Live the Trinity

Holy Justice (or) Sabbath, part XX

Richard M. Wright

Isaiah 58 challenges us to see Sabbath keeping as part of a larger whole that includes and is not divorced from justice and liberation and feeding and clothing and providing and speaking kindly to and about each other. In my next article I will try to be more specific in terms of practice. / Not just that Sabbath is part of… but could Sabbath keeping include these other things? – “Holy Justice (or) Sabbath, part XIX”

Time to keep the promise.

Isaiah 58 seems to connect justice and compassion with Sabbath-keeping. Are there ways to practice Sabbath that also address justice (against oppression and for the oppressed) and compassion (for those who suffer)? So how might one practice Sabbath (perhaps in terms of worship and prayer) and sharing food with the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, clothing the naked, and so on?

Hmm. Let’s see. Have you heard of Sharlo Apartments? Kairos? 17th and Florida? Ministry and communion with the lonely, imprisoned, homeless, hungry. And not just ministry and communion. But prayer and worship – along with ministry/communion. On Sunday. (Again – not to get into the debate about Sabbath/Lord’s Day and Saturday/Sunday. Suffice it to say “the day of the week when University Baptist and Church of the Nations gather for worship/prayer/communion.) It is quite possible that these and other (even Sunday) ministries represent Sabbath keeping in its purest (or perhaps fullest) form.

(Although there is another side of this which I will explore next week.)

I would also mention a relationship between Sabbath-as-fasting and the call for justice and compassion (“Holy Fasting [or] Sabbath, part XII”). If Sabbath-as-fasting means a single day when we refrain from spending and buying – what Donald Miller discussed as consumerism – there is also an extent to which we refrain from spending on ourselves what others do not have as basic necessities. From buying products made/grown/picked by people who are not paid a living wage. (The average daily wage for someone who picks coffee is $0.83. Which is not enough to buy a single cup of coffee at [fill in the blank name of your favorite coffee shop]. Just one example.) Sabbath-as-fasting(-from-consumerism) helps us become more aware of economic (in)justice. And the choices we make during the rest of the week when we do spend and buy.

Which I think is part of what Isaiah 58 is trying to tell us.

Okay – this happened a long time ago. But only this week did I read this very interesting article by Terry Mattingly, “Why I Am No Longer a Southern Baptist”. It was in fact published anonymously (to protect him and his family) in 1983 (written in 1982? some confusion on this point). What I find significant about it is that he articulates well some of the same misgivings and frustrations I have – not just with the Southern Baptist Convention (old news) but with moderate Baptist groups as well.

One could easily entitle the piece, “Why I Am No Longer a Baptist”. And in fact it was shortly after publishing (anonymously) this testimonial that Mattingly and his family joined an Episcopal church. (And in 1999 – ? unclear exactly when – they went a step further and joined the Antiochian Orthodox Church.)

“Why I Am No Longer a Southern Baptist” by Terry Mattingly (1982)

What I do not understand is why he is so frequently cited and his articles so often carried by Baptist Press (the news organ of the Southern Baptist Convention). I assumed he was Southern Baptist!

One interesting fact is he used to (still does?) teach at Milligan College in Tennessee – just down the road from Elizabethon where my wife grew up.

I borrowed from the local library the Decca recording of Puccini’s famous opera “Turandot”. And I begin to follow up to my post on / link to Paul Potts singing the aria “Nessun dorma”. Came across this interesting article on, well, just why is it that “Nessun dorma” is so huge? Good analysis by National Review:

“Puccini scores – analysis of aria ‘Nessun dorma’” (National Review, July 23, 1990)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

This is the first year since I was a young boy that I have tried my hand at gardening. The motivation oddly enough was not a desire to garden but a passion for cooking. I wanted fresh herbs and vegetables. Which means I have to garden.

Part of my daily routine is to check on my plants – the garden beds in the back yard and the container plants on the front patio. This morning I spotted the following:

For months I have nurtured and nursed the dozen or so tomato plants – which I planted way too close together I now realize. Some have died. Most have been ravaged by insects – mainly leafminers. I have been concerned. After all that time and effort will I end up with nothing? Tall plants but no fruit?

