In my last posts I let everyone know I was voting for Obama because in my opinion his approach is holisitc, humble, and relational. I did not let you know what that means:
Holistic. I believe this country is very polarized. Right and left. Republican and democrat. Religous and nonreligous. As a black male I have been a witness to many of the problems in America and they are not onesided issues. For all of those who are pro-life I want to ask you one question: Were you pro-life when many of the kids in my neighborhood grew up without a father and many of the guys and girls died in drive bys? Where were you? Maybe after going to the mall you went to church to worship your "god" while others who didn't have that privilege were asking God "Why?" If you were so pro-life then you would have been in the hood trying to change some things instead of raising money to go overseas and appear "holy"
Humble. Many people have said how can you say Obama is humble? I answer back with another question "How come when a black man is confident and outspoken he is arrogant?" Obama is not beyond pride but I know he approaches issues as if he doesn't have all the answers and he just wants to do the best job that he can. That's all any of us can do.
Relational. I am for a president who can relate to more than just white people. I think Mccain represents an old version of America that is WASP. America is now not only multicultural but multireligous and Obama takes that into consideration. When asked who he would turn to for advice he mentioned his wife and his grandma. Some people took that as a sign of weakness. I see it as a sign of strength. Although they are not experts (although Michelle can hold her own) they are moral checks on his life. If you can't trust your wife then what the heck does that say about your family. I think it sets an example for not being a lone ranger with all of the supposedly right info and doing your own thing. This is so opposite of our latest presidential regime under Bush.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
One more question especially for Vineyard folks
I was just about to go get something to drink and start working on my assignments when another burning question that needs to be answered came to me:
How can global theology play a role in the Vineyard a movement that wants to break out of the suburban white mold and relate to other ethnic groups? I think this is significant because John Wimber challenged the Western world with his teaching on power evangelism and power healing to break out of the rational western worldview. The question is "Have we really broken out of it? Is there something else that needs to happen...something else that needs to change? What are your thoughts?
How can global theology play a role in the Vineyard a movement that wants to break out of the suburban white mold and relate to other ethnic groups? I think this is significant because John Wimber challenged the Western world with his teaching on power evangelism and power healing to break out of the rational western worldview. The question is "Have we really broken out of it? Is there something else that needs to happen...something else that needs to change? What are your thoughts?
Questions about the Future of Global Theology
As with all theology I have come from the symposium with more questions than answers. Here are a few of my questions:
What role does the diversity of global theology have to play in a multiethnic theology for North America? Most of the talk in multiethnicity has been in regard to ecclesiology or missiology. How do we hammer out a theology or a christology for a multiethnic setting?
What role does global theology have to play in speaking to ethnic theology in North America (black, chicano native american etc.)? Can they challenge and contribute in certain areas?
How can global theology speak to non-western social injustice and racism i.e. black vs hispanic, japanese vs. korean, chinese vs. japanese, etc.? How is our theology attached to our identity in unhealthy ways?
These are just a few questions and starting points for further dialogue. Overall it was an exciting event although I was half asleep from being up last night working on my paper for systematics 1. Come to think of it I better get some time in before work.
What role does the diversity of global theology have to play in a multiethnic theology for North America? Most of the talk in multiethnicity has been in regard to ecclesiology or missiology. How do we hammer out a theology or a christology for a multiethnic setting?
What role does global theology have to play in speaking to ethnic theology in North America (black, chicano native american etc.)? Can they challenge and contribute in certain areas?
How can global theology speak to non-western social injustice and racism i.e. black vs hispanic, japanese vs. korean, chinese vs. japanese, etc.? How is our theology attached to our identity in unhealthy ways?
These are just a few questions and starting points for further dialogue. Overall it was an exciting event although I was half asleep from being up last night working on my paper for systematics 1. Come to think of it I better get some time in before work.
Future of Global theology notes
Well I still never asked anyone what a symposium is but I experienced one. My experience says it is when professors write papers on a particular topic, share their thoughts and other professors respond to them. So this one was on the topic of global theology and also was connected to the publishing of the Global Dictionary of Theology. I couldn't afford it even with the 40% discount but it sounds great.
So here are my key observations:
Global theology is not a universal theology or a theology of sameness or homogeneity.
It is not just adding more voices but adding more voices to the conversation. When these voices are added then helpful critiques and contributions will result.
Dr. Ogbu Kalu of Mccormick Theological Seminary of Chicago presented on the issue of violence is a major issue in Africa and for the world. In Africa it is connected intimately with religion. A friend and I were just talking about this issue yesterday in light of the Ethiopian context where Pentecostal Protestant Christians are persecuted by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Muslims. Clearly religous violence is not a theological matter but a matter of identity and social justice.
