Threads from Henry's Web

Author: henry

  • An Interpreter for Greek

    Dave Black comments on one of my pet peeves, the use of Greek, generally incorrectly used, in sermons. I have gone so far as to tell people that when you hear a preacher say, “what the Greek really says is …” or something similar you are about to be misinformed. Dave thinks this might be an application of 1 Corinthians 14, specifically the reference to having an interpreter when someone speaks in tongues. I think the principal definitely applies, though I have many other ways I think it should apply as well.

    Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians is that what we do in corporate worship should edify, i.e. build, the body. I think we could extend that principle to interpreting when excessive theological language is used. I heard a sermon recently from a highly placed individual that was so liberally seeded with theological terminology that I suspect most of the congregation went away impressed with the speaker’s education but very little edified by his words.

    Dave also brings up the topic of discussion or a Q & A session when we speak. I consider this an excellent idea. I believe it provides accountability for speakers and teachers. Besides the teaching benefit, we should all be accountable and subject to questioning.

     

  • About the Rand Paul Filibuster

    Roll Call lists 10 Best Moments from the Rand Paul Filibuster.

    I’m not a fan of Rand Paul, but I respect him more after this filibuster than before. It was for a good cause, and one which should have gotten much more attention. Indeed, there are a number of other areas where we have handed power to the federal government ostensibly because of terrorism, but unnecessarily in my view.

    But it was also a good demonstration of what the Senate, and particularly a Senate filibuster should be about … forcing actual debate. For all the good action on the floor of the House and Senate does these days our senators and representatives could stay home and debate and vote over the internet. The personal interaction seen here should again become part of our deliberative process.

    I’m not a fan of the current filibuster rules. I wasn’t a fan when Republicans were in the majority either. The idea of indefinitely blocking a vote on absolutely anything without having to go to any work annoys me. But heading down to the floor for a good, old fashioned talking filibuster? That’s good stuff. It’s people who care fighting about issues that matter.

    Now if they’d just discuss some justification for how many Pakistani civilians we kill using drones, I’d be almost happy. But I doubt that’s going to happen.

  • Women in First Century Judaism

    Scot McKnight links to a 2009 post on the Yinon blog that’s worth a read.

  • For All Our Northern Friends

    Here’s what’s outside!

    IMG_20130304_084630[4] IMG_20130304_084700[1]

  • State of Income Inequality in the United States

    I’m posting this for discussion. I plan to use as the question in our Energion political debate in April. Right now the participants are discussing the budget. From the middle of March (March 21) into April they’ll be discussing the role of government and why they take the position they do. Then starting April 18 we’ll be discussing income distribution.

    But here’s the video. Get started thinking!

    Note: While there are just two official participants, I will link from the debate posts to anyone who sends me a response on the current topic. Note that any essays on income distribution will not be posted until after April 18. Through mid-March, essays and comments are welcome on the budget.

    HT: Upworthy

  • The Most Annoying Ad on Television

    There are so many annoying ads on television it’s hard to nominate the most annoying one, but I think the ads for ChristianMingle.com have the inside track on such an award. It’s not that I object to online dating services as such, though I have numerous reservations. (Fortunately I’m married and my children are married. Now to protect the grandchildren!) But the attempt to make using this service sound like the “holy” and “godly” thing to do just grates.

    But Peter Enns managed a great quote last night in a digression from his review of The Bible on the History Channel:

    Actually, the most troubling part of the evening was the incessant Christianmingle.com commercials. God can’t seem to get around to putting a stop to hunger and war, but he has definitely taken the time of subcontracting out to a website the means by which you can find your perfect mate.

    Just so!

     

  • Stuff Christians Say

    Well, sort of …

     

    If you talk like this, consider a change!

    HT: The Internet Monk

  • The March of the What?

    In French, the title of The March of the Penguins was La Marche de l’Empereur (The March of the Emperor). Knowing that, behold, an ad for the film shown on French television.

     

    HT: Why Evolution is True.

  • The Bible Video Series: Not Too Bad

    As I watched The Bible last night I had in mind titling my note this morning, “not as bad as I expected.” Unfortunately for my title, Peter Enns managed a better one: “The Bible” on the History Channel: Not the Absolute Train Wreck I Thought it Would Be. I also generally agree with his comments, though I think he may be reading a bit more into the minds of the producers regarding Abraham’s visitor as the pre-incarnate Christ than is actually there. Considering neither of us can read the producers’ minds, however, we’ll have to wait until one of them says something about it.

    The History Channel is my greatest disappointment on television since I switched to cable. I had excessively high expectations of the value of having that channel, and all of those expectations have been repeatedly disappointed. Further, I’m terribly skeptical of Bible related movies and shows. I watch them mostly because people in my Sunday School class are likely to ask me what I thought. I judge them by whether I’d prefer that students have watched them or not.

    In this case, I think I’d prefer students watch the series. Yes, there are abbreviations and dramatizations, but overall the movie is faithful to the broad themes of the scriptures involved. Considering the abysmal level of biblical literacy amongst Christians, that has to be helpful.

    I would note that the series is not attempting to adjust the story to history, or consider the possibility of miracles (or not). It is just telling the story with some dramatic license.

    I’ll continue to watch. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than average.

     

  • How Could the Holocaust Get More Shocking?

    It seems it can do so by fully documenting the extent of the camps and other facilities involved. Just using the term “facilities” there makes my skin crawl, but I can’t think of another word at the moment.

    HT: The Jesus Blog