Evangelical Outpost and In the Agora continue, and with more eloquence, this issue of technology, morality and more.
Very good reads, and interesting thoughts; ones that should cause us to slow down and reflect.
Archive - October, 2005
Hmmmm…….Are you concerned?
One of my friends in ministry, Kristie Vosper just posted something fascintating, titled, My Space…and Unintentional Teenage Prostitution.
Like anything good, like internet technology, there is also a downside. And I think that sometimes, internet group sites can fall into either category. I have a lot of students on My Space, and I at one time had a slot on My Space as well. Why not? Seemed like a good way to connect with people and broaden my social circle, or sphere of influence. But I became overwhelmed with how much work it was to keep it up. And I was more concerned about who I was connecting myself with. I don’t mind being connected to all kinds of different people, but it was becoming impossible to police. Someone could have gone to my space, and been a few clicks away from an almost pornographic photo that someone had linked to their site. And eventually, the downsides totally outweighed any benefit. I also found that it had a lot of other harmful and downsides to it that I won’t go into further detail at all here. But I eventually pulled the plug.
I have plenty of other pastor friends who have a space now as well. And more often than not, I do now know of pastors who make it a priority everyday to go to some of their student’s spaces to see what they are up to. Some come back impressed, others have left pretty disturbed at what they were reading and seeing, and wondering about the lack of congruence between someone, and how they present themselves online, versus how they present themselves in person. Is either one more real than the other? Are they two different sides to the same person? I also know of a few parents who came across the kid’s space, eventually leading to a confrontation.
And now it seems that employers are visiting My Space sites to see just who is working for them. I was informed by one person who I believe knows what they are talking about, that in the near future, an employer will pull up a database that will show everything a person has done online, and will be able to make a decision to hire, or not hire, based upon that. Something to think about.
I have a lot of concerns about this lack of congruence between online and in person behavior and representation. But I can’t go into it right now. But I am also someone who is reaping the benefits of online technology, and I hope to use it wisely, though I’m sure I have not always. And it doesn’t stop with My Space, the list is endless, from Facebook, to Campus Hook. It used to be that parents had to wonder and speculate about their kids, not anymore. Just hop online, and you might find out more than you want to know.
Kristie is concerned about many other things, and I recommend you read her post. But I will say that some of these communities have definitely increased the sphere of sexual promiscuity. You no longer have to wonder if you can hook up with someone…all you need to do is go online, find them…and that’s about it.
And the list is endless…from sexual promiscuity, claims such as Kristie’s, to identity theft and fraud, there are a lot of things to be worried about, amidst the upsides.
Someone I admire….
Millard Fuller, the founder and former President of Habitat for Humanity preached at Bel Air Presbyterian Church yesterday. What an amazing man. What an amazing story.
I co-led a team of 17 people to Norther Ireland in the summer of 2003, to work with Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland. What an amazing trip. Protestants and Catholics, from Los Angeles, going over to Northern Ireland, to build a home together. What a statement that was as Protestants and Catholics from Los Angeles, working with Protestants and Catholics in their neighborhoods. Millard Fuller was able to find a way that brought people together, and glorified God, in something as simple as building a house.
It is great to hear someone preach, and to see the fruition of their decision to give everything over to God. Habitat seems to be a statement of this.
Being in the Church….
I have really enjoyed coming across some new blogs the last couple of weeks; at least they are new to me. And there is one blogger that I have been resonating with recently. Thy Grace Is Sufficient has been posting some great stuff. Today, he has another great post from Henri Nouwen. Go check out his post for today to read the entire thing, but my favorite part of the quote from Nouwen is this:
“Often we hear the remark that we have to live in the world without being of the world. But it may be more difficult to be in the Church without being of the Church……”
Whoa! I don’t know how many people can resonate with that, but I sure can. As a pastor, I sometimes wonder which is more dangerous to my spiritual life. Being in the World, or being in the Church. If you do not read Nouwen, then you must. Any book by him is amazing, but I would start with “In The Name of Jesus” which I have linked in my left column. Unbelievable book. Nouwen seems to recognize, clarify, and bring to the light, so many things that we struggle with as Christians….with being human.
Thy Grace Is Sufficient has another stellar post, What If It’s Not Like I Think It’s Supposed To Be? Good question. What if what we think, or what we perceive, is not really as it is? This is not a statement asserting there is no Truth, or that anything goes, or that everything is relative. Rather, what if how you perceive or understand things isn’t necessarily the right way? Steve deals with his own thoughts on Emergent, and what if they have some of the right perception on some issues.
I think we all need to wrestle with some of our questions, and understanding on things. That is the only way that we truly come to Truth. And as Steve has noted, Emergent transcends that 20-30 age demographic, with cool, tattoo wearing, hipsters. To me, that’s just a classification that others have put upon them, because labeling and classifying is an easier way to get control of things. And when those who oppose you, don’t understand you, labeling is then in order.
Love of the Church…..
Thy Grace Is Sufficient has a great quote from Nouwen on the Church.
Our faith in God who sent his Son to become God-with-us and who, with his Son, sent his Spirit to become God-within-us cannot be real without our faith in the Church. The Church is that unlikely body of people through whom God chooses to reveal God’s love for us. Just as it seems unlikely to us that God chose to become human in a young girl living in a small, not very respected town in the Middle East nearly two thousand years ago, it seems unlikely that God chose to continue his work of salvation in a community of people constantly torn apart by arguments, prejudices, authority conflicts, and power games. Still, believing in Jesus and believing in the Church are two sides of one faith. It is unlikely but divine!
