Posts filed under 'Theology'
So I just went to the ‘camp-meeting’ of the Adventist church in Norway (where, by the way, I’m staying for the summer). For those that don’t know what this is, it is where many members of the Adventist Church get together for sort of a day of fellowship.
First thought: It was nice. For various reasons, it’s been a couple of weeks since I last had the opportunity to worship with other believers, and that was really nice. Raafat Kamal – known better to some of us as Nat’s dad – gave a very forceful talk about the mission of the church, especially touching on the way we deal with people. Spot on.
Second thought (why am I putting this in bullet-point fashion?): It seems to me – it may not be so though, cf. a conversation I had in the car on the way back, but still, it seems to me – that often we can classify people in our church as belonging to two groups: Those that have their focus on the here and now and those that have their clear focus on his second coming. Within the Adventist Church, with our background and tradition, the latter translates to having a heavy focus on our being in the end time, the coming trials, the call to come out of her (interpretations of Rev 18.4), historical prophecies, and the signs of the times. The latter group seems to be more ‘mainstream’ in their Christian thinking, and generally (i) focus less on these things, while (ii) focusing more on the difference God can make in their lives here and now, the walk with God, the kingdom of God being at hand, and so on (if this group speak of the second coming, it is usually in quite general, more mainline, terms, and not as a focus-point; it’s just part of the bagage). Many times when people step up to the platform to sing a song, contribute with their thoughts, or take part in a debate, I get the feelings they are likely to belong to one of these groupings. I also get the feeling that the directions in which these groups are heading are not the same.
It would be nice to see a synthesis, or a direction that would maintain both, of these two foci – the here and now and the second coming / eternal life – if nothing else, because it seems that both Jesus and Paul managed to have them coexist in their thinking and doing and life. True, this picture is stylised, and I also see a more healthy middle ground in the church, but this seems a minority. I don’t have the answer on how to do it – my theology is probably flawed as well – but I recognise the need within our church for some sort of integration. Much of what has seemed integration up to this point to me does not seem so, since there is often still a lack of focus on the kingdom of God among us, as especially laid out by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark (forgive me if my labelings are not entirely consistent or my thinking not crystal-clear; I hope it still makes sense on some plane of thought). The music program did a good job of trying to integrate though. That was quite good.
Third thought: I have been able to be near – in different settings during the day – a small number of ‘core families’ that seemed to be working very well. It’s funny how you can usually tell when you come into the presence of such a family – the way they interact, the way they treat each other, the implicit respect the parents enjoy from, while not commanding of, the children. Simply a good solid family. Yes, solid is the word. Not coming from such a family myself, I may be more prone to picking up the difference. Whenever I meet people my age who has grown up in a solid family like this, our whole instinctive feeling about marriage seem to be completely opposite. For me, it has been interesting to note that for some people, it would be a strange and foreign thought to worry about the ‘what if’’s and the potential problems (true, some of it may be personality-related, but still I see a pattern). They simply assume, by instinct or experience, that things will work out fine.
Fourth thought: Norway is a really beautiful country. Driving up to Tyrifjord is simply amazing.
juni 6th, 2009
As I lay my head on the pillow
as I try to fall asleep
there is only pain
As I close my eyes
still with every breath
there is only pain
With every breath
a new memory
breathe in
breathe out
With every breath
a new happy memory
in my memory
and there is only pain
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4. 23)
“Frem for alt: Vogt dit hjerte, for derfra udgår livet.” (Proverbs 4. 23 Danish 1992 translation)
august 25th, 2008
Having become quite fond of the Myers-Briggs personality inventory as slightly modified by David Keirsey, I have started seeing the world in terms of NF’s, NT’s, SJ’s and SP’s – and of course the more nuanced types, making for a total of 16 different compositions, in the 4 main groups. Let there be no doubt about it; this helps me greatly in looking at the world. If this does not make any sense to you, I might blog a bit more about the whole concept, but for now, I am struggling with the question of idealising personality traits.
The basic premise of most of the type inventories are that everyone is unique, and that there is nothing wrong with having your particular traits. For instance, that I am an introvert is not objectively good or bad, it’s just me. And in the same way, the unique combination of different traits that make up the person I am, is not good nor bad, it’s just who I am. And I can follow the premises of the theory thus far.
However, I am left with a nagging sense of uneasiness when we tend to idealise all the traits of our personality. Or rather, what I might be trying to say is that from a Christian perspective, we as human-beings are not inherently good. In fact, we often tend to be the opposite, though I believe that we by God’s grace can be enabled to do very much good, and become transformed beings (generally speaking, not going into deep theological debate).
The problem as I see it, when we go into very detailed descriptions of our traits and proclaim all types as being very good and different, is that it may be difficult to point out the weaknesses in our personalities (if everything is seen as a strength), and identify them as inherent weaknesses we need to work on. (I am not challenging the use of personality type as a descriptive tool, but maybe rather arguing that we should not attempt to use it as a normative tool to declare everything as ‘okay’. Or as an NT friend recently put it – ‘where is the room for growth?’ I didn’t understand what she meant at the time, but now I’m beginning to)
For instance, the fact that I as an NF-type person tend to be much in touch with my feelings and has a deep emotional capability, does not necessarily mean that I should never let my thinking or reason guide the way I feel (even though as I’m writing it, it just feels very very wrong to write something like that 
). Or the SP-type’s easygoing tendency does not necessarily mean that they should follow every impulse without evaluating on it first. Or that if a personality type has problems in communicating, that it should just be ascribed to – ‘this is my personality type, live with it’.
