I've taken it on myself to start reading pop-Christian literature. I usually don't because, well, there's a lot of really good Bible teaching stuff out there.
Take that as you will.
Anyway, I watched Driscoll on "The Shack" last night, and was pleasantly encouraged to see his analysis was very similar to my own. One verse he drew on that I forgot about was this:
God has said in Romans 1:22-23, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."
Whoops.
Whoops seems a light word when that 'mistake' results in the wrath of God, actually (from 1:18 and 2:1-11).
So I've started reading Blue Like Jazz. First impressions:
1) Miller has an amazing ability to write conversationally.
2) These conversations, so far, have done a great job pointing out the sin of man. He's done an excellent job showing how universal it is. He's done a great job showing how it's rooted in the self - in self-pleasure. He's done a great job showing that infects even the good things we do. He's done a great job in showing that everyone is sinful. Awesome.
3) He does a lot of needless ripping on nameless, descriptionless 'fundamentalists.' I'm not sure that's edifying or loving to certain people in the Church.
4) He makes a big deal out of being a political liberal. Eh, frustrating. I'd never say that being a Christian means you have to vote Republican (at least without some argument from Scripture), but at the same time, I don't like it. I think ALL Christians should have some sort of biblical political ethic - a biblical basis for what they think government should be and how we should interact with it - before engaging in such speech. Both Republicans and Democrats. Let's elevate God's words, not our unfounded opinions. Again, that goes for you all on both sides. Knock it off.
Since your reading Blue Like Jazz, I thought maybe you'd like to read this review of the book titled "Green Like Envy"
ReplyDeleteHmm...Well is this book worth reading then? I was going to but haven't yet.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean with great books out there, and since I started reading Christian books about scripture and evangelism, I have not been able to read any "regular" books.
Also, at the moment I am reading:
"Thinking Straight in a Crooked World" by Gary DeMar - its an apologetics book.
and
Some book about knowing biblical themes, definitions, etc better.. for beginners, jsut because I want to know more about the in depths about scripture. =)
I wouldn't. Don't think it's of that much use - except for maybe watching how Miller evangelizes.
ReplyDelete"Some book"? You don't remember the title?
Yay! I was glad to know you still write blogs! We were friends at NIU last fall, and I remembered a conversation we had about Calvinism? Anyway, I just had an interesting conversation with some Christian friends tonight, and was wondering if I could link them to your blog? They're a little unfamiliar with Calvinist theology. Let me know! Thanks! :)
ReplyDelete