Marvin Olasky addresses Calvin on the Christian meaning of public life.
Category Archives: Religion
“Looking for the Kingdom in Oslo”
New post at Mere Comments.
“I do not drink… wine”
Patrick Archbold at Creative Minority Report meditates on vampires and zombies, and the differences between traditional monsters and modern ones.
Come to think of it, even the original zombies show signs of the secularization of our culture. Vampires sought to drink blood, what was then regarded as the life force. Zombies want to eat brains. I think that science and secularization is changing what is craved – in more spiritual times monsters craved blood for its life force – now they crave brains as animals crave meat. As a result they are less scary and more pathetic. Lions and tigers and bears are scary because they can eat you, but they can’t destroy your soul. Secular monsters are boring. I mean vampires aren’t even afraid of holy water and crucifixes anymore. They are clingy and misunderstood. If I want clingy and misunderstood, I will watch a Woody Allen movie. Come to think of it, Woody Allen is scarier than these vampires.
(Tip: View from the Foothills)
I’ve talked about the legend of the vampire before here. The traditional vampire (before the novelists got hold of him) was a miserable, vicious creature, barely sentient, dressed in rags, stinking of corruption, driven by hunger. He resembled a zombie a lot more than Bela Lugosi or Tom Cruise.
The novels and movies changed that. Vampires acquired style and status, the charm of the Exotic Foreigner. With time, they’ve become so cool they’re not even scary anymore (see “Twilight”). So it was necessary to import zombies to do the work vampires wouldn’t do.
But the difference as (Archbold notes) is also spiritual. Both traditional and fictional vampires had an essentially spiritual disorder. Sure, they craved a physical substance–blood–but that was a perversion of the Christian eucharist, like a Black Mass. That’s why crucifixes scared them. Modern vampires (I think Ann Rice who, ironically, is now a Catholic, pioneered this) laugh at crucifixes. Once you reach that level of materialization of the monstrous, the distinction between vampire and zombie is reduced to food preferences and fashion choices.
Today’s monsters are not damned souls, but merely consistent materialists. Scary, yes, but not very exotic.
Modern man looks for the most frightening thing he can imagine, and it turns out to be himself.
The Broken Stage in the Theater of God
Thanks again to Loren Eaton for pointing me to this stirring lecture by Mark Talbot on God’s handling of sinful men and sin’s consequences. He approaches the subject from the character of John Calvin, but he does not spend much time there, dwelling more on biblical principles and the pain of living in a fallen world. Calvin had many flaws as did Martin Luther, and Talbot quotes Luther apparently saying that depression and hardship must plague us if we are become like Christ.
There are notes on the page I’ve linked to, but listen or watch the lecture when you have time. I cannot recommend it enough.
Servetus, the Rabble-rouser
At the recent Desiring God 2009 National Conference, an excellent panel of speakers took up many interesting questions from the audience, beginning with Calvin’s involvement with Servetus’ execution. They explain that Servetus was “a bad man,” who sought out trouble in an age when everyone believed heresy was criminal and should be punished harshly. That led to a discussion about what Christians in contemporary government should try to accomplish: should they try to outlaw heresy like they did in the past?
One speaker noted that, while Calvin was an extraordinary man, he did not stand above other men of his day on the issue of executing heretics. That’s a black mark on his record from our point of view, but it isn’t the charge against him as some who like it to be. (Thanks to Loren Eaton)
Live Q&A with “Jabez” Author Bruce Wilkinson
I’ve thought about avoiding any posts on this, but WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers is doing something too interesting to ignore. Bruce Wilkinson, who made a huge splash with the book The Prayer of Jabez (and only ripples with follow-up books), has a new book which appears to focus on themes similar to “Jabez.” You Were Born for This talks about everyday miracles and the idea that you and I “can be a ‘Delivery Guy’ from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose and spiritual growth” if we “are willing to learn the ‘protocol of heaven.'”
Yeah, I don’t like the look of that either, but Mr. Wilkinson is going to be online tomorrow evening at 7:00 Eastern in a live Q&A to discuss themes in the book. Questions will be taken through the chat room.
Embarrassing
According to Jillian Bandes at Townhall.com, the big Muslim gathering in Washington D.C. was pretty much a bust.
She also notes the presence of Christian protestors, preaching through bullhorns “to disrupt the prayers.”
That’s just embarrassing. I abhor the religion of Islam (as opposed to its adherents, whom I respect as fellow human beings to the degree that they individually deserve it), but this is America, and people have the right to pray in peace. I wouldn’t like it if they disrupted our prayers, and they deserve the same courtesy. Sheesh.
How Good He Is to Those Who Fear Him
Is there any tension between the goodness of God and the fear of Him?
“Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!” (Psalm 31:19)
Much Rejoicing
John Calvin is making a comeback. On a related note, you may be interested in this audio file of a few men talking about Calvin’s legacy in the church.
The Meme of the Beast, Norwegian edition
OK, Phil, you asked for it.
1. Snag a theology book or a book on religious living. Take no more than six seconds deliberating your choice. Just snag and return.
2. Turn to page 66 and find the sixth sentence.
3. Copy it into your meme post with proper reference.
4. Post your quotation with the introduction and rules on your blog, linking to the post where you first read The Meme of the Beast.
“Thi dette er det absolut nødvendige i en virkelig Frikirke, og der hvor det mangler, er man allerede langt inde i de falske, katholske Spor, som fører til Trælldom.”
(From Professor Georg Sverdrups Samlede Skrifter i Udvalg, Tredie Bind. [The Collected Works of Professor Georg Sverdrup in Selection, Vol. 3].) The English translation (with apologies to our Catholic readers): “For this is the absolutely necessary thing in a truly free church, and wherever it is lacking, we have already gone far along the false, Catholic way which leads to slavery.”