Brian,
Indeed, there are some good movies that have good values and tell good stories. But as much as we may enjoy them, and even see biblical themes in them, they are not endemic to biblical redemption. Note the antecedent "biblical." It's important.
Sure, everyone wants redemption. But not everyone wants biblical redemption. People want redemption on their own terms, not on God's terms. Jesus came to save people, not from "our bondage to selfishness," but from our bondage to sin. Sin certainly includes selfishness, but is much more than that. It is the refusal to acknowledge God's authority over us. God is not out to "transform negative experiences into good," but to destroy evil in the service of His own glory.
We cannot separate from culture, no one can, nor ever could. It's impossible. So, you are right, we are called to redeem culture. The issue is, How do we do that? Of course, we must "meet people where they are" because we cannot meet them where they are not. At the same time, while we meet them where they are, we must show them that we are not where they are "at." In other words, it is nonsense to show them that God is already in their stories and in their "deepest desires." He's not. And to say otherwise is to destroy the importance of regeneration.
You and I can see God in such stories and lives, but they cannot. "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). People will not see God because we point Him out -- if only it was so easy! Jesus is not waiting for people to be "illumined" or to decide to let Him be Lord of their lives. We don't "let" Jesus do anything. He does the "letting!"
It appears that you may have the salvation stick by the wrong end. We are not called to "willing to connect with the expressions of our culture in order to translate the message of the kingdom." Rather, we are called to connect with the Spirit of Jesus Christ through Scripture and its stories of redemption, and to proclaim those stories to the unredeemed in the hope of their redemption. It is not that we must make the Bible relevant to the culture, but that we must make the culture relevant to the Bible. We don't want to try to fit the Bible into the categories of the culture. We want to fit the culture into the categories of the Bible.
People are seeking for all sorts of things, but they are not seeking after the God of Scripture. "There is none righteous, no not one; there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God" (Romans 3:10-11). Not in Paul's Rome nor in our contemporary America. Jesus calls His people to the cross. "He said to them, Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Mark 8:34.) That is not what people "want" to do.
Paul was not seeking redemption when the Lord knocked him off his high horse and put his face in the dust (Acts 9). Christianity is not about people seeking God and finding redemption. It's about God seeking His people and changing them completely -- heart, soul, mind and strength. It's not about us. It's about God -- God's glory.
Phil www.pilgrim-platform.org
Phil, Should we be knocking lost people off their high horse? How is that going? Are we not God's ambassadors? That is what the author is saying.
Yeah, I agree, we need to somehow speak to people where they are. And where are they? In the culture. They speak the language, listen to the music, watch the shows, it's all immersed in culture. If we can grap bits and peices of it and "baptize" it then culture becomes a vehicle to travel upon to reach those outside of Gods love.
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You're bang on with Shawshank Redemption, I loved that movie. Nice article.
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I agree also.
Great post!
"He said to them, Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me"
Enough said.
very inspiring article. I enjoyed reading it and somehow help me clear thing son my mind. The article is so clear and very informative and it really sinks into my nerves. Thanks a lot.
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Not sure how I happened upon your article but it was very enlightening. By using The ShawShank Redemption as an example of your point, you were able to keep me engrossed in your postings! As an artist and small business owner, I agree with all of your points. Thank you!
Nice article! Thanks for sharing!
Very well written. I totally agree. I also struggle to find this balance.
Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
Nice post, I will definately check your blog more often.
I recognized myself in your article and I think you are right. I hope you will share more insight about family education in the future. Best regards. Nasta
Very well written. I totally agree. I also struggle to find this balance.
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Amen!
When was the last time that you talked with a spritiual advisor? I mean a really good one.
I ask because you seem to have a somewhat limited view of what god wants of us.
God wants us to live "rich" lives. Not just in the financial sense, either.
Malcom
Really great share. Thanks for the spiritual motivation.
Clean writeup on Culture. I am your fan now.
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I have seen the movie shawshank redemption and i couldn't help agreeing with your views.
Great article. This is a touching story. Life includes many different aspects. Health, family, works, dream, and etc. Thanks for your spiritual inspiration
Inspiring article, Brian.
