The New York Yearly Meeting of Quakers put a minute together on torture and then made a video of people reading it. I thought it was good enough to share with all of you.
New York Quakers On Torture
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Monthly Archives: February 2009
Plan B: The Church (John Caputo)
In preparing for a sermon the other day I came across one of my favorite quotes from John Caputo’s book, “What Would Jesus Deconstruct?” (see also here):
The name of Jesus is too often a mirror in which we behold our own image, and it has always been easy to spot the sliver in the eye of the other and miss the two-by-four in our own. The question presupposes the inescapable reality of history and of historical distance, and it asks how that distance can be crossed. Or better, conceding that this distance cannot be crossed, the question resorts to the subjunctive and asks how that irreducible distance could be made creative. How does our distance from Jesus illuminate what he said and did in a different time and place and under different historical circumstances? And how does Jesus distance from us illuminate what we must say and do in the importantly different situation in which we find ourselves today? The task of the church is to submit itself to this question, rather than using it like a club to punish others. The church, the archive of Jesus, in a very real sense is this question. It has no other duty and no other privilege than to bear this memory of Jesus and ask itself this question. The church is not the answer. The church is the question, this question, the gathering of people who are called together by the memory of Jesus and who ask this question, who are called together and are put into question by this question, who stand accused under the call, interrogated and unable to rescue themselves from this question, and who come to understand that there are no easy, ready-made, prepackaged answers.
(John Caputo, What Would Jesus Deconstruct? 2007, 34)
The Paralytic as Missionary (Mark 2:1-12)
I’m putting together a sermon on Mark 2:1-12 where Jesus meets, and heals, the paralytic. As I was talking this passage over with a friend it dawned on us that the paralytic, after he is healed, is the one sent out like a missionary, while the rest remain in the house. This strikes me as a very interesting point in the passage.
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sinshe said to the paralytic I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home. And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, We have never seen anything like this! (Mark 2:10-12 NRSV).
Actually, there are two important things take place at the end of this passage. First, the paralyzed man is the only person who sent out by Jesus. Why can’t he stay and listen to Jesus “teach the word (2:2)?” The second is that the crowd erupts with inspiration and excitement, We have never seen anything like this!
The paralytic, who is, as far as we can tell from this passage, the only one who has, quite literally, had a life-changing encounter with Christ, is not permitted to stay inside the safety of the walls of this house. He is sent out like a missionary. What this tells us, this is seen throughout the Gospel accounts, and especially in The Book of Acts, is that as one encounters the new “moment,” as NT Wright calls it, Christ inaugurates through his proclamation and performance, a new sense of urgency and meaning is given to life. After meeting the incarnation of God, one is radically transformed into a kingdom agent. There is, with every encounter of Christ, a missionary impulse birthed in the soul of the new creation. One must go and witness to this event. And certainly, a paralyzed man –now freed and undoubtedly shouting and dancing down the streets — is nothing less than a kingdom witness.
No wonder this passage ends with the crowds, who though confused had a moment of clarity, and said, We have never seen anything like this! Something new was truly underway. The crowd cant help but see that this is a new moment taking place before them. This statement, their recognition that God is up to something new, is in stark contrast to the attitude the scribes display. One is worried about blasphemy, the codes behind forgiveness and healing, and protecting the institution. The other, our confused majority (the translation for Marks crowd) are open to the new possibilities of Jesus kingdom. The roof was coming down, and Jesus was ushering in a kingdom full of misfits.
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You can read the full text of the sermon here.
A 21st Century Good Samaritan: Deidox's Story of "Robert"
Last week I heard about the new project Brent Gudgel, Dan Portnoy and clan have been working on called “Deidox” from twitter. I’ve posted about some of Brent’s work before: The New Chronicle Project.
The Imagination of the Kingdom at Work
Think of Deidox, pronouced “day-docs,” as short narrative-driven films featuring glimpses of the Kingdom at work in our midst. In other words, these are documentaries of the Missio Dei in action. Not only are they stories told through a great medium, but they display the power of the imagination when led by God.
