tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55476828065274450332011-11-30T16:45:12.148-08:00c.c.noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-24749971429568315832008-04-30T14:53:00.000-07:002008-04-30T14:55:13.650-07:00

This one I found really fascinating.In her treatment of the subject of prejudice, which encompasses (in part) the intersection of race and power struggles, Laura Jennings discusses the current debate about “new” or post-Civil Rights era versus “old” prejudice. While some argue that a decline in outward signs of prejudice show that society is in fact less prejudiced, others (including Jennings)

c.c.noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-63939990029232493182008-04-29T01:37:00.000-07:002008-04-29T00:26:54.401-07:00

In his 2001 article in the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology on racism, C.D. McConnell quotes Bowser in saying that racism is a broadly human and cultural assumption in which there are “no neutral forces,” and which is typically perpetuated by cultural myths and narratives. Though writing in a Christian publication, even McConnell does not attribute the plights of minorities simply to failure of

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-40287715995179585032008-04-25T23:18:00.000-07:002008-04-25T21:55:34.625-07:00

If the study of special revelation can tell us how things ought to be, then the study of general revelation can show us how things work in a fallen reality. To this end, in addition to a biblical theology, I surveyed current academic literature pertaining to various facets of this complex subject.In this survey, I studied sources discussing theoretical definitions of power and racism; the

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-88659678414393020072008-04-23T23:23:00.000-07:002008-04-23T23:23:42.433-07:00

Standing on the shoulders of Old Testament theology combined with the ministry of Jesus bringing the new covenant, New Testament writers, particularly Paul, compile a robust theology of reconciliation, some specifically pertaining to racial relations and others that are applicable. From this corpus of writings we find diversity in the church from the beginning, both by circumstance and by

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-13583332276258286592008-04-22T13:10:00.000-07:002008-04-22T12:45:47.151-07:00

Possibly the most practical and therefore challenging NT passage is in James. Often seen as Paul's antithesis, the two are not theological foes, but are stylistically different. Remember that James was heavily involved with the Jewish believers while Paul went out to the Gentiles. Nevertheless, notice the complementarity of their epistolary themes.Though he does not specifically address race or

c.c.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-80317837970724197132008-04-19T23:39:00.001-07:002009-05-24T22:51:12.564-07:00

Wilson, William Julius. "The Declining Significance of Race"William J. Wilson’s 1978 classic reading on race in America is significant today in illustrating the perspective of those living in that crucial “bubble” era of civil rights. As one who had lived in a pre- and post-Civil Rights society, Wilson has a unique contribution to make to any discussion of power and race today. Though his title

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-58953611919106502852008-04-19T23:09:00.000-07:002008-04-19T23:14:19.006-07:00

Pauline epistlesIn his letters, Paul’s theological emphases on reconciliation and unity are made all the more interesting since many of the churches Paul wrote to comprised Jews and Gentiles. For instance, writing to the Romans, Paul prays for unity among them (15:6), that they will worship in harmony inwardly and outwardly for God’s glory. Schreiner notes, “God is not honored … if the believing

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-10751654443510015032008-04-18T00:22:00.000-07:002008-04-19T22:54:35.961-07:00

I decided to examine how race, power, and reconciliation play out at a Christian institution in the heart of Southern California, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the world. I thought it would be interesting to see how a Christian university tackles the issue of ethnic diversity, since on one hand, it is a group of Christians led by Christians who, I assume, seek for God’s will to be

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-21244294001464509362008-04-15T20:13:00.000-07:002008-04-15T20:17:58.450-07:00

Jesus' ministryIt is undoubtedly true that Jesus’ earthly mission was first and foremost to the Jews over the Gentiles (Mt. 10:5-6, Mk. 7). Nevertheless, his ministry was not exclusively to Jews; we know of at least five times when he healed or ministered to Gentiles (Mt. 8; Mt. 12:10-21; Mk. 7:29; Lk. 17:16; Jn. 4), oftentimes commending their faith as greater than that of the Jews (see also Lk.

