Reading this book review got me wondering, what is ecologically sustainable prosperity? And, how is ecologically unsustainable prosperity an issue of Christian faith? Continue reading
Pop Culture
Mark Driscoll on Avatar
Mark Driscoll takes on Avatar from a theological perspective. Earlier, I wrote about my secular view of the movie. As an Airman, I dislike films that depict the military as blood thirsty knuckle draggers. Therefore, I didn’t want to see the film.
Driscoll’s view is much more significant, if true. If he’s right than Avatar isn’t merely offensive, it is dangerous. However, I wonder if Avatar isn’t merely reflecting the squishy spirituality of America, today. While many have rejected the traditional concept of God, they are still left with a longing for Him. They just don’t understand the longing. So, as man has always done, they attempt to construct ways to fill this longing. It may be pleasures or false religion–they are simply trying to fill the void.
Even if Driscoll is right in his assessment, I think there is hope. The hope is this: Avatar recognizes something is wrong with us, it just misdiagnosed the problem. If the culture around us can agree that something is wrong, then we have a clear opportunity to share Christ. We share the diagnosis (sin) and the cure (Christ).
Russell Moore on Outrage
Misguided Christian Outrage | TheResurgence.
What if, instead, we loved the world the way God does (Jn. 3:16), and not the way the satanic powers ask us to? What if we loved the world through verbal proclamation and self-sacrificial giving, not by seeking product placement for the Trinity? Rather than expecting our politicians and musicians and actors to placate us with platitudes to some generic god, let’s work with them where we can on “doing good to all people” (Gal. 6:10). Let’s proclaim the God of a crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus. And let’s teach our kids and our converts the actual content of the biblical revelation.
In conversations with friends, I’ve mentioned my frustration with much Christian Outrage. While often there is a kernel of truth to our political, cultural and other-al outrage, it consumes a huge amount of resources.
Think of the time, talent and treasure spent on fighting cultural and political wars. Sure, we need to stand firm for what we believe, but isn’t there a tipping point where standing firm is really an excuse for fighting back?
I wonder what it might look like if we were as passionate for evangelism as we are for the most recent Outrage against ChristTM. I wonder what it would look like if we invested ourselves into discipleship with the same fervency we invest in political and cultural battles?
Discoll onHell
Or we could try self control . . .
Therefore, the treatment for sexual addiction is a form of pseudo-redemptive window dressing in which no one, especially the addict himself, really believes. But what choices does the wife have? One potential “cure” is chemical or surgical castration—no man volunteers, not to mention the wronged wife would be deprived of sex anyway, a sort of cutting off your nose to spite your face. The second choice is to view the addiction as a time-limited condition, accept the man for who he is, and wait until his desires extinguish. Lets stop pathologizing every human behavior, like male libido.
I’ve no idea who Dr. Karasu is. If we accept his premise, that all men are sex addicts at heart, I think there is a third option for dealing with this.
Throughout history man’s baser instincts have been controlled. The ability to control these instincts has traditionally been developed through religion. Religion seeks to teach the man how to control and properly express these physiological needs. This is a benefit to society, as it promotes healthy families in which the subsequent generation is raised.
Dr. Karasu misses this–or dismisses this, perhaps. Our options aren’t just castration or waiting it out. A third option is simple: confront such behavior as sin and call the sinner to repentance.
As with any other sin, sexual sins can ultimately only be healed by CHrist. And Christ heals through our repentance.
h/t Hot Air
Media Exposure, Addiction Part II: Parenting
Two decades ago, the average child under 18 spent about 15 to 20 hours per week digesting media content. Today, it has nearly tripled to almost 60 hours per week of unduplicated time. They now devote more time to media than to anything other than sleep.
Another aspect of Barna’s post on media addiction: kids media consumption time. It seems he includes in this TV, Movies, Internet and Gaming. My question is, ‘How much of this reflects the increase in how much media we have?’ We didn’t have the internet when I was a kid. Television was new when my parents were kids, and the radio was new before that. Perhaps a part of this is simply a consequence of more media options.
At the same time, I can’t help but notice another trend. Parents who have little or no time to spend with their kids. Mom and Dad both work (for the kids, of course), so Tommy is carted off to all day preschool, before and after school care and eventually becomes what we used to call a latch-key kid.
Perhaps, then, it’s not simply how many options we have, it’s that parents don’t want to be parents-and media provides an easy babysitter. Who doesn’t know the bliss of letting the kid play Wii so that you can get some work done?
