Here it is – the blog post for Season 3 Episode 4 – Rites of
Initiation; now with 15% Less Hazing!
Wouldn’t you know it I went ahead and deleted the notes
Charley and I used before writing this blog post, so that means I am going to
have to try to remember the basics of what we said… or you could just listen to
the episode yourself. Do that and tell me what I missed
Again, the main issue of the episode is whether or not
someone should join a church. Obviously we think you should for a number of
reasons, perhaps the two major ones being 1) you are a better Christian when
you are part of a community and 2) Christianity is about commitment.
When you are around other people who share many of the same
values and beliefs you lift each other up. You will hold each other
accountable, you will have someone to lean on in times of difficulty, and your
teeth will be 75% whiter. Trying to be a Christian in the world is a difficult
thing, too difficult to do on your own. Find a community to join you in your
walk. Trust me, it will make life easier. Most of the time.
Don’t just attend and say that it enough. Join! It is one
thing to make a commitment to Christ, but another to live out that commitment.
When you make a commitment to Christ you are making a commitment to the church
(universal); you are a part of that church whether you like it or not. If you
do not commit to a particular community then what does that say about your
commitment to Christ? Yes, it sounds harsh, but think this through. What does
it say when you attend a community, you take part in the life of the community,
but you will not say that you are completely community? Are you not all in?
Will you always be there for others in the community no matter what or only as
long as you are happy and satisfied? What does that say about your commitment
to Christ?
You are not going to find the perfect community. Sorry to
disappoint. No matter where you end up that community will disappoint you and
challenge you. It will also love you, support you, and help you. That is a part
of being a Christian, taking risks and allowing yourself to get hurt. There
will be blessings and the deeper you commit the deeper the blessings. So again,
get off your duff and join a church!
Mention our podcast when you join and you will get the first
100 days of membership free!
(only kidding)
Railage:
Let it snow, let it snow, let it
snow, and don’t cancel church before you are sure you have to. Or at least
don’t call Jonathan on the Wednesday or Thursday before asking if church will
be cancelled. Please, don’t freak out so much. Please, please, please. And
relax. And unplug. And try spending more time praying.
For Charley’s sake I will not
mention the book that he is angry about. I will not mention that it is 23 Minutes in Hell by Daniel Weise.
Seriously, don’t waste your time with this spiritual smut that plays on the curiosity
of the macabre. If you really want to read something that considers the notion
of hell without the Christian gore porn try Dante’s Divine Comedy, but read all three parts going from Hell to Purgatory
to Heaven. Or for something a little more updated to our day and age try C.S.
Lewis’ The Great Divorce. Either of
those are classy.
A Liturgical Exegesis
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 –
Reconciliation, reconciliation, reconciliation! What does it mean to be reconciled
into a new community? How does that effect your relationships within that
community knowing that all are forgiven by God? How can the community share and
show that reconciliation to each other and display it to the world? Read it.
Consider it. Pray on it. Live it.
Watcha Into?
Jonathan is reading The Journal of the American Academy ofReligion (nerd)! Hey, it’s good to read the technical, the heavy, and the
challenging. You wouldn’t want your doctor to stick to Pop-up anatomy books,
would you? So back off!
Charley offered the podcast:
If you can’t laugh at the
comically religious (especially those who don’t intend to be comic) than who
can you laugh at? Sometimes it takes an atheist with the help of a priest to
keep the Christians in line.
Don’t forget to like us on
Facebook and to offer a comment/rating on itunes! May the rest of your Lent be
filled with penitential thoughts.
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