I just finished reading Unchurching by Richard Jacobson. When I say 'just', I mean within the last 60 minutes. So this one is really fresh on the brain.
There is a lot I liked about this book. The author is absolutely correct in stating that there is something seriously wrong with the way most American Christians do church. The megachurch model that many attempt to follow is seriously flawed and continues to do more harm than good.
One of the biggest issues Jacobson points out is that most churches fail on the community part. And he's right. We come up with so many different ideas, plans, programs and gimmicks to improve community within our churches, yet none ever seem to work. Some make things worse. He also points out that few churches are even set up to be communities where all believers are able to share and use their specific spiritual gifts. Once again, I can only nod my head and agree. It is sad, but we chase more after the large crowds rather than focusing on building up and maturing a group of believers.
Churches have also become little more than corporations. Many have gone to the extent in order to protect themselves by accepting the US governments official acknowledgement as a 501(c)3 corporation. Something I'm completely against. But, hey, what does minimal government Sith lord know about that danger?
Bottom line: we are doing church wrong. Church has become a shadow of what she should be. So what are the solutions, if any? Jacobson prefers a non-church, or house church that is nothing like church solution. But, I don't think that is the answer, either.
All tradition is not bad. When we forget the purpose of a tradition and only focus on mindlessly repeating that tradition for its own sake, it ceases to be tradition and becomes empty ritual. When tradition serves a purpose, and people are continually reminded of its importance and purpose, then tradition is good. Yes, a lot of our so-called traditions are worthless and should be down away with, but not all.
Too often, instead of being a truly local church with its own uniqueness and tradition, we attempt to copy and model our local assembly of believers after something other megachurch outfit. This needs to stop. It doesn't help you, or the people that attend with your. It does not build up and mature believers.
Yes, we need to get back to true community of believers, but not to the extent where we do little but create an echochamber with little to no contact with those outside the church. There is a great advantage in living in communities where we are surrounded by unbelievers: we have the opportunity to be in contact with them and reach out to them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I think UNCHURCHING is an important book. Pastors, elders, deacons, and other church leaders need to read it and take a good look in the mirror. What are we doing wrong? How can we fix it? You may not like or agree with everything Richard Jacobson has to say, but you need to read it and figure out what changes you need to make as an individual believers as well as a church.
The Reading Sith
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Sunday, March 6, 2016
The Force Awakens
SPOILERS WARNING: IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED EPISODE VII OR READ THE BOOK, GO AWAY, OR I SHALL TAUNT YOU ANOTHER TIME!
Has it really been this long since I've posted? Wow. I have had another post to make, but I seem to have lost it. The manuscript is around here somewhere, who knows what I've done with it. Well, before I forget what this one is about, let's get on with it.
Before I talk about the book, let me say this: I have now watched Star Wars Episode VII twice now. Once it comes out on DVD, I will probably rack up a few more viewings. The first time it was pure enjoyment, living the moment of watching THE Star Wars movie that I had been waiting 12 years to see. The second time I watched to pay attention to the details, the clues, the things you don't catch in the first go around.
So, on to the novelization of the movie.
I'll admit it. I was disappointed when I found out that Alan Dean Foster was writing the novel version. No disrespect to Mr Foster intended. He has had quite the career writing scifi and fantasy novels that has made him quite successful. But, I've never cared for anything he has written. But, I was pleased with his treatment of THE FORCE AWAKENS.
Once I decided that I was going to enjoy, and I mean enjoy the book, I started looking out for hints and clues. Hidden messages that were not given in the movie, or maybe were cut out due to time constraints. Honestly, the way a few scenes were cut ended up creating more questions than I think were originally intended, and personally I think that is great! It has driven much speculation, fan theories, podcasts and YouTube videos. No answers were provided in the book. A few curiosities, and a little bit more head scratching.
REY
We still don't really know WHO she is. I still think she is Luke Skywalker's daughter, but who really knows. A few clues are dropped. During the fight scene in the frozen forest of Starkiller Base, Kylo Ren responds interestingly when the Skywalker lightsaber zips past him into the hands of our illustrious heroine. "It IS you." Who? WHO?! Well, that's just it. Only Kylo knows.