Sometimes bloggers, and certain theological circles get the reputation of not always liking, or loving the Church. But I think that most live in that tension of not only loving the Church, but trying their best to also be a critic/reformer of the church, in hopes of bringing a sense of hope, and transformation to the Church Community.
This quote from Nouwen is a good reminder of the importance of the Church…the place that we we not only experience our lowest lows, but also our highest highs.
Are Christians prepared for the Da Vinci code?
La Shawn Barber seems to be wondering if Christians are going to be knowledgeable enough about the innaccuracies in not only the book, but the upcoming movie.
Though many readers of the book even question its literary merit, La Shawn says this,
Commit to studying your Bible if you’re not doing so already, read early church history (see articles) and articles on The Da Vinci Code written by other Christians, and start publicly defending what you believe. James White, my favorite Christian apologist, writes:
If you haven’t read the book (unlike more than twenty million others), you may have only heard bits and pieces about its blatant attacks upon the Christian faith. I have had the opportunity of addressing the book in a number of contexts, and will continue doing so in an attempt to equip believers to respond to the onslaught. But I would like to document some of the major errors and the way in which they are presented by Dan Brown here on the blog. I encourage you to take this information and be prepared to use this opportunity to present a strong case for the Christian faith.
What do you think?
What?
Apparently, this is not a joke, but rather the complete NT for Men.
I am speechless for the first time in my life. A case when the attempt to be relevant has gone too far.
Some other voices….
I have been finding that it is much easier at time to keep companies with those who think like me. Those who read the same books, think the same thoughts, like the same things. This is especially tempting when it comes to areas such as theology. And who doesn’t like to hang out with those who have similar views, and there is nothing wrong with that. But sometimes I wonder if I do not allow myself to listen to the voices of others, their thoughts, opinions, etc. Why? Because they do not run or hang in the “same camp” that I occupy. But it seems to me that the blogosphere provides a great opportunity to listen, read, and hear other voices. Some may see this opportunity as a bad thing, and one that will lead undiscerning people astray, but I see it as a good thing, and I think we should give more credit to people than we sometimes do.
So today, I just want to give you a sample for the weekend, some other voices. Those that I disagree with. Those that challenge me. Those that think like me, etc.
The voices that I tend to hardly agree with, but whom I find myself visiting their sites to see what they have to say. And though we rarely, if ever, see eye to eye theologically, I respect and admire their passion and zeal for Jesus Christ.
Colossians Three Sixteen: This is a college buddy whom I know well. We hardly see eye to eye, and even in one of his latest posts he argues against two people that I love to read (Donald Miller and Rob Bell). Brent is thorough and passionate. And definitely Reformed.
PyroManiac: I love going to Phil’s site because I’m just never sure what I am going to find. I usually find myself disagreeing, but Phil pretty much covers every topic you might expect, and that you wouldn’t expect. And he’s one of the best when it comes to design, look and graphics. Different theological views than mine, but a tireless blogger.
James White: He is a former college professor of mine, whom I took church history from. He probably does not know this, but it is while taking his class my senior year in 1997, that I decided to then enter seminary. He is an apologist, and writes a lot on Mormonism and Calvinism.
Hmmmm. Why do I tend to usually not agree with the Calvinists?
The voices that I am usually most challenged by, and who help me think outside the box, by posing tough questions, and helping me think critically about things that I usually don’t think about.
Willzhead: Will is one of those bloggers whom I love to read because he brings up perspectives that are usually foreign to my context in ministry, training, or in life in general. I am most challenged by his political and economic views that he writes about and proposes, but I am also very challenged as I struggle to understand God’s word from a context I had little interaction with. Thanks Will.
Ryan Bolger: Though I have many similar interests as Ryan, I am very challenged by his understanding of God’s Word in light of his worldview that he teaches, talks about and lives out. I am also challenged with the ways he has begun to take his teaching, and seminary classes on line in the form of student and class blogs.
Awakening: Mike is someone who challenges me as a fellow pastor/director in church ministry. He has challenged me to think outside of the box, in how one is and does Church, and how community is formed. Most recently I have been challenged by his delvings into Jewish literature and thought, as well as his reflections on particular Biblical texts such as Judges.
The voices that are relatively new to me. New friends whom I am admiring as people, and as bloggers.
Foolish Blog: Different theological community, but someone (Scott) whom I met at GodBlogCon and whom I’ve had subsequent conversations with.
Mere Orthodoxy: Matthew Anderson is someone who is a new friend, whom I also met, and who actually coordinated GodBlogCon. I am looking forward to great things from him.
In the Agora: Joshua Claybourn blogs about things that I tend to not usually blog about, mainly politics. I enjoyed his workshop at GodBlogCon, and I am enjoying reading his blog.
The voice that seems to be everywhere. If it’s politics, or technology, or theology, or music, or art, etc. This is the guy who I love to read, and who is challenging and encouraging on many fronts.
Tall Skinny Kiwi: Andrew Jones. No further words necessary.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MDIV, MSMFT, LMFT), and co-facilitate marriage intensives. I also love to write, speak, and run.
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