Simon Chan of Trinity Theological College in Singapore presented on global theology as opposed to the mainline protestant theology. He talked about how global theology particularly in asian and african contexts has something to contribute to the non-western world particularly in the areas of primal spirituality, veneration of ancestors, and sacramental theology.
Primal spirituality=How does this emphasis on primal spirituality help us speak to the other spiritualities of North America i.e. New Age
Veneration of ancestors=How does this inform our understanding of the communion of the saints (our connection to the body of Christ around the world and throughout time)?
Sacramental theology=How does this inform our worship where most of the world uses the physical in their spirituality (beads, prayer cloths, holy water, holy oil)?
He also offered a critique of the Evangelical Manifesto saying it basically was an attempt to gain recognition and respect from those outside the church. He said that it was an example of a lack of nerve. I have not read the evangelical manifesto but you can check it out here Evangelical Manifesto
So here are my key observations:
Global theology is not a universal theology or a theology of sameness or homogeneity.
It is not just adding more voices but adding more voices to the conversation. When these voices are added then helpful critiques and contributions will result.
Dr. Ogbu Kalu of Mccormick Theological Seminary of Chicago presented on the issue of violence is a major issue in Africa and for the world. In Africa it is connected intimately with religion. A friend and I were just talking about this issue yesterday in light of the Ethiopian context where Pentecostal Protestant Christians are persecuted by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Muslims. Clearly religous violence is not a theological matter but a matter of identity and social justice.
Simon Chan of Trinity Theological College in Singapore presented on global theology as opposed to the mainline protestant theology. He talked about how global theology particularly in asian and african contexts has something to contribute to the non-western world particularly in the areas of primal spirituality, veneration of ancestors, and sacramental theology.
Primal spirituality=How does this emphasis on primal spirituality help us speak to the other spiritualities of North America i.e. New Age
Veneration of ancestors=How does this inform our understanding of the communion of the saints (our connection to the body of Christ around the world and throughout time)?
Sacramental theology=How does this inform our worship where most of the world uses the physical in their spirituality (beads, prayer cloths, holy water, holy oil)?
He also offered a critique of the Evangelical Manifesto saying it basically was an attempt to gain recognition and respect from those outside the church. He said that it was an example of a lack of nerve. I have not read the evangelical manifesto but you can check it out here Evangelical Manifesto
Future of Global theology symposium
Today I am about to go to the Future of Global Theology symposium. Never mind I have no idea what symposium really means. I know a bunch of expert get together and talk. This one is going to be great because there are so many issues on the table as theology and the Christian faith are moving more towards the Southern hemisphere in places like Asia, Africa, And Latin America. The speakers are Simon Chan, Ogbu Kalu, Veli-Matti Karkainnen, and Juan Martinez. These guys have not only been around the world but they have been around the world with God. I will post notes and my thoughts soon.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Coming election and the role of a Christian 2
This current election has two candidates who represent not only different politics but different worldviews. There is one worldview that is arrogant, prides itself on being an expert, and is very narrowminded and compartmentalized. There is another worlview represented by the other candidate that is humble, prides itself on being in relationship, and is holistic in it's approach to issues. This to me represents not only old America and new America but also old Christianity and new Christianity. They are basically the same but the approach is different. Right now I want to go with the candidate who represents the second worldview. Humble, relational, holistic. This is the direction that I as a Christian want to go in and the direction I pray that my fellow Christian and the whole of the nation goes in.
By now you probably know who I am voting for and I am not voting for him because he is black. Although that is a factor. The main reason is because I am tired of the way things are in this country-which is a great country. I am sick of rich white men running the show and we have to pay the price for their arrogance and greed. Jesus is not about that agenda. It's time for change!
By now you probably know who I am voting for and I am not voting for him because he is black. Although that is a factor. The main reason is because I am tired of the way things are in this country-which is a great country. I am sick of rich white men running the show and we have to pay the price for their arrogance and greed. Jesus is not about that agenda. It's time for change!
The Coming election and the role of a Christian 1
I recently had a close call on Sunday afternoon while I was on the phone with a friend Julian. Some democratic party supporter came to the door and after a few seconds of discussion I discovered that I needed to register since we moved to Pasadena. Monday was the deadline to register and so I immediately filled out the form so I could do my part in the current election. The question for me that has been on the table since this whole presidential campaign has been going on is "As a Christian what is my part in politics?"
