Everybody around here has their head down getting ready for the Workshop. I’m working on two classes and a keynote talk. The classes are on the revolutionary nature of Jesus’ kingdom message as revealed through the parables. The keynote is about how we’ve reduced the claims and aims of the gospel to a list of beliefs and a benefit package. I’m calling it “The Incredible Shrinking Gospel.”

Come Quick!!!

Rick Warren and Brian McLaren are having a Smackdown. This is a great example of how two very smart and culturally savvy people can see the same event very differently.

I think they are both right.

Beginning in April, I’m going to be teaching a class on Wednesday nights using Green and Baker’s Recovering the Scandal of the Cross. I expect it to be a challenging study that may surprise or even offend a few people. How can you study the cross and not be offended at some level?

I’ve been spending some time with the writings of Ken Wilber. I’m especially fascinated by his A Theory of Everything, which is a synthesis of his previous work. His integral vision is compelling and challenging. He is not coming at it from a Christian point of view, but I’m convinced that more Christians need to be a part of this type of conversation. If nothing else, Wilber paints an interesting picture of what a post-postmodern world might look like. Everyone interested and involved in “The Emerging Church Movement” should read it just to make sure they’re not suffering from what Wilber calls “Boomeritis,” which according to Wilber is “pluralism infected with narcissism.” As Wilber sees it, the lofty ideals fostered by pluralism (the appreciation and acceptance of diversity) often ends up being a magnet for egocentric narcissists who use the rubric of tolerance to make sure that no one is able to tell them what to do. Rather than being an “enlightened” state of mind, pluralism infected with narcissism becomes permission to regress into the worst kinds of selfish behavior. When applied to the emerging church movement/revolution, the question of Boomeritis comes to us like this: “Are you here because your heart has been stirred by a fresh vision for sharing the gospel with a changing world, or are you just rebelling against your mom and dad’s church?”

Last week I watched The Passion just before we left on our vacation. Just like you, Ive already read a number of reviews and personal reflections about the movie. Im not sure I have much to add to the conversation at this point, but since we talked about the movie at length here several weeks ago, I feel a comment or two is in order. So here we go.

It didnt appear that I was among an overly Christian crowd. There was even some rude talking going on during the first few minutes of the film. That didnt last long. The theatre was silent when the final credits rolled.

Several times I cried so hard that my gut hurt. This is probably because I refused to sob out loud.

As a work of art, the movie is outstanding. Mel Gibson knows how to break your heart with a story.

Leaving the theatre I felt the same way I did when I was baptized nearly 20 years ago. I emerged from the baptistry and the theatre determined never to sin again. If only. . .

I didnt like the scene about Jesus the tall table inventor at all. It struck me as a lame attempt to inject some levity into the story.

The flashbacks were helpful, but there are two scenes I would have liked to see: Jesus trashing the temple and Jesus thundering away at the religious leaders (Matt. 23). Both of these scenes would have helped to put Jesus suffering in context. Jesus went to Jerusalem to pick a fight with the temple establishment. He condemned it through both word and deed. From the perspective of the Jewish leaders, they had good reasons to want him dead. He was trying to jerk the rug right out from under their feet. Jesus was innocent, but he was not passive. You can even make the case that he forced their hand by publicly denouncing them.

I dont see the movie having a huge evangelistic impact on our culture, but it has been good for a conversation or two. Its greatest value will be for devotional purposes for Christians who need to be reminded of why they are Christians in the first place. It is a multimedia Stations of the Cross. As such, it has stirred my heart and stimulated my faith.