Disqus - Latest Comments for Ben

Re: Silencing the Roar

Ben — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:48:00 -0000

@James

I'm sorry, but I think that is a really poor way to use that verse. You may have not meant it this way... but it sounds like an excuse. Jesus said that when he was explaining why it was ok for what was happening, because he was only here for a short time, but... [what you quoted].

Well, he's not with us in that sense anymore. We will always have the poor with us, but the magnitude of it in other parts of the world (and even some places here) is unacceptable.

[insert quote of the sermon on the mount here]

Re: Moving Beyond Postmodernism

Ben — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:11:00 -0000

I don't know if I totally agree with this post. Sure, the full idea of postmodernism is that there is no truth... but if that is all one sees of it, I think it's an incomplete view. To me the culture of postmodernism has made it easier to understand that we are not objective creatures. We do not fully understand our side, necessarily. I do think it is our responsibility to understand to the fullness of our ability what the Bible says and what God thinks about everything (etc), that is one of the reasons I'm studying theology in school, but I also think it is imperative to understand that those who think differently from us are not (by default) right. I still hate how much of the "I read scripture simply for what it says, and those who disagree with me are obviously reading it through a liberal lens (or whatever)." It's not true... they may be reading it through a "liberal" lense, but all of us read it through some kind of lens. Heidegger and Levinas (mid 1900s philosophers) were some of the people responsible for the postmodernism that exists today and they talked about this kind of stuff.

Something I definitely would agree with is that the term has become far too trendy, and therefore is being misused like crazy. And it is also very misunderstood by people in the previous generations. A professor gave an example once of how postmodern Christians think about the Bible, that they can both affirm they own view and state that someone else's opposite view about the same subject is also right... therefore not believing in the law of non-contradiction. I think this is wrong. Perhaps some do think like this (I could name a few), but I do not think this way and I am definitely postmodern.

I'll give an example about how I approach things:

When it comes to the role of women in ministry and patriarchal/egalitarianism... I am definitely in support of women in all roles of ministry and of egalitarianism, and I feel I have very Biblical reasons for that. BUT, I know that both sides have tremendous amounts of scholarship and work and books and teaching about what they think, therefore it is obviously not a simple issue (this is something important to understand). If something is not a simple issue, I cannot think someone is stupid for agreeing with me or not (acting that way would be what was stupid). Therefore, I respect the other position and the people who think differently from me and that subject... all the while taking the chances that can get (very graciously) to talk to them about it and about why I think differently. I also have to make sure I am open to God being bigger than my box, and if I'm wrong about something I want God to be able to expand my view outside of my own. I realize I need to be humble enough to know that I don't have the objective corner on this issue. This DOES NOT mean I don't believe in the law of non-contradiction, I KNOW that one of the answers MUST be true, there IS something that God thinks about this, but I'm not God... my job is try my best to live out what I believe God wants me to do.

So I think I would partially agree with this article, there are things that come with postmoderism that are not healthy for the church, but I think the view of postmodernism in this article is incomplete.

Grace and Peace

Re: 7 Burning Issues: Injustice

Ben — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:53:00 -0000

Quote - "I have absolutely no idea where this article is trying to lead to other than the fact that it seems to be dancing around the concept of "What do we do regarding Liberation Theology?"."

This social justice that these people are talking about is not the "Liberation Theology" that puts a bad taste in church people's mouths... it's not that easy to throw away what they are saying. It's not the same as the 1920s liberation theology. What these guys are talking about is that the two are inseparable, so you don't come to a conclusion between the two of them... it's not nicely separated in the Bible. We have in a very real way reacted so hard against the 1920s liberation theology that we (generalizing) haven't done much in that realm lately. Are there churches that are doing amazing things in this area? Absolutely! But it is not the norm.

Re: Is the Creation Museum Worth It?

Ben — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:22:00 -0000

Man... there were some negative reactions to this post...

I think Matt has to say is important. Is it the gospel of love or the gospel of "being right"?

Re: Let's all take a deep breath and get some perspective

Ben — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:32:49 -0000

You seem about as extreme and logical as Michael More or Michael Savage... which means preaching to the choir, because most people will not listen to this stuff if they don't already agree.

Re: Screenshots of the latest PalmOS apps

Ben — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:56:03 -0000

The sweet : )- "RNS::WeekUp" app looks awesome with the curved days of the week on the left!!!

I can't believe these are current...