Revenge – No Longer Kicking it Old School
Revenge seems at many times to be a form of justice. Christian Bale as Batman struggled with revenge versus justice. Likewise, one of my favorite movies is the Count of Monte Cristo starring Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel also played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ). The main reason why I liked Edmond Dantes is because he realized all of his revenge on his enemies. The movie really delivered everything that you wanted for the hero. However, this is really shallow of me and not true justice nor very Christ like.
Some modern religious people incorrectly justify revenge or an unforgiving justice by quoting Leviticus 24:19-20.
If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured.
However Jesus changed all of that in his amazing and radical way. Matthew 5:44-45
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
This verse from Matthew goes back to Christians being the Light of the world for all people. To love our enemies, while difficult without praying, is a great way for us to share the joy of Christ’s peace and love.
Continue reading Comments (3) Jul.20.2008.
Baptist Center for Ethics Names Al Gore: Baptist of 2007
EthicsDaily.com, published by the Nashville based Baptist Center for Ethics, picked Al Gore as their Baptist of the year for 2007. Their selection article states that Gore has consistently fought for the global good by staying focused on the issues of climate change.
EthicsDaily.com specifically notes how he has infused faith into his mission and has ignored assaults on his character to remain attentive on his moral mission. Most notably, they reference Al Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize lecture where he acknowledged his faith in God.
The article continues by recognizing that most Baptists are shamefully not applauding Al Gore’s efforts. However, this shouldn’t be unexpected from a Baptist majority suspicious of science and with some leaders that continue to teach religious fear.
And he said, "Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country." (Luke 4:24, KJV)
Read the complete article at EthicsDaily.com.
Continue reading Comments (3) Dec.29.2007.
Southern Baptist Women in Leadership
Growing up in a Southern Baptist church I never really thought much about the role of women in the church. I remember being effectively taught by women in Sunday school, Children’s Church, and Choir. In fact the only place I remember being taught by a man in the church was from the pulpit and RA’s. More recently, I’ve heard sermons, Sunday school lessons, and small group studies about the defined role of women in the Southern Baptist church.
As a recently new father, I’ve given this topic more thought. In 2000 the Southern Baptist Convention added, “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture” to The Baptist Faith and Message Statement. While I agree that traditionally the office of pastor has been filled by men, I’m in disagreement that we should be so bold to say that only men are called to fill this position.
The more recent teachings I’ve heard at church and smaller groups have focused on Ephesians Chapter 5. This passage of scripture from Paul to the Ephesians explains that a wife should be submissive to her husband, and that the husband should love his wife just as Christ loves the Church. Therefore while the wife is submissive the greatest burden and responsibility falls upon the husband to nurture and care for his wife. I find nothing real controversial with this scripture. In fact, I feel that this scripture describes a potentially healthy relationship of mutual dependency.
Paul in a letter to Timothy says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent (1 Timothy 2).” This passage is used to support the 2000 addition of “the office of pastor is limited to men” to the Baptist Faith and Message Statement. Paul supports this statement because Eve was the one deceived in the Garden of Eden and therefore is solely responsible for the “original sin.”
Paul continues in his letter to Timothy about many specific things that a woman can and cannot do such as; praying only with a veiled head, forbidding women from wearing jewelry or expensive clothes. It seems that Paul is addressing specific concerns in a letter to a specific audience. I feel that it is unlikely that Paul was trying to establish universal religious practices.
Paul’s statements to Timothy seem to differ from some of his very own statements seen elsewhere. To the Romans Paul publicly commends his sister in Christ, Phoebe, who was also a deacon at the church of Cenchreae (Roman 16:1). In the same letter he mentioned several other women for their hard work and dedication to Jesus. Furthermore in a public letter to the Galatians’, Paul says, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith... There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).”
So as Christians what must we do when we can find passages from the Bible to justify both sides of this discussion? I feel that it is our duty as believers in Jesus to examine scripture from his teachings. The Baptist Faith and Message of 1964 states, “the criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.” By the way, this statement is no longer in The Baptist Faith and Message of 2000.
During Jesus’ time on earth, there was a prevailing prohibition against interacting with women in public. Contrary to this Jesus did not hesitate from talking with a Samaritan woman at a public well, Jacob’s well. After speaking with Jesus this woman accepted him as Christ and by no accident became the first evangelical witness sharing her testimony with the town of Sychar (John 4). While the disciples where hiding in a secret place, it was Mary Magdalene that visited the empty tomb and then was instructed by Jesus to go and tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee (Matthew 28:10).
Examining Jesus’ ministry I don’t see any reason why women should be deprived of the right to serve Christ in positions of leadership. We see in Jesus’ ministry that the first witness for the Lord was a woman. The risen Lord first visited Mary Magdalene. Likewise, we see in the early church that Paul was grateful to many women including Phoebe a deacon for their hard work and dedication.
In our modern heritage one of the most celebrated missionaries is Lottie Moon, a brave and faithful woman that served until her last breath. Men and women are equally responsible to share the good news that effects eternity. As a result it is my opinion that an individual’s gender should never be used as a bridle to hinder being a servant for God.
Continue reading Comments (4) Jan.10.2007.
What's Really Fundamental?
I think one of the reasons that I've remained a Democrat is because I never felt comfortable with Fundamentalism. To me Fundamentalism has been intertwined with the Republican right. Furthermore, when you think about what is really fundamental it has very little to do with the shallow ideals associated with the Fundamentalist expression of Christian faith.
The book Fundamentalism by Fisher Humphrey's, described Fundamentalism as an army that was set up to defend the outposts of a city and then they begin to think the outposts themselves are the city. It's not the legalistic ideas of our faith that are most important despite the efforts of the Fundamentalist. For example, it is not the submission of wives to their husbands that is most fundamental; it is the affirmation that God wants a husband and wife to love each other.
Continue reading Comments (1) Nov.22.2006.