Obviously, when I’m looking at the world, I tend to idealise many of my own traits, and see the propensities in other types as weaker or less ‘right’. This, I need to work on.
But still, I am wondering – is there such a thing as objectively good when talking about personality? Probably not. But it would be nice with a normative, not-to-simple, balanced, model which could offer some advise on dealing with the strengths and weaknesses in our particular make-up. Right now, it can quickly become ‘anything goes’ as an excuse for not dealing with our shortcomings (mine included).
Does this make sense?
maj 15th, 2008
I’m beginning to sense something beyond the horizon – misty but slowly taking form.
It’s a long lost dream – only it’s not a dream.
It’s a long lost story of men like Peter, Paul, John and James, who dared to speak words like truth, sin, judgement, character but who still could and would mention those words in the same breath as they said righteous, salvation, grace, Spirit, justified, sin.
You may not see where I’m getting at, but I feel we’ve lost our bite – the message that is – our basic message.
What is more, I don’t feel like those men. I don’t feel I have the same character that emanates from their writings.
In other words: A long lost era. What will it take to get it back? (in our individual lives, and in our churches)
april 25th, 2008
Doing a biblical studies paper these days on the epistle to the Romans. Been working somewhat with most of the letter.
Academically, there might be more of interest in the Jewish-Gentile polemics, but for myself, I can’t help but think a bit about Romans 8.
Life in the Spirit. It seems very accessible. Not even just accessible, but something that is – not only should be, but is – a reality to Jewish as well as Gentile Christians (basically everyone).
So is it just a choice? Can we just choose to live in the Spirit, and God will supply the rest? What does this mean?
Somehow, the questions tend to become larger in number than the answers.
It sounds really good though. Imagine living a truly Romans 8 life…
(might I just add, in case some should be tempted to jump to simplistic conclusions, that much is said in the chapters previous to number 8 about being justified only through faith)
april 21st, 2008
This Saturday evening, I attended “House of Praise 2008″. Altogether a good evening, good music, but I don’t quite know how to feel when I hear the phrase used repeatedly: “When praises go up, blessings come down”. I’ve heard it before on the same event last year, and it seems to be a statement embedded in some parts of the Adventist Church culture in the UK.
Somehow, applying this statement would make me feel that I have to offer something to God so that He will bless me. That I have to do something for Him, so that He will do something for me.
If someone can argue this from the Bible, I’m open to looking into it, but for now, it seems conflicting with my understanding of God’s unconditional love. I can see how one could argue it in some form, but the crude statement “when praises go up, blessings come down”, as if God is functioning a bit like a vending-machine puts me off.
On the contrary, I believe we should praise God for what He has done for us, as well as what we know He will do for us, but not because we expect our praises to bring about this act of God. Yes, we should stay attuned to God, yes we should focus on our relationship with Him, yes, God is pleased with our praises, and yes, God loves to bless us, but really – if we praise to get, I believe we have missed the point.
P.S. I feel I’ve been getting a tad critical lately, so please don’t misunderstand me – it was all in all a good evening with lots of sincere people offering their praises 
februar 12th, 2008
The other day, as I was running down the ever-hurried steps to the Metro of Copenhagen. It was raining, so I had my umbrella out. (In some circles, I have been known as Jonas with the umbrella, but that’s a whole other story)
It’s a very nice Samsonite umbrella that I got for my birthday not so long ago, from my younger brother, and, might I add, it is somewhat expensive as well – thank’s Stian Should the following story does not highlight it, I am very fond of this umbrella.
Anyways, as I was hurrying down the stairs, my eyes caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man just standing there, smoking, as if waiting for the rain to stop. I don’t know why I felt this way, but for a brief moment, I felt strongly that I should give him the umbrella. Thinking back, I don’t know if it was one of those moments where God speaks to you – it may very well have been – but I couldn’t shake the feeling off. Or rather, that was just what I did as I was spending the 7 seconds of time from my eye caught him, until I was past him and down the escalators.
The whole day, I could not stop thinking about the guy. What if I had just paused and said ‘you look like you could use an umbrella’? What would have happened? I don’t know, and what bothers me the most is that I will never find out. (it’s not like I’m loosing sleep over it, but still)
I told one of my friends about this – she shrugged and said ‘but then you wouldn’t have had an umbrella ‘. Which is true, but I could have just gotten another one. It would have been the equivalent of giving 200 DKK to a person in need.
Imagine if the guy was standing there, smoking, looking out to the rain, silently saying with a slight smile of disbelief: ‘God, if you’re there, give me an umbrella’. Or something less spectacular Point is, I will never know.
And what is more, I would like to be the kind of guy who would give his umbrella to someone in need of one. Who would live by the principle of Jesus in Luke 16.
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’” (Luke 16:9-13)
I could have chosen to become the man who had no umbrella. Instead, I let someone else stay in that role.
( Hope I have not offended my brother too much with this post )
januar 4th, 2008
How often, when we think we have reached some level of ‘goodness’, some pinnacle of enlightenment, do we need to crawl back to the cross of Jesus and ask for His forgiveness. Today has been a reminder for me that I’m no better than the rest. (it’s funny how you sometimes come to think such things)
After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever.
Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
oktober 16th, 2007
Somehow, you sometimes get wound up in all manners of thoughts on matters relating to God and faith, and sometimes you tend to lose focus – at least I do.
How wonderful to simply sit down with some very contemporary religious music, and let the love of God soak in.
“Your love, Oh Lord, reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness – stretches to the skies…”
oktober 11th, 2007
