Are We Losing Relationship to the Advances of Technology?

I was listening to a song a few days ago that talked about how rapidly our world is changing and how technology is moving so fast. That (in conjunction with the fact that I almost went crazy in the last two days while our servers at work were down) got me to thinking about how technology is front and center of our society. It makes me uneasy. And I consider myself a technologically competent individual.

Of course the lack of true interaction with others certainly bothers me – an emoticon and a hug are very different, though they may attempt to convey the same thing. But what really bothers me about the technology craze is that we seemed paralyzed when technology is unavailable to us. As if we are incapable of remembering how we functioned without it. But people have “survived” for centuries without modern advances. How is that possible, when technology seems to be indispensible to us as a society? Truthfully, we value a set of cultural ideologies that would be lost on those who came before us – things like material items, expediency, and personal space. But no matter what anyone tells you, sitting across from someone and looking directly into their eyes while they talk feels more “real” than any chat room or message board ever could.

So what did people value prior to the technological explosion? The same things that are still valuable today. Things like friendship, kindness, honor, truth, family, and practicality. Let’s face it, when it’s easier to send a text to someone who is fifteen feet from us in the next office, then we’ve missed the point. Generations of people have gotten along just fine without our modern technologies – some might say better. And personally, I wonder if we weren’t meant to live life at a slower pace than we do. There seems to be no room for margin, for learning “on the job” or for making mistakes. Our culture has made it difficult to learn life by practicing it. And, to me, that’s sad.

Am I screaming the evils of technology? No. I’m a young guy and I certainly like my PDA, DirecTV, and mp3 player. But there’s a subtle difference between a person that picks up the phone to call a friend or walks down the hall to discuss an issue at work and the person that doesn’t take the time to do either. Which type of person are you becoming? As inconvenient and inefficient as it may seem, I’m trying to be the first person.

Why Oprah Just Might Be the Antichrist…

I taught a small group on end times beliefs about four years ago. During our examination of Revelation, we inevitably stumbled upon the passages believed to describe the Antichrist. Immediately questions arose: who is he? When will he come? Will he start the tribulation? Will Christians be raptured before then? Boy, could I feel a headache coming on! I’ve said in this post how much I hate popular forms of eschatology for this exact reason. So, this time around, I decided to have a little fun:

“Oh, the Antichrist is already here.”

“What!! Who is it?”

“It’s Oprah Winfrey.” 

“WHAT!!”

Then I took them to the only  place in the Bible where the term “antichrist” is mentioned: the epistles of John, specifically 1 John 2:18-19. What I love about these two verses is the fact that John says there were many antichrists who had come – most of them were part of the church at that time before they left it. So, if John is using the term correctly, we must assume that “antichrist” does not mean “Antichrist” in the popular sense of one rival messiah sent to deceive the world. So what does it mean?

Well, “Christ” means “Messiah” – that’s obvious enough. It’s the “anti-” part that we get wrong. We assume that “anti-” means “in opposition to” or “antagonistic” – like anti-abortion. But it doesn’t. In means “in place of,” “instead of,”or “substitutionary.” So, “antichrist” means “in place of Christ.” 1 John 2:22 goes even further by saying that anyone who denies not only the Son, but also the Father, is acting as an antichrist.

So, why Oprah? Well, it actually doesn’t have anything to do with Eckhart Tolle. It has to do with Oprah’s power and cultural influence. Like most media figures, Oprah often establishes her influence outside of Christianity and many people look to her for answers about life’s deeper issues. She’s one of the most popular and well-recognized individuals in our nation and often serves as a cultural substitute where spiritual issues are concerned.

In that sense anything can be antichrist – government officials, sports figures, musicians, teachers, world leaders, philosophers, and even preachers. Any person that others may substitute for Christ is, in some sense, antichrist. That list includes Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are wrong or unworthy of admiration. But I think it’s safe to say that they aren’t God. And to subsitute them for God inapproriate.