Finally I am settled on an answer. It stems from the offices of Jesus as a king, priest, and prophet. These were also the major offices in the nation of Israel. These three different offices helped to guide the nation of Israel. Since they are Jesus' office I believe they are also fulfilled in us as we are a counterculture in the world. The church is to be prophetic in that it speaks to the powers that be and calls them to account to the whole word of God. I emphasize whole because there is a stream of the church that speaks out on certain things when it is in the interest of the rich but is virtually silent when it comes to the interests of the poor. In the prophetic literature it is made very clear that God is on the side of the poor and oppressed. I believe this is our role within the larger society to call our politicians to account whether they are republican or democrat, liberal or conservative. The other role that we have is to be priests. We are to intercede for our nation and especially it's leaders. We intercede knowing that they are weak and fragile men and are subject to make unwise decisions and succumb to temptation. So we bring them before God and ask for his forgiveness, guidance, and protection over them. Not because they are democrat or republican but because we are responsible for the nation's peace so the gospel can be proclaimed. The last role is that of the king. We align ourselves with Jesus role as king and extend his rule and reign into the ordinary sphere of life. To act for the kingdom is not just about healing or excorcism although those things are not bad in and of themselves. To act for the kingddom means to act responsibly by picking up a ballot and voting. We are not in control of the circumstance but we lean towards the choice that will be conducive to God's kingdom being lived out on earth. This means looking at the whole of the Biblical message with Jesus the King as our interpretive key and not political agendas-liberal or conservative.
The fact that we live in the United States our politics are pretty bipartisan and so it is hard to vote for someone who totally embodies the agenda of followers of Christ. It also is not helpful when followers of Christ are from different cultures and backgrounds which influence the issues that are most important to them but more on that later........
Finally I am settled on an answer. It stems from the offices of Jesus as a king, priest, and prophet. These were also the major offices in the nation of Israel. These three different offices helped to guide the nation of Israel. Since they are Jesus' office I believe they are also fulfilled in us as we are a counterculture in the world. The church is to be prophetic in that it speaks to the powers that be and calls them to account to the whole word of God. I emphasize whole because there is a stream of the church that speaks out on certain things when it is in the interest of the rich but is virtually silent when it comes to the interests of the poor. In the prophetic literature it is made very clear that God is on the side of the poor and oppressed. I believe this is our role within the larger society to call our politicians to account whether they are republican or democrat, liberal or conservative. The other role that we have is to be priests. We are to intercede for our nation and especially it's leaders. We intercede knowing that they are weak and fragile men and are subject to make unwise decisions and succumb to temptation. So we bring them before God and ask for his forgiveness, guidance, and protection over them. Not because they are democrat or republican but because we are responsible for the nation's peace so the gospel can be proclaimed. The last role is that of the king. We align ourselves with Jesus role as king and extend his rule and reign into the ordinary sphere of life. To act for the kingdom is not just about healing or excorcism although those things are not bad in and of themselves. To act for the kingddom means to act responsibly by picking up a ballot and voting. We are not in control of the circumstance but we lean towards the choice that will be conducive to God's kingdom being lived out on earth. This means looking at the whole of the Biblical message with Jesus the King as our interpretive key and not political agendas-liberal or conservative.
The fact that we live in the United States our politics are pretty bipartisan and so it is hard to vote for someone who totally embodies the agenda of followers of Christ. It also is not helpful when followers of Christ are from different cultures and backgrounds which influence the issues that are most important to them but more on that later........
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Revelation and authority
We protestants say that scripture is the final authority for everything. It is the "infallible rule of faith and practice". The question remains is that an ideal that we strive for or is it an absolute fact. There are so many things that go into the interpretation of scripture (culture, gender, tradition etc.) that it is hard to say that scripture is the final authority. What do you think? Is there another way to state this doctrine? Are we even starting at the right point?
No I am not a fecal maniac just a theologian!
Recently my facebook status messages have referred to baby poop. It is not my passion only my reality. Some may think that it is sacrilegous but most think it's funny. I think it suprises some how it can be related to theology but in a way that is where our real theology shows up and becomes apparent-in the "poop" of life. That is why I am going to seminary. It is because all of life is infused with traces of God and we have just begun to scratch the surface of how this affects our decisions, relationships, and emotions. Most people think when they are in the thick of things that theological reflection ceases. Well that is not true. We don't intentionally reflect when we go through our day to day business or facing a crisis. In these situations we begin to rely on our "embedded" theology. Everybody has one. Most of us are not aware of it but our embedded theology even affects the way we view diaper changing!
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