The answer, then, is simple: parents being parents. Parenting, from a Christian perspective, is discipling. We are training our kids to be men and women of faith in Christ. That takes time–a lot of time. It requires parents prioritizing how much time they spend with their kids, and making sure that time is well spent.
Family game night, with good old-fashioned board games, is a great way to connect with kids and teach them about healthy competition. Family devotions are a great way for the family to read, pray and discuss God’s Word together. Family movie night can not only be entertaining, but can provide fodder for faith building conversations.
Of course, each of these has a common denominator–parents actively and personally involved in the lives of their children.
Media Exposure, Addiction from Barna
One of the latter conclusions is this: media exposure has become America’s most widespread and serious addiction.
Read the whole article. It’s an interesting take on our media saturated age. One one hand, I wonder if its simply a new age. Before books became widespread, folks were largely illiterate. Ever since we’ve had some folks who prefer not to read, some folks in the middle and the bookworms–people with a voracious appetite for reading. Yet, I’ve never heard a bookworm referred to as an addict. Of course, like media, not all forms of books are edifying–and some folks love forms of books that a Christian might label problematic (think: romance novels, erotica, etc). So, perhaps future generations will see our modern media age as another societal transformation which enabled more folks to become more informed.
On the other hand, silence and solitude are indispensible in the spiritual life of the Christian. Christ set this example for us, as He regularly took time to be alone. During these times we find Christ praying. Likewise, the Christian ought to spend time alone with Him in prayer and quiet reflection. Not only does this help us to hear Him, prayerful reflection upon His word helps us to internalize Christ’s teaching so it becomes a part of us. Also, that quiet time digs a deeper well of peace in the Christian soul, enabling us to face the frustrations of life with a Christlike mindset.
Why not unplug the TV, Wii and Computer for awhile, sit down with the Bible and pray, read–even discuss it with your family?
Sports and Christianity
An interesting, thought provoking article on sports and Christianity.
Sports Fanatics | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction.
My two cents: perhaps sports could be viewed with Paul’s admonition, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways,” (1 Corinthians 13.11).
Freedom of Speech
In America we enjoy free speech. We can voice our opinions, religious, political, etc, without fear of government reprisal or censorship. This is a great blessing, for sure. Of course, we must also, then, be prepared to be offended. If free speech means anything, it means people get to say unpopular things. After all, it’s not really free speech if they can only say what I agree with.
Thus, I find it somewhat curious that those who hold pornography to be protected speech are up in arms over the upcoming Focus on the Family Superbowl ad. This ad, which appears to be the Tim Tebow’s mom recounting her decision to not abort him, has raised the hackles of many pro-abortion groups, such as the National Organization for Women. Many are attacking CBS for even allowing the ad to air–despite the fact Focus on the Family is paying for the ad, just like Miller or Budweiser or anyone else.
In this case, NOW specifically states:
Make no mistake about this ad: it’s offensive to women.
I’m not a woman, but I don’t think its offensive to women–just to some women. But, even if it is offensive to every woman alive, does that mean CBS’ decision to air it is ‘revolting?’ Or, is CBS exercising their right to do business with whom they please, while Focus is exercising their right to free speech?
Sometimes I think they don’t want free speech for all, but just for them.
More Unseriousness
On the fan forum site “Avatar Forums,” a topic thread entitled “Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible,” has received more than 1,000 posts from people experiencing depression and fans trying to help them cope.
So, now people are depressed and suicidal because the beauty and wonder of Pandora is not real. What’s next, being upset because you’ll never spin webs like Spiderman?
Seriously, though, this underlines the fact that we are not built for this world. We were created for more, for something far greater. And we will find something to try and fill that void. For these folks, an impossible fantasy is their void-filler. Others turn to utopian ideals, and other, more pragmatic folks, turn to sensual pleasure. But whatever your kick, you will look for something else, something greater.
Perhaps this is because we are fallen creatures. Within us is an innate realization that we were made for more than this fallen world. But we don’t want to accept the simplest conclusion: we were made for God. You see, if I accept this conclusion it means I am no longer master of my domain. It means I am servant, creature and beholden to the God who made me. It means He calls the shots, not I. It means I must live according to His plan.
For many this is simply unthinkable, and so they reject the concept of God. They turn, then, to the Creation and fellow creatures to try and find what they are looking for. For me, I turn to God. I figure if I was created by Him and for Him, then I can never realize the fulness of all that I was created for apart from Him. Thus, satisfaction, peace, joy and all those desires of my heart can only be finally and fully found in Him.
So, why would I trade lesser pleasures in the Creation when I am offered the superior pleasures from the Creator?
“my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord,” Jeremiah 31:14 (ESV)
Brandon Markette 