In this month’s column for the Lake Wylie Pilot, I try to explain why Jesus received gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Read the column for yourself.
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Exclusive to my blog I mention other interpretations I found and why I selected this answer as the best.
When I was in college a frustrated roommate snapped at me, “You are cynical about everything but Jesus!” I’ve always taken that as a compliment. No wonder I rolled my eyes when I saw the commercial for the new “documentary” The Jesus Tomb.
After watching it last night, I think Newsweek summarized it best in an article they published last week. The article sums up the case for the Jesus Tomb in four arguments.
Does this make this diffinitive proof that they found Jesus’ tomb and he did not rise from the dead? No.
Over a week ago it was announced that NBC News Reporter Tim Russert passed away. In last week’s issue of Newsweek there was an article talking about how Russert’s faith affected him and made him the man he was. The article gives me even more respect for a member of the press I already admired, but I was surprised to find that he was so devout of a Christian. Perhaps this is because Russert tended toward Christ and Culture in Paradox- keeping his work world separate from his faith world. You can see this in the way he handled Christopher Hitchens’s appearance on his show- Russert felt he had to moderate the debate rather than voice his own personal disagreement with the guest.
A couple weeks ago Newsweek had an article about the Osteens called, The Osteens As Spiritual Midgets. This article is the best critique I’ve read about the famous televangelist. It shows how the Osteens are more promoting a particular white, upper-middle-class culture than Christ.
Urbanphile posted a great quote from Bono on his blog about the uniqueness of grace as a Christian concept. Although I usually refer to Bono in this blog as he relates to Christ and Culture- for example, Christ and U23D and Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast- it is nice to hear him mention the Gospel too.
All this is getting me really excited about U2′s new album (No Line On The Horizon)- coming out March 3rd.
The Whatsthedealwithstuff blog always does a good job describing Christ and Culture. In a post from a couple months ago Mark illustrated Christ and Culture with pictures. I think this is a helpful way to see Niebuhr’s different options.
If that example doesn’t help, you can always try a previous illustration of Christ and Culture- which entertains as well as educates (which I have previously mentioned: Christ and Mr. T).
Usually when people describe a movie as “Christian” it is produced by Evangelical Christians in order to promote a Christian agenda- an example of Christ Above Culture. For example, Facing the Giants, which was produced by a church in Georgia. I was surprised that I actually liked that movie (although it was rather “preachy” it really spoke to me).
According to the Worship Matters blog, the song, “Shout to the Lord” was openly sung on American Idol this week. I missed it because I stop watching the show after the try-outs- because it no longer justifies me. This example, however, gives me another reason to talk about American Idol in my blog- because it relates to Christ and Culture.
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This is a prime example of Christ of Culture because of Guthrie’s retelling of Jesus in terms of his own political ideology.
But wait, you might say, this seems an accurate description of what Jesus taught. I agree- to an extent. I appreciate Guthrie’s focus, especially when I think of all the terrible health-wealth, prosperity gospel preachers out there. These “preachers” are equally guilty of recasting Jesus in terms of their own (uniquely American) perspective that you will prosper if you have enough faith.
What a humbling confessional from Penn on what it’s like to be “prostletized.” It reminds me of the genuine love that could be behind my sharing of the Gospel.
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