Harry Potter and the Misdirected Christians

No this is not a novella that is a rip off of a series of well written stories by the rediculously wealthy JK Rowling rather it is a reflection of the reaction of Christians that those fun novels sparked. But this is nothing new and Harry Potter is just one of the more recent straw man that some Christians attack. I am not criticizing the desire to create a safe world for our children and the very parental instinct to protect them from dangers. This is meant as a critique to those teachers and pastors who have laid a foundation of Christianity unlike that found in the Bible upon which this fear can not be engaged, but fed. The fear with things like Harry Potter is that it is an influence that will steal our children away from the faith of the parents. This is an outside thing that infiltrates and kidnaps the mind, heart and soul and leads our children to a life of witchcraft (in the case of Harry Potter). Parents are taught that things like reading the Harry Potter novels will teach your children witchraft and then devil worship. There seems to be several things going wrong in the thinking behind such sentiment.
First off Harry Potter doesn't even use real witchcraft. The author makes things up using fantastical ingredients in the few occurances of some kind of potion. Really if a kid wanted to make some potion from the novels where in the world would they get unicorns blood???? The magic words that are said to unlock doors and disarm other wizards of their wands for example are simply made up latin words much like pig latin. Pleasay dona beay stupidio persono!
Secondly Harry Potter leads people to magic and witchcraft as much as Heavy Metal causes people to commit suicide. Think about it a person who is in love with God, goes to Sunday worship and all that other stuff that goes into a genuine relationship with God then begins to read these novels. The next thing you as the parent know is that suddenly your son is now wearing a robe, mixing weird concoctions together in an attempt to become invisible to sneak out of the house to sacrifice a chicken to Satan. Sure things like this have happened, but it's never the influence of one thing that leads people to such a radical tranformation. If a person who appears to have a genuine faith leaves the faith to such an extreme there is a lot going on in the person's life. Similarly there is no such thing as a happy person who has everything going for them and is a genuinely healthy individual who begins to listen to heavy metal, suddenly becomes seriously depressed to the point where they take their own life. There are many other factors going on. Maybe some kid was actually depressed perhaps over their parents divorce or is chemically unstable and needs medication or whatever. It's most likely this depression that leads that person to listen to music that may reenforce their thinking, but it is never more than a catalyst. Anyone who reads Harry Potter and gets into witchcraft was probably dealing with a lot in their life and would have gotten into one thing or another anyway.
Perhaps when we scapegoat Harry Potter or Heavy Metal or whatever we are doing not only ourselves a disservice, but our children who in an attempt to protect them from something we are actually protecting ourselves from facing the reality that neither we nor our children are perfect. In an attempt to protect our children from things like Harry Potter we are spending all our energy fighting a straw man while ignoring things that may actually do them harm, i.e. depression, poor self image, etc. Maybe some parent can't deal with the reality that their child has fallen from faith and then blames Harry Potter or something in an attempt to pacify our fears that it was our fault.
Thirdly there is also the theologically backwards thinking of how sin works and where it comes from. The thinking is as if sin were some kind of contagious pathogen. The thinking that lies behind the desire to protect is that there is something outside of us from which to protect. The reality that Jesus teaches, however, is much the opposite. Mark 7:20-23 have Jesus instructing his disciples that evil comes out from within the human heart. The seat of evil is not something that is floating around the air currents just waiting to infect some unaware otherwise good Christian, rather it is within us all. Evil isn't Hitler, Stalin or even Sadaam it is the propensity within all of us with a heart bent towards sin. Evil is expecting everyone to live according to my standard of how the world should work. Evil is thinking that I'm better, privaledged, entitled, etc. Evil is wanting the destruction of others (this isn't the core, but an example) and this comes from within. Sin then is the inevitable action of a heart untouched by the transformative blood of Jesus Christ. The essence of the gospel is that Jesus Christ has forgiven our sins and is transforming us from the inside out. Jesus has given us a new heart (Jeremiah 31) and is transforming our image into his image (2 Cor 3:18) our mind into his (Rom 12:1-2, Col 1:21).
Instead of trying to insulate our children and ourselves from outside things, as if wearing a spiritual prophylactic will keep us safe from the emanations of the world, we need to inoculate ourselves with the blood of Christ. Only when we see our faith as something that comes from within us through a divinely transformed heart, mind and soul through a relationship with God will we realize that things like Harry Potter will not infulence us to go over to the dark side.
And maybe when we stop beating the air and fighting straw men (pointless fights our enemy loves to see us waisting our energy on) we will make real headway in no longer insulating ourselves from the world, but in turn entering into the world like a healing virus spreading the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ who transforms our hearts. For that is the point of the great commission. Jesus never said "go now into all parts of the world and protect yourselves from the evils that are around you. Build gated communities that neither protect you nor send out the message that can transform the world. Wait in your bunkers watching the rest of the world continually be ravaged by the effects of sin counting the days until my return." No I think he said something more like "go into all the world and make disciples of everyone baptizing them in my name."
Maybe if we get ourselves out of the trap in which the enemy has us and stop worrying about things like Harry Potter and such things we can begin to think about global injustices (or local), feeding the hungry, and preaching the gospel.

