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Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Guerilla Evangelism
Wow, lots of religion in today's news.
This story is funny, in a sad way. A company that sells a talking Jesus doll who quotes the Bible offered to donate 4000 dolls to Toys for Tots and was rejected.
Good for Toys for Tots! I think that these dolls are perfectly fine and would make a great gift, for a Christian girl or boy, but what a mess if a Jewish or Muslim kid received one of these.
Is this what Jesus had in mind when he said to make disciples of all nations? Is this responsible evangelism?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0611150119nov15,1,16059.story?coll=chi-news-hed
This story is funny, in a sad way. A company that sells a talking Jesus doll who quotes the Bible offered to donate 4000 dolls to Toys for Tots and was rejected.
Good for Toys for Tots! I think that these dolls are perfectly fine and would make a great gift, for a Christian girl or boy, but what a mess if a Jewish or Muslim kid received one of these.
Is this what Jesus had in mind when he said to make disciples of all nations? Is this responsible evangelism?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0611150119nov15,1,16059.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Catholic Bishops Speak about Homosexuality
The cover story of today's Redeye reads: "Catholic Church to Gays: Don't Act, Don't Tell."
US bishops have released a statement, "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination," which seems to be a mess of pastoral theology. On the one hand, it attempts to be welcoming to homosexuals, noting that it is not a sin to be attracted to people of the same sex and seemingly making a place within the church for gays and lesbians. However, according to the bishops, it is a sin to act on such attraction and homosexuals should not be overly open about their sexuality.
It seems to me that the bishops are trying to provide a genuinely pastoral response to the Catholic gay community, but I'm not sure how effective these guidelines will actually be in real pastoral situations. What kind of message is it to tell your flock that God loves you for who you are, but don't act on your natural desires and certainly don't tell anyone about it. I just don't think such a middle ground approach will be very effective.
Of course, I'm not sure the Presbyterian Church is doing any better. You could make a pretty strong case that our national rules and practices are just as middle ground and just as ineffective. Sure, there are churches that are completely open and welcoming to the GLTB community and there are churches that are not, but as a national body we've been sending mixed messages for years, and I don't think that our most recent General Assembly actions are any different.
The cultural and religious wars over sexuality are painful and slow. How I wish that we could fast forward to a conclusion, but that doesn't seem to be God's way. Two thousand years into this movement called Christianity and over three thousand years since an ancient people named Israel began its journey with God, we're still trying to figure out what it is that God intends for us and how we are to live that out.
You can read the Redeye story and leave your own comments at http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/red-111506-church-main,0,2123267.story .
US bishops have released a statement, "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination," which seems to be a mess of pastoral theology. On the one hand, it attempts to be welcoming to homosexuals, noting that it is not a sin to be attracted to people of the same sex and seemingly making a place within the church for gays and lesbians. However, according to the bishops, it is a sin to act on such attraction and homosexuals should not be overly open about their sexuality.
It seems to me that the bishops are trying to provide a genuinely pastoral response to the Catholic gay community, but I'm not sure how effective these guidelines will actually be in real pastoral situations. What kind of message is it to tell your flock that God loves you for who you are, but don't act on your natural desires and certainly don't tell anyone about it. I just don't think such a middle ground approach will be very effective.
Of course, I'm not sure the Presbyterian Church is doing any better. You could make a pretty strong case that our national rules and practices are just as middle ground and just as ineffective. Sure, there are churches that are completely open and welcoming to the GLTB community and there are churches that are not, but as a national body we've been sending mixed messages for years, and I don't think that our most recent General Assembly actions are any different.
The cultural and religious wars over sexuality are painful and slow. How I wish that we could fast forward to a conclusion, but that doesn't seem to be God's way. Two thousand years into this movement called Christianity and over three thousand years since an ancient people named Israel began its journey with God, we're still trying to figure out what it is that God intends for us and how we are to live that out.
You can read the Redeye story and leave your own comments at http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/red-111506-church-main,0,2123267.story .
Out of the Mouths of Babes
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/illinois/chi-ap-il-immigrationactivi,1,5031863.story?coll=chi-newsap_il-hed
The Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune have been following the story of a Mexican mother, an illegal immigrant, and her son, a US citizen, who are living in a church in Humboldt Park. Yesterday, the boy, a second-grader named Saul Arellano, spoke to Mexico's 500-member congress, asking their help to lobby the US government to stop the deportation of his mother, Elvira Arellano. As you might imagine, there has been some controversy surrounding the boy's trip to Mexico on behalf of his mother. Illegal immigration has become one of America's most heated debates, and if the Arellano's win this case, it will set a major precedent for more than 4.9 million children of illegal immigrants facing deportation.
What do you think about this issue?
What is at stake?
What are our responsibilities to these families?
What do you think about a child being so deeply involved in this debate?
What should the church's stance be? Many church leaders and communities have become involved in efforts to protect illegal immigrants. Is this our calling? What do you think about the church in Humboldt Park?
The Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune have been following the story of a Mexican mother, an illegal immigrant, and her son, a US citizen, who are living in a church in Humboldt Park. Yesterday, the boy, a second-grader named Saul Arellano, spoke to Mexico's 500-member congress, asking their help to lobby the US government to stop the deportation of his mother, Elvira Arellano. As you might imagine, there has been some controversy surrounding the boy's trip to Mexico on behalf of his mother. Illegal immigration has become one of America's most heated debates, and if the Arellano's win this case, it will set a major precedent for more than 4.9 million children of illegal immigrants facing deportation.
What do you think about this issue?
What is at stake?
What are our responsibilities to these families?
What do you think about a child being so deeply involved in this debate?
What should the church's stance be? Many church leaders and communities have become involved in efforts to protect illegal immigrants. Is this our calling? What do you think about the church in Humboldt Park?
Friday, November 10, 2006
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