Rob Bell: THE GOD'S AREN'T ANGRY: Part III.

Envision: Location, The Historical District.

Princeton is perfect. The perfect location. Well... not perfect... but good.
Envision '08 (EV08) is being held at Princeton University. I've done a minimal to fair amount of historical research on Princeton both in a post-protestant-reformation course and independently. The study of religious development in the British colonization period has always fascinated me most particularly due to my interest in the protestant reformation and its movement from the halls in Germany throughout Switzerland and England and then ultimately to the land we now call the United States. I've also been astounded at the misunderstanding and appalling stances and language centering around the concept of "separation of church and state." My undergraduate Senior Colloquium project was entitled "'Separation of church and state' cannot exist."
Formerly The College of New Jersey, Princeton was the fourth college established in British North America preceded by Harvard, William and Mary, and Yale. As stated in the online document, Princeton University in the American Revolution, "The charter was issued to a self-perpetuating board of trustees who were acting in behalf of the evangelical or New Light wing of the Presbyterian Church, but the College had no legal or constitutional identification with that denomination. Its doors were to be open to all students, 'any different sentiments in religion notwithstanding.' The announced purpose of the founders was to train men who would become 'ornaments of the State as well as the Church.'" I may deal in greater detail with the subject of "church and state" soon (as it is quite fitting for the EV08 theme of "the gospel, politics, and the future").
The University is extremely rich in history yet the conference focuses on envisioning the future. I have to wonder if there was some ingenious creativity from the planning board in selecting the location. Aside from the implications given by Princeton's existence as a premiere research university from which emerges great scholarship, leadership, and innovation, does the location suggest the necessity for the church to return to its ancient roots? What parts of church history need revisited and recovered? As the church progresses from the past should it/we also progress toward the past?

Envision: Question 1.

A couple weeks ago I posted a question about the church. Actually it was a phrase that read "When I hear the word church..." There were (7) options from which to choose:

I want to regurgitate.
I envision social justice.
I view people talking about God.
I crave community.
I picture people in pews.
I reflect on covenant.
I think of my family.

All of the choices may be individually or simultaneously plausible on some level depending on one's understanding and experience of church. Hoping to receive an "initial reaction" or to at least stimulate more thought I chose to disable the option allowing one to give multiple answers. Now I am much more curious about the thought process. You may offer an explanation of your survey answer or simply respond to the question:
What do you think when you hear the word "church?"

Envision.

I received an e-mail from Keelan Downton, Assistant Professor of Narrative Biblical Theology at Somerset Christian College about blogging for the upcoming Envision Conference held at Princeton Theological Seminary. Many of my upcoming posts will flow around the conference conversation theme of the gospel, politics, and the future. Your comments concerning the current situation of the church and an envisioned direction are highly valued. Please click and write in the "THOUGHTS" link at the bottom of each Envision post so that we may engage in dialogue together before, during, and after the conference. I also hope to begin some analysis of what Keelan called "a recent barrage of 'manifestos'" including The Emergent Manifesto of Hope, The Evangelical Manifesto, and The Holiness Manifesto.

I'll be flying out of Columbus, OH for my first trip to New Jersey where I'll be crashing at my aunt's home if I do not stay on campus at Princeton. I'm sure my mind will need some good rest from the interactions with the many speakers, authors, teachers, and missional practitioners including Miroslav Volf, Ron Sider, Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, Brenda Salter McNeil, Shane Claiborne, Jeremy Del Rio, Doug Pagitt, and Bart Campolo. I'm very excited about the diversity of the speakers and the Learning Tracks that are being offered.

There is also an online dialogue June 2-3 to help create a statement entitled, “Envision the Future: The Next Decade” using a collaboration software called Synanim. The forum may be especially interesting and useful for those who are unable to be present at the conference. Be sure to sign up to engage in the online discussion about the problems and/or issues that need addressed in/by the church. It is free to sign up for the online dialogue enabling you to offer your voice in the conversation.

What questions would you find interesting to be posed at the conference?

Curriculum Video.