In most cases, the problem is not with the “Oprahs” of the world but with those who substitute their wisdom for a deep relationship with God. Notice that John didn’t write to the “antichrists” of his time, but rather to the people who gave them undue authority and influence. And that’s the key. Anyone can warn about the “Antichrist” of the Left Behind Series, but what are we doing about those who give to others the influence that only Christ should have? People succumb to “antichristism” when Jesus is their savior in doctrine but in matters of life, Oprah (or anyone else) is their lord. The only time people look for substitutes is when what they have isn’t satisfying their deeper needs. Don’t blame Oprah, people. We Christians alone share the burden for “wandering” spiritual seekers. It just so happens that Oprah has a some spiritual advice for people now. But, for her followers, her cultural influence eclipsed the practical aspects of Christianity long ago. Eckhart Tolle just made Christians stand up and take notice.

“Because I said so…that’s why!”

I think every parent says this a thousand times. It’s inevitable. And it seems to make good sense at the time. But children rarely understand the reasoning behind this phrase. Adults live in a world where titles and positions determine another’s response to us. Usually, the first thing people ask us when we are introduced is our occupation or someone may cite specific credentialing or educational background to gain acceptance into the group. And to us, titles convey our significance in a world of average joes.

Kids are different. They aren’t into “marketing” people. They take you at face value, adjusting their image of you as their interaction with you increases (or decreases) their respect for you. I used to believe that “because I said so” was an appropriate response to a child. They should respect you simply because you’re the the adult, right? But rarely does this work. Why is that? I think it’s because lasting authority and respect is earned.

I occasionally hear someone promoting parental authority by teaching on the Ten Comandments. They state that in the preamble to the Ten Commandments, God gives no reason for requiring the respect of the Hebrews. He merely declares that he is God and they should have no other gods before them. But that’s really not what God says in Exodus 20. In fact, God went way out of his way to earn the respect of the Hebrews through a little event called “the exodus.” God acted first and requested allegience second. As parents we often do the opposite, promising “acts” of kindness, generosity, or punishment upon compliance.

If we take God’s example seriously, we may just have to admit that we are doing the opposite – fostering behavioral modification rather than a true heart response from our children. Of course the Hebrews rarely responded correctly throughout the Old Testament. But each time, God viewed their disobedience as a breach of relationship first and one of law second. Yet, we often view the behavior of our children as a one of law, rather than a breach of relationship. And that’s understandable. But the real issue is not if our children disobey us, but why they may continue to do so. To see disobedience as a relationship issue means that we need to do more to promote trust in our children that our decisions are in their best interest. Of course, children won’t always see things our way – that’s for sure - but personally I believe I can do more to engender that mutual trust.

Throughout the OT, God requested repentance from the Israelites, often to no avail. Yet in every instance he started by reminding them of his covenant mercy and lovingkindness – his song. In sending Jesus, God did the same thing – he acted first hoping that his benevolence would be returned. Parents have the same wonderful opportunity to draw heart-felt responses from their children each day. It’s fortunate for those of us who believe in Jesus that “because I said so!” has never been enough for God. He demonstrated his willingness to earn our respect and honor in that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly” first. And it’s his initial “kindness that leads us to repentance.” Is God’s authority earned? It is – with every drop of Jesus’s blood. That convicts me as a parent to act first and request response second.

A Stay at Home Dad Goes Back to Work…

I started my position as Director of Discipleship and Family Ministries this week. It’s gonna be a great job - I have no doubt about that. But something else has occupied my thoughts a surprisingly large amount: my children.  Though I had been warned about the transition back to the workforce, I have been amused by the wealth of feelings that have accompanied my first days back in the “real world.”

The strangest sensation has been that I feel like I’m living in someone else’s life a little bit. Like I traded places with someone else and am now occupying their office. Weird. But the most interesting and (hopefully) beneficial change has been my over all approach to work. Before, I was a super-hyped-up-task-list-machine-of-a-man. Alpha male to the hilt. Most of that is gone. And that has shown up in unusual ways.  For example, I’ve been taken back by the directness of other’s comments – things I would have said in past years. Now, those things feel harsh – not wrong or out of line or inappropriate – just forceful. I had forgotten how “strongly” people use words. I’m not sure what to do about that just yet. I just ended two years of rolling on the floor with toddlers and speaking gently to set an example.

Though some people in my shoes would hope that those more gentle attributes might fade away or maybe even feel that they might inhibit the respect of peers, I hope I stay this way. I actually feel comfortable in my skin. Few people ever feel that way. I have always believed that those “home-focused” attributes are found in great husbands and fathers. I’m surprised to learn that those same qualitative traits are essential to good pastoring as well. I’ll revisit the impact of our “great experiment” in a few months to see if I feel the same way.

Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

Good question huh? A good friend of mine deals with this idea in depth here and here. Another post is forthcoming I believe as well. As with most things, things are not quite as black and white as we’d like to believe. Feel free to comment – Jonathan’s a really nice guy and loves the Lord deeply.

Reading List

I haven’t said what I’ve been reading over the last month or two, so I thought I would update that for you. Like you care, right?

Obviously, I read The Shack  by William P. Young since I blogged about that here.

Robert Alter, The David Story: A Translation of 1 and 2 Samuel (good translation – interesting commentary)

Ellen F. Davis, Wondrous Depth: Preaching the Old Testament (eh, not as good as her other stuff)

Katharine Doob Sakenfeld, Faithfulness in Action: Loyalty in Biblical Perspective. (Excellent treatment of God’s covenant loyalty – a loyalty unmatched by human standards. Wonderful book!)

Robert Fyall, Now My Eyes Have Seen You: Images of Creation and Evil in the Book of Job (Comprehensive, though I don’t agree with some of his approaches to Job)

Robert Hamerton-Kelly, God the Father: Theology and Patriarchy in the Teaching of Jesus (Deals with gender in the Old and New Testaments – a solid read.)

Terence Fretheim, First and Second Kings: Westminster Bible Companion (great accessible treatment of a difficult OT book)

Probably the best book is the one I’m in the middle of right now – Wendy Mogel, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children. What an excellent parenting book. I find myself agreeing with every sentence. Mogel is a clinical psychologist who uses tried and true Jewish teachings from the Bible and Rabbinical tradition to shape a God-centered approach to parenting. Read this book, people!

Ahhhhh, Vacations…

I just got back from vacationing with another family in Orlando, FL. We rented a condo and did the whole Sea World/Aquatica thing. Sea World was fine…but Aquatica rocked the proverbial Casbah. Super fun for kids and adults. However, chances are good that if you take four children under the age of five to amusement parks, you’re gonna experience some strange moments.

Most of mine came on the last day. The other dad had to head back early to minister at his church (jerk ), so I stayed with all the wives and children. That’s when the remarks about plural wives began. We were cracking up about it, thinking about how strange it must look for one guy to be walking around with two women and four children.

However, the low point of the trip came on the same day. We stopped to feed everyone at a “healthy” family restaurant – Beth and I split a sandwich and a side of pasta salad. We are trying to watch what we eat – a post for another day. I started to eat the cold pasta when I spotted something that looked like chicken in it. I told Beth, “I call this chicken!” and stuffed it in my mouth. My “wives” immediately informed me that it was not chicken – it was an artichoke. A big one. We are talking juice here, people. It was at that moment that I thanked God for my strong will that has landed me in so much trouble in the past. I conquered my gag reflex and ate the whole artichoke. It was brutal – something truly worthy of the term “torture.” I suppose this would be an appropriate place to misquote Philippians 4:19 for everybody…

Overall the vacation was great. A good time was had by all and now I get to go back to working in the real world next week…

God’s Song

If God wrote a song about himself, what would the lyrics be?

Actually, God did just that. This “song” (more of a liturgical anthem like the doxology) is found all the way through the Old Testament and is “echoed” in other passages. It’s the controlling metaphor for all God’s interaction with Israel. Check out the verses and explanation below:

 It’s first mention is in Exodus 34:6-7 – God sings about himself:

The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

   ”Yahweh! The Lord!
      The God of compassion and mercy!
   I am slow to anger
      and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
      I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
   But I do not excuse the guilty.
      I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
   the entire family is affected-
      even children in the third and fourth generations.”

As progressive revelation of God’s love and unfailing loyalty are repeated throughout the OT, the punishment aspect is slowly eclipsed.

Psalm 100:5:

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 103:8-13:

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
       slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,
       nor will he harbor his anger forever;

 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
       or repay us according to our iniquities.

 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
       so great is his love for those who fear him;

 as far as the east is from the west,
       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Psalm 136:1:

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
       His love endures forever.

Psalm 145:8-9:

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
       slow to anger and rich in love.

