One of my favorite theological questions from Core 399 that I like to discuss is whether discipleship is more of a discipline of the head or the heart (without copping out to the safe answer of saying both, even though it is true that discipleship is both knowledge and discipline of the mind and body through both unconscious and liturgical practices). Smith, in his writing “You Are What You Love,” says that discipleship places too much of an emphasis on human beings as “brains on a stick.” The Christian culture is notorious for associating human desires with an earthly flesh that is selfish and sinful. These disordered loves are shown through the way that the NASCAR preacher dilutes a love for God into a love for NASCAR, and how Victoria Osteen …show more content…
Victoria Osteen and the NASCAR preacher represent the counter-narrative of the corrupted “American Dream” of a culture hinging on materialism as indicators of success. This consumerism unfortunately pervades both Christian and pseudo-sacred systems. Another example of this counter-narrative can be found in Smith’s example of shopping malls as a place of worship posing a rival liturgy. Liturgy, worship, and discipleship is not always confined within the walls of the church. These counter-narratives are successful in their deceptive ploy by utilizing liturgical practices similar to theological practices without coming across as theological. The most dangerous idols that we can become disciples to are the ones that do not seem like idols. One of Satan’s greatest powers is making people think that he does not have any power. That does not mean that shopping malls are evil institutions that should be avoided altogether, though. It means that rightly aligned discipleship should be more proactive in how we as Christ followers view and interact with the world around us. The gist of the concept of the formative liturgies, auditing and improving one’s life through reordering disordered loves and countering conter-narratives, can be achieved through reflection on God’s presence, reviewing one’s day in a spirit of gratitude, becoming aware of one’s emotions before God, praying over a
Located in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids this Historical brick building with its’ decorative molding and beautiful stain glass windows is the home of a subculture of biblically based Christians. This church family meets every Sunday like many churches who revere Sunday as being the Lord’s day, set aside for rest and worship of God. Biblically based Christianity is a vast culture of faith in God carried out by many subcultures called churches, made up of people who seek to worship God and to foster a personal relationship with him. One of the most important things that make a subculture is a question of what is it that brings these people together? This foundational question is not only the question of the subculture, but is also the defining
In our book “American Jesus” by Stephen Prothero, the chairman of the religious department at Boston University, has published an engaging book that explains how the Son of God “Jesus Christ” became the nation’s most known and forming celebrity figure. While the United States of America was founded on religious freedom, Prothero explains to us that America has more active Christians than any other nation in history. And while this nation has been somewhat of a hedonistic society, Americans are more interested in the figure of Jesus than their Puritan forefathers, who were, as Prothero writes, "a God-fearing rather than Jesus-loving people." But that’s no surprise; Prothero warns us that Jesus may rule the country, but the people in the country
As we have peeled away the layers of what evangelicalism and fundamentalism means throughout history, especially in our Western culture I am intrigued as to both and their very intense presence in many of our modern-day congregations. “Yet, the vast majority of evangelicals around the world today hail from Holiness, Pentecostal, and charismatic congregations”. After visiting Grace Covenant Church of Austin Texas, much of those aforementioned ‘typical’ contributions that have been emphasized in books such as The American Evangelical Story by Douglas Sweeney and American Apocalypse by Matthew Sutton, I experienced ever present at Grace.
Writing in the late 1980s, Herbert Schlossberg provides a thorough analysis of current trends in American culture in his book Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture. Many scholars have examined Western civilization and concluded that we are in its declining years. Some use analogies of space: rise, zenith, and fall; others use analogies of biology: birth, maturity, and death. Schlossberg refuses to see all cultures as following these patterns, but rather attempts to use the concept of judgment, based on the biblical example of the prophets: “With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction” (Hos. 8:4). If the idols are destroyed, and we return to worship the true God, we can expect
This was a ginormous step for the people and the diversity of religious believes exploded thereafter. This is where American Christianity’s roots bagan. Over the years American Christianity’s teachings and characteristics have been molded, creating the trends each individual walking down the street sees today. Wolfmuller examines throughout his book, Has American Christianity Failed, how the false teachings and dangerous practices of American Christianity have become accepted throughout society. After close examination, it is easy to conclude that Wolfullers deductions of American Christianity are correct in pointing to nothing other than
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE MUSC 610 – TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR WORSHIP
As a “cradle Methodist,” the standards and theological tasks mentioned in Part III of the Discipline are ingrained in how I understand and apply my faith. These aspects of the United Methodist tradition have been a foundation from which I have grown during my formative years. Although I have not always been able to articulate these beliefs, I have learned the power in living them in addition to teaching them. I believe that much of the affirming, teaching, and applying of our standards and theological task that I do in my ministry is out of this same foundation that was formative to my faith. It informs how I preach, the lead Bible studies I lead, how I lead youth group, and my interactions with congregants and the community.