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-82486114421717824912008-04-13T16:45:00.000-07:002008-04-15T20:13:30.745-07:00

GenesisIn Genesis, common lineage of all human beings is explicitly affirmed from the beginning (3:20) in Adam and Eve. Likewise, post-flood there remains only one family from which we all descend, namely that of Noah and his sons (Gen. 6).In the past, some commentators have concluded that Noah’s curse of Canaan in Genesis 9 is actually a curse on the future African race supposedly descended from

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-61504412937849709282008-04-10T23:48:00.000-07:002008-04-11T00:01:53.269-07:00

Then [the LORD] brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple.... [It became] a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?"Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-48777354163089139002007-06-25T10:19:00.001-07:002007-06-26T18:51:54.449-07:00

What might evangelism be like if we intentionally asked ourselves questions about God's requirements of love and justice in our actions? There would be a constant consciousness of what we ought to do under God's law, juxtaposed with what the person we are speaking to needs. What a tension.Love and justice each reside within us and continually inform us in every decision, each advocating for their

c.c.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-26796156285836524152007-06-25T10:02:00.000-07:002007-06-25T11:56:57.834-07:00

(Adapted from an essay I wrote; I didn't feel like going through and making it more conversational, so it's kind of formal. Also, the ideas written here are inspired by this book.)When considering how to reach those not merely hostile but indifferent to the Christian gospel, one of the best long-term tactics we can use may be indirect communication through the use of art and metaphor. One of the

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-28285338324805348432007-05-22T01:21:00.000-07:002007-05-22T14:09:47.750-07:00

Aspiring abortion doctors drawn to embattled fieldI have been thinking about abortion lately, and have had a few conversations about it. It occurred to me that while most students (sadly, not all) at Biola naturally and strongly are repulsed by the very idea, this is not so in the real world. In fact, there are many in society who are diametrically opposed to all that "anti-abortion" people have

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-15991388004236596302007-05-17T11:00:00.001-07:002007-05-17T11:18:44.775-07:00

"God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them."It's a simple but powerful statement, I believe. The one quoted above I mean

c.c.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-86478326272890824362007-05-01T18:21:00.000-07:002007-05-01T18:37:17.743-07:00

Here (ABC News) and here (Pasadena Star News) are two articles about the recent "Displace Me" human PR campaign (I don't know what else to call it) for Invisible Children. Good stuff, and I'm glad they're getting some public, even national (if somewhat hidden) attention.

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-34447538914938412082007-05-01T10:36:00.000-07:002009-05-24T22:55:02.900-07:00

Is great plenty always a blessing? Are we a generous people? What does true generosity mean?Gen 12:2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.Proverbs 11:28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.Psalm 112 1Praise the LORD!Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-12399333423906093142007-04-30T20:31:00.000-07:002007-04-30T22:34:03.191-07:00

So I did plan on doing the first post about the topic I mentioned yesterday, but I ran out of time today as there were more urgent things to attend to. Like... school.But I did have time to read Challies.com, as usual. And somewhat less usually (but not really surprisingly) he had not just one but two substantial posts in the same day that are of particular interest to me.The first has to do with

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-75059680632556023272007-04-29T22:32:00.000-07:002007-04-30T20:28:27.150-07:00

"Americans are blessed with great plenty; we are a generous people and we have a moral obligation to assist those who are suffering from poverty, disease, war and famine."_Adam Schiff, US RepresentativeAre we really morally obligated to assist those who are suffering? What a question. In the next few posts (hopefully to conclude by Friday) I'd like to think about this question, using Scripture,

c.c.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-71194873404836960772007-04-26T11:11:00.000-07:002007-04-26T22:42:31.308-07:00

"And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-89786360267552360372007-04-25T10:43:00.000-07:002007-04-30T22:28:05.566-07:00

Should I give money to people on the street who ask for it?What a question. My answer is Yes, and the above link is a qualification of that Yes. I guess it's a "Yes, but...."Quite honestly, I don't completely agree with EVERYTHING the Internet Monk had to say about giving. He seems a little too reluctant (not out of pure selfishness, I don't think) and errs on the side of prudence, where I would

c.c.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-54241013058524897302007-04-22T10:49:00.000-07:002007-04-30T22:31:52.813-07:00

