Philip Rieff is a sociologist who wrote a complex book entitled, “The Triumph of the Therapeutic.” In his foreword he explains his attempt to move toward a “theory of culture.” Interestingly, he moves between many of the cultural trends of his own day and points to an impoverishment of western culture, a trend toward the personal that undermines all reflections or considerations of absolutes, whether religious or social, and a cultural description of a “therapeutic mindset” in which our collective interests become only those self absorbed solutions to our own predicaments. He suggests that mechanization and urbanization have allowed us to adopt patterns that will fail to find the agrarian cultures self-correction in mandated community effort to survive and thrive. In the movement away from the agriculturally based culture of the past we have found an insistent movement to satisfy our secondary needs at the expense of our primary.
Failing to share, to communicate personally, to interact with intentionality toward community leaves the future looking less and less capable of exercising and demonstrating genuine love. In the midst of our times, we are casting aside internalized moral demands and ignoring the needs of others for the sake of self-interests or worse, self-destructive ends. In his words, we are asking for “more goods, more housing, more leisure, and…more life” in the “reformations” of our cultured requirements. And while more does not translate into “better” by our vocalized agreements, we still pursue more.
Failing to even internalize obedience as a principle for relationship, we now have created a system in which sin is foreign because the recognition of obedience is lost as a value.
For a book written in 1966, this book has a hauntingly prophetic ring for our times.
While Rieff may serve as an able social prophet, we are reminded to recognize that the Word of God to us is truth. In that word, we find the correction for this and every generation that points us toward a redemptive and positive life in Jesus Christ. It is a principled existence, but it is not only an existence, it is a love-generated relationship with our Creator -- initiated by God to redeem humankind and to save us. God will have the last word. The question is, “Will we be listening?”
Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Affirming Gifts
The community of faith is commended to be mindful of the collective responsibility we have to affirm and encourage the use of our spiritual gifts. Every Christian has some gift. And those gifts may be, but are not necessarily attached to a vocational expression of our gifts.
We also need to understand that these spiritual gifts are not for our personal benefit. In fact, they rarely if ever are applied or used if the only motivation we have for using them would be for personal benefit or personal gain. Spiritual gifts are those to be used for the upbuilding of the community of faith and the exercise of those gifts, while likely to bring us joy, nonetheless are for giving to others.
You will never find a spiritual gift being shared by those who simply act as “religious consumers”. Spiritual gifts are shared by Christian givers – those who recognize and use the capacities God has given them in His service. It is a gift for God’s glory, not one’s own. It is a gift that God energizes and enables in us. It is a gift that demonstrates the love of God in its character and usefulness. And it is a gift given to others in the name of the Lord we serve. The blessing of those gifts comes when the church “sees” the gift of an individual and both nurtures and affirms that gift. Paul told Timothy to “stir up the gift that was in him” recognizing that he should “put into practice” his gift of teaching and preaching, devoting himself to those efforts and doing so in a way that allowed others to see his progress. Our spiritual gifts are not to be allowed to stagnate or to be neglected. They need exercise…in order to be utilized as God intended.
Christians need one another in community in order to bless and encourage the gifts God has given for us to share. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…” 1 Corinthians 12:7. So observe the gifts of those with whom you share Christian fellowship and encourage those gifts you recognize in others…affirm them…name them…bless their use. The utterance of wisdom, the sharing of knowledge, the expression of faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, the gift of discernment, the gift of languages, the gift of interpretation, the gift of helpful deeds and capacities for helpful guidance…The gifts God gives for his church are many and diverse, but all are given for the his body, the church, to be strengthened, enabled, and equipped to accomplish its mission in the world.
We also need to understand that these spiritual gifts are not for our personal benefit. In fact, they rarely if ever are applied or used if the only motivation we have for using them would be for personal benefit or personal gain. Spiritual gifts are those to be used for the upbuilding of the community of faith and the exercise of those gifts, while likely to bring us joy, nonetheless are for giving to others.
You will never find a spiritual gift being shared by those who simply act as “religious consumers”. Spiritual gifts are shared by Christian givers – those who recognize and use the capacities God has given them in His service. It is a gift for God’s glory, not one’s own. It is a gift that God energizes and enables in us. It is a gift that demonstrates the love of God in its character and usefulness. And it is a gift given to others in the name of the Lord we serve. The blessing of those gifts comes when the church “sees” the gift of an individual and both nurtures and affirms that gift. Paul told Timothy to “stir up the gift that was in him” recognizing that he should “put into practice” his gift of teaching and preaching, devoting himself to those efforts and doing so in a way that allowed others to see his progress. Our spiritual gifts are not to be allowed to stagnate or to be neglected. They need exercise…in order to be utilized as God intended.
