I alway become somewhat reflective during this week of the year. For us as United Methodist pastors it is moving week. By Thursday at noon for all the churches changing pastors, the former pastor is to be out of the parsonage and the new pastor moving in. I am not moving this year, but I have several freinds that are. Moving Day as I remember it is hectic, exciting, nerve wracking, patience trying, happy, sad, angry and about every other emotion that can be described. Moving day is a time of endings and new beginnings a time of mourning and a time of excitement. It is an awe-filled, awefull day of mixed emotions and rushing. It is a wonderful day as well.
I know there are some pastors who are looking forward to moving day. Perhaps he or she realized that they had taken their soon to be former church as far as he or she could. He or she knew it was time to move and thier District Superintendent had been attentive and listened to what they wanted and the move is to a place they wanted to be. For those of you whose move occurred under great cicumstances, my prayers is that the move will be everything you hope and dream. I pray that your church or churches are even more wonderful than you thought they would be. I pray that this new beginning will be a growing oppurtunity for your church or churches and for you. I pray that the Lord will richly bless your ministry and show you how to enable your church or churches to make disciples for Jesus Christ. God bless you.
I also know there are others moving in a less than idealistic manner. Perhaps you really did not want to move. You have freinds or family that you do not want to move away from. Perhaps, your appointment was not quite in the geographical location you were hoping for. Perhaps you feel like your District Superintendent did not listen to you or God in making this appointment. Perhaps you feel as if the system has messed you around once again and are getting rather tired of it. Perhaps you are burned out, but do not know what to do. For these pastors I say a special prayer. I have been there before. It is not fun. However, we must never forget that God works in our system sometimes despite the circumstances, but God is always working.
I would encourage those of you in the latter category to first and foremost remember, it was not your church that messed you around. The system may or may not of messed you around, but the church you are moving to, certainly did not. It is not their fault you asked to be in the OKC or Tulsa area and are actually six hours away from civilization. They do not need to have your anger taken out on them. The new congregation needs you to love them unconditionally. They need to feel the love of Christ from thier pastor, not be beaten up again as some congregations have been. I do say special prayers for you. I pray that you will find the healing you need. I pray that you will rediscover the love of God and I pray that God will lead you to be the strong leader that this new church deserves.
My prayer for all of you moving is that this will be a new beginning for both you and the church or churches you will be pastoring. My prayer is for travel mercies and for guidance from God. My prayer is that the love of Christ will be shown to you and you will show the love of Christ as well. I pray your new community will become home very quickly and that you will be the pasoral leader that your new church has prayed for. All of you moving, please remember, that I am praying for you and your Church or churches. God bless you and keep you. Amen.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Good Job, Not!
I recently attended my daughters grade school track meet. It was most interesting to sit back and watch the children. However, something happened there that disturbed me. I observed the children running and like with most track meets, it was very obvious that some of the children wanted to be there and others did not. My own daughter, got first in the obstacle course, second in the frisbee throw, third in 100, fourth in the sack race and fifth in the long jump (there was only five, she does not like the long jump and did not want to do it.). The children that did not want to be there really did not try. Some did things like run with thier hats on and spend more time making sure it stayed on, others simply did not try and one or two virtually walked thier races. Most of the time there were parents and teachers that waited at the finish line and each child heard good job, when they finished. I have a problem with this.
I know that some experts tell us to tell our children good job so that they will have a healthy self-esteem. I think that telling a child good job, when obviously they did not do a good job is equally if not more damaging. It was painfully obvious that many of these children did not do a good job and did not even do thier best. They were more interested in joking around or simply getting out of school, than actually trying. To tell these children good job teaches them two main things. The first is that they do not have to try to get a reward, so why try. The second is that the parent or teachers have very low expectations of them, so again why try.
Human beings as a whole are lazy. We will do the least amount of work possible to get the result desired. Hence, these children learn that thier reward will come whether or not they work hard. The world as a whole does not function this way. Hence, when they get older and are out in the real world, who is going to tell them good job, when they really stink at what they are doing. More specifically it is not when they are doing something they do not have the ability to do, it is when they are doing something they have the ability for, yet do not do it to the best of their ability. Telling a child good job when they really did not try simply shows they will get a reward no matter what. This is not preparing them for the real world and gives them no sense of accomplishment. Therefore, this practice actually damages self-esteem.
