Tags - community

I don’t think I’m grossly misrepresenting the book if I say that Shane Claiborne’s The Irresistible Revolution is basically an impassioned, iconoclastic, mischievous challenge to the modern church to do what the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-30) so famously failed to do - sell everything it has, give the money to the poor, and follow Jesus into life-changing solidarity with the disenfranchised and destitute. So Claiborne’s is another powerful and increasngly fashionable voice calling the church to be a radical Jesus movement again (see also ‘Being a disciple of Jesus is not enough’). But it still seems to me that this desire to revert to the pattern of Jesus-discipleship arises essentially as a reaction against the excesses, hypocrisy, idolatry or ineffectiveness of the modern American church; it is of only limited value for the larger task of reconstituting the people of God following the collapse of the Christendom paradigm.

continue reading "Shane Claiborne and the rich young ruler"

The recent murder of leadership in Pakistan is one more incident among many like it down through history that bears witness to a deeper problem.  While most of the world is horrified by the taking of lives in the public domain where humanity would like to feel comfortable to walk about, somewhere there is a group of people who regards these events as heroic -- even as a public witness to their submission to the greater power of God.

continue reading "Commons and Difference"

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What do you believe?  It is a theme known universally, but it is not a universal theme.

The moment a word is uttered, the limitations begin.  Accused of teaching Universalism, Karl Barth faced the inquiry as to whether he believed all men would be saved.  His answer -- "I cannot say; and I cannot not say."  They answered, "Then you are a Universalist."  In a strange twist of language, could he have been showing us the limitations of descriptive language?

continue reading "Limitations of Descriptive Language"

In the context of the current renewal of missional theology the suggestion that the church is essentially ‘prophetic’ in its nature is contentious for a number of reasons. On the one hand, it is likely to raise concerns about the relationship between emerging theologies and the modern charismatic movement. So for example, prophecy has typically been understood by charismatics as an individualized gift of the Spirit rather than as an attribute of the church as a corporate entity; and for many the idea may carry uncomfortable memories of the trivialization of divine speech or of the abuse of authority. On the other hand, the prophetic has been associated in other traditions with forms of direct social-political critique and action that may be difficult to reconcile with evangelical notions of mission. The challenge, then, is to ground the notion of a ‘prophetic community’ in the biblical narrative in a way that moves us beyond the limiting charismatic model of prophetic speech without breaking the link with a core and sustainable definition of mission.

continue reading "Pentecost and the drama of prophetic community"

The thing needed in the 21st century is the ability for humans to see their dreams realized. It's always the thing free creative thinking beings have desired. I think Celebration of Existence, of Life, with Music, Dance, Family and Friends in Harmony in new colorful vibrant high-resolution displays is one of the most powerful methods for humans to communicate their shared dreams. This activity is done outside where everyone can see, where there is familiar nature and the loving light of the sun. The only example I know is the 60s.

continue reading "Limits, Freedom, Courage to test limits and take risks, Full Effort, Peace, Love, Happiness, and the 21st Century Transformation"