The LA Times on banning partial-birth abortions."The legal battle turned on the question of whether a woman and her doctor, or elected lawmakers, should decide on abortion."Ugh. I hope it's clear how sick this is. And how ludicrous - a fight over who gets to choose the ones who get to choose whether a baby should be allowed to live or not. And the most obvious absurdity of all: people are not

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-32214577270755886302007-04-19T09:55:00.000-07:002007-04-19T10:10:23.361-07:00

Only Jesus can save the world. I'm serious. Only Jesus and Jesus only.However, a lot of people are trying to save Darfur.Including these guys. Which is really cool. I really hope all of these college campaigns don't die out as soon as we all realize that the real world doesn't take kindly to creative social-spiritual activism.This is what they have to say:"Artists' expressions have sparked

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-47271600586103365752007-04-17T09:55:00.000-07:002007-04-17T10:08:45.797-07:00

Once again I'm going to link elsewhere. Have I made it clear enough I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to these issues? I don't, I really don't. But I try, and I try to learn from others.Today's link is from a pastor in Grand Cayman (like, the island) named Thabiti Anyabwile. I don't read his blog regularly but I have read it in the past, and he's referenced by a circle of other

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-89679126660644568102007-04-16T15:36:00.000-07:002007-04-16T15:39:28.064-07:00

Here is an article, written by one of my comm professors (for whom my respect and admiration increases basically on a weekly basis), that expresses much more cogently and succinctly the sentiment that I'm trying to get across with this blog. This is the kind of thing that makes me consider to pursuing communication studies in the future."Linking Outside the Box" by Dr. Tim Muehlhoff

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-25698609268423747752007-04-15T20:52:00.000-07:002007-04-15T21:25:20.432-07:00

A while ago I posted about the Social Gospel movement of the early 20th century and summarized its accomplishments, goals, and attitudes as best I could in brief. I also mentioned what went wrong with it, but looking back I think I was a bit too brief and yes, too generous.I say that because basically everyone, regardless of belief about these groups, agrees that out of the Social Gospel came the

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-46212922054966920322007-03-14T13:12:00.000-07:002007-03-22T14:17:11.355-07:00

I never knew Ben Stein was an economist, but this article credits him as being so, and I suppose I have to believe them. I thought he was just Ferris Bueller's teacher. Whatever he is, he also must be stinkin rich, since he had a game show in which he allegedly gave away his own money as prizes, and he is also said (by aforementioned article) to live in Beverly Hills AND Malibu, which last time I

c.c.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-41418656851817669792007-03-08T10:31:00.000-08:002007-03-08T10:32:33.541-08:00

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-51445375946884660782007-03-06T14:51:00.000-08:002007-03-06T22:58:26.725-08:00

“Until the United States changes its own policies of holding detainees indefinitely, in secret prisons and without basic rights, it cannot credibly be viewed as a world human rights leader." _Spokesman for Amnesty InternationalThe U.S. released its annual human rights report today. This is our government's state-of-global-humanity address, as well as a sort of worst-of list. The worst of 2006 was

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-34348232743150416752007-03-01T11:32:00.000-08:002007-03-01T10:26:21.709-08:00

Making rich people feel guilty for being rich annoys me. And Americans' addiction to feeling guilty for being rich annoys me even more. Know why? It assigns blame where there isn't necessarily blame and avoids assigning responsibility where responsibility should be stressed.The thing about awareness is that in the "Information Age" you have to be of sub-average intelligence NOT to be aware that

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-86217920205945299792007-02-25T22:07:00.000-08:002007-02-25T22:29:10.125-08:00

I haven't been posting lately, mainly because of the annual Resolved Conference held last week in Long Beach. I was there from Friday to Monday, and spent the rest of last week thinking about all I heard and saw and sang about. I think that as long as I keep going to Resolved (perhaps only another year, perhaps longer) it will serve as a nice recalibration tool for me. It's not often I hear

