We know that superstitions are just that: superstitions. Not only are they illusory, I think they can distract us from true appreciation of God’s providence, which is characterized by grace and generosity, not arcane tricks and “gotchas.” So it’s humbling to admit how alluring the idea of a jinx is.
Ann and I notice this whenever we’re dearly hoping that Lucy will fall asleep, whether for a nap or the night: the impulse is powerful to avoid saying, “I think she’s quiet now” — for fear that, yes, we’ll jinx it. No amount of modern rationality (or sound theology, for that matter) seems able to conquer this gut feeling.
(How do we think jinxes work, anyway? God gives us the power of language and the right to name all the animals, and we jump to the conclusion that our saying the magic words can bring something to pass. This is either the most primitive or the most postmodern idolatry of human language, I can’t tell which.)
Anyway, we heard a great story once. Our friend Charlie says he was in conversation with a distinguished New Orleanian gentleman (I always picture him in a white suit with a big mustache). Charlie passed some innocent remark that “it was lucky” that something or other happened, and the gentleman leaned in to interrupt: “Now, Chahlie, are you a _Christian_ man? There’s no ‘luck.’ There’s only the sovereignty of God.”
Fair enough.
Jon – I have to ask, from whence comes your theology? Ben and I have been curious for a long time, since you are one of very few people we have ever known who seems to rather seriously study the Word. I have never forgotten that entry where you used the word “eschatological”… we just know verrrrrrrrrrrrry few belivers… and even fewer believers who study at all.
Wow! Where does my theology come from? That would be a life’s story. :) But where I hope it mostly comes from is the Bible, as you suggested. Other notable strands include _The Rockford Files,_ Mark Heard, and the Chicago Cubs.
I’m sorry to hear that you don’t know many people who read it seriously. (As a matter of fact, many of the “Boyds’ Nest News” regulars here are thoughtful disciples of Jesus, but I’ll leave it to them to “out” themselves if they want.) Ann’s the Bible reader you really want to get next to, because she really lets the Word sink down deep.
I’m also glad you like the word “eschatological.” I’ve been known occasionally to use both it and “scatological” in the same sentence. :)
I’m also glad you like the word “eschatological.†I’ve been known occasionally to use both it and “scatological†in the same sentence. :)
Having attended Beer Night, I can testify that this is true.
I’ll “out” the Wetzels on this topic, and I can say that we have picked up our theology where everyone does: on the journey.
We practice reading/studying/meditating on the Bible. We’ve read C.S. Lewis, as well as all sorts of other books (see, for examples, the blog for http://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com). We have had strong, thoughtful Christian input and training from Charismatic, Catholic, Covenant & Vineyard Churches, parachurch groups like InterVarsity, Marriage Encounter, and Couple to Couple League. But all these are resources that sprang to life only in response to the questions that came up as we went through the daily grind. “What’s worth doing for a living? How do men & women relate? How can we raise our kids? How should we vote? Why are people-why are we-so bad, or so good?” What we gained from the Bible, etc., was partly the result of how deeply we used those “spiritual” things to press in to our real-life experiences. (It was also the result of the grace of God.)
That desire to press in–that came from people: Nicole’s dad up at 4:30 each morning reading his Bible in the quiet, pre-dawn dark; the hints of glory and community shining through the people preaching & singing on Sunday morning. Being around them convinced us that something worthwhile was here, that the Word was for us. We pursued that Word, and everything else has been commentary.
Grace and Peace to you, on your journey.
why does “outing [myself] as a serious disciple of Jesus” feel like boasting?
Probably because it feels less than true these days. I haven’t studied the Bible as regularly nor as deeply since kids were born – nor as regularly and deeply as I’ve wanted to. But I still have to echo, with Peter, “where else can we go, Master? You have the words of eternal life!”
Theology and Bible study are acquired tastes, like learning in general – or like drinking coffee – and I think we as American evangelicals have done a poor job cultivating that taste. But like any coffee drinker knows, once you’ve been won over to coffee you dream about it, you long for it, you hunger for it, you savor it – and nothing else will satisfy, most especially NOT the “instant coffee” theology of pop psychology and most Christian bookstores. All instant coffee makes you do (besides leaving a terrible taste in your mouth) is ache for the real stuff. :o)
So how ought we cultivate the taste in our children? Simply by showing our love for God’s word, or is there more? I’m trying (and failing) to imagine an inductive Bible study with my nearly-8-y-o, 6-y-o, and 2-y-o twins. We’ve been seriously deficient in any sort of devotional. I’d love to hear what other families do.
