Blue Like Jazz

This is the first book that I have finished this year and it was a real cracker. It came highly recommended as it was often mentioned by other authors who I really enjoy.

The subtitle does a good job of summing it up 'non-religious thoughts on Christian spirituality.' The book is autobiographical and explores the spiritual journey of the author. It seems to jump around a lot but I quite enjoyed it as it explored everything from Grace through Church through Romance, Money and Jesus.

A highly recommend this one if you haven't read it already. I don't agree with everything and left me with questions but for me that's the sign of a good book.


I love this bit, I read it just after my post on Monday and I guess it works as a good summary.

"At the end of the day, when I am lying in bed and I know the chances of any of our theology being exactly right are a million to one, I need to know that God has things figured out, that if my math is wrong we are still going to be okay. And wonder is that feeling we get when we let go of our silly answers, our mapped out rules that we want God to follow. I don't think there is any better worship than wonder."

4 Views on Hell

Four Views on Hell

I approached this book with slight trepidation as I thought it may well open up a bigger can of worms than I was prepared to deal with. However in many ways that can of worms had already been opened courtesy of other things.

The book take a look of 4 different theories on Hell and then the authors of each chapter then critique each other. I like this approach and find it helpful to have people responding to each other.

I'm going to try and summarise each chapter as I understand it, this will hopefully have the affect of helping me to commit them to memory and further work through this quandary.

1)The Literal View

This is the view that I guess I grew up with, I not sure how as I don't remember ever hearing it taught on. Through some process of unconscious osmosis I was only really aware of this view and have struggled with its final assertions and have done since a young age without really being able to express or verbalise this.

The literal view expresses that Hell is a real place where those who 'are not saved' will endure fiery torment for eternity.


2)The Metaphorical View

I must admit to not fully grasping this one. The understanding I have from it is that the exact nature of Hell we cannot be sure of as the bible often using pictorial language and that of rabbinic hyperbole. I get that but I'm not sure where this view leaves us in terms of, to use crude language, who goes and who doesn't.


3)The Purgatorial View

The start of this chapter is keen to differentiate between an interim period and a purgatorial period. This view suggests that there is a time and process of purification that takes place at the end of our earthly life. It suggests different lengths of time for people and seems to point to eventual universalism.


4)The Conditional View

This is that Hell is not an eternal state. It is I think the same as the Annihilation view, that after a time, probably as we see a new heaven and a new earth, al wickedness will be destroyed. It is helpfully summed up as 'hell as closure and absolute death.'

Where does this leave me?

As I am not a theologian it isn't useful or helpful for me to comment upon what is most closely biblical and has the exegetical high ground. It is only for me to say that I feel as I need to have done some thinking around this so as to be able to express a view however flawed this may be.

My only conclusion is that I have real difficulty with the literal view for a number of reasons that I wont go into fully. My views aren't formed by a deep rooted study of scripture but is instead around what I know of I know and understand of the character of God. This is an area that I feel more confident that I know a little more about. I know God expressed in human form through Jesus to be loving and compassionate but also have an understanding of God's justice. My want to express God's love rather than wroth probably comes from the organisations I have worked for, people I have worked for and the people I have studied under.

I still don't think I could give a coherent answer to my view but at least I have done some thinking. Perhaps in some circles that I mix this questioning of what I would call the evangelical traditional view will be seen as me being I a learning/questioning process, whereas in others people may have far more grave concerns. Whatever the case I felt as though I needed to do justice to some of my owns thoughts and concerns.

I know that Bart Campolo has suffered at the hands of some who hold the literal view as he seems to suggest universalism. Again I am not placed to comment upon this but I do worry about the lack of questioning that is allowed in some church traditions. They seem to hold control over their members rather than allowing people to own their view of God.

Well there we go, perhaps no more clear, but a bit more thought through. It's been an important start to this journey and thinking that started off as a small boy and has grown and been re-stirred a number of time, in no small way by The Last Word and The Word After That by Brian McLaren. Some have said to me that they see this subject of little importance or of little interest. I can agree with the later as we will not have full revelation this side of physical death, however I think the views people and denominations hold have massive affects on the way in which mission and evangelism is done and lived out.

