Working on the premise that wee can do our theological thinking using any book I have to add the caveat that whilst ALL and ANY book can challenge and shape my theology this does not make them 'theological'!
A brief conversation with someone who is studying theologically left me rather confused as they regarded the aforementioned tome as an authoritative theological voice on the Trinity. This for me was on a par with the 'darkness' offerings of Frank Peretti being regarded in the same light regarding Angelology.
Please don't think I'm knocking the books or the writers, I'm not. I can honestly say that having read them and enjoyed them to varying degrees my concern is that those who would consider themselves as students of that Queen of all sciences (Aquinus' term - not mine - Schleiermacher's too!) 'Theology' are in possession of such thinking.
More concern-making perhaps is the fact that the person on the other side of the conversation also thought that the 'Left behind' series was 'great theology' and a wonderful way to teach about the end times, after all (and I quote): 'It's easier to understand than revelation, isn't it?'
It certainly is, but it is not the authority some might confer upon it!
I am becoming increasing aware that I am moving towards a similar position as that occupied by that wonderfully visceral and curmudgeonly old goat, and namesake, Victor Meldrew when I say:
'I don't believe it - and I wish you wouldn't either!' Perhaps it's increasing old age taking effect - but hopefully it's an increasing desire to see people shape, share and apply stuff that sits well with the Bible.
Mind you, gut feelings apart, I am struggling to think that there are people who see angels sitting around the church building giving demons the bird and members of the Holy Trinity as characters like Mr McHenry, zipping around sans tricycle!
Stimulation and analogous writings are great because they give us different ways of looking at things. Fiction can, as I have said, shape, inform and bring about responses in us, but we need to keep a weather eye on how far we let them take us - after all, those who take the King's shilling and seek to serve Him in the ministry have a personal and a pastoral concern to be concerned over.
The Shack? It's a book - let's not lose sight of that?
Pax
Showing posts with label left behind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label left behind. Show all posts
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Four
Getting to feel like thunderbirds!
It had to happen. The question of what happens to your pets after you've been taken up has been addressed by an enterprising sort so that now you can leave assured that your pets will not be left to suffer or starve thanks to 'After the Rapture Pet Care:
Not bad for $135 but shouldn't subsequent pets at the same address command a cheaper rate? Wonder if their services reach as far as the West Midlands?
I note also that 'Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, USA' are increasing their fees because of the high demand caused by Saturday's predictions!
Pax
It had to happen. The question of what happens to your pets after you've been taken up has been addressed by an enterprising sort so that now you can leave assured that your pets will not be left to suffer or starve thanks to 'After the Rapture Pet Care:
Not bad for $135 but shouldn't subsequent pets at the same address command a cheaper rate? Wonder if their services reach as far as the West Midlands?
I note also that 'Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, USA' are increasing their fees because of the high demand caused by Saturday's predictions!
Pax
Monday, 16 May 2011
Going Up?
Tomorrow we start our five day countdown to the Rapture as predicted by Harold Camping (HC). So, here's a preliminary list of ten things to do for those who are expecting to be taken up on Saturday:
1. Cancel the milk,
2. (For pastors, dog-collars and those in ministry) Leave the service and sermon on the table just inside the church building for those who don't make it. In the 'Left behind' series, they leave a video to be played to those who are left, might be an idea.
3. (For church members) Write a letter resigning from your church because HC says that those who remain in church won't be taken up!
4. Write letters to all the people you have disliked and take them into work tomorrow. Put them in an envelope marked 'please post enclosed envelopes' and leave them in your top drawer for whoever is left to find and post. (see, you can have the very last word!)
5. Arrange to take Thursday off so that you can catch up on all those DVDs you wanted to watch.
6. Arrange to take Friday off so that you can repent of having watched them!
7. Write a cheque for all that unpaid tithe and put it in an envelope addressed to someone in your church that you know will still be there after the weekend and put it in the 'please post' envelope. That way you can honestly tell the Lord that the cheque is in the post!
8. Confess all your unknown and unconfessed sins. As they're unknown you can make them up if you feel you're a bit short. Bring to mind all the things you can remember and repent of them too!
9. Make sure you have clean underwear ready for Saturday. It would be awful for those left to have as their last memory of you being underwear you'd be embarrassed by (you might even pop out to ASDA or Tesco now and buy a new pair so you're really confident that you're leaving behind something to be proud of!).
10. Just in case you're left, it would be good to start thinking of reasons why this has happened. I'd also get hold of HC's telephone number so you can check he's gone if you're still here Sunday morning.
1. Cancel the milk,
2. (For pastors, dog-collars and those in ministry) Leave the service and sermon on the table just inside the church building for those who don't make it. In the 'Left behind' series, they leave a video to be played to those who are left, might be an idea.
3. (For church members) Write a letter resigning from your church because HC says that those who remain in church won't be taken up!
4. Write letters to all the people you have disliked and take them into work tomorrow. Put them in an envelope marked 'please post enclosed envelopes' and leave them in your top drawer for whoever is left to find and post. (see, you can have the very last word!)
5. Arrange to take Thursday off so that you can catch up on all those DVDs you wanted to watch.
6. Arrange to take Friday off so that you can repent of having watched them!
7. Write a cheque for all that unpaid tithe and put it in an envelope addressed to someone in your church that you know will still be there after the weekend and put it in the 'please post' envelope. That way you can honestly tell the Lord that the cheque is in the post!
8. Confess all your unknown and unconfessed sins. As they're unknown you can make them up if you feel you're a bit short. Bring to mind all the things you can remember and repent of them too!
9. Make sure you have clean underwear ready for Saturday. It would be awful for those left to have as their last memory of you being underwear you'd be embarrassed by (you might even pop out to ASDA or Tesco now and buy a new pair so you're really confident that you're leaving behind something to be proud of!).
10. Just in case you're left, it would be good to start thinking of reasons why this has happened. I'd also get hold of HC's telephone number so you can check he's gone if you're still here Sunday morning.
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