The secon teaching is even more damaging. The real message seems to me, that my expectations are so low of you that I am going to tell you good job even when you did not do a good job, because you did what I expected. It tells the child that you do not expect any more out of them. Again the message is why try. The message is I can't do it, so why try.
One other thing such insincere statements do is break down the trust of a child in his or her teacher or parent. They usually know when they did not do a good job and when they did. When we tell them good job, they will stop believing and may even wonder what else we say that is not true or sincere.
I realize the current trend in our society and culture is to promote self-esteem. However, let's be real. Are we promoting false self-esteem at the price of preparing our children for the real world? Are we rewarding mediocrity or less in the name of self-esteem? It seems to me we are.
For those of you that are curious. I told my daughter she did a good job on all of her events except the Long Jump. On that one we talked about why she did not even try. She said she did not want to do it and the teacher made her. I said okay and we went on. She knew she did not do a good job anyway. Why would I lie to her and tell her she did.
I know that some experts tell us to tell our children good job so that they will have a healthy self-esteem. I think that telling a child good job, when obviously they did not do a good job is equally if not more damaging. It was painfully obvious that many of these children did not do a good job and did not even do thier best. They were more interested in joking around or simply getting out of school, than actually trying. To tell these children good job teaches them two main things. The first is that they do not have to try to get a reward, so why try. The second is that the parent or teachers have very low expectations of them, so again why try.
Human beings as a whole are lazy. We will do the least amount of work possible to get the result desired. Hence, these children learn that thier reward will come whether or not they work hard. The world as a whole does not function this way. Hence, when they get older and are out in the real world, who is going to tell them good job, when they really stink at what they are doing. More specifically it is not when they are doing something they do not have the ability to do, it is when they are doing something they have the ability for, yet do not do it to the best of their ability. Telling a child good job when they really did not try simply shows they will get a reward no matter what. This is not preparing them for the real world and gives them no sense of accomplishment. Therefore, this practice actually damages self-esteem.
The secon teaching is even more damaging. The real message seems to me, that my expectations are so low of you that I am going to tell you good job even when you did not do a good job, because you did what I expected. It tells the child that you do not expect any more out of them. Again the message is why try. The message is I can't do it, so why try.
One other thing such insincere statements do is break down the trust of a child in his or her teacher or parent. They usually know when they did not do a good job and when they did. When we tell them good job, they will stop believing and may even wonder what else we say that is not true or sincere.
I realize the current trend in our society and culture is to promote self-esteem. However, let's be real. Are we promoting false self-esteem at the price of preparing our children for the real world? Are we rewarding mediocrity or less in the name of self-esteem? It seems to me we are.
For those of you that are curious. I told my daughter she did a good job on all of her events except the Long Jump. On that one we talked about why she did not even try. She said she did not want to do it and the teacher made her. I said okay and we went on. She knew she did not do a good job anyway. Why would I lie to her and tell her she did.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Evangelism is Simple
At one of my churches we have a Wednesday evening program. It is a meal with an adult Bible Study and a Children's Ministry. We have had a wonderful lady coming to this when she was able. She had attended Sunday morning twice, which most people had remembered, because she brought her five children with her. Her family is a blended family. She told me she wanted to talk to me about a decision she had made. I said sure. After the program was over and we were leaving she told me that she wanted to join the church. Then she told me why.
That very afternoon, she had called a wonderful lay woman of my congregation to open the church for her, because she was fixing the meal for the wednesday evening group. The other lady came and opened the door and they visited for a while. Then the member of my church said to her, "What would it take to get you to church on Sunday Morning?" The non member was flabbergasted to say the least. She said that all she needed was a wake up call. Of course the other woman was more than willing to do this. Then the member of the church said, "You have a lot you could add to our church and I want you to be here." She said at that moment, she knew that this church is where she belonged. It had been sixteen years since she joined any church. In fact, it had been long enough, that she was not even sure where her membership was. I thought what an awesome concrete example of evangelism.
