[wagonmaker]

People that actually read blogs as opposed to myspace? I'm excited. Hopefully my blogs/journalings are to encourage or challenge. Granted, some are the occasional steam-letting session. Don't be a stranger with comments! Peace

[wagonmaker]

This is a blog I wrote back in April. Really really enjoyed Screwtape Letters.

I have been reading C. S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters over spring break and finished it today. I truly wish that more Christians would read it. If you haven't read it before, it is a series of letters that Screwtape, the Absymal Sublimity Under Secretary of Hell (aka demon) sends to his nephew, Wormwood, an apprentice devil. Through the context of these letters C. S. Lewis sheds light on his notions of how devils go about tempting humans. Screwtape is giving Wormwood pointers on how to make humans screw up.

Through reading these letters, the reader has "Ah-Hah!" moments about ways of thinking that we all go through and how these are simply terrible perversions from Hell.

Here are a couple of passages that I thought especially appropriate for today's church, and myself. (Myself moreso than the church.)

But........hey.........it's easy to tell people how not to screw up if you're speaking from the voice of experiance. (Experiance being the Ah-hah moments)


moving on.

Screwtape says, "We want the Church to be small not only that fewer men may know the Enemy but also that those who do may acquire the uneasy intensity and the defensive self-righteousness of a secret society or a clique."

A few things. First, since this is the standpoint of a devil, the "Enemy" refers to Jehovah.

About the Church in general though, how often do we shut ourselves off because it is easier for us to remain in our little bubble? We as Christians are uneasy. I know I sure as heck am. We are scared that we won't be considered normal, or we won't fit in at work if someone says, "Hey, Jack, guess what! I just got a promotion." and our response is "Praise God." We feel we're pretentious. However, we are guilty of pretention on the opposite way.

This is how: We feel that if we say too much about Christ, then we are enforcing our beliefs. Shoving. The modern Christian says that is not being humble. However, how are we to know, as limited as our perceptions are, that we would be ticking people off. How do we know that we will be immediately seen as a "Holier than thou" if we do so? Isn't that awfully presumptuous? Isn't that pretention in that we are trying to be too delicate in the opposite way? I really do believe it's all about balance. We have to witness, or even just use Christ's name in a genuinely lovingly way. We CAN use inflection in our voices to stay humble. There is a gentleness in the way we can say, "Praise God" that will really cause people to think. If we can only get people to realize that we are to the point of thankfulness to God when we say "Praise God" that it resembles or is identical to us truly saying, "My God, thank you for this daily bread. Thanks for truly providing for my most basic need." Make people realize that you are showing genuine affection to our God. Genuinely feel it.

Summarizing, we can't let ourselves go too far on the opposite end of avoiding being overly forceful. The opposite of being overly forceful is not timidity; it is to the same effect
as being overly forceful. We end up pushing people away because we avoiding doing
anything at all. We ignore people. Then, just as damaging an insult can be quickly to a relationship, ingnoring has the same affect, only over the course of years.

[beanbag]

YES! you ARE a cgr person! you are taking to it like a duck to water!!

(I promise I will write a nice reply to your journal post in a few minutes. right now I have to see about faxing important paperwork. [/sharing])

[Small]

Hunter! 'Tis I!

I find that the readiest way to approach our culture is not to manifest ourselves as purposeful representatives of our faith, per se, but to go throughout our every move with the living faith inside of us bubbling near the surface and waiting for chances to spew forth into the world around us. A sort of nonchalant evangelism, if that makes sense. Not that we shouldn't be serious about it.

[wagonmaker]

righteous. I like that analogy very much small. My whole point of that particular blog was an indictment of myself moreso than anyone else. I could really see myself drawing away from people because I was afraid they wouldn't understand how I live or how I worship.

Because I drew away, people thought of me as a snob---exactly the opposite of what I was going for. All in all, I've found it's just easier to be me. As corny as that sounds, I really think God made the way I am for a reason--including my personality.

[MtlMom]

Ah, this is most excellent - a blog already! Yes, our blogs are interactive. This is far superior to other formats, I do believe. Did you get Taylor's PM with the photobucket password?

[hapa_angel]

A blog indeed! W00tness. [/Rachelism]

Originally Posted by MtlMom

Ah, this is most excellent - a blog already! Yes, our blogs are interactive. This is far superior to other formats, I do believe.