 The LORD is good to all;
       he has compassion on all he has made.

Joel 2:13:

Rend your heart
       and not your garments.
       Return to the LORD your God,
       for he is gracious and compassionate,
       slow to anger and abounding in love,
       and he relents from sending calamity.

Jonah 4:2:

He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity” (Jonah was angry because God chose to be loyal to those Jonah personally would have judged).

By the Exilic period, the loyalty of God outlasts the failings of Israel without threat of punishment.

Jeremiah 3:12:

Go, proclaim this message toward the north:
       ” ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD,
       ‘I will frown on you no longer,
       for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD,
       ‘I will not be angry forever.

 Jeremiah  31:3:

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:
       “I have loved you with an everlasting love;
       I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Within the next few verses, Jeremiah declares the “new thing” God shall do to redeem the world through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Micah 7:18-20:

Who is a God like you,
       who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
       of the remnant of his inheritance?
       You do not stay angry forever
       but delight to show mercy.

 You will again have compassion on us;
       you will tread our sins underfoot
       and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Nehemiah 9:17b:

“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.”

By Ezekiel 18:14-20, the prophets were placing guilt where it belongs: upon the behavior of the people, rather than on the punishment of God (as in Exodus 34:6-7):

“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:

  “He does not eat at the mountain shrines
       or look to the idols of the house of Israel.
       He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.

 He does not oppress anyone
       or require a pledge for a loan.
       He does not commit robbery
       but gives his food to the hungry
       and provides clothing for the naked.

 He withholds his hand from sin 
       and takes no usury or excessive interest.
       He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.
      He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live.

But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.

The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.

 

It’s this character of loyalty that separates God from humans so that Isaiah can say the God’s ways are “higher” than ours (Isaiah 55:9). It’s not that his ways are unknown. They are higher in the fact that no human could ever show the faithfulness or suffer the humiliation that God does towards humanity. If we had our “way” everyone would be punished for what they have done (the sin of Jonah). God doesn’t require that – he’s higher. It took the Hebrews 1500 years of interaction to figure that out. Jesus carries on the tradition in Luke 4 when he quotes Isaiah 61:1-2 but stops short of the judgment theme in the same passage. They had heard God’s song declaring his true nature – in Jesus, everyone saw it for the first time in its fullness.

What is God like? If you asked him, he would sing back to you, “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.” Now, that sounds like a God I want to know more…

Don’t Understand the Old Testament?

Dr. Claude Mariottini just started a series on Terence Fretheim’s book The Suffering of God. I asked him if I could link to this series for those who may be confused about the Old Testament and he agreed.

Rarely do I find a book that radically overhauls my view of God in a significant manner. Fretheim’s book did that for me several years ago. Fretheim is an Old Testament scholar and Luther Seminary in Minneapolis and a true trendsetter in scholarship. The Suffering of God (in my OT book section to the right) is fairly dense and technical. That’s the reason I wanted to recommend Mariottini – it’s a straightforward and accessible treatment.

When I was growing up, I had a very separate view of God in the OT versus the image of Jesus in the NT. Fretheim’s book helped me reconcile the heart of God behind his dealings with Israel as well as Jesus’s comments about being the expression of God on earth. The OT no longer scares me since that duplicity of “good/bad God” no longer confuses me. Fretheim’s book unlocked that mystery for me. If you deal with that same issue, then read away.

Blogroll Update

I just updated my blogroll with a few blogs I have been reading. My brother is now on there (Jamie Nunnally), and well as a couple of biblical archaeology blogs I enjoy (Bible and Ancient Near East and Bible Places Blog). I also added OT professor Claude Mariottini and Trinitarian scholar C. Baxter Kruger. Hopefully you’ll like them – particularly the last two if you are into theology.

You’ll be happy to know that I resist the popularity/hierarchy blogroll thing that travels through the blogosphere. I just link to who I enjoy, not particularly because there’s anything that “qualifies” one blog to be special over another. I think that’s stupid. Imagine that?

I passed 12,000 “reads” about a month ago. Respectable I suppose. I’m not exactly changing the world one blog at a time or anything, but I do get a good bit of random traffic. If you’re a regular reader, let me know who you are – I’d love to check out what you have on your blog as well…