Disqus - Latest Comments for markvans

Re: Jesus and the Way of Compassion

markvans — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 15:35:40 -0000

This started so well, but fell short. You don't end the suffering of an addict by taking them to rehab. Compassion and solidarity also mean addressing the reasons for addiction...which almost always have to do with trauma and structural violence.

Re: Jesus and the Way of Compassion

markvans — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 16:19:06 -0000

My experience and my read of the mystics who have come before is NOT at all that they are indifferent to injustice. How can one care about community and communion while turning their back to oppression? Read deeper.

Re: David Platt, Donald Trump, and the Need for Prophets

markvans — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 17:05:56 -0000

There is nothing remotely Christ-like in your post. You are attributing bile and condemnation to the Holy Spirit. You should feel ashamed of yourself.

Re: David Platt, Donald Trump, and the Need for Prophets

markvans — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 18:54:32 -0000

Huh? Platt strayed from accepted dogma?

Re: David Platt, Donald Trump, and the Need for Prophets

markvans — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 15:19:09 -0000

That's part of my point. That we find a moderate and safe prayer for the president (the most powerful man on earth who is responsible for countless suffering) so refreshing is an indictment of the Church in America.

Re: David Platt, Donald Trump, and the Need for Prophets

markvans — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 15:18:13 -0000

We need to expect more. My issue is only tangentially with Platt. My core issue is that we think this is the most we can hope for.

I don't need to establish that I'd do different. Anyone and everyone who knows me at all, without exception, could easily guess how I'd respond.

Re: The Gospel of American Jesus

markvans — Wed, 22 May 2019 15:59:20 -0000

Just a reminder that I will block folks who show up here to just go on and on about things having nothing to do with the content of the article. Especially if you fall into the sad tropes of "angry atheist who responds to any and every religion article with arguments against spirituality" or "fundamentalist Christian who responds to any and every religion article to hijack a thread to spread their own ideas about Christianity."

Have a subversive day!

Re: The Gospel of American Jesus

markvans — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:47:31 -0000

I'm not sure of the point you're making.

Re: The Gospel of American Jesus

markvans — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:46:35 -0000

This is what astonishes you about today?

Re: The Gospel of American Jesus

markvans — Fri, 03 May 2019 13:44:26 -0000

Thank you!

Re: Turning Over Tables Today

markvans — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:59:18 -0000

Jesus wasn't in a position to remake the mythology of Rome or even Israel. His was a relatively small movement at first.

There is an eloquence to groups like the Amish, Hutterite, and Bruderhof. But their's is a limited witness that doesn't do anything to liberate others. And the extent to which they themselves are liberated is also something to question.

Re: Turning Over Tables Today

markvans — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 19:49:25 -0000

I don't really think it is reasonable to expect we can bring the military to it's knees. But we can make bold, disobedient, witness that not only slows down the machine a bit, but one that wakes people from their apathetic slumber.

What do you think Jesus' tactical reasons were for his disruption?

Or the Berrigans with destroying draft cards?

Or King in planning a Poor people's march.

None of these are more spiritual than the others. And none are more political than the others.

Re: All Jude Law Movies Ranked

markvans — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 17:58:21 -0000

I know these are film ratings. But, in my mind, the future means a collapsing of the destinctions between film and television/streamed series. And with that in mind, the Young Pope is one of Law's great performances.

Re: 5 Lessons Jordan Peterson Has Taught the Church

markvans — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 15:16:12 -0000

It irritates me how much you assume that giving Jordan Peterson a long, thoughtful, respectful hearing is the respectable path forward. as though those who reject him are idiots or childish. Meanwhile, you dismiss Jung and Darwin. I'm going to venture a guess that you haven't given Darwin and Jung as much energy as you've given Peterson but understand the gist of their work to know you don't approve.

And you know what? That's fine. You should simply recognize that others can make a similar assessment of Jordan Peterson.

I think it is noteworthy that Jordan Peterson is reaching young white men who aren't really finding a place in the church and also aren't finding a place among progressive movements. Why that is seems way more complicated than you, the author, recognize. You seem to think Jordan Peterson is being used by God and we, the church, should listen.

I think it is more accurate to say Peterson is tapping into young white men's sense of shame and anxiety and giving them a way to deal with them, but the way he's doing that is to tell them they've been tricked by progressivism or radicalism or the dreaded "Postmodern Neo-Marxism" and that they should reclaim their authority. This is why Peterson is so wildly popular among conservatives.

So, yes. Peterson is encouraging young white men. But to use Christian language: he's encouraging the Rich Young Ruler by affirming that he can receive the kingdom just as he is, without having to sell everything and giving it to the poor. He's preaching a Gospel of reclamation, not renunciation. And to those who honestly see misogyny and white supremacy as intrinsically woven into the fabric of our society, and who want white men to confessionally engage in solving these problems, Peterson is hugely problematic.