They write on their site:
Every day new stories of Gods redemptive and transforming work in and through His people are appearing around the world. But these stories often go untold, their ability to teach and inform lost forever. Deidox brings these compelling stories to life through short documentary films.
The point of these films is to inspire the viewers to “to realize anew how big and active God is, how He is reaching and changing lives in all countries…” as well as support those individuals whose stories are being told through the films.
For each Deidox story, we have identified a non-profit organization that compliments the themes and issues raised in the short film. One dollar of each download is then provided to that non-profit organization to help them accomplish their mission.
Being curious to know more about the films I downloaded the film “Robert” and put it on my iPod for later viewing.
About the Film Robert
“Robert” is about a doctor who used to work in an Emergency Room, but after seeing so many people come through who had no health insurance, and knowing there were many more who “fell through the cracks,” he began to feel convicted about how he might help those in need. Finally, following God’s leading, Robert opened a clinic that serves those who have no health insurance. The rest of the story traces how this move came about, the shape his convictions took, the toll this radical move has taken on him and his family and finally ends with some interaction with one of Robert’s patients.
Initially, Robert hoped other doctors would follow his example and reach out to others, but no one did. He says he feels more on the margins now, isolated, because there’s been so little support for the work he’s doing. Yet, this is the 21st century version of the Good Samaritan, and Robert’s example really does ring true to God’s heart of compassion. One can’t help but feel both sorrow as well as elation at this story of love in action.
The film is high quality not just in its production quality, but in its theological content. It’s challenging and hopeful to hear Robert’s story and to hear that there are people like him working “with the least of these.”
Because of the length of the film, and it’s very direct message, I can see using this film for discussion groups, teaching and sermon illustrations for church, and props for the class room as well (At least in a seminary). I recommend checking out the trailers and, if you have use for it, downloading the videos available.
There is handy a “pay what you want” feature to encourage the use of the films. These are films meant to be seen, stories meant to be heard, so don’t let a price tag stop you from sharing this stuff. The other day Brent wrote in an email to me: “Our hope is that these can be an encouragement and challenge to believers everywhere, and then those who are able to support the Deidox vision mission/vision financially, can pay whatever they want.”
Check out the films, I think you’ll be inspired by what ordinary folks are doing for the Kingdom of God.
Great New Tunes for 2009
Last year, I felt, was kind of void for me when it came to new music. That is one reason why I asked my good friend Matt Hoopes to guest write his list (and also I was interested in learning about new artists). But already for 2009 I’ve been really excited by a bunch of new albums that are out this year, came out very late last year, or are soon to be out. Here’s a list, in no particular order:
- Jaydiohead : Minty Fresh Beats – Minty Fresh remixes Jay-Z with Radiohead, it’s really cool (and free to download).
- Andrew Bird : Nobel Beast – I’m not sure this is better than his previous “Armchair Apocalypse” but I am still enjoying the thick sounds this album puts out.
- M.Ward : Hold Time – I’ve been listening to this album via NPR’s “All Songs Considered” because it doesn’t actually come out until Februrary 17th, and I love it already. I’d like to get this on LP if I can.
- Starflyer 59 : Dial M (came out 10/28/2008) – I can’t help it, I like just about everything Jason Martin does. This is a deeply introspective album, with some really good tunes on it.
- Deerhunter : Microcastle – It’s a really nice atmospheric album that, as Matthew Hoopes said, is great in large part because it reminds us of Starflyer 59′s “Gold” Album.
- Elvis Perkins : Elvis Perkins in Dearland can be pre-ordered and streamed from the Beggars Group. It’s really good and lives up to my expectations at least.
- David Bazan : His new album comes out sometime this spring, and after hearing most of the new songs live at Fuller Seminary in November, I am waiting with anticipation.
- Jubilee Singers (website?) – Friends of ours from the Mennonite church and previously known a “No Little Kindness” will be releasing their new album in the not too distant future and it promises to be a list of great tunes.
What about you, anything new that you’re really enjoying? What music are you looking forward to coming out this year?