To the editor, Baton Rouge Advocate:

After reading Charles Voss’ letter in the October 10 Advocate one cannot but wonder how biologists would respond to the idea that evolution is defined rather blandly as “change”. Or that evolution described thus is not a “scientifically useful theory”.

Do I believe in “intelligent design”? I think it a no-brainer. Moreover that the God described in Hebrew and Christian scriptures is involved in the formation of the universe and everything in it. But I would address (1) the issue of teaching intelligent design in public schools, and (2) the probable intent/motive.

I scanned some of Professor Voss’ proposed textbook changes. I admit that nowhere did I see him propose “therefore God, divine being, higher power, sacred text” or the like. But he does propose, “Other explanations for what is observed on earth should be examined”. Therein lies the rub. What other explanations could there possibly be that are non-religious? (Besides extraterrestrials.) Intelligent design advocates like Voss might not call openly for classroom lectures on “looks like divine intervention!” But the implicit conclusion is nigh unavoidable. Intelligent design (note the expression!) in public schools functionally guarantees teaching/discussing religious ideas as “truth”.

We can explore that. If my inference is correct, what “unavoidable conclusion that is a religious belief” might intelligent design advocates have in mind? Dare we ask how many want this who are not Christian? (In fairness perhaps Voss is no more a theist than Dawkins et al.) Could they live with students embracing deism? Islam? Buddhism? classical philosophy? anything besides Christianity? Or is the intent to promote some vague generic theism? And why would a committed member of any religious tradition hope for such a thing? Be careful what you ask for.

Be honest and tell us openly. Although difficulties with evolutionary theory probably should be acknowledged, exactly what “other explanations” will be presented and discussed – and accepted? I honestly cannot find how Voss would answer.

Sincerely,

Richard Wright, Ph.D.
pastor, adjunct professor (Hebrew Bible)
Baton Rouge

Addendum (not send to the newspaper but to this blog entry) – Vewy vewy intewesting. Guess what? Turns out that Charles Voss is not only a Christian (no biggie – in and of itself). But is vice-president of the Origins Research Association. Check it out. Lots of links on that website to “creation science” and “creation corner” and “creationist organizations” and so on. Not only that but the organization promotes (among other things) that “public school students should also be exposed to whatever evidence favored creation” (my emphasis). Excuse me? I found creationist websites that list him as a speaker/resource (although guilt-by-association is a weak argument). And yet his letter to the editor of the Baton Rouge Advocate clearly states:

Labeling ‘intelligent design’ as a… substitute for creationism points out a lack of understanding…. Furthermore your comment that ‘intelligent design’ advocates say, ‘If something, anything, is not explicitly proved, proclaim that complexity as proof of divine intervention’ is not true.

One might argue that technically, literally everything Voss wrote is correct. But surely this is plenty of evidence that the “truth” he speaks with his mouth (or types with his fingers) does not accurately reveal the agenda he hides in his heart/mind. And it is this rank dishonesty that offends me.

Oh – and respectable biologists have pointed out that some of his “research” is just plain rubbish.

Catalyst Conference 2007

I attended – for the second time – the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, Georgia (about half an hour north of Atlanta). It was inspiring, challenging, convicting, provocative.

Wednesday, October 03 I left home around 4:30 a.m. to catch a 6:00 a.m. flight to Atlanta. I sat next to a woman who was on her way to judge an art show in Illinois. Turns out she is not only a member of the three major aquarellists (people who paint with watercolors) but is on the board for the American Watercolor Society – meaning she is among the top (dozen?) watercolor painters in the country. After Illinois she goes to Sweden to lead some workshops. I have her number and an invitation to visit after Thanksgiving.

I planned my trip so I could have all the time I wanted at the Atlanta Zoo. (Last year I had less than 45 minutes on way to airport.) Took my time and lots of pictures – including of the famous pandas. They are available at Ramawright Gallery (under Zoos > Atlanta 2007 – you have to register). My rental car was a Kia Rio which I hope never to drive again. Hotel was okay but a lousy location.

