. Think of T.G.I.F. as the 21st century translation of letter writing (which also could be complex rhetorically).

What are some of your thoughts, concerns, or ideas about T.G.I.F.?

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Posted in Anglicanism, Christianity, Culture, Social Media

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Bob Dylan and Exodus

Posted on February 16, 2011 | 2 Comments

What does Bob Dylan have to do with Exodus? The chorus of one of Dylan’s songs, “Gotta Serve Somebody” goes like this:

You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

If I could rewrite this chorus to fit one of  motifs in the book of Exodus then it would  go something like this:

You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the Pharaoh or it may be the LORD
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

Everyone has to serve someone, right? You may be a midwife, a princess, a slave, or 40-year-old exile shepherd, but you gotta serve someone in Egypt: “Pharaoh or the LORD.” Well there’s my eisegesis.

There is an inherent contrast that takes place in Exodus between the LORD and Pharaoh. Consider the encounter in Exodus 5 between Moses/Aaron and Pharaoh. It begins in 5:1 with a decree from the LORD’s servants (Moses and Aaron) that is introduced like this, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel.” After a cynical response from Pharaoh the response of his servants is, “Thus says Pharaoh” (accompanied with a severe punishment).

Who is the servant of God who is giving the message of God to the persecutors of God’s people? “Thus says ____?” Are we living under the fears of “Thus says Pharaoh” or abiding in the holy love of “Thus says the LORD.”? Does it take the utter collapse of our Pharaoh’s power before we are left with no other option but to repent and listen to the LORD?

It is a revealing response in Exodus 5:21 that the Hebrews give to Moses and Aaron after their punishment decree from Pharaoh’s servants,

“May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

Do you catch what they’re saying here? They’re choosing Pharaoh over the LORD. Who is the Pharaoh(s) of today? We are not only CALLED OUT OF Egypt, but we are “CALLED INTO the fellowship of Jesus Christ our LORD” (1Cor1:9).

You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

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Posted in 1 Corinthians, Bob Dylan, Culture, Exegesis, Exodus

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Peopledia

Posted on September 24, 2010 | 1 Comment

The news of the day,

is best found in us.

When I read the times,

It just inculcates their way.

***

But I didn’t ask for this lens;

That accentuates human despair.

I asked for the news about the world,

Not an ad for Mercedes-Benz.

***

How do I find the news I need?

Phone a friend; read twitter or Facebook?

People innately know what matters to them.

So how did a shadow agenda take the lead?

***
Well friends, we have forgotten that human dance,

When the “I” in me greets the “Thou” in you.

We chose professional “its” over a common “thou.”

Humanizing people can not be left to chance!

***

The news of the day is best found in a friend,

A person of substance, you actually can eat with,

Not a corporate persona dictating news and agendas,

But a real human person, that is also on the mend.

***

Can the media tell you about Anna,

My soon-to-be child. Or about Bob,

The neighbors dog who poops in my yard?

The media wants to make themselves mana.

***

Well cast off this impersonal force!

Go humanize a person today!

Go find out what their news is,

And you’ll find an unfailing media source.

***

Choose today this human source of news,

Energizing “it”s into “thou”s; things into people,

And exposing the corporate gospel of control.

Personhood is too vital an identity to lose.

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Posted in Culture, Poetry

Informed Optimism

Posted on September 18, 2010 | 1 Comment

Due to the way this present age is ordered, it is rare to find an honest optimist. When we think of someone who is optimistic, we conjure up someone in our imagination who is naive, delusional, or out-of-touch with reality. We all know this person.  The one who has the incessant ceramic smile on their face, the one who speaks in motivating maxims and positive clichés, or perhaps the person who drowns their sorrows in positive thinking. This is not the genre of optimism that will save the world.

