The terrible reality of God = The terrible God of reality

 A meditation on the fear of God: 

“There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways, or stay in its paths. “

Armenian Christian Women Crucified by Ottomans in 1916

Jesus Was a Pimp?

This blog owes a lot to Del Parsons and a very awkward painting of Jesus (if you’re curious about the title of this post you have to check out that link).  So in effort to honor that legacy we must point out the glory of perhaps the most awkward painting of Jesus of all time.

Everything about this painting is awesome. I’m not sure what my favorite part is but let me point a few of them out in no particular order

1. The hole Jesus is apparently standing in
2. The baby orangutan
3. The inconsistent light sources
4. Adam’s dislocated hips and birthing posture
5. Is that the sun or the moon?
6. A miniature giraffe AND a dwarf tiger symbolizing male virility

There seem to be a few hints to me in the painting that the artist might have some Mormon influences but wasn’t for sure (Eve in particular). My suspicions were a bit confirmed by this painting of Mitt Romney welcoming a new child’s birth.  But the artist’s resume seems to indicate that he has many Evangelical connections.  Sorry Mormon friends, the brilliance of this painting appears to belong entirely to the Evangelical subculture.

Explaining Jesus to a child: the witness of the spirit.

I put my six-year-old son to bed the other night and reminded him to say his prayers.  ten or fifteen minutes later he came down with a huge smile on his face, he wanted to call his mom and tell her something (his mother and I are not married anymore). It was too late so he went back to bed. First thing the next morning he came directly downstairs and called his mother to tell her about the feeling he had when he was praying.  He explained to her, and later me, that he had this amazing feeling when he was praying and could not stop smiling about it.  Watching this experience–like so many I have had as a parent– was like looking into a mirror reflecting myself at his age.

Of course this experience raises so many questions for me, and for perhaps should raise this questions for all Christians: How do we explain the witness of the Spirit to a child.

I actually do not have a good answer– a satisfactory explanation of spiritual experience like this is perhaps the biggest question I have in life. I know there are all kinds, including those that do not involve belief in God, but my son deserves one.  And he deserves one in language he can understand.  I reject many aspects of the explanation he is routinely given at LDS church, and I am not satisfied with what I did tell them.  So I put it to anyone who reads this–how would you explain this experience to my son, if he was yours?

Upcoming Apologetics Events

I post this mostly because of Dr. Blomberg’s affiliation with ongoing LDS and Evangelical dialogue. His presentation I’m sure will illuminate his ideas about the lack of need for a Restoration.

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CULTURAL APOLOGETICS: GOODNESS, TRUTH, AND BEAUTY, FROM DANTE TO HARRY POTTER
with John Mark Reynolds, Ph.D.
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In this wonderfully stimulating presentation, Dr. John Mark Reynolds explores how the great Christian truths have changed culture from the Middle Ages to the present. You will glean the most powerful ideas for transformation from the sages of the past and learn how to apply them in your life and our present cultural situation, to bring the light of Christ to the nations.

Don’t miss this exclusive and informative mini-course!
February 7-9
Thursday and Friday, 6 – 10 pm, Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm
Biola University
Business Building
Cost: only $95

Register: www.apologeticsevents.com

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EVIDENCE FOR THE RELIABILITY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
with Craig Blomberg, Ph.D.
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Are the biblical accounts of Jesus historically reliable, or are they merely legendary? How can Christians reconcile the many variations and alleged contradictions in the copies of the New Testament? How do we answer tough new challengers, like Bart Ehrman, who have emerged in recent years?

Oh, we have the right Jesus–and this seminar will show you how to make the compelling historical case yourself from a world-renowned expert on the New Testament documents.

March 6-8
Thursday and Friday, 6 – 10 pm, Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm
Biola University
Business Building
Cost: only $95
Register: www.apologeticsevents.com

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KEY PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES IN APOLOGETICS
with William Lane Craig, Ph.D., D.Theol.
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What has happened in philosophy recently that has turned the world upside down and catapulted Christians into a leading role? One of the key figures in the revolution will present and explain for the average person the cutting-edge ideas that have captured the minds of a new generation.

Dr. Craig shares from a wealth of knowledge and experience in this can’t-miss seminar dealing with everything from the existence of God, to divine foreknowledge, to the resurrection, and more!

April 24-26
Thursday and Friday, 6 – 10 pm, Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm
Biola University
Business Building
Cost: only $95
Register: www.apologeticsevents.com

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PRIME PACKAGE
All three weekend mini-courses for only $225 (a $60 savings!)

What a Good Movie Can Do

There was so much about this audio clip from Breakpoint that I liked. I haven’t seen the movie but it sounds promising.

I’m a Christ-Follower

This touches on a lot of things we’ve been talking about

Here are 2 more

Richard Dutcher Hates Mediocre Art

Walking into Christian bookstores sometimes makes me want to puke. What we’ve decided to settle for makes me sick.

As a Christian artist one of the things that frustrates me the most about the Christian culture is the acceptance of mediocre art. More often than not Christians accept bad art just because there’s a Bible verse attached to it. What it says is that people are more interested in propoganda than beauty. Quality artwork expresses both beauty (perhaps “craft” is a better word) and truth. Sometimes a piece of art will more strongly represent one of these than the other. But it seems that to enter into our Christian ghetto the most important feature of art is that it express only things which are safe and uncontroversial. Such a representation is not only a false view of life, its a false view of Christianity and the Bible.

I have never seen any of Richard Dutcher’s films. I have no idea if what he produces has any quality. But he wrote an editorial which I think is powerful and accurate for many reasons. He wrote it to the Mormon media community, but I think what he has to say has a larger audeince than just Latter Day Saints.

Dutcher says:
In my experience, those who wave the flag of “family films” are usually those who have discovered that they lack anything valuable to say, the talent to say it, and the ability to compete in the marketplace. They are looking for a popular cause to compensate for (and to excuse) their lack of ability.

Concentrate on the presence of positives in your films, not merely the absence of negatives. Focus more on the presence of good acting, writing and cinematography and less on the absence of profanity, women’s breasts and gunfights. Passionately adhere to the guideline that it is better to tell an R-rated truth than a G-rated lie.

Stop trying to make movies that you think the General Authorities would like. General Authorities buy very few movie tickets. Make films that the rest of the human family will enjoy. Stop being afraid that if you put something “edgy” in your films then maybe you won’t get any important callings. Who cares? Someone else can be in the bishopric or the Relief Society presidency, but no one else can make those films, those very personal films, that only you can make.

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/217694/

At the end of his article Mr. Dutcher makes it sound like he is leaving the LDS community. This makes me sad. I think someone with his perspective is desperately needed to communicate Mormon stories and values. I hope more like him arise in the Evangelical world.