In her simple question, "What would it take to get you to church on Sunday morning?" there were many profound truths given. One, is we want you here at this church. We want you to come on Sunday morning. Do you know how many people do not feel wanted or needed anywhere. I believe if our churches could simply communicate the fact that "you are wanted" then we the kingdom of God would be growing here on earth. another profound truth is that you are accepted as you are. The church woman did not ask this visitor to change. She actually said come as you are, We love you and want you to be here.
The next thing my wonderful lady did was let the other woman know that she had much to add here. We want to find a place for you. In the small church especially, it is like a family. When joining a family it is often difficult to find your place or your roll. Here she extended the welcom and said we have a place for you! What a wonderful Christ-like response.
It seems to me that many times we make evangelism too complicated. We think we need this or that program or if we would just study that book or read this author than we can do evangelism. However, I believe that most of evangelism is about having a relationship with another person and then being willing to say come and join our family of faith. We accept you. We love you and we have a place for you. Many people spend a lifetime looking for a place to belong. The church should be such a place.
I am not against evangelism studies or programs, but when it comes down to it evangelism is accomplished through relationships. Living a life in relationship to Christ and to others. Inviting and asking what can I do to help. Giving people unconditional love and showing them how to love others in the same way.
You see, Evangelism really is simple, yet profound.
That very afternoon, she had called a wonderful lay woman of my congregation to open the church for her, because she was fixing the meal for the wednesday evening group. The other lady came and opened the door and they visited for a while. Then the member of my church said to her, "What would it take to get you to church on Sunday Morning?" The non member was flabbergasted to say the least. She said that all she needed was a wake up call. Of course the other woman was more than willing to do this. Then the member of the church said, "You have a lot you could add to our church and I want you to be here." She said at that moment, she knew that this church is where she belonged. It had been sixteen years since she joined any church. In fact, it had been long enough, that she was not even sure where her membership was. I thought what an awesome concrete example of evangelism.
In her simple question, "What would it take to get you to church on Sunday morning?" there were many profound truths given. One, is we want you here at this church. We want you to come on Sunday morning. Do you know how many people do not feel wanted or needed anywhere. I believe if our churches could simply communicate the fact that "you are wanted" then we the kingdom of God would be growing here on earth. another profound truth is that you are accepted as you are. The church woman did not ask this visitor to change. She actually said come as you are, We love you and want you to be here.
The next thing my wonderful lady did was let the other woman know that she had much to add here. We want to find a place for you. In the small church especially, it is like a family. When joining a family it is often difficult to find your place or your roll. Here she extended the welcom and said we have a place for you! What a wonderful Christ-like response.
It seems to me that many times we make evangelism too complicated. We think we need this or that program or if we would just study that book or read this author than we can do evangelism. However, I believe that most of evangelism is about having a relationship with another person and then being willing to say come and join our family of faith. We accept you. We love you and we have a place for you. Many people spend a lifetime looking for a place to belong. The church should be such a place.
I am not against evangelism studies or programs, but when it comes down to it evangelism is accomplished through relationships. Living a life in relationship to Christ and to others. Inviting and asking what can I do to help. Giving people unconditional love and showing them how to love others in the same way.
You see, Evangelism really is simple, yet profound.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
What I Learned from the New Kid
We have a new addition to our household. We have a new kid. No, not a baby and to be honest he really isn't in the household. The new kid is actually in the back yard. As most of you know we have show goats and we have a one week old kid that we are bottle feeding. Peanut, as we call him, was two days old when he came to live with us. He has a twin brother as well. Our neighbor raises goats and peanut is actually his goat. You see he and his brother were born just minutes apart, but for some odd reason Peanut's mother, who my children call petunia, rejected him. She will feed his brother just fine, but walks away when peanut tries to nurse. For the first two days Peanut's owner held the mother down and made her let him nurse. She was not happy about this. I am not a goat expert, however, I have learned a thing or two about goats in the last year we have been raising them. Even people who have raised goats for more years than I have been alive, though, do not know why goats sometimes do this. The wierd part is that on occasion goats will adopt another goat's kid, but on other ocasions they will reject thier own. Weird!!!
