Theology of George W. Bush

Well I read a chapter on 'George W. Bush's Theology of Empire' by Jim Wallis in Bruce Benson's Evangelicals and Empire. While I exist in New Zealand it was at least slightly interesting as the States have quite an influence on the world. It has been a hard call - a call in which I have avoided to make - as to whether the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan were honestly a call of God or not. Caputo has written about 'just wars' and stuff, but I have found Wallis' perspective of Bush to be interesting. Bush is quoted saying:

"If we are an arrogant nation, they will resent us. If we're a humble nation, but strong, they'll welcome us." pg 27

However since then the two wars have come into being, as well as the war on terrorism. Not to mention the numerous tactical strikes that pass by in the news and their ever lasting presence in foreign lands. I'm not trying to be an authority on what Bush should have done, but the actions of the States gone past don't really sound like a 'humble nation, strong and welcomed.' In fact I feel that the States have come under alot more criticism.
Perhaps the more interesting point Wallis points out is the National Idealism within North America. As a part of his speech at a conference in 2001 Bush said:

"This ideal of America is the hope of all mankind...That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overcome it."

Sounds good, but it comes from the Gospel of John. In the Gospel the light shining in the darkness is the Word of God, and the light is the light of Christ - not America. There is a large difference between a nation, and Christ (or the gospel). Perhaps Freidrich Neitzsche - if he were still around - would have a field day on their idolatrous use of their Nation as a representative of Christ. What comes to mind recently when thinking about this was when we were watching the news and seeing avid Republican supporters speaking out against Barack Obama merely because he is deemed less patriotic than his rival McCain (I think one comment was around the fact Obama doesn't salute the flag enough, as if that's what it takes to lead a country or even true).
I hope and pray that people don't react to Bush's use of theology in the wars overseas (and other areas of his administration) by ditching theology all together, but by responding to it with good theology.

Take Care All

Jimmy

More Election Results....Bill and Ben

Was just reading through some news and came across this. The Bill and Ben party actually received 11,000 votes!  Which is about 10,000 more than I thought they would receive.  Quoted as saying:

"Honesty is the best policy, and honestly we don't have any policies."

I hope that either people stop voting for them and/or they start doing something a little more productive.  I find this quite amusing and on some levels their relaxed 'party-like' attitude is a fresh breath in the serious stale air of parliament.  On other levels I don't think I'd want them making decisions for the country.

Read the article here and watch the video here.

A New Government

Well the election results are in and National are the new governing party.  I don't mind old John Keys, but I'm not sure about Bill English.  I have to say I'm happy with the first article I read this morning over Keys' plans to build a united broad based coalition.  He only needs Act to take parliament, but he has chosen to talk with Peter Dunne from United Future and the Maori Party and suggested they that have a role in the new government.  I think it would be cool to have someone like Pita Sharples in cabinet.  By this I am happy.
  
Also it seems that Winston Peters (New Zealand First) is no longer in parliament! I wonder how this come-back-kid will come-back. [Read Article Here].  He lost his electorate (Tauranga) to the young Simon Bridges.

I hope that everyone will support the new government, and that the new government will serve us well.

Stay Gold

Philip

The Nature of Deconstruction (Part 3)

Well the book What Would Jesus Deconstruct? by John Caputo has been a good read. He plays off the popular phrase "What Would Jesus Do?" by stating the ambiguity generated in such a statement/question.

One of the many things I've taken away from the book is another tool to add to my hermeneutical repertoire - deconstruction. When reading about Jesus in the Gospel's it is good to keep in mind what it is the Jesus is deconstructing and responding to - for example, the religious hypocrisy of the Pharisee's. What is it about what the Pharisee's are saying or doing that he is deconstructing and responding to?

I have been asked a couple of time's something along the lines of 'Isn't that what liberals do?' I guess in a simplistic understanding it is - only because questioning tradition (and everything else) is in the nature of deconstruction. However I do not consider it to be aligned at any particular point across the spectrum from Conservative to Liberal. Think of it along the lines of 'critical analysis,' it questions 'why we do things the way we do', or 'why the way things are the way they are.' I would like to think this is something all people do rather than taking things for granted. I don't think it descends order into chaos, rather if done in the Spirit of love and justice, it has the ability to improve, move forward, and brings 'ways of doing things' into alignment with beliefs and values. I suggest that in order to change, we first deconstruct, and then construct. I thought to finish off I'd include Caputo's second to last paragraph of the book:

"But what, then, is the Kingdom of God? Where is it found? It is found every time an offense is forgiven, every time a stranger is made welcome, every time an enemy is embraced, every time the least among us is lifted up, every time the law is made to serve justice, every time a prophetic voice is raised against injustice, every time the law and the prophets are summed up by love." pg 138.




