Linkathon!

Outside T. Fold says:

On “The Hug Seen Round the World” (published 10/4), it’s a shame that essay was written before the news about Botham Jean’s neighbor, Joshua Brown: Brown testified in the trial as witness to the murder and Friday night (10.4), he was ambushed and shot and killed at close range. Family attorney said that one gunshot was to the mouth. An intimidation move. (Message: do not testify against police/white people).

The reflection on the hug needs to include reflection on the revenge and the threat.

If I were to sit down and work my way through a tough bit of theology (in keeping with the writer of “Faith Involves Your Brain Too,” quoting C. S. Lewis: “working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hands”) I would tackle living in a world and the relationship between hug of forgiveness with the shotgun to mouth of death and intimidation.

Xenia says:

He may be an Orthodox scholar but his ideas are not in agreement with Orthodox theology.

Xenia says:

That is, he’s a scholar who happens to be Orthodox, not a scholar of Orthodoxy.

Xenia says:

There’s also a Fr. Kimel, quite active on the internet, who used to be, not sure he still is, Orthodox who promotes a form of universalism. I quit reading him several years ago when he stopped promoting orthodox Orthodoxy.

Xenia says:

I’ve been thinking about why I am so adverse to studying different (heterodox) doctrines and seem pretty intractable about most things, sticking firmly to traditional Eastern Orthodoxy as if my life depends upon it. Why I resist reading books by people with non-Orthodox or non-orthodox ideas.

And here’s what I came up with: For most of my Christian life, I was very anxious regarding my salvation. Also, there was that decades-long slide into sin I’ve mentioned. Then I had My Experience and found a Church where my anxieties are gone and while I’m still a sinner, I have a better idea of what God expects of me. It was a major before-and-after dividing line, THE life changing event of my life.

Having left the choppy waters of Protestantism where I was not doing well At All and finding the haven that is Orthodoxy, I do not want to disrupt this unexpected season of joy. I want to keep what I have and hang on tightly to it because it saved my life. No exaggeration, either.

So that’s why I was not enthusiastic about reading some heterodox books about universalism so I could join more fully into this conversation.

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

I ‘ll read anything from any tradition even if it is labeled weird – but I do have one rule – if it doesn’t catch my attention in the first 30 pages I am done. A good writer with a solid point to make should unpack it early. If not in 30 pages, chances are he won’t.

Josh says:

Hart’s response sounds like Trump.

Josh says:

🙂
I was just gonna say “A smart Trump.”

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

Perhaps the bravado is to cover for the Nothing Burger of a book.

Xenia says:

Orthodoxy has to be experienced. It’s hard to grasp by reading books about it.

I have found that people who have read themselves into Orthodoxy often read themselves right out again, if they aren’t enthralled by the Orthosphere.

Xenia says:

I’m a contented Anglican…<<<

I know. 🙂

filbertz says:

my journey led me to the Evolving Faith Conference linked above. I’m still restless and discontent, but I’m reading a lot and listening more than ever, and best of all, writing again.

filbertz says:

Michael, no–nothing that complete or coherent. Until some things are settled or I am further along in the sojourn, I don’t have too much to offer, but am chronicling the process. I am writing a lot about my childhood and youth since it was pretty hilarious/weird and some initial interactions with the episodes of the gospel of Luke, which has always been my magnetic north.

filbertz says:

…in addition to teaching full-time & helping with cafe’ and catering…

filbertz says:

I read the overview of the Evolving Faith Conference in Denver from last weekend and overall it was balanced and accurate. My impressions and reactions were not those assumed or mentioned in the article, especially as an old white guy. The vast majority of my Christian friends would have been uncomfortable in the least or stormed out in a fury. I found it valuable to hear the stories, listen to the questions, examine the suggestions, and ponder alternatives. I’ve always had a more generous view of the reach of God’s gifts, and like music or poetry, I place the accents on different notes than many others. That said, I feel solidly centered in the grace and love of Christ. There is much more room in the fold than some of the sheep might imagine.

Randy Davis says:

There is a lot of truth in the article, Why Do People Keep Pastors at Arm’s Length? Pastors are perceived as a threat to their character and behavior. I think they sense what Peterson called us to be, subversive pastors.

On the other hand, the pastor should practice some social distance from the church members. One reason is we need to avoid partiality within the congregation. Another reason is if we are too friendly with a member, they may turn against you using some private matter they think they know an bout know you—it does happen.

For me I violated all of that (against the advice of my seminary professors) and grew way to emotionally connected to the point that funerals just about killed me. After one funeral my heart rate went to 155 and would not come down. I had to be on medication which reduced my rate to 100. I have not had a normal heart rate since then but my blood pressure has come way down since I retired. I have done two funerals in the last 5 years and I don’t care to do another one. I don’t like attending funerals. I also developed anxiety problems that have gotten worse since I retired.

I know some might disagree with me. But church can destroy a pastor with very little concern for your wellbeing. One of the many things I admire in denominations with some hierarchical structure they can set standards that gives some protection for the pastor.

Randy Davis says:

I should not have said anything about funerals. A friend of mine called and wants me to do his mother’s funeral. I buried his father in 2011. This is a non church friend. His sister failed to get someone. I’m free and will give it a shot.