I was commenting on how strange this was, but it was just another difference between the animal kingdom and human beings. My son asked me what I meant by this and without thinking I said that human beings do not reject thier babies. My 11 year old son said, yes they do!! He has been reading "A Child Called It" which is about one of the worst cases of child abuse ever reported. It is written by the survivor of said child abuse. Anyway, I had to admit that I was wrong sometimes children are rejected by thier parents. Sometimes this is overt, in child abuse, abandonment and other such things. Sometimes the state has to come in and take the child away to keep them safe. However, sometimes human beings covertly abandon thier children, but simply withholding the love that they need. In this case the state does not step in and take the child away, but the child is still in need of surrogate parents.
We are serving as a surrogate parent to the little kid. He needs milk, not too much and not too little and as a goat he also needs socialization. Sometimes we are called to be surrogate parents to children whose parents are not or cannot meet thier emotional and spiritual needs. As Christians we need to be open to these oppurtunities when they come around. Perhaps there is a child in your community who would come to church, but his parents do not want to take him or her. Perhaps if they were given a ride, then they would find a place of full acceptance and love. we all need to be loved unconditionally.
Being a surrogate parent or as I prefer a spiritual parent to another child is risky. You can come to care for them very much. They may not know how to respond to unconditional love. They may reject you, they may reject God. They might get hurt along the way and you might feel the hurt they feel at home. That's okay it is well worth the risk.
Perhaps we should all look for the children around us who need to know unconditional love. Perhaps we should also look for the adults that need this as well. Either way unconditional love and acceptance is a gift from God. We as Christians need to share God's gift with others, especially the abandoned children.
I was commenting on how strange this was, but it was just another difference between the animal kingdom and human beings. My son asked me what I meant by this and without thinking I said that human beings do not reject thier babies. My 11 year old son said, yes they do!! He has been reading "A Child Called It" which is about one of the worst cases of child abuse ever reported. It is written by the survivor of said child abuse. Anyway, I had to admit that I was wrong sometimes children are rejected by thier parents. Sometimes this is overt, in child abuse, abandonment and other such things. Sometimes the state has to come in and take the child away to keep them safe. However, sometimes human beings covertly abandon thier children, but simply withholding the love that they need. In this case the state does not step in and take the child away, but the child is still in need of surrogate parents.
We are serving as a surrogate parent to the little kid. He needs milk, not too much and not too little and as a goat he also needs socialization. Sometimes we are called to be surrogate parents to children whose parents are not or cannot meet thier emotional and spiritual needs. As Christians we need to be open to these oppurtunities when they come around. Perhaps there is a child in your community who would come to church, but his parents do not want to take him or her. Perhaps if they were given a ride, then they would find a place of full acceptance and love. we all need to be loved unconditionally.
Being a surrogate parent or as I prefer a spiritual parent to another child is risky. You can come to care for them very much. They may not know how to respond to unconditional love. They may reject you, they may reject God. They might get hurt along the way and you might feel the hurt they feel at home. That's okay it is well worth the risk.
Perhaps we should all look for the children around us who need to know unconditional love. Perhaps we should also look for the adults that need this as well. Either way unconditional love and acceptance is a gift from God. We as Christians need to share God's gift with others, especially the abandoned children.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Are You Thirsty?
I have been reading Thirst: God and the Alcoholic Expereince by James B. Nelson. I have not finished the book yet, but something he said in the first few chapters really got me to thinking. First of all he talks of addiction as a spiritual disease, as well as physical and emotional. Nelson writes that most people seem to have no problem referring to recovery as a spiritual experience, but leaves the spiritual stuff out of the disease of addiction.
To further explain this, Nelson writes of thirst. He defines thirst as any craving or strong desire. Nelson also speaks of all of humanity having a thirst for God. We do not all recognize this thirst, but it is there. The problem is we try to quench this thirst with other things. For the addict, their substance of choice becomes thier god and they are continually trying to quench thier thirst with it. Physical issues, emotional issues and environment affect this choice, but the choice is made. Therefore, the spiritual issue for addiction is to turn this thirst to the only thing that can cure it which is God or a higher power as the twelves steps put it.
I want to be very clear, I do not believe that Nelson is saying and I am certainly not saying, that all the addict needs is Jesus. However, I am saying that part of the treatment for this disease is spiritual in nature.
