The Church as the Conscience of the State? Bad Idea

A video making its way around the news circuit features the church of Pastor Dennis Terry hosting  GOP candidate Rick Santorum for a political "revival" meeting.

Its a little scary...

And its indicative of what happens when the Kingdom of Heaven and the American Republic get seen as one and the same.  Poor Pastor Terry...in his eyes the bad guys are winning so he's backing the candidate who. to him, represents Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

If you watch the below video you see that he declares (and even puts it on Power Point) that, "The Church is the conscience of the State."


Now I've read the New Testament  and there are many things that the church is called to do...but I don't remember "the conscience of the state" being one of them.

In fact I'm pretty sure that instead of being "the conscience of the state", the church is supposed to be representing, and foreshadowing,  the Kingdom of God.  Its not supposed to be the morality police for a temporal nation-state but instead declaring that there is a new King on the throne and he is calling all people to come and and be citizens of His Kingdom.  A Kingdom centered on Christ and that emanates love and forgiveness.

But instead of operating as an Ambassador of God's Kingdom demonstrating that love and forgiveness  to a captive audience, Pastor Terry instead chooses the role of  "the angry American" who is watching  the privileged  position he inherited as a white, male, Christian slip away   He is flailing and grasping for what is "temporal" at the expense of representing the "eternal".

The Church as the Conscience of the State?  Definitely a "bad idea"!

There is a better way Pastor Terry...there is a better way!

I'm on a Book Roll Now: Reading Pete Rollin's "Insurrection"

In my last post I mentioned how I hadn't finished a "Christian" book in 10 years.  Even my wife was surprised when she read that.  Now, don't misunderstand, I've started a number over the years but for whatever reason, they lay half finished somewhere...and a few had some good things to say.

For whatever reason though (Holy Spirit anyone?), Zahnd's book Beauty will Save the World awakened something in me that was laying a little dormant...

...the sleeper must awaken.... (movie quote test for the film buffs)

Now I'm on a roll.  The Harvest Show (which is one of the few Christian shows I can enjoy because it assumes the audience has at least half a brain) ... anyhow, The Harvest Show which introduced me to Brian Zahnd just  had Peter Rollins on for an interview. ..and like Zahnd, I had never heard of him.

Rollins is an Irish Christian author, teacher, and self proclaimed "barroom philosopher".  And I began asking myself the age old question, "Why when the Irish speak of the things of God, does it  just sound so much cooler?"...Could it be because of Bono?

Anyhow, I've picked up Rollins latest book called "Insurrection: To Believe is Human, to Doubt is Divine"  I'm only about 20% into the book right now but Rollins has a great insight into what Christ suffered on the cross and how, if we are to be crucified with him as Paul extols, we need to share in that experience.



The story that we tell ourselves that makes sense of the world and gives it meaning was torn from Christ.  The religious system conspired for his execution, the political system (Rome) provided the means, and he was betrayed and deserted by those he loved.  In the Garden on the night before the crucifixion, Jesus chose the Father's will and gave up everything for God.

On the cross...He loses even God.  "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken Me?"

Rollins is not for the feint of heart but he brings a valuable perspective to the church.

And he's going to have written the 2nd Christian book I've read in its entirety in about 10 years.

The Book that is bringing my "Spiritual Mojo" back!

I've been a Christian for 36 years and in all of that time I can name 3 or 4 moments where I met a person, attended an event, or, as in this case, read a book that caused a fundamental paradigm shift in my faith and my understanding of the nature of God.  Its happened again...and perhaps none too soon.

The book is "Beauty Will Save the World: Rediscovering the allure and mystery of Christianity" by Brian Zahnd.  I saw Zahnd interviewed by Drew Summeral on The Harvest Show and I was immediately intrigued.  He talked about Christ and his Lordship in a way that resonated with me so, of course, I had to check him out.

The next thing I knew I was downloading the above title onto my Kindle.  Now understand, I probably haven't finished a "Christian" book in almost 10 years (and I'm a voracious reader).  With Beauty I found I was upset when I got to work in the morning because it meant I had to stop reading.  But then I would subject my staff to a play by play analysis of what God was doing in my heart based on what I had read that day.

To put it bluntly... Beauty is helping to bring back my "spiritual mojo"!