(5)
Brian,
Indeed, there are some good movies that have good values and tell good stories. But as much as we may enjoy them, and even see biblical themes in them, they are not endemic to biblical redemption. Note the antecedent "biblical." It's important.
Sure, everyone wants redemption. But not everyone wants biblical redemption. People want redemption on their own terms, not on God's terms. Jesus came to save people, not from "our bondage to selfishness," but from our bondage to sin. Sin certainly includes selfishness, but is much more than that. It is the refusal to acknowledge God's authority over us. God is not out to "transform negative experiences into good," but to destroy evil in the service of His own glory.
We cannot separate from culture, no one can, nor ever could. It's impossible. So, you are right, we are called to redeem culture. The issue is, How do we do that? Of course, we must "meet people where they are" because we cannot meet them where they are not. At the same time, while we meet them where they are, we must show them that we are not where they are "at." In other words, it is nonsense to show them that God is already in their stories and in their "deepest desires." He's not. And to say otherwise is to destroy the importance of regeneration.
You and I can see God in such stories and lives, but they cannot. "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). People will not see God because we point Him out -- if only it was so easy! Jesus is not waiting for people to be "illumined" or to decide to let Him be Lord of their lives. We don't "let" Jesus do anything. He does the "letting!"
It appears that you may have the salvation stick by the wrong end. We are not called to "willing to connect with the expressions of our culture in order to translate the message of the kingdom." Rather, we are called to connect with the Spirit of Jesus Christ through Scripture and its stories of redemption, and to proclaim those stories to the unredeemed in the hope of their redemption. It is not that we must make the Bible relevant to the culture, but that we must make the culture relevant to the Bible. We don't want to try to fit the Bible into the categories of the culture. We want to fit the culture into the categories of the Bible.
People are seeking for all sorts of things, but they are not seeking after the God of Scripture. "There is none righteous, no not one; there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God" (Romans 3:10-11). Not in Paul's Rome nor in our contemporary America. Jesus calls His people to the cross. "He said to them, Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Mark 8:34.) That is not what people "want" to do.
Paul was not seeking redemption when the Lord knocked him off his high horse and put his face in the dust (Acts 9). Christianity is not about people seeking God and finding redemption. It's about God seeking His people and changing them completely -- heart, soul, mind and strength. It's not about us. It's about God -- God's glory.
Phil www.pilgrim-platform.org
Posted by Phillip Ross | Posted at 01/04/2007 11:30 AMPhil, Should we be knocking lost people off their high horse? How is that going? Are we not God's ambassadors? That is what the author is saying. Posted by jeff | Posted at 01/07/2008 11:59 AM
Yeah, I agree, we need to somehow speak to people where they are. And where are they? In the culture. They speak the language, listen to the music, watch the shows, it's all immersed in culture. If we can grap bits and peices of it and "baptize" it then culture becomes a vehicle to travel upon to reach those outside of Gods love. Posted by Louis | Posted at 11/28/2008 10:32 PM
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Great post!
"He said to them, Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me"
Enough said.
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Not sure how I happened upon your article but it was very enlightening. By using The ShawShank Redemption as an example of your point, you were able to keep me engrossed in your postings! As an artist and small business owner, I agree with all of your points. Thank you! Posted by Cynthia R.M. | Posted at 03/31/2009 10:13 PM
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Very well written. I totally agree. I also struggle to find this balance. Posted by Tay | Posted at 04/01/2009 12:12 AM
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I recognized myself in your article and I think you are right. I hope you will share more insight about family education in the future. Best regards. Nasta Posted by defonce | Posted at 04/01/2009 2:15 AM
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When was the last time that you talked with a spritiual advisor? I mean a really good one.
I ask because you seem to have a somewhat limited view of what god wants of us.
God wants us to live "rich" lives. Not just in the financial sense, either.
Malcom
Posted by Malcom Masterson | Posted at 04/02/2009 7:47 AMReally great share. Thanks for the spiritual motivation. Posted by Nagaraju | Posted at 04/02/2009 8:26 AM
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