Quite superior. But then, I'm rather biased.


Hunter, have you figured out where everyone else's blogs are yet? Oh, and there's a nifty feature where you can subscribe to a thread. Then you hit the "User CP" link on the blue bar up top, and see all the threads you've subscribed to that have new posts in 'em. It enables the CGR addiction to be fed more quickly.

Did you get Taylor's PM with the photobucket password?

Oh yeah, pics. I seriously need to upload some of Art's pics and unload them on there. I mean, I still haven't posted a pic of my chopped locks anywhere here, for one. I think everyone was shocked when I showed up with most of my hair barely touching my ears. Haha.

[MtlMom]

Sabrina has already posted her pictures in the photobucket, so your lack-o'-locks are recorded for the entire world to see if they have the password

[wagonmaker]

Has it ever seemed to anyone else that melancholy days seem somehow worse than bad days? I mean, bad days have the satisfaction at the end of verbal and mental dumpage. Melancholy days just stay with ya.


Enough of that depressing train of thought.

So, today ended nice. A group of co-workers and I went to the opposite end of the park where we work. (A good 1.75 hour drive.) It was very, Very beautiful. A little eye candy was good for me.

I'm looking forward to going home, even though I will miss this place, and the people moreso--very much. The main reason I look forward to going home is finishing my undergrad. Everyday feels more like just ONE more day until seminary.......don't have a clue which one. or what to study. or what to do with it. I guess it is a start though that I know that next step. I'm not used to going into something unless I know my next several steps......but, not very faith-filled is that?

Any idea if there's a Masters program at a Southern Baptist seminary that can maybe focus on political policy/lobbying? That or ecumenical reconciliation? I just don't want the quote/unquote easy ones. Or, I wonder if there is a seminary focus on Christian writing. Wouldn't that be apologetics?

Getting train-of-thought-ish again, sorry.

So, as the other peeps are clamoring for teh interwebs, I need to wrap this up.

I guess I should ask you guys too, how was ya'll's day?

His peace,

Hunter

[Art]

I love melancholy days. They put the good days into perspective.

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by wagonmaker

Any idea if there's a Masters program at a Southern Baptist seminary that can maybe focus on political policy/lobbying? That or ecumenical reconciliation? I just don't want the quote/unquote easy ones. Or, I wonder if there is a seminary focus on Christian writing. Wouldn't that be apologetics?

There are a lot of seminarians on this site, and I bet you could get some excellent advice. I'm not sure where you would post it - maybe in GD.

[hapa_angel]

[jumping in]
Besides General Discussion, I can think of two possible thread starting locations - Missions, Ministry and Leadership (or whatever it's called), and one of my other forums, College Life.

Or you could just start it in GD and I could move it. That's mostly what modding GD consists of anyhow - knowing where things go and moving them appropriately.


Heyo, Hunter. How goes it? Are you feeling excited to go home, or are you upset to say goodbye to the MtlFamily? (I know I was. )

[beanbag]

you know, your post was very thought-provoking. I think that's "forcing beliefs" is something that really is paralyzing the modern church. we need to come with effective ways to live out our faith so that our lights shine in a way that is visible to the world, yet we will still be innocent of forcing ourselves on anyone.

[wagonmaker]

Unfortunately, I've noticed that non-believers can get offended when you mention Christ's name or talk about church. Immediately they cry "shoving belief". That's tough to work around, you know? I wish we could have advocacy for people realizing that it is part of our belief system that we do so. It's so hard and it's so sticky sometimes.


kind of like the day-old marshmallow tree........

and yes, I will miss the Mtl family. I'll miss everything on this mountain. I wish we could have spent more time together, but the services and time spent with them were all great.

[hapa_angel]

*chuckle* Breeners is never going to live that 'mallow bush down, hrm?


I know what you mean about nonbelievers crying foul. I grew up in San Francisco, being one of the lone outspoken believers in many of my classes. I wish people had "gotten" what I was really trying to say, or at least quit trying to shut me up. Especially the teachers. It's that much worse when a teacher you love and respect gets on your classmate harder for hypocrisy.


MtlFest was fun. Will you be able to fly out for the next one?