I just found the video below online. A friend of mine wrote a curriculum for students transitioning from high school to college. He is now partnering with Josh McDowell for a conference on faith issues during transition. He took some clips in his living room a little over a year ago. Here I am talking about the doubt that I journeyed through while studying theology in college. And, yes, I still doubt. I still have a lot of the same questions that come to mind. Please give your response to the question to the right.
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Rob Bell: THE GODS AREN'T ANGRY: Part 2

Rob Bell: THE GODS AREN'T ANGRY, Preview.

The Gods Aren't Angry: Rob Bell

I took the Oakwood Hall staff to see THE GOD'S AREN'T ANGRY TOUR on December 2 in Cleveland. As I sat listening to the final portion of the teaching, a solitary tear ran down my cheek. A phrase was repeated over and over and over again and was the same phrase that I heard from my wife and a mentor during my journey in experiencing freedom. A video recording of the tour is now available on DVD and will begin shipping June 6. Students at MVNU are welcome to borrow my copy for personal use.
I highly suggest a viewing of this teaching for everyone but most particularly for all those who have made it the purpose of their life's existence to critique Rob Bell or any type of teaching that is seemingly emergent in nature. Click the image above to be directed to thegodsarentangry.com where you may preview and purchase the teaching on DVD.

"Respond to this statement:..."

I am somewhat frequently interviewed by students here at MVNU for Research Writing projects, Public Speaking presentations, or Christian Life and Ministry papers. Tonight I was interviewed by Daniel Coutz. It was one of the more thoughtful interviews that I have experienced and I appreciated the approach. The conversation went something like this:

Daniel: "Respond to this statement: The United States is a Christian Nation."

Travis: "No earthly empire is distinctively in keeping with the way of Jesus. Those who claim the United States to be a Christian nation need to enroll in a post-reformation church history course that discusses the period of American colonization. Also helpful would be a study in theology and philosophy to explore the definitions of theism, deism, and idolatry.

Daniel: "Do you feel the American flag should be displayed in churches? Why or why not?"

Travis: "No. The church is laced with a history of symbol and icon for visual engagement in worship and when one considers what the American flag represents I would have to question what one is worshiping. I would have no problem with displaying a flag in a church if it was displayed beside every other flag of every other nation so long as the symbol is understood to represent equality and unity.

Daniel: "Respond to this statement: The loyalty of a person belongs first to his country."

Travis: "Why would one view an earthly empire as something to which giving loyalty is necessary or a priority? My suggestion is that most would give said loyalty due to an enculturation that promotes a sense of loyalty as nessecary. I would also suggest it has something to do with the supposed 'safety' provided by the military branch of a certain country's government. Fear would be that which fuels loyalty to an earthly empire."

Daniel: "Respond to this statement. Christians living in the United States should be patriotic about the United States."

Travis: "One's definition of patriotism would be primary. I find it problematic for a follower of Jesus to pledge his allegiance to an earthly nation. So in the sense that the recitation of the 'Pledge of Allegiance' is patriotic, then patriotism may be considered contrary to 'worshipping no other gods.'"

An Industry to Cover Reality.

"Emerging" and "Emergent"

Tony Jones was asked a question that I continually hear: "What is the difference between 'Emerging' and 'Emergent?' I have never had a very good response for all of those who seek my opinion/input about issues of ecclesiology but Tony has an :: OUTSTANDING reply :: that I suggest all read. Thank you Tony for giving my reply that I could not articulate.

"Everything is Spiritual."

If everything is spiritual then nothing is spiritual because nothing is by its own existence something and therefore has to be part of everything. To say that nothing is spiritual is to affirm to a greater degree that everything is indeed spiritual.

NOOMA Open | 019 Rob Bell: A Preview.

Click here --> NOOMA Open | 019 Rob Bell by 12:26 Wednesday. The newest NOOMA short film is available for preview on Facebook for only 48 hours prior to its release on February 22. You may preorder your copy at www.nooma.com.

The discussion board / wall is filled with all types of personal praise and criticism. I do not desire to get involved in that activity. Feel free, however, to add your thoughts about certain theological statements and assertions. The purpose is not to glorify or curse Rob Bell. I have better things to do with my time. The items discussed though affect our lives depending on how they form us. I'll begin with one question: How do you respond to the command, "Don't ask God to feed someone who is hungry if you have plenty of food?"