In a time when hurricanes, tsunamis, and floods threaten our lands. In a time when starvation, slavery, and the sex-trade industry is a reality. In a time when the daily news is filled with reports of scandal, murder, and rape. In a time when politicians, multi-national companies, and celebrities rule the world.  In a time such as this, it is no wonder the lens by which so many of us choose to view objective reality through  is one marked by pragmatism, narcissism, or pessimism.

There is another way of living between the extremes of an antiquated optimism and a bleak pessimism. I see this way best identified not in a philosophy, but in a person, my wife, Bridgette. She has first hand experience of how the world can hurt a person and family, but chooses to still view reality through the lens of, what I refer to as informed optimism. She knows more than many pessimists, the reality and damage of this current evil age, but chooses not to mask it in positiveness, but in a subversive hope. A hope that is sure and steadfast. A hope that anchors her soul. A hope that invites the very presence of God into her life so that the world may know a holy peace.

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Posted in Culture, Hope

In Christ for the World – Part II – Ministry

Posted on May 1, 2010 | 1 Comment

Previously, in my “In Christ for the World” blog series, I reflected on the implications of our answers to these two questions: “Are you in the World for God?” or “Are you in God for the World?” as they pertain to “politics“. In this current blog, I will reflect on how our answer to these questions influence our concept of “ministry.”

The above picture demonstrates the reality of being in Christ. Unfortunately, when we are “in the world for Christ”, it becomes acceptable to not challenge the injustices of our society under the guise of  ’being relevant.’ Eventually with such a view, the honor system of the world (in our case, wealth), becomes the hermeneutic (translation) for how we understand Scripture and the Christian life.  Consider the modern phenomenon of the “prosperity gospel,” a poor contextualization that is more in line with “western materialism” than it is with Jesus Christ or His historical church. The logic of such a view is that if we are right with God and have enough faith, “God  will make us wealthy.”  God in fact wants to make us rich! I heard one friend tell me how he once heard an Irish preacher say that Jesus Christ was actually wealthy because he had a personal banker (Judas). SERIOUSLY?!?! The fruit of such a false gospel is “Pastors” getting rich on the backs of the poor! The above picture shows the “prosperity gospel” in the second Century – Christians being fed to lions for their confession that “Jesus and (not the Emperor)  is Lord.”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Jesus really used me to _______”? Or have you heard a person say, “MY ministry is ______.” ? Most of the time when people use such phrases they only wish to convey how the Lord is working in their context and do not mean to sound egotistical. But such phrases highlight what ministry is like when we  operate from “being in the world for Christ.” When my wife asks me to unload the dishwasher and eventually I get around to doing it, I don’t say “My wife really used to me to wash the dishes.” Of course not, we are more than just peons or pieces on a chess board to Jesus.

As Steve Seamands once put it, “Ministry is not so much asking Jesus to join you in your ministry, but you joining Jesus in HIS ministry.” It is not my asking Christ to join me in my ministry, as I offer him to others, but rather it is my joining with him in his ongoing ministry and mission as He offers himself to others through me. When we are “In Christ for the World” no longer do we pray “Lord, help me in this ministry.” But instead, “Lord, help yourself to me in this.”

Consider the “secret” of Mother Theresa’s ministry, “I just want to be a little pencil in the hand of my Lord. So that he can write whatever he wants.”

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Posted in Culture, Devotional, Mother Theresa, Spirituality

In Christ for the World – Part I – Politics

Posted on April 29, 2010 | 4 Comments

I was thinking back this afternoon on my time as a Seminary student. One of my first classes was New Testament Introduction with Dr. Bob Mulholland. Dr. Mulholland used to ask us these two questions: “Are you in the World for God?” or “Are you in God for the World?”

So, what does it matter? Is this just a clever play on words? Think with me. First, let us consider how these views influence politics.
“Politics” – When we are in the world for God, the political tendency is to elect officials in order to pass laws that we view as “Christian.”  Both parties feed off this view of Christian spirituality; “pro-lifers” voting for “Republicans” and “pro-government health care” voting for “Democrats.” But don’t you see the polemic this creates?  From this view, there would be no one to represent me – I would have “multiple party disorder.” When the only way for a Christian to be political is to be partisan, compromising, or dishonest we miss the “good news” of Jesus in it’s fullness. Hence, when we act in this manner we are in actuality “in the World for God.”