However, I began to reflect on Nelson's use of the word thirst. What is it that I thirst for? I believe we all have this thirst for God and we all try to replace it with other things. Even as a Christian and having been a Christian for many years, I often let other things get in the way of relieving my thirst for God. Sometimes I act as if other things, church work, family, games, etc. will fullfill the true thirst in my spirit. It is those times, that I feel that my spirit is dry and I am in a desert. God is always waiting to quench that thirst, though.
Do we really live as if we thirst for God? Do we act as though we really even desire God at all? Many of us live like the alcoholic, the addict, the sex addict, the gambling addict or whatever it may be. We live trying to replace God with something else. However, we are designed to live in relationship with God and there is not substitute that will satisfy the thirst. May we endeavor to quench our thirst with the cooling spirit of God. May we also not wait till we are so dry, but continually partake of the living waters. Amen
To further explain this, Nelson writes of thirst. He defines thirst as any craving or strong desire. Nelson also speaks of all of humanity having a thirst for God. We do not all recognize this thirst, but it is there. The problem is we try to quench this thirst with other things. For the addict, their substance of choice becomes thier god and they are continually trying to quench thier thirst with it. Physical issues, emotional issues and environment affect this choice, but the choice is made. Therefore, the spiritual issue for addiction is to turn this thirst to the only thing that can cure it which is God or a higher power as the twelves steps put it.
I want to be very clear, I do not believe that Nelson is saying and I am certainly not saying, that all the addict needs is Jesus. However, I am saying that part of the treatment for this disease is spiritual in nature.
However, I began to reflect on Nelson's use of the word thirst. What is it that I thirst for? I believe we all have this thirst for God and we all try to replace it with other things. Even as a Christian and having been a Christian for many years, I often let other things get in the way of relieving my thirst for God. Sometimes I act as if other things, church work, family, games, etc. will fullfill the true thirst in my spirit. It is those times, that I feel that my spirit is dry and I am in a desert. God is always waiting to quench that thirst, though.
Do we really live as if we thirst for God? Do we act as though we really even desire God at all? Many of us live like the alcoholic, the addict, the sex addict, the gambling addict or whatever it may be. We live trying to replace God with something else. However, we are designed to live in relationship with God and there is not substitute that will satisfy the thirst. May we endeavor to quench our thirst with the cooling spirit of God. May we also not wait till we are so dry, but continually partake of the living waters. Amen
Monday, February 4, 2008
Flying the Friendly Skies?
I just recently returned from a trip to Austin. It was a simple over night trip in which I flew there on one day and back on another. I flew with one of the many airlines that do not assign seats anymore. I had a brief stop in Dallas, and was attempting to board my next plain. My letter was B and I was number 60. If you have flown one of these airlines, then you know that they board by A 1-30, then A 31-60, then B 1-30, B 1-60 and then C. Well as you can tell I was the last of the B's. In addition there must not have been very many C's because I was the fourth to the last person to board the plane. It was a pretty full flight and everybody had set on the window seats and the asle seats leaving the middle seat open. I aproached entered the plane and began walking down the aisle to see if any seats were open. Immediately, I began getting dirty looks from most of the people already in thier seats. The ones that were not giving me dirty looks simply were not looking at me. I began to realize that nobody really wanted me to sit between them, because I would make them uncomfortable.Being the Babybuster (or Generation X, I prefer the term Baby Buster) that I am when I did not feel welcome, I really wanted to just leave and get another plane. Of course this was not possible, so I found a seat and sat down with the two freindliest people I could see.
However, this event did make me reflect on the church and how we make people feel welcome or don't. Whenever there is a new person that shows up to church, do we stare at them or simply refuse to see them? If we do it is probably because a new person makes us uncomfortable. They are different than us. Perhaps their skin color is different, of the clothes they wear, or thier socio-economic class, deep down in our hearts we don't want to welcome them, because they might make us feel uncomfortable. Even if they look similar to us, they might have different ideas, or want different music or maybe even make the biggest mistake of all and sit in my pew. It is way easier to simply ignore them or give them dirty looks or make them not feel welcome, then we do not have to be uncomfortable.