Praise and testimony opened day two of the Conference. Even the outside dampness of the rain could not interfere with the warmth and praise in the beautiful sanctuary. Bible study, taught by Rev. Annette Hoskins-Satterfield, Pastor of Pierce Chapel AME Zion Church, was powerful, practical, and soul stirring teaching. In her message, “Stewardship,” she dealt fiercely with the four principles of stewardship: we do not own it, responsibility, accountability and reward. She reminded us that we are seeking to hear God say, “Well done!” As she closed, she shared that stewardship is a place of leadership, not grunt
I disagree with Lauren Slater’s theory that throughout a person's life, one will only surround themselves with ideas and people similar to their own because, it is easy to see that people enjoy controversy and over the course of our lives, our beliefs and ideas can change.
The purpose of this critique is to analyze the various aspects of a modern family through the film, “This is Where I Leave You”. Different components of marriage, families, and relationships will be explored to better understand the central theme of the movie.
Love You Forever is a classic heart-warming story by Robert Munsch built around a simple, but eternally meaningful commitment from a mother to a child to love him forever. Robert Munsch has become a world-renowned author of children’s books for his unique use of exaggerated expressions that produce sounds that are very appealing and fun for children. In Love You Forever Munsch uses words like “crazy” and “zoo” to add the effect of comedy but the overall theme of the story strikes chords that are much deeper than exaggerated expressions (Munsch np). Robert Munsch started Love you Forever as a song: “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll
Church buildings, musical instruments, ministers’ attire, choir robes, hymns, names of converts, schools and curriculums had Americans’ religious, cultural, and economic trademark. The Christianity that addressed issues of life in the American cultural context was transplanted in different parts of the world. Unlike the transition of the Hebraic-Christianity from the Jewish culture to the Gentile world in the first century, which developed its own unique theological, cultural, and leadership identity in a short period of time, the phenomenal growth of Christianity in the majority world has been largely influenced by the dominance of American Christianity. As the result, we have Christian faith that is not well anchored on local theology. And to most of the churches in the majority world, up until recently,
Wheeler and Whaley give regular confusions of evangelism and worship, giving a brief reaction for each. They then give a scriptural model of an evangelism-venerate
Winthrop outlines three detailed reasons to reform in his sermon that include glorifying God, manifesting in the work of the spirit, and providing Christian fellowship and helping others (Winthrop 1). He provides thorough questions and answers to why and how people should live wholesome Christian lives that include lending money and forgiving (Winthrop 2). He provides not only simple ways to live a charitable life of honoring God, but detailed reasons why. This is effective because it is easy to understand for people and encourages them to want to live this lifestyle. In “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God,” Edwards only talks about God’s wrath, hell, and how all people are “damned from birth” (Edwards 1). These frightening subjects do not promote a Christian lifestyle change, only a rude awakening. Edwards even specifially states that his sermon is intende to be an “awakening for unconverted persons” (Edwards 1). This is less effective than Winthrop’s sermon because it may scare people into the Christian faith, but it gives little detail of living a changed Christian life. Also, Edwards approach is so extreme, it may have an opposite effect on some listeners and scare them out of Christianity due to the harsh way he describes God and his anger. Edwards provides a frightening awakening message that proves less potent than Winthrop’s positive description of becoming a Christian
Christ is the central person in Christian discipleship. Without Christ, Christianity would not exist and there would be no followers of Christ. To be true followers of Christ, believers must be willing to learn of the ways and teachings of Christ. Christ is central to Christian discipleship because He is the teacher of His disciples. Through the Holy Spirit and Word of God, Jesus Christ calls His disciples to Him and then