Much of what the book discusses I've been nibbling around the edges for years.  Zahnd  puts words to the direction I felt God leading but was asking, "Does anyone else feel this as well?"

So what's the book about?

A lot of things really.   From the beauty of Christ's work on the cross to an understanding of the Kingdom of God and what it truly means to be a prophetic person.  That God has set up an alternative society and He is calling people to be part of it.

The book ends with an "unpacking" of the Sermon on the Mount which, rather than being the nice platitudes of Jesus that we should keep in mind from time to time, they are royal announcements of the fundamental underpinning of the new order which has come, and is now coming.

I'll finish by saying that the book mentions that the disciples were executed eventually by Rome not because they were sharing that if people received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, they could be saved and go to heaven.

No, the disciples were executed because they were claiming a new King was sitting on the throne and were announcing the establishment of His Kingdom.

Yep, it's all coming back to me now.

Watch this space!!!!!!

2012 Oscars: My predictions

Well its 3 hours as I write this until the 84th Academy Awards.  In Hong Kong its a Monday morning hence I need to take a vacation day in order to throw my little annual Oscar soiree. But hey, Billy Crystal is hosting again...so its worth it.

Ok, really quick (Yes I usually do this earlier but it has been a busy week this week) I wanted to give you my picks for the top 6 awards.

BEST PICTURE:

Who will win?  The Artist

Who Should win? The Artist

Honorable Mention: Hugo & The Tree of Life  

Comments:  Director Michael Hazanavicius made a silent movie that kept a 21st Century audience engaged for 90 minutes.  It harkened back to the Golden Age of cinema which the Academy members will richly reward with Oscar gold.  I enjoyed every movie in the 'Best Picture' catagory this year unlike last (Black Swan anyone?) 

BEST ACTOR: 

Who will win?  George Clooney

Who should win? Jean Dujardin

Comments:  George is an Academy darling and his performance in The Descendants was well received.  However if The Artist starts to sweep the awards look for an upset from Jean Dujardin.

BEST ACTRESS:

Who will win? Viola Davis

Who should win? Michelle Williams

Comments:  The Help's Viola Davis has been winning earlier awards this season and the thought is the gold is hers.  However Michelle Williams had me convinced she was Marilyn Monroe and the academy likes to reward actors who nail their bio pic doppelgangers.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR :

Who will win? Christopher Plummer

Who should win? Kenneth Branagh

Comments:  The 81 year old Plummer has won many awards...but no Oscar.  This will be his life time achievement nod for his role in Beginners.  A good movie and answers the age old question of 'what happens when Captain Von Trapp comes out of the closet?'  However I'm a huge Kenneth Branagh fan and his performance in My Week with Marilyn as his personal hero Laurence Olivier was wonderful. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Who will win? Octavia Spencer

Who should win? Anyone but the chick from Bridesmaids

Strong performances by everyone except Bridesmaids.  That this film is even acknowledged at the Oscars is a travesty.

BEST DIRECTOR:

Who will win? Michael Hazanavicius

Who Should Win?  Any of them

This year's movies were incredible.  Scorsese's Hugo made me a kid again.  Terrence Mallick's Tree of Life was the most bold endevour at understanding the nature of humanity since 2001 A Space Odyssey.  But Hazanavicius made us love film (come to think of it, so did Hugo) and will be richly rewarded.

Well I gotta run.  The Red Carpet has started and my guests will be arriving soon.  Enjoy the 84th Academy Awards!

Why I don't do "Valentine's Day"

I surprised my students the other day.  They asked me during class what I and Mrs. Hackman would be doing for Valentine's Day?

"Probably nothing." I replied.  They were a bit taken aback figuring a guy like me would take advantage of a day like that.

I'll come back to what happened in a minute.

I personally find Valentine's Day to be something forced and artificial.  Granted, when I was a young child I loved the classroom exchange of cards organized by the teacher.  In and amidst the nice, friendship affirming greetings from other playground pals, there was the chance, albeit ever so small, that the cute girl in class MAY, just may, write something that meant something a little more. :)

But over the years things got weird.  Couples, and particularly men,  come under the pressure of producing some artificial token of love on the artificially conceived Feb 14.  When a guy from the church men's group I was in years ago organized a meeting to discuss what we were going to do for our wives for Valentine's Day, he was shocked that many of the other men's wives did hold the "romantic" day in the high regard his wife did.  In fact he confessed one of the main reasons he broached the subject was because of the high expectation level she had that he produce something special for the day.