It seems to me that Jesus was not afraid to let the stranger into his fold. He hung out with tax collectors and Zealots. He actually seemed more comfortable with some of the people that we would not welcome into our church! Perhaps we need to remember the "Freindly skies" when we have new people show up for church. We should welcome them with open arms, even if they make us feel uncomfortable.
However, this event did make me reflect on the church and how we make people feel welcome or don't. Whenever there is a new person that shows up to church, do we stare at them or simply refuse to see them? If we do it is probably because a new person makes us uncomfortable. They are different than us. Perhaps their skin color is different, of the clothes they wear, or thier socio-economic class, deep down in our hearts we don't want to welcome them, because they might make us feel uncomfortable. Even if they look similar to us, they might have different ideas, or want different music or maybe even make the biggest mistake of all and sit in my pew. It is way easier to simply ignore them or give them dirty looks or make them not feel welcome, then we do not have to be uncomfortable.
It seems to me that Jesus was not afraid to let the stranger into his fold. He hung out with tax collectors and Zealots. He actually seemed more comfortable with some of the people that we would not welcome into our church! Perhaps we need to remember the "Freindly skies" when we have new people show up for church. We should welcome them with open arms, even if they make us feel uncomfortable.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Golden Compass
I recently received an E-mail concerning an upcoming movie called the Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. It read something like this:
"You may already know about this, but I just learned about a kids movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. It's called The Golden Compass, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children's books about killing God (It is the anti-Narnia). Please follow this link, and then pass it on. From what I understand, the hope is to get alot of kids to see the movie - which won't seem too bad - and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. The quotes from the author sum it all up. I'm going to tell everyone about this movie."
I am generally not moved by such e-mails, because they are not usually true. However, I am an avid fantasy novel reader and my son Blake is becoming one as well. Therefore, I was interested in finding out more about the Dark Material trilogy. I looked up Snopes http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp and then decided to read the books myself, before making a decision on the movie. At this time I have only read the complete first novel and am about three fourths of the way through the second book.
The first book is a children's fantay novel about a young girl who finds herself caught up in events that will and do shake her world and indeed all the worlds of the universe. The preteen girl is the messiah of her world sent to bring about wonderful changes in the world. However, she must never know that she is the fullfillment of prophesy because if she does then she will fail. Each person in Lyra's world has a daemon, which is essentially his or her soul or spirit that exists outside of his or her body. Until one becomes a teenager or reaches puberty the daemon can take any animal shape. However at Puberty the daemon chooses a shape that reflects who the person has become or what their true nature is. There are these particles called Dust, that appear to be some sort of elementary element. The church, which is the Magisterium, thinks the Dust is connected to original sin and wants to destroy it. Lyra comes to believe that Dust is good and seeks to protect it. In the mean time, in its search to destroy dust, the church is running experiments on children. They are seperating the children from the daemons. The usually causes the child to die or at the very least makes them somewhat apathetic and totally lack curiousity.
Phillip Pullman has made several anti-Christian statements. He is an atheist that would like to kill the church and God. I find it very interesting that he is at war with a being that he proclaims to not believe in. Anyway, the books are obviously written as a critque of the church, religion and Christianity. The church in the book are the bad people. The church seeks to stop progress, is made up of hypocrits and wants to stifle creativity. I think Pullman beleives this. Hence, I do not like the philosophy or theology of the books. However, in the first book this is not obvious, but the second it becomes clearer and clearer.
With all of these facts on the table, here is what I think. I fully believe that Pullman wrote these books as an attempt to persuade children that there is no God or at the very least that if there is a God he deserves to die. Because of this fact, I will not spend my money on this movie or on the books (I got the books from the Library). I will finish reading the books to make sure that this oppinion holds till the end. However, neither will I forward the afore mentioned e-mail or mount a campaign to boycott this movie. You see I believe that boycotting and forwarding this e-mail gives the movie free advertising and entices people to go and see it. It makes them curious, so it actually works the oposite.
To be quite honest, some of Pullman's critiques of the church are quite accurate. The Church universal has been guilty of stifling progress, of killing the spirits of people and other such things. Perhaps we need a child Messiah to bring us back. This is exactly what God did in Christ. God sent a child to save the world.
