Like most Sunday’s, my family and I were invited by the pastor to join his family for dinner. So, after the service we piled into the Jeep and followed the pastor to Applebee’s. About half way into town, another unexpected conversation arose between my wife and I and our five year old son. The conversation began when CJ broke through the silence calling from the back seat, “Dad, Strawberry Shortcake is not a Christian.”
For those of you who have never purchased girly greeting cards or do not frequent the Saturday morning cartoon channels, Strawberry Shortcake is a fictional character born in the 70’s, but recently revamped to capture the attention of my 3 year old daughter. Strawberry Shortcake and her “Berry Friends” inspire children with their challenging adventures in and around Berry Bitty City. Each episode explores topics ranging from love and friendship to honesty and compassion. Strawberry Shortcake is a cute, sweet, and charming little girl who while capturing the heart of my daughter, has raised some serious questions in the mind of my 5 year old son.
It seemed plain from the look on my daughter’s face, that CJ must be out of his mind to even suggest that the cute little moral, upright, loving and compassionate Strawberry Shortcake would one day face judgement and damnation. Wanting to keep the peace in the backseat and without thinking to deeply about what was stirring in the mind of my son, I responded with “Sure she is CJ.” “We like Strawberry Shortcake, don’t we Lani?” Without missing a beat, CJ responded saying “Then why doesn’t she ever talk about Jesus?”
Strawberry Shortcake Christianity
Like I have, I think most people probably accept without really thinking about it the Strawberry Shortcake version of Christianity. She is modest, kind, and without question, moral. Strawberry Shortcake is safe and like my wife and I, many parents entrust our daughters to her for a few hours each week. Yet is she Christian? Does she embody and model the message that Jesus called the Church to embrace?
I need to openly confess that I do not insist that my children watch only Christian television. Nor do I insist that they play with only Christian toys. I think part of parenting is training your children to differentiate not only between what is Christian and what is not, but also between what is beneficial, tolerable and adverse. The issue at stake in our conversation Sunday afternoon was not so much whether or not Strawberry Shortcake was beneficial, tolerable or adverse, but whether or not she could be called Christian.
Some might think drawing lines in the sand over these kinds of issues is more problematic than beneficial, especially at the age of 5 years old, but I would strongly disagree. First, because often times, as in this case, these kinds of sticky conversations are not initiated by us, but pressed upon us. Another question could be asked at this point; who is doing the pressing? Could we answer and say the Holy Spirit? I think we not only can, but should say “Yes!”, it is He. I believe Jesus is at work behind the scenes in these types of uncomfortable situations. He brings them about, they do not simply arise out of thin air. Therefore, lines must be drawn.
Secondly, these lines should be drawn for the sake of The Message itself. We as Christians do great injustice when we sweep under the rug opportunities that come as vehicles to carry others into a deeper understanding of the Christian faith. Life is not simple. It is complex and dangerous and sometimes filled with questions that allow for no easy answers. It is sometimes cowardly and most of the time lazy to simply not engage when the time comes to do battle over what is Truly Christian and what is only nice and sweet.
Like our fictional character Strawberry Shortcake, the politically correct version of Christianity often times tolerated by those of us in the Church is also fictional. The sum of cute and kind do not equal to Christianity. The message Jesus came to show and tell is much more than what Strawberry Shortcake, as good as she is, models to our children, and we are called to be courageous and even a little narrow in what we proclaim as right and true Christianity.
It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit would guide us through the quagmire of these life kinds of events and that He would be both glorified and made known through them.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Twilight Saga
Christ & Culture: The Twilight Saga
To be honest, I feel that writing this blog article is a waste of my time, but in light of so much buzz about the movies in Christian culture, and my open love for the books, I feel I have a responsibility to at least offer another perspective. I say “other perspective,” for most of what I hear about the series, again from Christian culture, is negative.
Where to begin... First off, this is my opinion, and my opinions, from my opinion, are often correct. Secondly, this opinion is based off of my reading, rereading, and then rereading again the book series. Regarding the movies, I have no opinion. Thirdly, I choose the right to publish this article more as a statement and not so much as a dialogue piece. Which, of course, releases me not so much from responding, but from endless dialogue. Lastly, this is not a definitive work on the subject, nor is it my full and thorough opinion. It is a statement to make you think and perhaps even read the book series before placing judgement; a judgement you have the right and responsibility as Christians to give if you speak openly negative about it . So, that’s it. Enjoy or Dislike...
To say the very least, I have been intensely disappointed with how Christians, in general, have responded to the Twilight Saga, written by Stephenie Meyer. This disappointment does not arise from an opinion that differs from my own, but from ignorant people making flippant remarks about a book they’ve never even read. (Note: I use the term ignorant in the educational sense, referring to their lack of information) The remarks I hear remind me of the people who hate John Calvin and his Calvinists without ever reading any work in which he published. It’s strange and a little embarrassing.
