Comments for Hacking Christianity

Comment on Christ Became Sin? Uh, what? - The power of pastoral comments by Stephen J. Smart, MD

Stephen J. Smart, MD — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:45:36 +0000

2 interpretations of “descended into hell” that I am aware of. The first, “sheol” or place of the dead may have referred to the place where the OT saints (Abraham, Moses, etc) resided until Christ’s coming and sacrifice; this would not have been what we now refer to as “hell”.

The second is more spiritual and I reference “Introduction to Christianity” by Joseph Ratzinger. Here, he explains that hell is the complete absence of God, essentially a place where “love cannot penetrate”. Possibly at the moment of his death he experience complete separation from God the Father (for a microsecond?) and at this moment, was in “hell”. Fits with “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”.

Comment on Where are Young Adult Voices in the #CallToAction? - #UMC Restructure lacks young adult legislative voices by How to Lose Young People on Purpose « Faith Journey Life Journey

How to Lose Young People on Purpose « Faith Journey Life Journey — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:33:09 +0000

[...] me he doesn’t expect the Call to Action or big pieces of it to pass. And then there’s this scary analysis of the numbers when it comes to how many young adults actually did have a hand in crafting the Call [...]

Comment on #GC12Book Study for Lent - 5 books in 40 days by A Declaration of Intention « Brandon Blacksten

A Declaration of Intention « Brandon Blacksten — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:56:30 +0000

[...] seek to address the challenges facing the UMC. Jeremy Smith at Hacking Christianity is hosting a #GC2012 Book Study for Lent, and I’ll be participating in the synchroblog that will occur each Tuesday in Lent – at [...]

Comment on We Need Heroes like Thomas Wayne not Bruce Wayne - Batman, Peter Rollins, and Discipleship by Kathy Armistead

Kathy Armistead — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:36:18 +0000

I’ve often heard people say that we make it too easy to be a disciple. Actually, I’ve even said this myself. But when I think this way, all I have to do is remind myself of the members of my Sunday School class. Every week we gather and talk about how difficult it is to be an authentic witness with the family, in the work place, at the ball field, even in the sanctuary and how we can support each other to be more faithful through prayer, presence, gifts, and service. Most folks I know don’t need another hero to be a more faithful Christian, they need more support.

Comment on #GC12Book Study for Lent - 5 books in 40 days by UMJeremy

UMJeremy — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:18:16 +0000

Glad to have you aboard, Jim!

Comment on #GC12Book Study for Lent - 5 books in 40 days by Jim Doepken

Jim Doepken — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:15:00 +0000

Jeremy, I’ve appreciated your blog for some time. I’ll throw my hat in the ring here, perhaps offering a perspective from the Western Jurisdiction where I’ve been for the last 15 years out of 18 years of ministry.

Comment on Methodist Kudzu – The Problem of Beth Moore - If someone is setting fire to your house, why let them in? by Deborah Davis

Deborah Davis — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:53:30 +0000

I have to disagree regarding Beth Moore at least on two comments. Bias in the Bible need not be addressed by Beth or anyone. As the infallible Word of God, while the people about which the Bible speaks may have had biases, the scripture is without bias of the authors. If not, then it is not the infallible Word of God and Beth and everyone trying to teach it is a fraud. The other point mentioned is that Ms. Moore believes or teaches that God causes things like rape for a higher purpose. I have never gotten that from what she teaches. As God can not both cause and judge sin, it is impossible for God to “cause” sin for a higher purpose. What I get from her teaching which would be true of Joseph and Esther is to find the purpose where you are from the comfort you have received (II Cor 1:4). Only one familiar with a road can accurately point the way for someone else. Beth stands as a beacon of shame and suffering being redeemed.

Comment on We Need Heroes like Thomas Wayne not Bruce Wayne - Batman, Peter Rollins, and Discipleship by Joshua Unruh

Joshua Unruh — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:42:53 +0000

I’m going to come at this as a guy who spends an awful lot of his days thinking about Batman and Jesus, though rarely at the same time.

Superheroes are not lousy rolemodels, they’re just very specific ones. All internal conflicts are literalized in superhero fiction. We overcome our fears by scaring the hell out of those who deserve it. We deal with madness by punching a crazy clown in the face. We handle or loss by creating an elaborate scenario where we can keep people from having the same kind of loss. They’re more like fables of how to deal with problems rather than instruction manuals.

I admit, though, this dichotomy is one reason that the Nolan movies, while fine films, aren’t really very good Batman movies. This is mostly because the guy in that movie wearing the cape and cowl only bears superficial resemblance to the one I’ve been reading and watching my whole life.

The Batman of the comic books spends more money on the Wayne Foundation than he does on his crime fighting activities. The comic book Batman has made disciples. First by making a family with his Robins and Batgirls, then by spreading the very idea of Batman worldwide with Batman Inc.

That’s not to say he winds up being very Christ-like, though. For that, you’d have to look to our Kryptonian friend in the pages of All Star Superman. There’s so much Jesus-in-a-cape in that book, it brought tears to my eyes.

Comment on The UMC’s Next Decade of Navel-Gazing - Call to Action Project Recommendations published by The UMC Inside Out |

The UMC Inside Out | — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:02:25 +0000

[...] Jeremy is also worried about a creeping congregationalism within The UMC. Personally, I think the UMC could use more congregationalism in its polity. If creeping [...]

Comment on Do We Seek Success or Significance? #CallToAction - Manifesto on Measuring the Profligate Church by The UMC Inside Out |

The UMC Inside Out | — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:58:18 +0000

[...] Jeremy has been fairly clear that the notion of metrics and measuring is a non-starter and issues a manifesto to resist metrics. As I mentioned above, I don’t think metrics are the devil, I just think what the Call to [...]