Theology for stupid people

I have always enjoyed theology to a certain degree. I did seem to always find myself during my time at college head scratching and thinking that there should be a new class of which i would be president, 'Theology for Stupid People'. Whilst away it was good to catch up with Jeremy my tutor at Oasis. As i sat in his lecture on 'God's Mission' those feelings started to re-emerge.

I got the chance to grab him afterwards and asks for some wisdom into my current (well the last year or so) thinking and exploration into that cheery subject of hell. Although i don't find this a particualrly enthralling way to use my headspace it seems to be continually prodding at me. My thoughts are that the way we 'do evangelism' is very often so caught of with our thoguhts around this subject. I have done a bit of reading around this but have been avoiding doing anymore research as i know the affect it has on me, and it's not always positive. Speaking with Jeremy who offered a few insights made me think that it was time to do a bit more picking. I have just grabbed my copy of 'Four Views on Hell' off of the shelf (i bought this when i previously went through one of these phases but have never dared enter in).



I ask that God may gives me some understanding that settles my heart and soul within my human lack of ability to comprehend such matters and the fact that i am in the 'Theology for Stupid People Class'

Through Hell and High Water

i've just finished reading James Cracknell and Ben Fogle's reflections on their journey across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The book is a follow up to the BBC documentary of this story. It was very inspiring as the 2 of them battled against so many problems to complete the race. The mix of highs and lows and the physical and mental punishment that they went through makes for compelling reading and viewing.

Non-Violence

"turn swords into ploughshares"

Pacifism and non-violence are subjects that have been on my radar for a few years now since my days under the tutoring of Jeremy Thomson the theology lecturer at Oasis. A few other menonites's have crossed my path as well all of which have influenced my thinking around this issues although i do not claim to have completely worked through answers.

There is an interesting story here that shows some of the stuff the menonite's are up to in terms of non-violent recruitment.

I also think back to my days in Custom House where we had the arms fair on our door step and think back to the protests and silent peace vigils that we held.

A good book on these issues is "What would you do?" by John Howard Yoder (does anyone have my copy? I can't find it)

Quote

It's that time again. Here is a little offerening that i love from Mike Yac's wonderful little book, Dangerous Wonder.

'A four year old girl was overheard whispering into her newborn baby brother's ear, "Baby," she whispers, "tell me what God sounds like. I am starting to forget."

Taming the Tiger

I have just finished reading a gripping book called 'Taming the Tiger' by Tony Anthony. It's one of those books that have caused me to be walking around slightly bleary eyed as i haven't been able to put it down when i should have been sleeping. It's one of those amazing conversion stories that i don't normally read but as it was recommended by a friend i thought i'd give it a go. Here is a bit of blurb about it:

Taming The Tiger relates Tony’s astounding life story, beginning when he is sent to China as a four year old to become a Kung Fu disciple, where he spends eight hours a day following a cruel and brutal training regime, overseen by the Grand Master, his grandfather.

Quickly developing into a Kung Fu expert, Tony becomes an elite bodyguard, protecting some of the world’s most powerful people whilst also winning the world Kung Fu championships three times. Personal tragedy, however, alters Tony’s sense of extreme discipline and he begins to use his skills for illegal means, becoming embroiled in a world of violence, destruction and death.

Eventually incarcerated in the notorious Nicosia Central Prison in Cyprus, Tony hits rock bottom. Through the visits of a stranger, he is introduced to the reality and life-changing power of Jesus Christ and he finds himself freed from the hate which had so consumed him.

You can check out the work Tony does at Avanti Ministries.

A summer filled with books

These are the books i have read over the summer. I have enjoyed each of these. You will see my love for biographies.


Martin Johnson's autobiography










Shane Warne's autobiography








Bono on Bono











Surprised by Joy - C.S Lewis








Sustaining your Spirituality - Sally Nash