American Christians?

Why is it that so many Christians in America are hell bent (yes that's intentional) about mixing their faith with their nation? I really wonder what it is that is motivating people to do such a thing. Is there some latent desire to return to the medevial age and the dominance of "Christian" values upon the larger society? Is there some strange belief that says to people once we become a Christian nation then everything will be right with the world? Maybe then Christ will return, as if it's something we can quicken, and the righteous USA will stand alone on the right hand of God. I think this issue really comes out regarding the 10 commandments being allowed in the classroom and most recently the debate over intelligent design being taught as science in the classroom. If the 10 commandments are allowed to be placed in the classrooms what exactly is won? If the school system is forced to teach the idea of intelligent design, what's been gained? Maybe the people who are pushing for these things really want a kind of theocracy like that of ancient Israel (nothing to do with the modern state of Israel!!!!!) How scarry would that be the think that our president would even concieve that he is carrying out the mission of God thus validating everything he does and simultaneously silencing any oppositionn. Of course those knowing the OT would realize that even the king was to be held accountable. Look at the story of Nathan rebuking David after Bathsheba-gate. Nathan wasn't killed because David knew he was to be held accountable to God. It seems today that those using God to carry out their own agenda forget that God is above them and not in their hip pocket ready to be taken out and used against adversaries.
It seems a good reading of Revelation should innoculate us agianst such thinking of mixing government with religion. The big question that Revelation presses is that there are two kingdoms, two camps, two loyalties: God's and the world's and which one will we as Christians place ourselves. Will we place ourselves loyaly at God's feet or will we sell out and give our government permission to do whatever it deems to be "God's will?"
There's also the thought that one wonders what kind of Christianity do people think of when they want the 10 commandments on the wall and want our nation to be a Christian nation. Are they thinking of wanting to spread the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, that is, the message of redemption through Jesus Christ and the continuous working of the Holy Spirit to transform and redeem all of humanity? or something else? It seems, to me, that those wanting to mix their faith with government are really concerned with a level of appearance. Or maybe the concern is legitimation. No one wants to be the minority and if Christians are the minority population in this nation then there is a loss of legitimation in the public eye. Maybe there's a fear that if less than most of a population accepts the gospel it (rather they) will be seen as inferior and irrelevant. They might be seen as stupid people who in the face of overwhelming public belief still cling to the old and worn out beliefs of an ancient and ignorant people.
It seems, though, that the Christianity of the Bible I read is one that is to be transformative and never to actually have official governing authority in this world. The point of Christianity is not to create a version of God's kingdom here, but to spread the gospel the seed of the kingdom of God so that at His choice and timing, He may be the one to bring His kingdom into this world and make all things new.
I think if we spent as much time and effort spreading the saving message of Jesus Christ and discipling people to become mature committed CHristians as we did everything else that seems not to matter most of the people in our nation may acutally be authentic Christians.