Comments on The Church.

A friend and resident of Oakwood Hall who shall remain nameless (Ryan Walker) asked me visit a website that was just launched by a community of Jesus followers from his hometown. Please visit www.darnthechurch.com and add your perspective.
My comment is number 8 and reads as follows:
"The church is beautiful. It is just the institution that we have come to call the “church” that is disenchanting, imperialistic, distracting, and arrogant. We will only see the fullness of the beauty of the church upon deconstructing its current consciousness and embracing the radical call to be a compassionate, missional people, viewing ourselves as the covenant community of followers of Jesus."
I am still searching for other adjectives and descriptors of the carnality, beauty, and wholeness of the church. What would you include or disclude from my comment?

I is a preposition 1.0.

In a small gathering of college students the question was posed, "Does God inherently exist in every single person?" I could answer the question affirmatively if the preposition "in" was changed to among, around, beside, over, and under (there could be other qualifying prepositions but I will spare you and myself the agony of exhaustive list reading and making). I then must consider that I exist among, around, and beside people. If I am found to be in Christ and Christ is found to be in me then, even aside from a mystical omnipresence, the presence of God may exist among, around, and beside people in a very tangible way.
Should the Christian response to the original question be affirmative or negative?

Geometric Philosophy.

The actually title of this post is:
"Geometric Philosophy (and the theological implications therein; as if there can't be theological implications)"
I didn't have a very good geometry teacher in high school. In fact, my best friend and I sometimes actually taught the class. Geometry and philosophy are things that have always just "clicked" for me.
There is a somewhat commonly used phrase cited as, "It (meaning something) comes full circle." Can something really "come full circle?" What does that even mean? If a circle is not a full circle then it is not even a circle at all. A not full circle would be an arc (not to be confused with anything involving Joan, the Covenant, or Noah). The entire concept of a circle, however, may only be accepted if one presumes that an infinite number of points between two other points can proceed infinitely to connect with yet another point.
Confused? Try to understand God.

Deconstructing Orthodoxy?

A friend of mine recently created a blog that he entitled "Deconstructing Orthodoxy." The definitions provided for each term in the title are as follows:
Deconstruct (de·con·struct): 1. to take apart or examine in order to reveal the basis or composition, often with the intention of exposing biases, flaws, or inconsistencies.
Orthodoxy (or·tho·doxy): 1. a belief or orientation agreeing with conventional standards.
I have spent a fair amount of time with Derrida, Raschke, Brueggemann, and Ward "deconstructing." Not much time or energy is necessary to initially recoginize the biases, flaws, and inconsistencies of the systems and standard of church. Only in one's own recognition of the brokenness and messiness of church is the ideal community actually discovered. I don't agree with the "conventional standards" of American "church." However, I would propose that orthodoxy is not what needs deconstructed when considering that orthodoxy in its truest, most unadulterated state is the standard set by Jesus. Unfortunately, the way of Jesus is not the standard so to deconstruct orthodoxy may, in fact, be appropriate and necessary.
Visit www.deconstructingorthodoxy.blogspot.com. The author is constructing a life in the way of Jesus.

The Word Dwelling as Image // MVNU Podcast

I was asked to teach for one of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University chapel services. I presented an untitled message that could possibly be called, "The Word Dwelling as Image." Hopefully I will be able to post the video soon. There were elements of imagery that enhance the learning experience.
CLICK HERE to listen to the itunes podcast teaching. Texts included are John 1:1, 14; Phil. 2; John 9 regarding the concept of the word, its transition to image, and the emergence of compassion.

Re: IMAGINING logos.

In the beginning...
Was the Word...
The Word was with God...
And the Word was God...

And the Word became flesh...
And dwelt among us.

Slippery when following.

Tony,
Well said. Thanks, Adam, for including this post.
There is nothing unslippery about Jesus, that is of course, if we allow the real Jesus to be the one we follow. Following Jesus is risky and disenchanting to popular, comfortable life. If we are daring enough to follow we may slip and fall away from empire worship including the state-nation and the doctrines that suppossedly define the church.
Travis

The preceding was a comment I posted in response to a post by Tony Jones included on Pomomusings.