Day One at Catalyst was fantastic – although once again I had to sit way up in the bleachers. Most (all?) of the speakers were excellent. Andy Stanley, Patrick Lencioni, a panel discussion by the authors of UNChristian, Shane Clairborne (huge), Francis Chan (a bit conservative for my tastes), Sunday Adelaja. But Rick Warren – whoa. Hardly a soul tried to leave early to get dinner. Riveting. Huge. Powerful. Inspiring. Dinner at an authentic Korean restaurant – the real deal baby.

That evening I was sitting at a restaurant bar waiting for my soup when I overheard a conversation between the bartender and the gentleman on my right. “How are you today sir?” Great! Today is the greatest day of my life. (Radar went off, ears inclined.) “Really? Why?” Because my invention is going to be sold at Home Depot. (Now I’m really paying attention.) “What is your invention?” A plastic disk you put in the bottom of flower pots. It has holes for a stick to support the plant. And the legs on the bottom provide space for air and drainage. (Okay – time to be a pest.) I tell him that sounds like something I would buy. We have a good conversation that includes a promise he will send me a box of the things for free. Sweet.

Day Two was also fantastic – but for different reasons. Got there before doors opened so I could pick almost any seat I want. But I hate crowds and crowding so I choose a middle seat toward the back – closer that yesterday. Again the speakers are generally excellent. John Maxwell, Craig Groeschel (who pastors a church in Edmond, Oklahoma – where I became a follower of Christ in 1983 and which I visited a few times after that in high school and college), Tim Sanders (of Yahoo! fame), Dave Ramsey (very convicting), Erwin McManus (probably the weakest talk of the conference – vague and hard to understand), and Andy Stanley again. Time for lunch – of all the 11,000 people I am sitting near the group in front of me is from Missouri. One introduces me to a fellow who does… international ministry. I know him – we met briefly in Minnesota at the ACMI Conference this summer. So Ed, Billy (another ISM worker in Missouri) and I have a great lunch at Frontera across the street (which I recommend to anyone who visits Atlanta area). Finally – I am meeting and connecting with people though alone at the conference.

That evening I visited my friend Joshua Villines and his family. They treated me to a killer meal at an authentic Indian restaurant (food on metal trays – the way it’s supposed to be!). Good conversation. They let me stay late to watch “Doctor Who” with them. Their son is a genius – no I mean like genius and not just very intelligent. Sweet and well-mannered too. Joshua enjoys many of the same things I do – science-fiction, computers, computer games, you name it. He is a better man that I am. And his family has a much smaller carbon footprint.

A few fun details from Catalyst. We broke the world record for blowing bubbles and breaking bubbles (by throwing small rubber Frisbees through the bubbles we just blew) and the next day we broke the world record for… breaking records (old vinyl 45 singles). Free coffee from Rwanda! The main (only?) things that grated on me were the constant noise of loud “worship” (in which we have to stand! and keep repeating the same lines over and over and over…!) and what is hard to describe – perhaps the overused Christian buzz phrases. “Wasn’t that amazing?” (I despise negative rhetorical questions. And I may write a short piece about them.) “God… powerful… mighty… awesome…your love… we love you” you would think people had a twenty phrase vocabulary. An event/organization devoted to impacting culture can do better than that and should know better.

I could write a lot more about my thoughts and reactions to various talks but let me just post my notes in DOC and PDF formats.

Notes on Catalyst Conference 2007 (DOC)

Notes on Catalyst Conference 2007 (PDF)

Well how about that?

About a month ago I realized that one could (theoretically) use Microsoft Word 2007 not only to compose but to publish posts to one’s blog. I had some trouble configuring it correctly. When I finally had it right… it did not work.

Until today. I did nothing different. Maybe there was a temporary glitch.

This will make it much easier to write, publish, and save locally any posts.

I still believe fanatically in the Open Source movement – so I rather wish OpenOffice could do it as well. (But I am not anti-Microsoft and try to give them credit when I can.)