Holiness is odd

I find it interesting that it seems that most people both in and out of the church have the impression of Christianity that it is somehow a rule based religion. I'm not surprised at this, however, but disapointed. This has effected not only my life and how I view God, but it has effected so many other people. The view of God's holiness seems to be a casualty in this fallout. I am wondering, however, if we thought about holiness in broader terms. Holiness brings images of right behavior and actions usually moral correctness (if that's a word) and this certainly is part of that image of God being Holy. What if we were to think that God in his holiness saved those of us who were enemies. What does it mean that a holy God would save and redeem those who are not Holy? Maybe some may think that holiness and redemption are not really compatible as if a holy God expects holiness to be seen as worthy. Maybe it is God's holiness that "drove" him to redemption. Maybe what it means for God to be holy is that he out of his nature redeems those that are lost. Maybe holiness is not a level of moral purity for us to achieve, but is (in addition to morality) it is a way of life that drives us to redeem the lost and to bring the reconciling nature of God to those who are still lost. Maybe when God tells us to be holy because he is holy it's not just telling us to live according to some kind of ethical standard, but is also a way to live out our life that impacts the world, transforms the world and brings the message of this amazing and incomprehensibly wonderful and loving God to a lost and broken world. Holiness then means more than an ethical standard, but is something that characterizes how and why we live our lives the way we do. If the holiness of God means that he redeems the lost then we if we are to be holy because God is holy, transformed into his image, must also be characterized by this redemptive nature. To be holy then as God is holy is to live according to an ethical standard, but it goes beyond not smoking, having premarital sex or whatever, but it tells us to look to see how God functions, what God does, and who God is and to then go and do likewise.

Tithing=Party!

I have often wondered what OT and NT evidence there was for the contemporary practice and understanding of tithing. I found some. Deuteronomy 14:22-29. It's interesting to note, however, that this (at least this section) does not really translate into the practice of tithing as we understand it today. This tithe was a collection of a family's harvest and animal herds. It is a 10% collection, but the ten percent was not used to support the temple and pay the heating bills of the building. Rather this tithe was to be used for a party. This wasn't even the 10% that should be given to support the Levites. The Scripture says to not neglect or forget the Levites, but the food that was collected as a tithe was eaten at the temple as an act of worship so that the people would learn to revere the Lord. So imagine this, you have saved 10% of your income for an entire year and are going to spend it all on a party at church. Not only you, but everyone in the church would bring their 10%!!! Now that would be quite a party!!!
I particularly like the reference to those who sell their crop and bring the money to purchase food near the temple (because they are too far away from the temple). They are told they can buy whatever food they want including "wine and other fermented drink." That's right, this party was (at least in part) a keg party!!
So how do we get from this to tithing 10% of our income to support the church? That's a good question. Surely there is something to the giving the Levites a share in the food and fermented drink, since the Levites didn't have an inheritance or land for that matter to take care of themselves. But this portion would certainly be less than 10% of the total. Maybe the important thing to remember was that there was only one temple and one caste of priests for the entire country. There was not a diffused population of priests throughout every village and major city that had to be supported by a much smaller (proportionately) population.
I think though we shouldn't overlook the obvious conclusion: the importance of the party!
Look at the OT sacrificial system. All sacrifices were eaten by those offering it (i.e. a huge BBQ), Jesus' ministry began by providing alcohol to a wedding feast, and the consumation of all things at the last day will be at yet another party. I think it a Biblical mandate then to have frequent parties at church and incorporate them as an act of worship!! plus beer of course, it's Biblical after all.