The Twilight saga is frowned for many reasons, to many here to try and list. There are numerous things the books present that create problems for Christians living out the message of Jesus Christ. However, do they offer more problematic issues than American Idol, Survivor, UFC, The Bachelor, and countless other television shows and movies that provide entertainment in our homes each week? This is not to validate the books by comparison, but to place them in the context of entertainment available today.
I remember when Harry Potter began to have the influence that we now see with the Twilight series. The Church seemed once again torn by differing opinions. Having never read the Harry Potter book series, I could not give an opinion and therefore could not support those who sought my condemning stance on the work. Yet even after my own research, which discovered that the magic and spells used and referenced within the book series were actual real-life witchcraft spells and therefore of the occult, I did not stand with the church.
The blanket statements and generalities that come from not reading the Harry Potter books, such as the using of spells, wizards, and dragons, is ridiculous and misses any point of criticism. The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillian, The Children of Huren, and other short stories in which J R.R. Tolkien wrote and published have the same topics. As do C.S. Lewis’ books. Yet, do we equate these works as both being condemned because of the similar fantasy themes? Most of the Christian world would agree that we should not.
I have found the same type of scenario regarding the Twilight Saga and other vampire cultures and literature. Yes, the Twilight books have vampires who drink blood, some drinking human blood and some only animal blood. Yes, there is killing in the books. Yes, there is an occasional foul word. Yet I have found in the pages of this book many positive and thought provoking ideas worth reading. I am the first to admit, it is not Christian. Without seeking to defend the work, its aim is not Christianity driven. The book is a romance...and a very good one.
Parts of the story that caught my attention immediately was the history behind the Cullen family and their “vegetarian” lifestyle. Carlisle Cullen was the son of a preacher, who in the mythical world of the books, pursued, hunted, and exterminated vampires. As Carlisle grew and embraced his call in the church, he too joined in the cause. In a pursuit one evening, Carlisle was bitten and transformed into a vampire. The story develops and we learn of Carlisle’s many years of hatred of himself, knowing what he had become, and his attempts to end his life (a near impossibility for a vampire). After months of starvation, having never killed another human being, in a moment of weakness, he attacked and killed an animal.
Carlisle learns that he can survive on animal blood and not be a killer. Though believing he is damned, he gives his life to what he formally did before he was transformed; the ministry to mankind. He becomes a doctor and uses his immortality to serve God and humanity, rather than live for himself, indulge in power, and murder incessantly to satiate his “thirst.”
This is the premise behind the drama behind Edward (Carlisle’s adopted son, whom he “saved” for companionship and the desire of Edward’s mother) and Bella. Edward is torn between being an “evil” creature, though he does no evil, being condemned to live a life of solitude and embracing the girl he is strangely drawn to. Bella sees the Cullen family as purely good, a phenomenal blessing to mankind, and embraces Edward as the boy she wants to spend the rest of her mortal and immortal life with.
There are many more aspects to the story which I cannot adequately present here that would lay before you support for an “alternative” opinion to the books. Anything can become your focus and therefore lead you away from Jesus. Ministers do it everyday with the churches and its growth, yet we do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. The same is with fantasy, in movie, book, and gaming form. Sure there needs to be supervision and caution, just as there are with firearms that can kill more than deer and driving a two ton weapon to school every morning which ends lives, everyday.
The Christ-filled life is filled with responsibility and freedoms, some of which are beneficial and some of which are not. Wisdom, life experience, and above all, the leading of the Holy Spirit guides the believer through the quagmire of this world. Be careful to not judge something out of the “noise of the masses,” just because it is what is easy to do. Gather your courage and read, research, and study to come up with your own opinion. Then, judge for yourself what you deem appropriate and what is unacceptable.
As for my opinion of the Twilight Saga; it is a fantastic piece of writing in which I enjoy reading a couple times every year. If that makes you think less of me, I do not hold it against you. ...you probably would not like my opinions on tattoos, piercings, and most other things that grade against the politically correct Christian culture in which we find ourselves living in today either. Ahhhh, I guess it’s just the way it is.
Blessings upon you.
His Alone,
Jeremiah
To be honest, I feel that writing this blog article is a waste of my time, but in light of so much buzz about the movies in Christian culture, and my open love for the books, I feel I have a responsibility to at least offer another perspective. I say “other perspective,” for most of what I hear about the series, again from Christian culture, is negative.