Christians need one another in community in order to bless and encourage the gifts God has given for us to share. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…” 1 Corinthians 12:7. So observe the gifts of those with whom you share Christian fellowship and encourage those gifts you recognize in others…affirm them…name them…bless their use. The utterance of wisdom, the sharing of knowledge, the expression of faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, the gift of discernment, the gift of languages, the gift of interpretation, the gift of helpful deeds and capacities for helpful guidance…The gifts God gives for his church are many and diverse, but all are given for the his body, the church, to be strengthened, enabled, and equipped to accomplish its mission in the world.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Feats of Strength
I read a recent article about Princeton Seminary student Ryan Bonfiglio. Ryan is an outstanding scholar who earned an undergraduate degree in Chemistry before starting his theology studies. He will be undertaking a Ph.D. in the near future, but he also has shown his prowess in a variety of physical activities. He was hired by Princeton as an assistant wrestling coach and just recently earned the status of Guinness World Record holder for doing 3,432 pushups in an hour. In addition to the pushup record, he holds the world pull-up record for 507 pull-ups in one hour. He also ran his first marathon in 2 hours forty-nine minutes and once hiked 50 miles and climbed fourteen peaks in New Hampshire’s White Mountains in a single day.
Balancing the athletic side, Ryan is an astute biblical scholar and has self-published his own Hebrew grammar. Ryan’s efforts should remind us all that life needs physical, mental and spiritual activity. Our lives need wholeness and appropriate aims and positive challenges.
The Apostle Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy about the importance of having a “spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” Each one of us shares the opportunity of such characteristics as we acknowledge the unique purpose and grace brought to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Whatever you age or ability, consider the “good treasure” entrusted to you. Let your faith and love distinguish your life in every expression.
Balancing the athletic side, Ryan is an astute biblical scholar and has self-published his own Hebrew grammar. Ryan’s efforts should remind us all that life needs physical, mental and spiritual activity. Our lives need wholeness and appropriate aims and positive challenges.
The Apostle Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy about the importance of having a “spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” Each one of us shares the opportunity of such characteristics as we acknowledge the unique purpose and grace brought to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Whatever you age or ability, consider the “good treasure” entrusted to you. Let your faith and love distinguish your life in every expression.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Around the World
Swine flu outbreaks have jarred us into once more recognizing the nature of sudden changes on the world stage. While medical experts sort through the details of this latest heath scenario, we recognize the effects of disease as an ever-present reality of life shared on this planet. Old-fashioned good sense about hand washing…soap and water will do fine by the way, and concern and help to those who are sick is a continuing and appropriate response of Christian ministry. Many ways in which Christians react are different than those without knowledge of Christ. We are called to minister to those in need, and to share concern for those who are lost, naked, hungry, thirsty, sick, and imprisoned, etc. We are called to teach, make disciples, and share the good news of Jesus Christ with the nations of the world. Thinking in Christ-like ways will move us toward addressing those needs, not away from them. Christians will be recognizable by their love. And when that love is inspired by the very presence of God with us, in us, enabling and energizing and equipping us, then we will see what God can do through us, beyond all we could ask or think. Swine flu may come…along with any number of other ailments that might afflict us in some form or another…but we have opportunity to point others to the healing, saving, life-giving relationship with our Lord.
Around the World
Swine flu outbreaks have jarred us into once more recognizing the nature of sudden changes on the world stage. While medical experts sort through the details of this latest heath scenario, we recognize the effects of disease as an ever-present reality of life shared on this planet. Old-fashioned good sense about hand washing…soap and water will do fine by the way, and concern and help to those who are sick is a continuing and appropriate response of Christian ministry. Many ways in which Christians react are different than those without knowledge of Christ. We are called to minister to those in need, and to share concern for those who are lost, naked, hungry, thirsty, sick, and imprisoned, etc. We are called to teach, make disciples, and share the good news of Jesus Christ with the nations of the world. Thinking in Christ-like ways will move us toward addressing those needs, not away from them. Christians will be recognizable by their love. And when that love is inspired by the very presence of God with us, in us, enabling and energizing and equipping us, then we will see what God can do through us, beyond all we could ask or think. Swine flu may come…along with any number of other ailments that might afflict us in some form or another…but we have opportunity to point others to the healing, saving, life-giving relationship with our Lord.
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