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-52135955090967316632007-02-15T11:37:00.000-08:002007-02-15T11:55:04.259-08:00

"Congress has gone the extra mile to fight poverty by not only protecting the $1 billion that was at stake, but by allocating an additional $450 million in poverty-focused development assistance."There are few places in the U.S. budget where dollars translate so directly into lives saved.... H.J. Res. 20 provided $4.5 billion dollars to fight global AIDS and tuberculosis, another $248 million to

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-50055994849434081342007-02-13T12:17:00.001-08:002007-02-14T19:33:12.366-08:00

Two propositions I gleaned from the Social GospelProposition #1: You can be a bleeding-heart liberal, without being theologically liberal.Let me explain.When I say "bleeding-heart liberal," I don't mean you support homosexual marriages or abortion. I mean you can honestly care about the environment and global warning. You can care about prisoners' well-being. You can care about the poor and even

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-76628953189647774722007-02-12T13:37:00.000-08:002007-02-13T14:17:24.170-08:00

Yesterday I wrote about the history of the Social Gospel as an American evangelical movement or consciousness at the turn of the 20th century. I wanted to give an idea of why it happened, and a preview of what it did. Today I'd like to explain a bit more about what it did (and didn't) accomplish, and what we could learn from it.Here are a few characteristics of the Social Gospel's actions:1. It

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-44697641489736389112007-02-11T00:03:00.000-08:002007-02-12T14:26:01.225-08:00

"The great ends of the church arethe proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;the maintenance of divine worship;the preservation of truth;the promotion of social righteousness;and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world."_United Presbyterian Church of North America, The Book of Order Chapter 1

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-13123677098001359342007-02-09T20:14:00.000-08:002007-02-12T13:36:10.659-08:00

There are a lot of ideas of what justice is, especially social justice, and precious few workable definitions. This one, I liked a lot.Justice: The order God seeks to reestablish in His creation where all people receive the benefits of life with Him.Justice has two major aspects. First, it is the standard by which penalties are assigned for breaking the obligations of the society. Second, justice

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-15252811541975602672007-01-26T14:26:00.000-08:002007-02-12T15:00:47.242-08:00

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.The LORD works righteousness and

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-53945547618022161642007-01-10T09:10:00.000-08:002007-02-11T23:04:40.148-08:00

I'm back from Honduras, and really have little excuse not to post. Yet for some reason rambling and raving about all I saw and learned sounds silly. I'd rather give a series of vignettes of what God did, I believe, instead of a day-by-day travelogue. I suppose when it comes to summaries I'm no Tim Challies."I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and

c.c.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-90020131744901764352006-12-07T14:21:00.000-08:002007-02-11T23:09:00.516-08:00

In ten days I am going with 13 other students from my college to spend Christmas and New Year at Orphanage Emmanuel in Guaymaca, Honduras. We'll be cooking, cleaning, relieving the full-time staff (which is quite small for the hundreds of kids at the orphanage), as well as playing with the kids, leading worship, and most importantly sharing with them the meaning of Christmas and the gospel it

c.c.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-25066353842406250012006-12-06T19:04:00.000-08:002006-12-07T15:24:34.764-08:00

I guess I'm quoting a lot lately, but that's because other people are smarter than I am and say things that I never thought of before. I'm more than okay with that.Today's quotation:There is vast difference between telling an unsaved person that, "God loves you the way you are," (which is the message they perhaps need to hear), and leaving them the impression that God loves the way they are. If a

c.c.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547682806527445033.post-91482309883667295052006-12-05T14:06:00.000-08:002006-12-10T01:29:34.515-08:00

Don't you love those times when you're minding your own business (the oddest things occur when we mind our own business) and haplessly read a sentence, subconsciously pass judgment, and out of nowhere feel the sharp pang of conscience's elbow in your side before you know what happened?I asked if you love it, but I'm going to go ahead and say that I don't on a basic level. Like my mother giving me

c.c.noreply@blogger.com0