Yes, I could make the traditional arguments about Valentine's Day.  That it's an fake holiday which benefits no one other than the card, flower, and chocolate companies.  All true of course, but Tammy and I have our own reason for not really doing Valentine's Day.

It's really just not OUR day!

Which brings me back to my classroom discussion...

I explained to them that Tammy and I already have our special days, "Oct. 8, the day I met her, April 4th, our wedding anniversary, and Dec 7th, the day we fell in love."

They seemed a little perplexed on the last one. "How did you know you fell in love on Dec. 7th?" they responded.

"Because," I smiled, "I fell in love."

The class responded with "ooohs", "aahhhs", and admiration.

And THAT is how its done.  Here endeth the lesson!!

Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee

On February 2, 1952 a young 25 year old woman ascended to the British throne following the untimely death of her father George VI.  Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth who, now at the age of 85, has become the oldest British monarch.  However it is only in September of 2015 that she will become the longest reigning monarch when she passes the mark set by her Great Grandmother, the iconic and beloved Queen Victoria.

The day yesterday was only mildly noted with the main celebration of the Diamond Jubilee kicking off in the summer around the anniversary of her actual coronation, June 2.  That celebration will feature Paul McCartney, Elton John, and a 1,000 ship flotilla floating down the Thames.

Gabriel and I will be in London and other parts of England for 3 weeks this July so between the Queen's Jubilee and the London Olympics I suppose there will be a lot of celebration in the air. (Being the Anglophile that I am I'm looking forward to getting a Q.E. t-shirt :)

As Queen of England and the U.K, 16 Commonwealth States, as well as defacto Queen of the English-Speaking Peoples, I imagine there will be a lot of celebrations this summer in every corner of the globe.

Super Bowl 2012: Hong Kong Style

 Spent a Tim Tebow-less Super Bowl in Hong Kong watching one of the most exciting, nail biting, last minute cliff hanging games in a long while.  Too often in Super Bowls past the game looked pretty well wrapped up by half-time but not so with the New York Giants late 4th quarter win over the New England Patriots.

I spent the game with friends at the Hong Kong Brew House in Lan Kwai Fong and because of the time difference the bar featured American Breakfast for HK$ 138 (US $ 16) which in included the traditional eggs, choice of meat, hash browns, toast, and the option of coffee, tea,...or beer.  (I went with the coffee at 7:30 AM)

The pub itself seemed totally unprepared for the event although they had told me the day before that it would be a full house.  The service was painfully slow and (true story), when the waitress asked us how we wanted our eggs, 3 of us replied "scrambled" and the girl in our party asked for "sunny side up".  The waitress returned with 4 plates of scrambled eggs.  When our friend corrected the waitress that she had ordered "sunny side" eggs the waitress looked confused (embarrassed?) and replied, "Sorry, we're all out of those."


Out of Sunny side eggs! (That became our comic relief the whole game. "Hey, do you think the sunny-side eggs have arrived yet?")

The fact that I received white toast instead of the whole wheat as I ordered seemed like a small issue compared to the chaos of service all around.  One guy at our table waited for an hour to get his coffee.  Then I got a second cup of coffee but I think they switched to "instant".  (Had they run out of real coffee?)  I took two sips and then let the rest sit.  When the bill came they tried to charge me HK$ 34 (US$ 5) for the worst cup of coffee (in a cheap paper cup) I'd had in a long time.


I don't usually complain but I made it politely clear I wouldn't be paying for that one...and I didn't.

Couple other points:

* was it just me or was Madonna's half time set all show and little substance?  There was alot of effects and cool stuff but I thought the Material Girl herself looked a little weak.  (Was she lip syncing?)

* Lenny Kravitz was amazing and should have done the whole show

* The live feed from America we were watching in the bar eliminated all the cool Super Bowl commercials so we were subjected to forgetful ads showing us the joys of staying at a particular hotel in Bali.  I'll have to see some of the good commercial;s I missed on the web.

Anyhow, Eli Manning pulled it out over Tom Brady and I lost HK$ 100 because of it!  :)  Nevertheless a good time was had by all!