However, when we are in God for the World, who we are in Christ becomes the political proclamation. We confess that our hope is not in tanks, planes, or military force, the President, Congress, Supreme Court, Wall Street, or even Main Street, BUT in the name of the LORD our God (Ps 20:4). The best thing we can do for the world, is not to vote “Jesus for President,” but to be in Christ.

So let us abide in Christ together and turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6 -ESV)!

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Posted in Culture, Politics, Spirituality

Rob Bell in Context

Posted on February 6, 2010 | 2 Comments

An article from Christianity Today was sent to me recently from a dear friend, Joshua Toepper. The content of this article was an interview with the sometimes misunderstood pastor from Mars Hill, Rob Bell. You can read his interview, Tying Clouds Together, on how he comes up with his sermons here, http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/preachingworship/preaching/tyingcloudstogether.html?start=1

I skimmed the interview over and quickly popped off three points that the article could suggest (not that they are true about Bell, but that the interview could suggest them). 1- art and history are as (if not more) important in exegesis as a commentary or lexicon. 2- The “truth behind the truth” is what you want to preach (albeit, I argued it is a subjective and nebulous truth) 3- Rob Bell has a lot of good experience and knowledge to share, but at times he overutilizes metaphor and hyperbole which can lead to him being confused.

Well these quick responses were sent off to a group from the Seminary and I felt like I really had to firm up my points a bit, because I could have came across as “anti-Bell” which I most certainly am not. The main point I wanted to flesh out was this,  Rob Bell is misunderstood a lot by evangelicals and mainline Protestant denominations, but understood well by his community (and those who give him time to finish his thoughts).

I have read Bell’s books (except the latest one) as well as listened to some of his sermons from Mars Hill and for the most part, I am a fan of his ministry. He’s just someone that you have to wait for to “finish the circle” — What I mean by this phrase is that Rob Bell has the tendency to make edgy comments or statements to make his points (i.e. the title of the article, Tying the Clouds Together) and you have to allow space and time for him to back up what he means (ex- the ‘being born of a virgin’ comment in Velvet Elvis. People grossly take this comment out of context and say that Bell doesn’t believe in the virgin birth, but in the context of his book he was attempting to show that our faith in Christ is more than new research/opinions about Christ). Metaphor can be a tricky thing. It is a very useful literary device, but we always have to remember to ask the question as readers, “Is the weight of my interpretation of what I think the author is trying to say too heavy for the metaphor to bear?”
The translatability of the Gospel requires the sermon-smith to forge a contemporary Gospel message in a way that is understandable to their intended audience, but also trustworthy to the original meaning. The process of translating the Gospel, however, must start with an exegetical exploration of the Scripture before it can be translated into any cultural vernacular. Starting with the intended audience or culture to find the meaning of a text causes an irresponsible eisegetical reading into the Scripture. Such negligent hermeneutical practices have led to the rise of the prosperity gospel, Montanism, Arianism, the Apartheid (supported by the Dutch Reformed Church), and the Left Behind Series. NOW I KNOW THIS IS NOT WHAT ROB BELL DOES – I just have a hard time reading interviews with Rob Bell since they don’t usually allow him to finish his “circle of thought”.

Rob Bell can teach us a lot about the application phase of Exegesis/IBS/ect… Not that we all should start making trendy modern day parable videos and wear cool black glasses when we preach, but perhaps we can talk to our black, rural, northern, southern, Hispanic, white, first nation, or suburban congregations in a way that allows them to understand the message most clearly. This doesn’t mean observing Rob Bell, but observing the community you are called to.

What is your take on Rob Bell’s methods to preaching?

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Posted in Culture, Philosophy, Theology

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