It's how I like to think I'm doing theology.
Photo from Lomography.com

Another Update

This is a mere update in the scheme of things. I'm thinking about changing the layout again, but that all depends on what else is available. Having only one side-bar is proving limiting. I've also added Twitter for family and anyone else interested in what goes on from time to time during our days. The Blogroll has been updated, I've put a couple more on that aren't as emerging(ent) related.

Jimmy

Church Services for Men

A couple of mates were telling me about an article in the paper out west Auckland that talked about making church more suited for males - 'magnetizing males' or something. I haven't read it but it got me thinking bout a couple of things. Firstly, we could get rid of the flowers and replace them with chains and grease. We would also have a squad of church motor bikes for community team building and evangelizing. I think it would also need to be on a lifestyle block with a couple of paddocks out the back for us to worship God in - let our creativity fly - one for paintballing and the other for diggers. We could also install flamethrowers on the edges of the stage so that when the singing hits a crescendo they fire. And finally, throughout the service - I got in mind sermons in particular here - we have some bbq's off to the side that have sausages, eggs, steak, and onions cooking and being served with Watties Tomato Sauce throughout the service. I think this would be a solid start to creating a more 'manly' service!

God Bless

Philip

Destiny City? Not to be confused with City of God.

Well I have to say I'm a little disappointed with Bishop Tamaki now. He has pulled a few stunts in the past, I disagree with them on a few points but I've never really had a problem with Destiny church. Alot of people I've talked to don't really like Destiny, and it doesn't help they had so much media attention either. But now I have to say that 'Destiny City' is a step way too far.

Plans for the city include a 5000-seat church, maraes, medical centres and schools - eliminating the need for residents to ever leave.

"Every child of every member of this church will never go to a state school again," Mr Tamaki said.

Honestly I think this is going against what Jesus did on earth. He sat with sinners, talked with women both Jew, Samarian and Gentile. Not to mention he became human in the first place, he entered into our chaotic human world of deceit, violence, corruption, and un-holiness to reach us all. I mean why go through the process of being human to save us? Cause he loves us! He came and spent time with the underdogs, he did not pull away and create a Holy huddle. A crisis within the Church at the moment across the West is it's seperation from culture, Destiny City represents such a movement away from the world. By not engaging the world how are we to spread the Kingdom of God and show people the path to Christ?

Here's an article by Stuff NZ on Destiny City where the above quotes came from.

This is an interesting blog that I think in some form represents what non-believers think of this move. Their talk about creating their own religion, 'biontology,' was a funny read.

Caputo, Deconstruction and Hospitality (Part 2)

This is another observation as I continue reading What Would Jesus Deconstruct? by John Caputo. This post isn't intended to be motivational, but self-evaluative.

I thought John Caputo had some interesting thoughts around hospitality. They have more fully realized that of which I want to be doing more of. Hospitality, Caputo outlines, is simple enough to understand; welcoming the other into our own house. But the ones we really invite over are generally those in whom we enjoy the company of. Perhaps we even expect some future reciprocity. Caputo identifies this as the 'inhospitality in our hospitality.' To be true to the word 'hospitality' would be to welcome any other into our house. I'll let Caputo speak for himself:

"Should [hospitality] not be extended beyond our neighbours to strangers? Beyond friends to our enemies? Beyond the invited to the uninvited? In fact, is not the very act of invitation foreign to the idea of hospitality...isasmuch as "inviting" is a selection process whereby one puts in place in advance a set of prior conditions under which the hospitality will be exercised?...Derrida insists on distinguishing between invititation and visitation: hospitality by invitation is always conditional, a compromised and programmed operation, as opposed to hospitality to the univited other - who pays us an unexpected visit - which is unconditional and unprogrammed." pg 76

