I know this doesn’t really have anything to do with anything but I just found out that Hot Leg are supporting Extreme. I already have a ticket to see Extreme! I went o see Hot Leg a couple of weeks ago and they were brilliant! Here’s a photo of Justin Hawkins strutting his funky stuff that night!
Notice the crazy mans tatoo of the logo for a DX 7 keyboard. Now that’s commitment!!
Following the weighty tomes I had to read for my dissertation, I have decided to read something for my own pleasure. To that end, I have finished with Brian McLarens manifesto on Christian unity, A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am A Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed – Yet Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished Christian. I have to say it has been an inspirational book. I have always been hopeful for Christian unity within a church that is more often seen to be ripping itself apart. I always find that this can become a primary focus for Christians that detracts from what we are actually supposed to be called to.
It has been necessary for McLaren to focus solely on the positives of each tradtion within Christianity and see the distinctive nature of each denomination or movement as adding something constructive and creative to the body of Christ. This means that he does not give the criticisms that we have come to expect as the focus for many.
McLaren has a great humility within his writing style and this is a refreshing change. He argues to move post-division. His aim is post-protestant convergence through a real dialogue that is post-liberal and post-conservative. A ‘generous orthodoxy’ sees a real movement forward for the church through fostering a love for one another and a missional outlook. But don’t listen to what I have to say about it, go and read it for yourself!
I have regularly mentioned the Catholic/Protestant bickering that seems still to be tearing at the body of Christ. A recent article from ekklesia seems to have taken a rather eclectic approach to name game.
Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” are not the only complexities these days. More urgent, most urgent, is the task of dealing in a fair way with the many, many brands of Christians who get lumped together as “Evangelicals,” especially in political discourse, where they get miscast simply as “the Christian right.”
…”Mainline Protestants” didn’t and don’t like their name, which is usually used pejoratively by non-Protestants, most of whom never liked and few ever use the accidentally applied term “Protestant” itself.
I think this sums the attitude some Christians have towards their brothers and sisters. The times I have heard those who chose to label themselves people accuse the ‘others’ of indoctrination without examining where their own opinion was learned. We seem to be in a situation where ever decreasing battle lines are being drawn. ‘He’s an evangelical? But is he a good evangelical?‘ Well it depends on which evangelical you want me to be like? Do you want me to be a right wing fire and brimstone spitting good evangelical? Sorry, I’ll get my coat.
It is time we moved from a situation where people feel inclined to appologise when asked by another christian about their roots. We shouldn’t be in a situation here people feel thy have to say ‘I’m an Anglican (sorry)’ or ‘I’m a Catholic, I’ll get me coat’. So what happens when people start pointing out that by referring to themselves as “Christian, I follow Christ but I worship at X” use this to increase their sense of superiority? Who can say?
Here’s something you can do – probably without leaving the house! A few months ago I met guy called John who takes amazing shots using a pinhole camera. I learned how to make a camera obscurer at primary school so I understood the principle. I did a little research into the topic and realised that half of the fun of pinhole photography is the Blue Peter aspect of making the camera. I discovered that I could make a home made pinhole camera without even leaving the house as I had a film sitting on the shelf.
This link goes to plans that you can print out and make now! I used a 35mm film, cereal packet, electricians tape, can of Stella and a encil from Bede’s World to take this arty shot. Give it a try!