Now is a time where white dudes need to hear the Gospel. But Peterson isn't pitching the Gospel. To be fair, I feel like the Church's "gospel" is too spiritualized. And the Gospel of the Left is usually to offer white men a path of self-anihilation or social justice performance, rather than deep transformation that shows them that working for liberation is good for them too.

For what it's worthy: I've spent a lot of time reading Jordan Peterson. I've got two theological degrees. I've studied Jung in-depth. And I lecture regularly on politics. That isn't me somehow claiming to be an expert. But it is my way of saying "be careful before you jump in with the assumption that I'm arguing from a place of ignorance or simplistic reading of Peterson."

Re: 5 Lessons Jordan Peterson Has Taught the Church

markvans — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 15:08:21 -0000

That's lazy. Plenty of folks have offered deep critiques of Jordan Peterson based upon research. But this idea persists that they simply don't "get him." Jordan Peterson is like a Rosharch test for conservative minds. He has emotional appeal. And he's a somewhat inconsistent thinker who draws folks largely around his diagnosis of what's wrong with society.

Those who disagree with his diagnosis are almost always dismissed at somehow not doing enough reading. Or lacking some core instinct.

Re: Cold salad with lutefisk and beans

markvans — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 23:09:17 -0000

Is the lutefisk served warm or cold? I'm experimenting with trying to serve cold lutefisk in a manner vaguely reminiscient of sushi...using cooked rye berries that have been chilled, serving with a thin slice of lutefisk, and topping with pea shoots, pickled mustard seeds, and fine diced dill stems (to add some "crunch"). But I've never chilled lutefisk and wonder how that effects the texture.

Re: When Anabaptists were refugees

markvans — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 12:02:41 -0000

The title for this article is unfortunate. There are plenty of Mennonites that are still refugees, and there have been Mennonite refugees (particularly people of color) in recent years.

Re: Jesus didn’t get crucified for writing a strongly worded letter to the Sanhedrin

markvans — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 11:40:34 -0000

I don't base my religious understanding off of the meriam webster definiton of words. The outer courts are part of the temple, not outside the temple. And by disrupting that part of the temple compound, Jesus disrupted the flow of worship. It isn't as though Jesus were hanging out outside out of the way and folks were free to go abotu their usual business.

Yes, he didn't go into the holy of holies and start screaming. I'm by no means advocating doing anything and everything we can do disrupt.

Re: Employing the Politics of Disruption in the Church

markvans — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 21:45:17 -0000

Where do I suggest "shouting someone down?"

Follow up question: Do you believe Black Lives Matter is legitimate?

Re: Employing the Politics of Disruption in the Church

markvans — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:43:48 -0000

Authorized by God, perhaps. But not by the religious elites. Are you suggesting that everyone else needs to stay purely respectable and go through proper channels in speaking hard truths unless they are Jesus Christ? Or a prophet from the time before Christ? I didn't realize the Spirit went on vacation 2000 years ago and never came back.

Re: Jesus didn’t get crucified for writing a strongly worded letter to the Sanhedrin

markvans — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 16:41:16 -0000

My first focus is witnessing to those INSIDE the church. Those outside, at least the ones I know, long for the church to stand with the oppressed instead of continuing to be a force of status quo and oppression with a polite mask on.

Re: Jesus didn’t get crucified for writing a strongly worded letter to the Sanhedrin

markvans — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 15:11:52 -0000

No, I'm labelling your use of substandard scholarly techniques to privilege and sanctify whiteness over brownness as "white supremacy." And your response only demonstrates that more.

Strong's is a very faulty reference source for language study. It is akin to using the dictionary to discuss linguistics.

And then to move from there to make assertions about the whiteness of the people of God in a way that insinuates a privileging of whiteness?

Seriously, you need to examine yourself and repent. Your theological framework justifies all sorts of horrible oppression; you are ensnared in wicked shit, man.

Re: Jesus didn’t get crucified for writing a strongly worded letter to the Sanhedrin

markvans — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 02:20:37 -0000

Paul said that "he completed the sufferings of Christ" in his own sufferings. Consider that (from Colossians 1) for a while and then re-read your comment.

Re: Jesus didn’t get crucified for writing a strongly worded letter to the Sanhedrin

markvans — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 02:19:07 -0000

You seem to be under the impression that the Church and Christ are apolitical and that to disrupt or challenge worship is to be in line with the politics of the day. Instead of seeing such acts as a continuation of the prophetic tradition.

The whole point of disruption is to call out the way that these churches have become enmeshed to non-Christian lines of thinking. That these churches are helping create the legitimizing myths of our Empire is hard to challenge.

Re: Jesus didn’t get crucified for writing a strongly worded letter to the Sanhedrin

markvans — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 02:15:32 -0000

White Supremacy much?