I guess one of my hopes is that our place is like a sanctuary, not only to me and my wife, but for others aswell. I find this hard to bring into reality however as I regard our home as a sacred space. It is hard to give up sacred space (and in a sense sacred time) for those in whom you find the company hard. I imagine it gets even harder when kids are in the picture. How many people should we be open to? Is being hospitable also being like a drop-in-zone for the needy? I can imagine this puts serious strain on a family. What sort of boundaries are needed? But I get the point Caputo is making, hospitality is much more than invitation. Perhaps it is translatable to availability, to those that usually go uninvited - like in-laws, unlikable people, troubled adolescents, the putrid smelling homeless - as well as the invited. I think hospitality can be achieved away from the home, by going mountain biking with the troubled adolescent, a drink at a cafe with the in-laws, movie with someone unlikable, or a couple new pieces of clothing and a feed for the homeless. I guess that's the force behind "Love your enemy" and "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." I really feel for the homeless and wish closing the disparate gap between the rich and poor was so much closer. I have often wondered what Jesus meant by saying that he is found in the poor and weak. Caputo finishes his section on hospitality by saying:

"We constantly pray and call for Jesus to come, but the question is...do we really want him to come, or is his true appearance always really uninviting? Is not Jesus showing up the last thing we really want to have - dressed in rags and laying claim to us in all his neediness, as one of the least among us?...Christianity would be well advised to consider itself under the permanent promise/threat of just such a visitation - quite uninvited - by Jesus, who may at any time show up at the doors of our churches, requiring of us an accounting of what we have made of his memory or asking for a cup of cold water - or perhaps an increase in the minimum wage and basic health insurance." pg 78.




Lomography.com

Piha

Well we spent a few hours down at the Piha market this mornin. Was a little disappointed over the size, but there we definitely some interesting stalls there. Maori stuff, stall with cheap second hand tools, trinkets, complex puzzles, food, cool clothin and other stuff. They even had the local Native Indians singing the whole morning.

This is one of the Native Indians trying to sell one of their albums to a passerby.

There was three of four of them with heaps of different instruments. It was quite cool to listen to.

This is a shot down one of the alleys (?). Was quite a busy place. Any how I enjoyed it, I came out with a new wrist thing, puzzle and an Indian bird whistler :).

Hope all are well.

Cheers

Jimmy

Wonder Cream

I came across this cream a little while back and have had to use it again in the last couple of days. It is quite honestly a cream that does about ten different things. It is a wonder I never heard about it til a few months ago. You can use it for soap, moisturizing, help clean minor cuts, rashes, shaving cream, skin agitations. In fact here's a weirdish use, for those of you who suffer from constant nose bleeds (especially during hot nights) you can put a little bit on the inside of your noses and it stops the skin breaking by keeping it moist. For me I have a skin reaction on my shin and it's healing it up good.

On a more theoretical note (I couldn't help but put one in) here is a question. (I'm working from the assumption that vegans don't eat fish here, at least that's what I've been informed).

From a vegan point of view is Jesus eating fish deconstructible?


Well I'm hitting the hay. Off to Piha markets tomorrow morning!

Stay Golden

Philip a.k.a Jimmy

Caputo, Barth and the Church (Part 1)

Well I've almost finished reading a book on Karl Barth, a theologian from last century, and started reading Jack (John) Caputo's, a contemporary philosopher, book What Would Jesus Deconstruct? I have found it interesting the correlation between the two, even though they come from different perspectives. I guess I'll start with Barth and allow the point of this blog to develop.
'In this way Barth [is] giving expression to the idea that Reformed theology is reforming theology. This committment, which arises from the Reformed concern for the ongoing reformation of the faith and practice of the church according to the Word of God in the context of everchanging circumstances and situations, is captured in the saying "The reformed church is always reforming according to the Word of God."...Reformed theology is always reforming according to the Word of God in order to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the context of an ever-changing world characterized be a variety of cultural settings.'

It seems that for Barth God was God, and as such was free to come and go as pleased (he is not suggesting a fickle God). Barth reacted to a God imprisoned within a mere human understanding. As the Word of Scripture is revelation from God himself the church is to continually be reformed by it throughout time. But whatever is understood, must be understood through the revelation of Jesus Christ. I guess what I'm trying to develop here is the notion of Reformed theology as reforming theology.
Introducing....Caputo:

'...the existence of the church is provisional - like a long-term substitute teacher - praying for the kingdom, whose coming Jesus announced and which everyone was expecting woud come sometime soon. But this coming was deferred, and the church occupies the space of the 'deferral,' of the distance or 'difference,' between two comings...in the meantime the church is supposed to do the best it can to bring that kingdom about in itself, here on earth, in a process of incessant self-renewal or auto-deconstruction, while not setting itself up as a bunch of kings and princes. That is why the church is 'deconstructible,' but the kingdom of God, if there is such a thing, is not. The church is a provisional construction, and whatever is constructed is deconstructible.' pg 35.

