Romans (2007/04/03)

I have been teaching Romans in 8th grade NT.

I feel like I am getting it like never before. And like, once again, N.T. Wright is on it like a hornet.

I'm going to include here some very vague and malformed personal notes from my thought process.

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The Jews believed that God was bound to saving them from their burden, and that he would do so through the (King) son of David.

The belief could be stated this way: The King will save Israel from the Gentiles.

Why did Jews expect be saved?
---They were the "right" people, God’s people.

How could they tell?
---They had the signs of God’s covenant:
----------Possession of Torah (the "have" the law)
----------Circumcision
----------Diet
----------Calendar

So they expected that when the King came the rescue would include the destruction of the Gentiles.

But Paul says:
---The King, Jesus, will save Israel and Gentiles.

How can God save Gentiles if they are the problem?
---#1 Problem: you believe the lines of right and wrong are marked out by Jewish/Non-Jewish, but they are actually marked out by faith(fullness)/idolatry.

Yes, but the Gentiles are the Idolators!!
---#2 Problem: You are too. So if you call for God to save you, you will call for God to Judge them for idolatry, if you call for God to judge them, he will also have to judge you. You have always relied on his mercy to save you from sin. If he will be merciful, then you must accept his mercy on the Gentiles.

Then how can he save anyone, is God justifying sin?
No he did it by condemning sin in Jesus.

-------MORE LATER-------

New Creation Article - Washington Post - N T Wright

N T Wright Article on New Creation

Authentication

CAUEAT:: I don't feel as cynical as the following makes me sound; I think the points are valid.


Casey and I have been talking a lot lately about Modernism/Postmodernism and Generations: Builders/Boomers/Xers/Millenials.

Some things that Postmoderns (PoMos) long for are "Authenticity," and "Community."

Here is a funny line of what has happened with the desire for authenticity.

1970's
Christians should be "authentic" in their external lives
>>Enter the Jesus Movement
>> Music should include Christianity
>> Books should include Christianity
>> people should witness at work and invite people to Christian events.

The result:

1980-1999

A glut of "christian" events, books, music, shows, videos... all helping us be christian.

**Problem:

Christian events start looking like capitalism.

**Solution:

Christian events should be authentic and "come back to the heart of worship"...

1995
>> Christian concerts start including a 3 song "worship segment"
>> "Worship" cd's start selling like hotcakes
>> Church isn't about feeling good about ourselves, it is about Giving to God
>>>>through lot's of WORSHIP "genre" songs in which we feel good about ourselves.

**Problem

EVERY FREAKIN' THING OUT THERE is a ministry AND A worship experience.

**Solution

Christians should be authentic about where ministry and worship happens: AT CHURCH.

>>Church becomes more important for PoMos than for Boomers
>>Church is about connection to the ancient
>>Church is about realness of Christ and History
>>Christ becomes Jesus and Theology becomes Story
>>Unity in bare orthodoxy becomes more important than party lines
>>For many the question of whether their "non-denom" church is "lawfully in the line of the ordained pastorate of history" becomes important... drift back into catholicism.

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I think some comments for or against my rant are warranted. REMEMBER (I am NOT really this CYNICAL).

Switchfoot

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Which God is on the Move?

My friend Troy bought this book: On the Move - by Bono and then left it for me to read this weekend.

I love the political direction. But he rather off handedly includes Christians, Jews and Muslims together as he speaks at the National Prayer breakfast. Bono is definitely a Christian, and probably a true believer, but I wish he wouldn't casually leave the subject matter of "common worship" open as if Muslims and Christians could pray to the same God.

The God Christians worship is Yhwh seen in and through Jesus, resurrected King of Israel and the world. If you worship a different God, he isn't the same one...

Luke

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee

VERRRY Fair trade. And connected with Anglican Ministry.

Luke

Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens is the biggity bomb.

His label is Asthmatic Kitty Records

The first one I bought was Come On, Feel the Illinoise!:



I recommend these:

Seven Swans
Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State
Come On, Feel the Illinoise!
The Avalanche

Also his Christmas music is great.