Citizens of Heaven

What is salvation? Are we simply saved from our sins and then we get to go to heaven and exist in a blissful stress free paradise for all eternity eating whatever we want without the harmful effects? Or is there something more that is going on when we become saved?
Maybe if we started thinking of salvation as a real change in our lives from one thing to another many things in our faith would line up a bit more?
I have read Philippians 3:20 (our citizenship is in heaven) and have heard it from others that this is basically a nice centiment. The thinking is that sure things go badly down here on earth and sometimes bad things happen to good people and maybe we're persecuted for our faith, but we shouldn't be too worried Our citizenship is in heaven." It's something more of a wish or a future hope that comforts us now in our misery, but what if there's more to it than that?
What if we thought of salvation as a transfer of citizenship, something that was real in this world?
I like to think of the movie the Matrix when it comes to salvation. Neo is freed from the mental prison the machines have created to enslave humanity. He has been released from one world only to learn that the world he has been released into is not what he thought. He has been freed from one and transfered to another. In a sense he is no longer a citizen of the matrix and his citizenship is somewhere else. When he reenters the matrix he sees it in a whole new light. More importantly he doesn't exist in the matrix as if he was a citizen of the matrix, rather he lives like someone who has been freed from it, hence he is chased and "persecuted" by the agents of the matrix, the gatekeepers of the prison. What Neo lives for and the way he runs his life in the matrix has been irrevocably altered because of his transfer of freedom into the real world.
This does seem to be the picture that salvation in the christian context is all about. There is an act of release from prison to sin through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But for many people this is where the thinking stops. The christian life, however, is all about living in the reality of the liberating death of Christ. Something real, profound and deeply unsettling has hapened in the life of the neophyte Christian. Her life has changed and she can not live as if she had not become a citizen of heaven. Romans 6:1-10 talks about Jesus giving us a new life, but there is no reference that this is a new life that only lies in wait in heaven. In fact the new life begins now and here on earth. There is a tension that now exists in the life inbetween this present world and the new creation. These are the two realities that now exist for those of us who have been freed from sin. This old self is something that like clothing we must take off (Ephesians 4:22-24) and the new self created by Christ is something we must put on like clothing. So salvation is not something that we arrive at and wait to go to heaven. Rather salvation is a new reality for those who have been freed by the blood of Christ in which we are to live now in this world.
So, maybe when paul says we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13) what he is saying is that we must live our lives striving to live in the way and by the pattern of the new creation and not of this world. Maybe if we can get beyond the quagmire of morality that gums up the issue of salvation (i.e. heaven is for good people, hell is for bad people) we can see that those who have been transfered to the new creation, in its embryonic stage, must, in order to arrive at heaven, live in that pattern and on that path now.
Additionally, there is the eschatological hope of Christians that one day the new heaven and the new earth will be all there is. Paul states that this earth in it's corruption and decay is passing away (1 Cor 7:31). How then can we continue to live our lives according to the pattern of this world expect to walk into the reality of the new heaven and the new creation? Peter states in 2 Peter 3:11-13 that since this present world is going to be destroyed by fire, what type of person should we be now. Salvation then is 99.99% related to the here and now. I think this is what James is getting at when he says in James 2:14-19ff that faith without works is dead. Think about it. If salvation really is about the here and now as we look forward to the new heaven and the new earth can someone who does not demonstrate a changed pattern of life really say that they are saved? Heaven then is not simply the end of this life, but it is the goal of those striving and working out their salvation here in this world, living with their citizenship in heaven and running in a way to finish the race. This life here and now is to be a life changing and altering experience that along the way we put off our old selves and put on our new selves created to be in the new heaven and the new earth so that when we do enter heaven it is because our life has been leading there.
Okay that was rather long

"Personal" Savior = Rediculous ?

So, I'm seeing more and more how the concept of personal savior and individual spirituality within Christianity is a real problem for real Christian maturity and understanding God. The thinking in general (thanks to the Protestant Reformation) is that all a believer needs is the Bible which is easily understood by every individual and a priest or a pastor or someone trained and educated in the Bible and interpretation is really not necessary. This seems to be exacerbated in the postmodern thinking that truth is a matter of individual perspective and understanding. The effect seems that if someone decides that a particular passage is to be interpreted a certain way there is no way nor any ground upon which to challenge that interpretation. The training of a pastor in the historical cultural settings, knowledge of the languages, understanding of theological historical trends and decisions, training and expereince in interpretation both modern and historical, spritual gifts, callings from God and otherwise credentials from people and institutions seem to evaporate before a strongly individualistic postmodern audience that believes whatever interpretation they decide to hold onto this week is the incontrovertible gospel truth for them, at least that week.
But it seems to be more insideous than that. Their understanding of God can be horribly corrupted and they don't even have the means or avenues in which these can be challenged and corrected. It's as if (to use a medical analogy) that someone has a horrible disease is offered a cure, but denies the ability as well as the conceptual possibility of a doctor to be able to cure them.
The effect of someone who believes that all they need is God and the Bible seems to miss the point that Christianity is not an inwardly focused spirituality as if it were some eastern religion, but that it changes not only who we are, but how and why we live in the world. Christianity really is a holistic religion that confronts all of life and from the inside out changes the world. If we are to take the new creation seriously (2 Corinthians 5:14 and following) then this needs to be much more than an individual reality into which no one else can penetrate or influence. To live as a Christian is to live in the community of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is to live in the world as it is being recreated by God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and if we are not currently living in THIS reality NOW then how can we ever expect to enter into that reality later after we die?

"Personal" Savior = rediculous ?