Of Parables, Parallels and Sermons…
Just from a slightly more in-depth perusal of Slice 2.0 as I enjoy my afternoon carbonated beverage, I am positing that perhaps CR?N was not focusing enough on legalistic externals (like dress, worship, sermon topics, etc.), due to its focus on slandering the internals. Or, Ingrid was growing weary of the lack of proof-by-assertion, which was so much easier with a ‘comments’ section.
Regardless, the articles on the “new” Slice appear to primarily be externals-oriented, and just as legalistic as we’ve come to expect from Ingrid. Case in point, one of her first potshots is taken at Christianity Today’s article on some of the Christian themes within the Spiderman movies, and a sermon which touched on this subject, as well.
Her “insightful” comments on the subject?
When I was a child, the vast number of biblical characters provided the meat of our messages in Sunday School and church. Who needs heroes of the Bible anymore when you have Spiderman, Batman, Superman, and so forth? When the only sin railed against in church is boredom, this is what you get.
Let’s see… Jesus lived in an agrarian society, and he told parables that pulled from… (wait for it) … life in an agrarian society. When he was in Jerusalem, Jesus adapted a line from Greek playwright Euripides’ play “The Trojan Women” (Matt 23:37; Luke 13:34). When Jesus was in Capernaum, he spoke of millstones where millstones were made. When Paul was in Crete, he quoted a Cretan prophet. When he was in Athens, speaking on Mars Hill, Paul used the altar to “an unknown god” to make his point.
Througout scripture, the surroundings and culture of the people are used to make a point to them - to reveal God’s truth as given by His prophets and apostles. This is not to say that every Christian message should be given thusly, but I somehow doubt that the sum-total of Tapestry church’s preaching is on the subject of superheroes.
Apparently the old peanut gallery/amen chorus at CR?N/Slice 2.0 has been itching for an outlet, because the first comment on this article is so indicitave of the legalism and myopia evident in Slice 1.0’s comment section:
I have a neat idea. Instead of using Hollywood movies written by unregenearate, unsaved persons…why not use illustrations about the Biblical Christ from say…oh…the BIBLE!!!
Heartening, though, is that frequent CRN.Info commenter Russ N’s comment was published:
Or lets consider that a majority of people in the US are not familiar with the figures from the Bible. They see it as dated and irrelevant. Taking snippets of a popular movie and then bringing it back to the Bible can help people see the relevance of the Bible in their lives (where they previously thought it irrelevant).
God’s word will not return void.
We’ll see how long this lasts, though, and how many comments ACTUALLY get through. As for any change in tone between Slice 1.0 and Slice 2.0, Ingrid leaves no room for doubt that nothing has changed. She finishes her diatribe with a scolding of the author of the Christianity Today article:
P.S. to Mark Moring at Christianity Today: Grow up.
His sin? He writes about entertainment issues, and doesn’t kowtow to Ingrid’s, not God’s, sense of propriety. Fortunately, there is a big difference between the two…
May 7th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Last night I got to hear from the missions pastor of a large church in Southeast Wisconsin that (guess what) Ingrid has railed on in the past.
They recently had Darrell Bock from Dallas Theological Seminary speak to the staff. One of the quotes that the missions pastor gave us was, “we are caught in the culture wars.”
The context of the quote was that the evangelical church in America is generally seen in the culture as “finger-wagging, angry, and shrill” and that “it will take the evangelical church at least the next 20 years to undo the damage…”
Your honor, I submit Exhibit A.
Seems CRN.info is going to have to move into hyper-drive to keep up now that SOL 2.0 is back.
May 7th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
1. Most people know what a millstone is even today and we don’t have even to live in Capernaum.
2. There is a vast difference between agrarian society and its elements, and using a movie that only seeks to feed unholy lifestyles, and greed. I’m afraid the usage of “christian themes” will not lead anyone to Christ or expand their knowledge of Christ. These entertainments, however, will continue to deceive the masses that all is well, and that they along with Jesus, and Spidey (friend of Jesus), are cool; besides fattening the bank accounts of unregenerate celebrities.
3. No one cares how much you think you know about about 1st century culture. Such knowledge is not needed to interpret the Scriptures. The Scriptures stand alone. All knowledge submits to the Word. The Holy Spirit does the interpreting. Of course I am just a “modern gnostic”, simply because I believe that the Word is living and active, and the spiritual truths it conveys transcend all culture and all time.
The definition of a true gnostic is one who claims special knowledge outside of the Word.
The Spirit and the Word, the Word and the Spirit.
May 7th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
“I’m afraid the usage of “christian themes†will not lead anyone to Christ or expand their knowledge of Christ.”
How do you know? What if this is how God planned to reach His elect?
“No one cares how much you think you know about about 1st century culture. Such knowledge is not needed to interpret the Scriptures. The Scriptures stand alone. All knowledge submits to the Word.”
Chris, you have made this statement numerous times on this blog. We all disagree, your interpretation isn’t based solely on the word, etc. etc.
May 7th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
“…a movie that only seeks to feed unholy lifestyles, and greed”
For man looks on the outward appearance, but Chris P looks on the heart. Darn, I wish I had the ability to know others’ motives. But I have to rely on that God guy.
May 7th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
ChrisP says:
But, as you’ve proven, not everyone knows what a “bad eye” and a “good eye” referred to, colloquially…