Erin was a part of Rehobeth UMC’s worship service Sunday doing her worship arts painting. She had not done this in quite a few years so it was really exciting and a little nerve racking. She did great, as you might expect, and the folks there were very appreciative.
Maybe it is me, but I find myself troubled by the things that Google Image shows me about the faith that I claim. This is significant in my opinion because google will push those things that are referenced or used the most to the top because they have been deemed as having the most worth & credibility for that particular search. I would put the bible in this thought captured in image, but it is boringly predictable. So..
I probably have the most issue with worship.. Seriously, these black silouette hands raised is the predominate image for worship?.. really?..
Doctrine doesn’t get a good rap with the image folks. It also gets mixed up with politics and other cultural items.. Is that telling us something?
I’m glad to know that God is pretty much the same yesterday, today and forever. Except for that muscle character HE is some nice shining lights with a white beard.
I must say, I liked the motivation theology poster a whole lot. contemplated making that my laptop wallpaper. It is intriguing the images constructed to try to explain theology. Throwing out the 10 commandments makes for a limited theology in ways, might not be a bad thing though.
This one kinda freaked me out…
I like the safe pastor look better.. Except for maybe that guy in the top right.. Or the movie Troy, not a very good movie.
I suppose another arms up in the air type image is suitable. I did find that infant baptism rising to the top in so majority of images to be interesting. But maybe those are just baby dedications..
I suppose with two or three Sermon on the Mount images we can call this legit. At least there isn’t a benny hinn pic.
Boy am I glad my mommy taught me to fold my hands together and hid in dark lit rooms because apparently that is the way to go about praying to God.
The gothic nature of all these images has me shaking my head.. Maybe justice is just for goth people.
I like how there are no people in the churches. That’s nice.. Wait a second….
I could have chosen Eucharist, but those results were too catholic. Reminds me of the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. “You must choose wisely.” Looking at these, we seem to want to choose poorly.
Last but not least
I like my white soft skinned Jesus. Especially the contemplative sensitive type. But when I go out on Friday night I want Buddy Christ!
NOTE: If you are curious, I didn’t do any scrolling for these. This is the first set of results in each case.
So what does this tell you about your faith?
There is a interesting set up graphs from the Pew Research group on the peoples perception/view of gay marriage categorized by groupings.
Some quick thoughts:
One thing was plugging at my thoughts reading this. An institution, like my church tribe, cannot survive with one or two generations of people apathy towards it. There needs to be some reconciliation that would bring some relational & passionate connection towards the Gen X’ers & Millennials, not to mention the generation after Millennials who are probably going to be more affirming, within the church so that it can survive a values divide. Tough call there as a theology could be debated on either side and the long tradition of the church leans against. Changing just because culture is shifting isn’t the most divine way to change, but it has done so for less than divine reasons before.. Tough call, but a call that needs to be made sometime soon or continue a slow death
i'm pondering this quick little ted talk by derek sivers this morning. i caught this idea to be quite radical in shift in the way we look at leadership.
"it was the first follower that transformed the lone nut, into a
leader… if you really care about starting a movement, have the
courage to follow and show others how to follow."
as with most things it has me pondering of faith.. wondering if Jesus is the nut, then who is the follower who showed us how to follow? Saint Paul? some of the Disciples?
where am i in this? am i the guy that's trying to get attention by some silly song and dance or do i need to figure out how i show to follow better?
i think if we asked Christ about the idea of following to lead he'd be pretty stoked by it.
When in the soul of the serene disciple
When in the soul of the serene disciple
With no more Fathers to imitate
Poverty is a success,
It is a small thing to say the roof is gone:
He has not even a house.
Stars, as well as friends,
Are angry with the noble ruin.
Saints depart in several directions.
Be still:
There is no longer any need of comment.
It was a lucky wind
That blew away his halo with his cares,
A lucky sea that drowned his reputation.
Here you will find
Neither a proverb nor a memorandum.
There are no ways,
No methods to admire
Where poverty is no achievement.
His God lives in his emptiness like an affliction.
What choice remains?
Well, to be ordinary is not a choice:
It is the usual freedom
Of men without visions.
by thomas merton, selective poems of..
photo by paul stevenson creative commons