1.) We are not reconstructing anything in place of what we've deconstructed, we only tear down and critique, but then we do not take action steps or initiate something in it's place.Agreed! I think we need to be flooding conversation with ideas of re-constructing our faith and it's application, or as N.T. Wright might say "ushering in Order".
2) Regarding "blending into culture" I would say (as a broad statement) is an ok thing. We need to feel and respond to things that are actually going on in our broader culture. I don't see this as quite such a red flag because although we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) I think this should result in humility and virtue and not oddity. By dissolving the veil between us and the rest of culture we have the possibility of returning to the idea of being known primarily by our LOVE and not our faux-otherness.
2.) We stop seeking holiness, because we align piety with Christian culture. Suddenly, everything becomes fair game. And it's not like we look much different from our American culture already pre-deconstruction, but we sure continue to blend in when we do not even consider boundaries, whether it be with time priorities, relationships, drugs, binge drinking, spending, etc. This isn't a plea for legalism, because legalism is the easy way out. I'm not trying to set rules, but I am saying that just because we are deconstructing Christian culture does NOT mean we are allowed to deconstruct the bible. We should be deconstructing our interpretations of the bible and our actions from those interpretations. We should be constantly asking Jesus if what we are doing is what he desires for us. If anything, we should just focus on Jesus, and all those other items will fall in line behind him.
In Matthew 13 Jesus shares a parable on wheat growing up with "tares" which are poisonous weeds that look just like wheat when they are young and then mature into something quite different. It is only at the time of the "harvest" that the reapers can properly distinguish and separate those who produce fruit and those who poison. Until that time all are mingled together in God's field - which is the whole world. The only possibility of being brought in with the good wheat is to produce good fruit as we grow up in the midst of Tares.
I think perhaps I wasn't clear on my post. For the culture referring to art and creativity, yes, we can very easily blend in. But if we are doing whatever we please, spending on ourselves, and acting as though we have no higher purpose- that's where the issue lies.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you are saying: We should not be odd for odd's sake. There's a certain ego there that I do not want to participate in. But I am saying that if we are really trying to follow in the way of Jesus, that indeed, we will stick out: by giving the homeless on the street the time of day we are standing out, by not getting shit-faced when out with friends at bars we are standing out, by being vocal and participating in a cause we are standing out. Jesus stood out and pissed off a ton of people during his short life. I think if we are truly to emulate his teachings, that we will stick out.
Thoughts?
Yes, I guessed as much that we would be in agreement. I think that if we are living out our faith it will be a great equalizer which will actually make us stand out for shunning pretension and paying attention to those on the margins.
ReplyDeletegood banter, ds!
yay! love u bon!
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