Two books
I had breakfast with a new friend the other day. He's at Westminster Seminary, getting his masters in Theology, is working on writing a book, and is trying to get into Harvard to get his Theology PhD...which according to him is a long shot, but he's one of the brightest guys I know...so, who knows.
Anyway, as you can imagine, I wasn't too jazzed about his book idea. Let's just put it this way, if you don't know Greek and Hebrew, you may not be interested.
But I did give him two very practical ideas I struggle with, and suggested he get after these two:
1. "The balance between wealth acquisition and missions". Where is the balance between providing for your family, paying for college, weddings, etc. and supporting every need that comes accross your plate. Literally, and I'm not kidding, I feel like I could give it ALL away, and they'd be great causes, but at the expense of what? And I'd want a large section dedicated to organizational wealth. When does a church decide they need a family life center or larger sanctuary? When does a Christian School expand and to what degree?
2. "Engaging the culture without compromising convictions" (with special emphasis on teaching children about setting boundaries and standards). This one should be easy for someone, but the challenge will be providing guidelines without writing "laws". However, I would like specific examples...in fact this would be great if it were written like a story, maybe a father son, working through all the specifics we struggle through, and using biblical references to support Dad's teaching.
Unfortunately, my friend nodded politely and is progressing with the Hebrew thing. Oh well. Maybe Brent will post on one of these if they peak his interest.
posted by Hollywood at 12:23 PM
1 Comments:
The trouble with books on those subjects:
You'd have to define "wealth," which is a sliding scale. So, for example, being wealthy in Haiti or in Flower Mound are two distinctly different things. You'd also have to define "missions," for that matter. There are some missions organizations that I don't want to support, 5 of my friends love...and our church supports them.
And, there are even presuppositional questions that you didn't ask. For example, is it a parent's responsibility to pay for college? Is the way we do weddings in America too lavish and wasteful? I mean, I could do a wedding for your kids at your house at NO cost and they'd be just as married? Where is the balance between enjoying the fruits of our labor (which is indeed a biblical concept)? Are "Christian" schools a luxury in and of themselves (given that, in America, you're already paying for one pretty good education through your taxes--so, in effect, you're paying for two)? Are large auditoriums for churches even necessary--or is there something to what Imago Dei is doing (aggressively spawning churches of 250 and meeting in a high school auditorium spending what they'd usually spend on a building on staffing those churches they spin off)?
On the second book idea, there aren't ways to write guidelines without writing "laws." For example, listening to Mississippi Delta blues (which has as many themes and experiences found in modern rap, it just isn't as overtly vulgar) might be okay for someone spiritually mature and cause someone who was hurt by that blues culture lifestyle and came out of it to stumble. In effect, what you're suggesting is a spiritual life book. The only guideline you're going to get is that you simply act with what is the most loving thing you can do in that situation.
Plus, there are too many situations like that to cover in a book. You can read proverbs to get that stuff covered.
7:45 AM
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