When we refuse to incorporate computers into a coherent, comprehensive world view that includes who we are materially, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, we perpetuate a host of time-honored Western dualisms between self and other, mind and body, nature and culture. These false dualisms -- which have been the intellectual vogue for 400 years -- have created enormously damaging personal and environmental consequences. We struggle desperately to find meaning in a splintered world. We live in a vast chasm of our own creation located between the organic and the made, the sacred and the profane. When all around us is split into pieces, there is no center that holds. We are aliens in the very world we have constructed.
The Scriptures teach that 'a double minded man is unstable in all his ways' Could it be that the ineffectiveness of the 21st century church is due to this doubleminded world view?
Its not what we create that is detrimental to us [for creative power is from God] but it is the dual view that there is such a thing as sacred and profane [secular] that creates dis-integrated humanity.
The only thing that is secular is SIN [Period].
Reading this demands a response.
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12 comments:
I can't help but say I agree. I struggle with modern church culture and the history it has attained. Do I cut myself off from the world and hide myself in the every growing bubble of Christendom? Or do I allow myself to bring the two together and become an even better person and follower of Jesus?
I'm learning to grow in who I am in this world that growing even faster. I can't seperate myself from sacred and secular, it's too hard. I know first hand of churches that wish to do this and I can only think the outcome will be more than detremental.
WOW.
mark ... my responce is no doubt delayed but i have to say after reading it all over a few times... i have fallen in love with the line... the only thing that is secular is SIN.
SO TRUE.
it is never though secularism is sin.
unless ofcourse it is sin.
lol.
i think its bizarre how so much of this comes back to being present and aware. how circular and related all of this is..
interconnected with almost every aspect of life and faith... (as if life and faith were seperate.. pfft.)
i have to say i agree... the only thing i disagree with is the "21st century church" being ineffective.. i think that could not possibly be the truth.. the church is growing globally.. and we too are growing... we are in progress.
i think that you'd agree..
peace poms. your a good one.
jeff.
Jeffro [mets]... I think the key factor about the church growing is 'globally' In Western Civilization the Churchs growth has plateaued...however I find it very interesting in the areas of the Globe that are Booming in terms of Church Growth ... tend to have a more holistic worldview [China, India, Africa] These places tend not to make life platonic and dualistic.
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I think another thought that comes to my mind [and one of my pet peeves] is the NA church blames materialism on the inneffectivenss of the church. This again is a dualistic view and a view of material wealth as evil and secular.
Materially we are disintegrated not so much because of consumerism but because the church has tried to fight materialism... the wrong battle as far as I am concerned and the wrong worldview.
Thoughts?
I've struggled with that view of materialism as well. I'm not one that ones the latest and greatest toys out there, but living in this amazing country that we do I feel I can enjoy the splendors of being here.
You said the word earlier and I think it applies to this scenario. If the NA church can provide a more holistic approach to our lives then it's effectiveness would jump. Maybe the NA church should look at itself and possibly it's ineffectiveness because of it's laziness and inability to state when they have done something wrong or not done anything at all? Just throwing that out there.
I do see and agree that the fight against materialism is maybe poorly directed but, like most causes gone astray, it may have roots in a noble motive.
example: drinking has potential to lead to drunkeness, consumerism to greed, dancing to sex, etc.
I can see the concern and the motive that people have in regards to certain actions.......and that is why people like to seperate. It is our human nature to organize, specify, and simplify. I'd suggest, like each of us has, that it really does come back to an integrated worldview that allows for seeing the sacred in everything..........and I would go as far as to suggest......a worldview that sees the sacred in sin.
SIN= Social Insurance Number? I agree!
Thanks for the comment on my post against a one leon fontaines insanity. It's very sad when Christians feel they need to be completely removed from the "secular" world, and having to resort to listening to crappy music, watching lame movies, and listening to people who think poverty is a curse and that giving money to a church will give you a hundred times better house.
Jer
Great point... There is a sacredness in sin ... I totally agree thats what Paul spaeks of in Romans 'Shall we sin so that grace may abound' When we sin we expand, grow, culture the grace of God. Sin is Sacred as it magnifies the work of Grace in men.
Jer
Great point... There is a sacredness in sin ... I totally agree thats what Paul spaeks of in Romans 'Shall we sin so that grace may abound' When we sin we expand, grow, culture the grace of God. Sin is Sacred as it magnifies the work of Grace in men.
When I think of the whole materialism fight, immediately I go back to thinking about, "what about drums? What about guitars? What about this thing we call a stage? Even a podium?
All of those things have been used to worship the Devil, man, and other things. Yet, in our church's today we have poeple using all of those things to glorify God. Everything that can be used to glorify God should be used. Even if it means looking back at past sin, and recognizing God's grace, like stated before, the 'sacredness' of it.
I would never say Sin is sacred, but there is a sacredness the CAN result FROM sin.
What is it that causes us to sin? Do certain objects/substances cause us to sin? Do we sin because we are in a certain location? (for that matter, do we automatically worship because we are in a certain location...).
Sin is caused by our personal discontent for the life God calls us to live. All sin is a perversion of that which God created as good. If we were truly content with God's will we would never step outside of it. But, "By our own evil desire we are dragged away and enticed..."
I don't know if I quite caught what you were trying to say here (judging by the previous comments), but here's what I think.
I agree that there is huge opportunity to integrate technology in the way we do church and spirituality.
However, I would suggest this as food for thought:
The things we create (using our powers given by God) aren't always good for us (perhaps those creative powers have been twisted by sin).
Thoughts?
Dan
If we are to be careful... To weigh everyting because our potential evil... Will we do any good?
That sounds to me like the parable of the talents. The one who buried his talent because of his fear of judgement. What did Jesus say about him?
There is one case in Scripture that creativity is condemned in scripture those that imagine evil or create evil... This is because creativity is a power from God that man was given after His likeness which is in his image. Those that use it for evil...blaspheme him.
FYI - Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I, the LORD, do all these things.
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