When Supreme Leader Snoke orders General Hux to get the wounded and thoroughly beaten Kylo Ren he tells Hux that Ren was "right about the girl." Right about what? Again, we were never told. This conversation between Ren and Snoke was not given to us.
SNOKE
We are not given any more information about him, either. Although, I did find the description of the Supreme Leader absolutely fascinating. I think it has some hints towards his identity that will only make sense when we learn who he is.
MARTHA JONES
When watching the movie both times, I wondered, "Hey, what's Martha Jones doing there? Is she a member of the Senate of the New Republic?" I know, she's not Martha, but the book tells us that the character portrayed by Freema Agyeman in the movie was a special envoy sent by General Leia Organa Solo to the New Republic to warn them that the First Order was every bit of dangerous as she had been warning. So what does that mean? The book answered ONE of my questions!
It was nice to be able to read the novel after having watched the movie twice. It helped a lot of things to stick out to me better. The book does tell us what happened to Poe Dameron after the TIE fighter crashed on Jakku, and how he got off planet. But I don't believe it. I'm still holding to my pet theory that he is a First Order plant. He's a bad guy. He's Supreme Leader Snoke! Just kidding. He is a bad guy though. Trust me.
Thanks for reading,
Darth Baptist.
Has it really been this long since I've posted? Wow. I have had another post to make, but I seem to have lost it. The manuscript is around here somewhere, who knows what I've done with it. Well, before I forget what this one is about, let's get on with it.
Before I talk about the book, let me say this: I have now watched Star Wars Episode VII twice now. Once it comes out on DVD, I will probably rack up a few more viewings. The first time it was pure enjoyment, living the moment of watching THE Star Wars movie that I had been waiting 12 years to see. The second time I watched to pay attention to the details, the clues, the things you don't catch in the first go around.
So, on to the novelization of the movie.
I'll admit it. I was disappointed when I found out that Alan Dean Foster was writing the novel version. No disrespect to Mr Foster intended. He has had quite the career writing scifi and fantasy novels that has made him quite successful. But, I've never cared for anything he has written. But, I was pleased with his treatment of THE FORCE AWAKENS.
Once I decided that I was going to enjoy, and I mean enjoy the book, I started looking out for hints and clues. Hidden messages that were not given in the movie, or maybe were cut out due to time constraints. Honestly, the way a few scenes were cut ended up creating more questions than I think were originally intended, and personally I think that is great! It has driven much speculation, fan theories, podcasts and YouTube videos. No answers were provided in the book. A few curiosities, and a little bit more head scratching.
REY
We still don't really know WHO she is. I still think she is Luke Skywalker's daughter, but who really knows. A few clues are dropped. During the fight scene in the frozen forest of Starkiller Base, Kylo Ren responds interestingly when the Skywalker lightsaber zips past him into the hands of our illustrious heroine. "It IS you." Who? WHO?! Well, that's just it. Only Kylo knows.
When Supreme Leader Snoke orders General Hux to get the wounded and thoroughly beaten Kylo Ren he tells Hux that Ren was "right about the girl." Right about what? Again, we were never told. This conversation between Ren and Snoke was not given to us.
SNOKE
We are not given any more information about him, either. Although, I did find the description of the Supreme Leader absolutely fascinating. I think it has some hints towards his identity that will only make sense when we learn who he is.
MARTHA JONES
When watching the movie both times, I wondered, "Hey, what's Martha Jones doing there? Is she a member of the Senate of the New Republic?" I know, she's not Martha, but the book tells us that the character portrayed by Freema Agyeman in the movie was a special envoy sent by General Leia Organa Solo to the New Republic to warn them that the First Order was every bit of dangerous as she had been warning. So what does that mean? The book answered ONE of my questions!
It was nice to be able to read the novel after having watched the movie twice. It helped a lot of things to stick out to me better. The book does tell us what happened to Poe Dameron after the TIE fighter crashed on Jakku, and how he got off planet. But I don't believe it. I'm still holding to my pet theory that he is a First Order plant. He's a bad guy. He's Supreme Leader Snoke! Just kidding. He is a bad guy though. Trust me.
Thanks for reading,
Darth Baptist.
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