Where to begin... First off, this is my opinion, and my opinions, from my opinion, are often correct. Secondly, this opinion is based off of my reading, rereading, and then rereading again the book series. Regarding the movies, I have no opinion. Thirdly, I choose the right to publish this article more as a statement and not so much as a dialogue piece. Which, of course, releases me not so much from responding, but from endless dialogue. Lastly, this is not a definitive work on the subject, nor is it my full and thorough opinion. It is a statement to make you think and perhaps even read the book series before placing judgement; a judgement you have the right and responsibility as Christians to give if you speak openly negative about it . So, that’s it. Enjoy or Dislike...
To say the very least, I have been intensely disappointed with how Christians, in general, have responded to the Twilight Saga, written by Stephenie Meyer. This disappointment does not arise from an opinion that differs from my own, but from ignorant people making flippant remarks about a book they’ve never even read. (Note: I use the term ignorant in the educational sense, referring to their lack of information) The remarks I hear remind me of the people who hate John Calvin and his Calvinists without ever reading any work in which he published. It’s strange and a little embarrassing.
The Twilight saga is frowned for many reasons, to many here to try and list. There are numerous things the books present that create problems for Christians living out the message of Jesus Christ. However, do they offer more problematic issues than American Idol, Survivor, UFC, The Bachelor, and countless other television shows and movies that provide entertainment in our homes each week? This is not to validate the books by comparison, but to place them in the context of entertainment available today.
I remember when Harry Potter began to have the influence that we now see with the Twilight series. The Church seemed once again torn by differing opinions. Having never read the Harry Potter book series, I could not give an opinion and therefore could not support those who sought my condemning stance on the work. Yet even after my own research, which discovered that the magic and spells used and referenced within the book series were actual real-life witchcraft spells and therefore of the occult, I did not stand with the church.
The blanket statements and generalities that come from not reading the Harry Potter books, such as the using of spells, wizards, and dragons, is ridiculous and misses any point of criticism. The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillian, The Children of Huren, and other short stories in which J R.R. Tolkien wrote and published have the same topics. As do C.S. Lewis’ books. Yet, do we equate these works as both being condemned because of the similar fantasy themes? Most of the Christian world would agree that we should not.
I have found the same type of scenario regarding the Twilight Saga and other vampire cultures and literature. Yes, the Twilight books have vampires who drink blood, some drinking human blood and some only animal blood. Yes, there is killing in the books. Yes, there is an occasional foul word. Yet I have found in the pages of this book many positive and thought provoking ideas worth reading. I am the first to admit, it is not Christian. Without seeking to defend the work, its aim is not Christianity driven. The book is a romance...and a very good one.
Parts of the story that caught my attention immediately was the history behind the Cullen family and their “vegetarian” lifestyle. Carlisle Cullen was the son of a preacher, who in the mythical world of the books, pursued, hunted, and exterminated vampires. As Carlisle grew and embraced his call in the church, he too joined in the cause. In a pursuit one evening, Carlisle was bitten and transformed into a vampire. The story develops and we learn of Carlisle’s many years of hatred of himself, knowing what he had become, and his attempts to end his life (a near impossibility for a vampire). After months of starvation, having never killed another human being, in a moment of weakness, he attacked and killed an animal.
Carlisle learns that he can survive on animal blood and not be a killer. Though believing he is damned, he gives his life to what he formally did before he was transformed; the ministry to mankind. He becomes a doctor and uses his immortality to serve God and humanity, rather than live for himself, indulge in power, and murder incessantly to satiate his “thirst.”
This is the premise behind the drama behind Edward (Carlisle’s adopted son, whom he “saved” for companionship and the desire of Edward’s mother) and Bella. Edward is torn between being an “evil” creature, though he does no evil, being condemned to live a life of solitude and embracing the girl he is strangely drawn to. Bella sees the Cullen family as purely good, a phenomenal blessing to mankind, and embraces Edward as the boy she wants to spend the rest of her mortal and immortal life with.
There are many more aspects to the story which I cannot adequately present here that would lay before you support for an “alternative” opinion to the books. Anything can become your focus and therefore lead you away from Jesus. Ministers do it everyday with the churches and its growth, yet we do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. The same is with fantasy, in movie, book, and gaming form. Sure there needs to be supervision and caution, just as there are with firearms that can kill more than deer and driving a two ton weapon to school every morning which ends lives, everyday.
The Christ-filled life is filled with responsibility and freedoms, some of which are beneficial and some of which are not. Wisdom, life experience, and above all, the leading of the Holy Spirit guides the believer through the quagmire of this world. Be careful to not judge something out of the “noise of the masses,” just because it is what is easy to do. Gather your courage and read, research, and study to come up with your own opinion. Then, judge for yourself what you deem appropriate and what is unacceptable.
