Tarshish

I’ve been reading a LOT lately. Between our 90 day Bible reading plan, “Under the Unpredictable Plant” (the book assigned by my PRIME mentor), and novels for entertainment, most of my free time is spent reading. I feel like I’m back in school, but this time, there are no grades or teachers to set deadlines. It takes significant will power to continue to read 10-16 chapters of the Bible a day when the Hobbit seems like it takes so much less effort. No matter how great “Under the Unpredictable Plant” is, it is still heavy theology and requires thinking.

Apparently, I don’t like to think.

Feel free to click "read more" to read about that? haha.

Prosperity Gospel (part three: reason)

I've always been more heart than head, but that doesn't mean I neglect logical thought. One of the reasons that I study theology is because when done correctly, it should inform ministry practice. The more we learn about God, the better we understand how our lives should practically reflect truth.

Everything we do has a message. The pastor from the case study probably doesn't realize what the prosperity gospel communicates on a deeper theological level.

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, God is “the supreme or ultimate reality: as the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe.” To further elaborate, “supreme” is defined as “1) highest in rank or authority 2) highest in degree or quality, and 3) ultimate, final.”

Logically speaking, if God is the loftiest being ever, and Jesus is God, no one deserves more than him. In fact, if someone was entitled to more than him, that person would be the loftiest being. They would be God. What the prosperity gospel is actually saying is that Jesus and the Father are vending machines to serve us. It is a reversal of status in which God becomes lower than his so-called followers.

If Jesus was a homeless nomad who was mocked as he was murdered. Why would his followers prove their faithfulness by respect and wealth?

If we choose to accept the prosperity gospel, we must abandon all doctrines associated with God’s supremacy and the Atonement. If the logic behind Christ’s atoning sacrifice is that he is perfect and the incarnation of God on earth, then the prosperity gospel stands as an affront to his perfection. If, as the prosperity gospel states, blessing is wealth and honor, then the cross was the opposite of Kingdom come.

This pastor must re-evaluate the logic of his teaching.

So do we.

Every time we allow ourselves to feel entitled, we risk idolatry. The worship of ourself is so tempting.

Prosperity Gospel? (part 2: Historical Traditions)

For those of you who are following this case study analysis, this is probably one of the most academic, no-fluff posts on this blog (unless you read my senior project research project... which if you did, I'm impressed). I don't expect many to read this, but I thought that the history and traditions surrounding the case study give important insight. Through reflection upon historical missiology and theology, the benefits and limitations of this approach become apparent.

Click read more if you dare ;)

Prosperity Gospel? (part one: Scripture)

Okay everybody, get ready for a slew of theological posts. I haven't written anything too academic lately, but I've always been passionate about seeking to better understand our God. My professor Dr. Kent Eilers says that theology is simply faith seeking performative understanding. In other words: it has real effect on the way we live daily life. This case study analysis is an example of something I have been dealing with not only in South East Asia, but my own cultural context as well. I want to clarify that this is only one instance and does not depict our full (and many wonderful) church experiences overseas.

So without further adieu, click read more and get the full story.

Wind, Rain, and the Nomadic Life

3 months, 17 beds, 12 flights and counting.

Colin and I are sitting at the Brunei international airport Coffee Bean waiting for our connecting flight back to Manila. The shop is packed with Kiwis (New Zealanders), Australians, and various other white people. It’s like we’ve all subconsciously congregated to be under the comfort of the trendy lights and drink our expensive lattés.

I suppose that’s unfair.

I’m drinking a frozen Mocha…and really, everything is expensive at the airport.

I digress.

It’s at moments like this, when we are in the in between, that I feel most like a wanderer. I imagine it being like the calm in the eye of a storm where the wind ferociously rotates around a tranquil center. If I could feel the wind, I would simply be dealing with my environment instinctually. But right now, I am in expectation. I have experienced the rain and this moment of “peace” is anything but… because I know what is coming. Or, to be more correct, I imagine what is coming.

Click "read more" for further explanation.

The joy of dying

As Colin mentioned in his last post, one of the main ways God has been speaking to us overseas has been through repetition. I don’t have super emotional feelings or “deep revelations,” but in the past week or so, I could not count how many times I have heard “rejoice in the lord always.” Seriously, it’s been like 10 times.

Paired with that has been a realization that as much as I don’t want to, I judge others for having more than I do while at the same time coveting their possessions and harboring jealousy. This has been very painful. I do not want to do these things. I want to stop wanting. I am afraid of what might become of me when I am once again surrounded by consumer culture. Will I become a Pharisee or a Fashionista?

These two thoughts war within me. How can I rejoice while I know how superficial I am? How can I not rejoice when God in his mercy is changing me?

I know that I cannot change on my own. I’m obsessed with fashion and beauty… but I’m also obsessed with rebelling against the accumulation of possessions. Neither is good. Why is it that I cannot buy a shirt without feeling guilty? Why is it that all I can think about is buying that stupid shirt?

In this time of character change, God has reminded me that I am not called to weep over my flesh. I am called to rejoice in its death. And most assuredly… it is dying, slowly and surely.

Life Update September 6, 2011

Why hello there, it's been awhile! Sorry we haven't been on here so much lately. We will be sure to make this post extra long so that we can make up for all the missed blog posts, but don't worry, it's all good content.

So strap on your seat belts, and click the read more button to find out what we have been up to lately!

Here we are Kayaking on the South China Sea during Hari Raya!