Ooooooooooooooo… Kelly. I have been reading “Training Up a Child” which is produced and supplied to all who ask for it (at NO charge… not even postage!) by beracha church out of Texas. The previous pastor-teacher there put together GREAT stuff for parents to use while working with their kids – of all ages starting from Preschool and beyond. (Imagine singing about sin and repentance to the tune and movements of the “Hokey Pokey” and you’ll know what I was doing last night by myelf in our bedroom!) Colonel Theime is where we get our bible doctrine here. He’s a fundamentalist (right down to teaching a bunch of greek and Hebrew each lecture), and that might not be what you’re looking for… but still getting the book might give you some ideas?
If you’re interested the web address is http://www.rbthieme.org. You can’t order the books on-line, you have to call – but it is a NO hassle call, I promise (I hate hassle.).
I thave been thinking quite a bit about this particular post. Mostly because a few weeks ago another officer (minister in the Salvation Army) asked what we thought of tatoos. She wanted one to display her faith. I thought…hum, shouldn’t that happen through your daily life? Then Jon’s comment on outing the christians readers of boydsnest. I thought, “God are you saying something here?” Maybe I am not displaying Christ enough through my life? As for theology, Jon is right the Bible is the best source, although we often need to seek others for a better understanding and wider perspective. I would be very aprehensive to only have one source. We here in the Goodwill home really enjoy Rob Bell, he has a great video set that is put out by nooma (www.nooma.com). Although we seek many other sources too.
Right now we are preaching a series on the roots of the salvation army and it has lead me to many great theologians of the past. So if you want some interesting read google william and catherine booth. They were pretty radical! As always, please forgive spelling, not easy typing with a 9mo old in your lap. :-)
i would have to identify myself as the token heretic around here. i was raised in a fundamentalist cult for most of my formative years and then spent my college through late 20s in the vineyard/mainstream evangelical church atmostphere. i left the church when i was about 30 when i started questioning everything i had been raised to believe.
i’ve found a lot of encouragement in reading and conversing with people in the emergent movement (esp. books by brian mclaren). i’ve been learning that God is so much more accepting and loving than i could have ever imagined, and that is a great relief to me. i started going to church again after i had my daughter 2 years ago. we found a little methodist church that was very homey, and i hope it’ll be a safe place for our family to grow and live in community with others.
i don’t really read the bible too much these days, i have to admit. fortunately, 15 years in a fundamentalist cult branded much of the bible into my permanent memory, and i do still refer to the bible a lot as i live my daily life. i believe that scripture is useful for encouragement and edification and for shedding light on God. however, i’m not of the ‘god said it, i believe it, that settles it’ camp. i’ve learned that god’s okay with me questioning things and even not believing. he is just so much more secure in himself than i used to give him credit for!
i must confess that i don’t spend too much time around self-professing christians. i have issues, yeah. but i still dig folks like jon and ann and derek and linda and the marions totally rock even though i may not see eye to eye with them on all theological stuff.
and that’s about all i’ve got to say about that.
Sarah, I think it’s safe to say you’re far from the only heretic around here. :) And that’s if you even are one. Maybe you really are a heretic (I couldn’t say), but the key things you’ve said here certainly don’t make you one:
* questioning what you were raised to believe
and learning that
* God is more accepting and loving than you could have ever imagined
* God is more “secure in himself” than you used to think
None of that is heresy, it’s historic orthodoxy. (I hope that’s not bad news!) :)
jon, i’ve been learning that there is a much more generous orthodoxy (if i can borrow a brian mclaren title) than the orthodoxy that was taught to me in my more fundamentalist/evangelical upbringing. no, i don’t think i’m really a heretic. but i bet some of my family members do! which doesn’t really bother me…
i have to say that i do admire the microchurch concept. from what i’ve heard of it, it sounds so much more organic than much of what i’ve seen of the institutional church. not that the institutional church is bad. well, sometimes it can be, i guess, but that can happen to any organization, formal or informal.