As for my opinion of the Twilight Saga; it is a fantastic piece of writing in which I enjoy reading a couple times every year. If that makes you think less of me, I do not hold it against you. ...you probably would not like my opinions on tattoos, piercings, and most other things that grade against the politically correct Christian culture in which we find ourselves living in today either. Ahhhh, I guess it’s just the way it is.
Blessings upon you.
His Alone,
Jeremiah
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Crawl Down Your Throat!
“Crawl Down Your Throat!”
For lack of a better phrase, this summer during the close of a message at the Michigan District Senior High Camp, I made the statement, “I want to crawl down your throat with the message!” Sure it was aggressive, but I was trying to reflect the intensity and even urgency that is reflected in Jesus’ pursuit of the lost in chapters 8-11 of Revelation.
For any who are familiar with the preachers in Cross Style Global Ministries, it is not surprising that we all teeter on the eccentric side of ministry. Pastor of Cross Style Church and professor at the Training Center, Dr. Stephen Manley regularly releases his “Jesus Pusher” blogs that express such tenacious ministry. Therefore it is true and unashamedly flaunted that we are not casual about proclaiming Truth. It is our call! It is our passion! And it is reflective of the day and hour in which we find ourselves.
There are probably several opinions as to why such aggressiveness is found within our group, but the reason behind our approach is not that difficult to explain. Collectively, our group consistently finds this same crawl down your throat, Jesus pusher mentality in the life and ministry of Jesus Himself.
I have been taken by Jesus’ approach to the world of Revelation 8-11. He is relentless in his pursuit of their salvation. Their consistent response to Jesus is one of rebellion, this is plain to see, but also present is their complete and utter blindness to being saved. In passages like that of chapter 11, when the witness are killed and the lost world rejoices, even sending gifts to one another, what is revealed is an attitude of disdain for salvation.
Yet it is profoundly staggering to see how Jesus disregards their resistance and utilizes every means, even the enemy himself, to persuade them to consider an alternative to hell. He quite literally stands between them and death, in a posture of violence, pleading with them to open their eyes. The conclusion to such an approach is obvious; any who find themselves in hell at the end of days, was not sent there by a sovereign God, but landed there after leaping from the arms of of One who did everything to save them.
Any who have spent time in church in resent years, have witnessed the need for such desperate ministry! It is true, the lost are not only those who are captured by this world and its policies, but also among those who sing with us in worship at our local churches on any given Sunday. Such radical times call for radical frankness. Jesus demonstrated this for us and we in Cross Style are being driven by that call.
A Jesus Pusher, who wants to crawl down your throat with the love of Jesus!
Jeremiah Bolich
President
Cross Style Global Ministries
For lack of a better phrase, this summer during the close of a message at the Michigan District Senior High Camp, I made the statement, “I want to crawl down your throat with the message!” Sure it was aggressive, but I was trying to reflect the intensity and even urgency that is reflected in Jesus’ pursuit of the lost in chapters 8-11 of Revelation.
For any who are familiar with the preachers in Cross Style Global Ministries, it is not surprising that we all teeter on the eccentric side of ministry. Pastor of Cross Style Church and professor at the Training Center, Dr. Stephen Manley regularly releases his “Jesus Pusher” blogs that express such tenacious ministry. Therefore it is true and unashamedly flaunted that we are not casual about proclaiming Truth. It is our call! It is our passion! And it is reflective of the day and hour in which we find ourselves.
There are probably several opinions as to why such aggressiveness is found within our group, but the reason behind our approach is not that difficult to explain. Collectively, our group consistently finds this same crawl down your throat, Jesus pusher mentality in the life and ministry of Jesus Himself.
I have been taken by Jesus’ approach to the world of Revelation 8-11. He is relentless in his pursuit of their salvation. Their consistent response to Jesus is one of rebellion, this is plain to see, but also present is their complete and utter blindness to being saved. In passages like that of chapter 11, when the witness are killed and the lost world rejoices, even sending gifts to one another, what is revealed is an attitude of disdain for salvation.
Yet it is profoundly staggering to see how Jesus disregards their resistance and utilizes every means, even the enemy himself, to persuade them to consider an alternative to hell. He quite literally stands between them and death, in a posture of violence, pleading with them to open their eyes. The conclusion to such an approach is obvious; any who find themselves in hell at the end of days, was not sent there by a sovereign God, but landed there after leaping from the arms of of One who did everything to save them.
Any who have spent time in church in resent years, have witnessed the need for such desperate ministry! It is true, the lost are not only those who are captured by this world and its policies, but also among those who sing with us in worship at our local churches on any given Sunday. Such radical times call for radical frankness. Jesus demonstrated this for us and we in Cross Style are being driven by that call.
A Jesus Pusher, who wants to crawl down your throat with the love of Jesus!
Jeremiah Bolich
President
Cross Style Global Ministries
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