Doug Chaplin has tagged me in a provocative meme that is simply too juicy to pass up. Here are the details:

List 5 doctrines that are taught within the Christian church that you believe to be deeply de-Christian.

Like Doug I think that the term “doctrine” as a certain flexibility in it. Of course, I’m no spokesperson for Christianity, but… Doug, ask and you shall receive. Here’s my list.

1. Justification by “Justification by Faith” – Doug also mentioned this one. The idea is that one is reconciled to God not by the death and resurrection of Jesus, but by intellectually assenting to a certain set of soteriological axioms. Such a view is deeply unChristian, as well as divergent from that which the Church has believed since the time of Paul. Take a gander at Romans 5. Jesus, not “justification by faith” is the one who reconciles people to God.

2. Oppression in the Name of Fidelity to the Scriptures –Oppression is never Christian, yet Christians are infamous for using the text to oppress different groups. This happened with the slavery issue and continues to happen with women and, I think, other minority groups. When doctrine excludes people from table fellowship, it contradicts the gospel.

3. Relegating the Eucharist to the sidelines of worship – In the early church, the Eucharist was the centerpiece of worship because Christ was the center of worship. In too many churches today, however, the Eucharist is only celebrated one a month or some such thing. The logic is, “We don’t want it to become dry ritual.” Funny, teaching the Scriptures doesn’t become dry ritual (or at least it shouldn’t).

4. Making “Christian” an adjective – It’s a great noun and a lousy adjective. It creates an us vs. them retreatism that results in “Christian” celebrations that are fenced or gated off from the rest of the world. Certainly, this is unChristian. The rest of the world won’t bite, I promise.

5. The Self-Help “Christian” Book Empire – I realize that not all books written by Christians are rubbish, but…really… how many books could possibly be needed on figuring out God’s will? The poor sheep are too blind to see they are being sold a bill of goods.

So there you have it. There’s my list. I’ll tag Rob Kashow (rise from the dead, Rob!), Scott Bailey, James McGrath, Mike Koke, and John Anderson.

Many thanks to my blogging friend, John Anderson, who informs us:

See HERE.  You can hear a whole host of lectures from scholars such as Walter Brueggemann, Ben Witherington, Richard Hays, Dale Allison, John Barclay, Charles Talbert, Eugene Petersen, Bruce Longenecker, NT Wright, Gustavo Gutierrez, and Jurgen Moltmann.  These are a wonderful resource for students and scholars alike.  I am, as you may suspect, listening to my friend Brueggemann at present.

Fantastic! Thanks for the heads up, John!

Look no further! I picked this picture up from the P. Oxy. site.

Here’s the picture…

Here’s what it says…(if you missed it already)

This was new to me as I have been aloof for a bit. Perhaps you are already aware, but there is available on Youtube a recording of the earliest extant Christian hymn with musical notation, P. Oxy. XV 1786. Coming from the 3rd century, this hymn worships the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Invoking both speech and song, this musical ditty is truly incredible. Enjoy!

“(Spoken) [Σε Πάτερ κόσμων, Πάτερ αἰώνων, μέλπωμεν] ὁμοῦ, πᾶσαι τε Θεοῦ λόγιμοι δο[ῦλο]ι. Ὅσα κ[όσμος ἔχει πρὸς ἐπουρανίων ἁγίων σελάων.]
(Sung) [Πρ]υτανήω σιγάτω, μηδ’ ἄστρα φαεσφόρα λ[αμπέ]
(Spoken) σθων, [ἀπ]ολει[όντων] ῥ[ιπαὶ πνοιῶν, πηγαὶ]
(Sung) ποταμῶν ῥοθίων πᾶσαι. Υμνούντων δ’ ἡμῶν [Π]ατέρα χ’ Υἱὸν χ’ Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, πᾶσαι δυνάμεις ἐπιφωνούντων· Ἀμήν, Ἀμήν. Κράτος, αἶνος [ἀεὶ καὶ δόξα Θεοὶ δωτῆρι μόνῳ πάντων] ἀγαθῶν· Ἀμήν, Ἀμήν.

HT: Mike Bird and Mark Goodacre

Check this out! Scott has found a cache of pics of bibliobloggers (including yours truly) all dressed up for Halloween. Fantastic!

Of course, he did forget to post this one of him (lifted from his Facebook profile).

Interestingly, the Gospel of Matthew is not the only place where the command to τέλειος shows up. In Matthew, the idea (in the Sermon on the Mount) would seem that since God is “perfect” (in the context, he shows love to everyone), those who are part of the Jesus movement should do likewise (Matt 5.48). This idea shows up again in Matt 19.21 with the rich young ruler.

The Didache also touches on the idea of perfection as the ideal for members of the community of faith. In Did. 6.2, we read:

εἰ μὲν γὰρ δύνασαι βαστάσαι ὅλον τὸν ζυγὸν τοῦ κυρίου, τέλειος ἔσῃ· εἰ δ᾿ οὐ δύνασαι, ὃ δύνῃ, τοῦτο ποίει.

“For if (on the one hand) you are able to bear the whole yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect (teleios). If (on the other hand) you are not able, whatever you are able, do this.”

Those who are able to keep the whole teaching of Jesus are considered to be “perfect,” (note the similarity with the Sermon on the Mount as the pith of Jesus’ teaching), but everyone else should just do their best. An interesting (and very early) perspective on a core teaching of Jesus’ teaching as Matthew has it.

Thoughts?

Hilarious! Thanks Dr. Jim!

James points our attention to a powerful song by the charming Regina Spektor. I’ve never heard this song before, but I must say that I really enjoy “Laughing With.” The song, which could also be titled “Nobody Laughs at God,” properly shines floodlights on the sobering realities of life and the mockery that some make of God and religion.

Take a step on over to James’ place and have a watch on Youtube.

Do check out the Introduction to the NT course at Yale University available on iTunesU. I’ve enjoyed a few of the lectures already; I must say that Dale Martin is an exceptionally engaging teacher. Good times. Did I mention that the entire course, offered at Yale, is available for free in both MP3 and video?

HT: Nijay Gupta

I’ve missed you, dear blessed reader, greatly. So greatly have I missed you that I will be picking up the pace blogging. Hopefully, you have not lost all hope. I am returning.