Clarion: Journal of Spirituality and Justice

Noah: Who are the Watchers and Why the Panic? by Brad Jersak

The first weekend showings of Noah (the movie) starring Russell Crowe and Emma Watson were accompanied by some surprises and an utter lack thereof. I'll start with the latter to get it out of the way. 

No surprise: Evangelical panic

I don't think anyone should be surprised at the usual course of Evangelical reactions decrying the movie for its 'biblical inaccuracies.' (Though I confess to wondering if the Westboro Baptists picketed anywhere). Of course, citing inaccuracies implies that the measure of faithfulness to Scripture is somehow photocopying Genesis 6-9 into the screenplay in a sort of word for word depiction. It's this paint by numbers mentality that keeps many an Evangelical trapped within the lines of their own assumptions -- as if taking the text literally was remotely akin to taking it seriously. Not so!

Discipleship: freedom, joy and abundant life - by Lucy Peppiatt

If I were to give a broad brush view of discipleship it would be to say that the essence of Christian discipleship is 'taking the words of Jesus and putting them into practice'. There is an unmistakable emphasis on obedience in the New Testament but this obedience is portrayed as rooted in passionate devotion to the saviour: one that is birthed out of love. This then leads to freedom, love for others, strength, rootedness, joy, peace, life etc. Given this as the backdrop, the issues that I see as pressing for those who disciple others in the Christian life in our contemporary society are the concepts of dying to self through self-control, and the regulating of desire.

The more that my husband and I pastor young people, the more I think these are crucial issues for a society that is immersed in and overwhelmed by consumerism and the reality of instant gratification – with 'instant' having a meaning that those of us who were not brought up with the internet are still not entirely familiar with.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Dr Lucy Peppiatt is the principal of Westminster Theological Centre and author of The Disciple: On Becoming Truly Human

Graffiti-Stained Grace - by Boyd Barrett

Lament and Christian Worship - with Brian Doerksen and Matt Lynch

Lament and Christian Worship

Recently, musician Michael Gungor Tweeted this: "Approximately 70 % of the Psalms are laments. Approximately 0 % of the top 150 CCLI songs (songs most sung in churches) are laments." In this WTCLive event we reflect with singer songwriter and worship leader Brian Doerksen on the place of lamentation in Christian worship. Why has lament fallen out of favour? What do we lose when we lose lament? We will consider these questions and yours during this live-streaming event.

Does God Have a Clue? by Andre Rabe

Does God Have A Clue... from Andre Rabe on Vimeo.

The Crucified God - Brian Zahnd

The Crucified God
Brian Zahnd

“When the crucified Jesus is called ‘the image of the invisible God,’
the meaning is that this is God and God is like this.”
–Jürgen Moltmann, The Crucified God

“Being disguised under the disfigurement of an ugly crucifixion and death,
the Christform is paradoxically the clearest revelation of who God is.”
–John R. Cihak, Love Alone Is Believable: Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Apologetics

“Jesus is the only perfect theology.”
–Brad Jersak

God is like Jesus.
God has always been like Jesus.
There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus.
We haven’t always known this.
But now we do.
–Brian Zahnd

I want to know who God is. I want to know what God is like. So what should I do? Read the Bible? Yes…but. The Bible is a big and complicated book and subject to what Christian Smith wryly calls “pervasive interpretive pluralism.” Smith is referring to the embarrassing plethora of contradictory interpretations from equally qualified and well-intentioned interpreters.

To read the rest of this post, click here: http://brianzahnd.com/2014/03/crucified-god/

Indiscriminate Sowing - Bob Ekblad

This past week I’ve rediscovered one of Jesus’ parables that I often read with impoverished farmers in Honduras. Reading Matthew 13 with inmates and at Tierra Nueva has proved fruitful, and deeply encouraged me as I’ve heard good news echoing back.

I start out sharing with a jail-room full of mostly construction workers, mechanics, welders, electricians and farm workers how Jesus was working class, the son of a carpenter, a man whose hands were likely calloused. According to the Gospel accounts he mostly hung out with ordinary people, frequenting normal, non-religious place: roads, sea, mountains, villages and homes. I invite someone to read Matthew 13:1-2:

“On that day Jesus went out of the house, and was sitting by the sea. And great crowds gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.” I’ve seen how this kind of beginning helps people envision Jesus as closer, and opens them to hearing his teaching as possibly more relevant. Next, before reading the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-9.

I talk a bit about the basics of planting seeds.

To read the rest of this post, click here: http://www.bobekblad.com/indiscriminate-sowing/