Here Caputo is calling for a right to deconstruct the church and reveal what lies beneath. As a provisional construction (the church) we are here to present the gospel and by participation in the Spirit enlargen the kingdom of God. And this is where I pick up on Barth. By deconstructing the church, and by subjecting ourselves to the reforming nature of the Word of God and Jesus Christ, we continue to move forward with the culture we are unavoidably a part of. We move forward with the rest of the world, and move forward with our own situations and circumstances and continue to show people the path to Christ. I suggest this as something to consider for anyone who has not considered this yet.

Thus I find myself at the end of the blog, I hope someone somewhere enjoyed this.

Stay Golden

Jimmy

Truth, Christ and the Postmodern World

Well I read Voddie Baucham Jr's paper on Truth and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World found in the book The Supremacy Of Christ in a Postmodern World (edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor) last night. Through the questions 1) Who am I? 2) Why am I here? 3) What is wrong with the world? and 4) How can what is wrong be made right? he juxtaposes Christian theism with postmodern secular humanism.
Baucham Jr based his Christian theistic answers from Colossians 1:12 - 21. He works consistently from a reformant styled theology and was a good read in that respect. For example 'Who am I? The crown and glory of the creation of God. What is wrong with the world? What is wrong is me.'
In regards to the postmodern worldview he makes some interesting points against the consumer styled society. For example;

'What if we saw our studies as stewardship? What if we raised our children not to go and do something just because it would make us proud but instead raised them so that they would discover the way that God has put them together?...What if we continually taught them to focus on the supremacy of Christ in truth and how he relates to our very purpose for existing?'

However, while making these points it seems his view on postmodernsim is pessimistic and possibly simplistic. He arrives at the conclusion that the postmodern worldview leaves humanity

'empty and hopeless; man is left worthless, and you are left to pursue your own satisfaction and never find it.'

However despite this feeling I enjoyed his analysis of postmodernism more than the Christian theistic break down.
In the end he arrives the anticipated place where Jesus is supreme and the basis for Christian truth. From him we derive our meaning, purpose and a directive. I didn't find much new in the Christian breakdown, but I enjoyed his analysis of the postmodern worldview, despite the pessismistic feeling.

Name Change

Hey

Well we (Briar and I) decided on a name change finally.  Same Stuff Different Day was just a temp name inspired by the movie Dreamcatcher.  It is Kiwi's lowdown cause 1) we're Kiwi's 2) this is where we update on what we're getting up to (this is opposed to updating Facebook status every five minutes which sometimes seems a bit silly) 3) Kiwi-land (New Zealand) is pretty geographically low in the world.  In fact I think we should set Stewart Island up for attractive flights and cruises to the antarctic - which may include glass bottom boats to watch the underwater antarctican wildlife. 4) Also it seems that alot of theological discussion and influence comes from other areas of the world e.g. Germany, Switzerland,England, France, America.  I'm not saying there is none from the NZ, but that most of my reading around current ideas come from offshore people.  If only I had $500,000 to study overseas....

On other news, (as I'm relatively new to the blog scene I am discovering alot of stuff still) I have found a good blog by C Michael Patton on 'Will The Real Emerger Please Stand-Up?' Warning, it is quite lengthy, but it is quite informative on topic of emerging church.  It explains a (the?) relationship between fundamentalism, orthodoxy, evangelicism, emerging and emergent.  Perhaps the most useful for me was how he distinguished the difference between emerging and emergent.  There are other blogs on there bout emerging church, but I haven't had enough time to read them yet. I'm sure they're good.

Chairs

Jimmy

The Temple

Hey peeps

Thought I'd post something and show that I havn't forgotten bout the blog.  Been real busy with assignments.  Got 5 due in next week which I'm workin hard to finish off.  Briars got a big one due in next week as well.  Generally we're doing well though.
Hey it's also our friend Luzettes birthday tomorrow as well.  She does some interesting stuff for Scripture Union so if you want go leave her a strangers 'happy birthday' comment on her blog.

This site has a bit of interesting imagery and info on the temple during Jesus' life on earth. Check it out here if your interested.

Catch you guys laters

Chairs

Jimmy