Am I scared of this movie? Do I believe it corrupt my children or other children? The answer to both of these questions is no. I would not be afraid of my children reading this book for two reasons. The first is that this is a fictional book and the philosophy or theology occurs in a fictional world. My children know the difference between reality and fiction. The second reason is I would be aware of what my children are reading and talk to them about it. I know that not all parents will do this, but this is a better solution than boycotting.
In addition, I also believe that this book does not threaten God. There has been many other people than Mr. Pullman that have tried to kill God and God is still alive. In fact, I think that two thousand years ago on a hill called calvary, the church, the very people God had claimed as his own, tried to kill God. It did not work then and will not work now. God can take care of himself, I think I will let Him.
In summary, I do not plan on going to see this movie. I will finish the books and if my children want to read them, I will let them. However, I will discuss them and show them how what Mr. Pullman says is wrong. In the meantime, I am not going to worry about this. I am too busy loving others and doing the work of God.
"You may already know about this, but I just learned about a kids movie coming out in December starring Nicole Kidman. It's called The Golden Compass, and while it will be a watered down version, it is based on a series of children's books about killing God (It is the anti-Narnia). Please follow this link, and then pass it on. From what I understand, the hope is to get alot of kids to see the movie - which won't seem too bad - and then get the parents to buy the books for their kids for Christmas. The quotes from the author sum it all up. I'm going to tell everyone about this movie."
I am generally not moved by such e-mails, because they are not usually true. However, I am an avid fantasy novel reader and my son Blake is becoming one as well. Therefore, I was interested in finding out more about the Dark Material trilogy. I looked up Snopes http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp and then decided to read the books myself, before making a decision on the movie. At this time I have only read the complete first novel and am about three fourths of the way through the second book.
The first book is a children's fantay novel about a young girl who finds herself caught up in events that will and do shake her world and indeed all the worlds of the universe. The preteen girl is the messiah of her world sent to bring about wonderful changes in the world. However, she must never know that she is the fullfillment of prophesy because if she does then she will fail. Each person in Lyra's world has a daemon, which is essentially his or her soul or spirit that exists outside of his or her body. Until one becomes a teenager or reaches puberty the daemon can take any animal shape. However at Puberty the daemon chooses a shape that reflects who the person has become or what their true nature is. There are these particles called Dust, that appear to be some sort of elementary element. The church, which is the Magisterium, thinks the Dust is connected to original sin and wants to destroy it. Lyra comes to believe that Dust is good and seeks to protect it. In the mean time, in its search to destroy dust, the church is running experiments on children. They are seperating the children from the daemons. The usually causes the child to die or at the very least makes them somewhat apathetic and totally lack curiousity.
Phillip Pullman has made several anti-Christian statements. He is an atheist that would like to kill the church and God. I find it very interesting that he is at war with a being that he proclaims to not believe in. Anyway, the books are obviously written as a critque of the church, religion and Christianity. The church in the book are the bad people. The church seeks to stop progress, is made up of hypocrits and wants to stifle creativity. I think Pullman beleives this. Hence, I do not like the philosophy or theology of the books. However, in the first book this is not obvious, but the second it becomes clearer and clearer.
With all of these facts on the table, here is what I think. I fully believe that Pullman wrote these books as an attempt to persuade children that there is no God or at the very least that if there is a God he deserves to die. Because of this fact, I will not spend my money on this movie or on the books (I got the books from the Library). I will finish reading the books to make sure that this oppinion holds till the end. However, neither will I forward the afore mentioned e-mail or mount a campaign to boycott this movie. You see I believe that boycotting and forwarding this e-mail gives the movie free advertising and entices people to go and see it. It makes them curious, so it actually works the oposite.
To be quite honest, some of Pullman's critiques of the church are quite accurate. The Church universal has been guilty of stifling progress, of killing the spirits of people and other such things. Perhaps we need a child Messiah to bring us back. This is exactly what God did in Christ. God sent a child to save the world.
Am I scared of this movie? Do I believe it corrupt my children or other children? The answer to both of these questions is no. I would not be afraid of my children reading this book for two reasons. The first is that this is a fictional book and the philosophy or theology occurs in a fictional world. My children know the difference between reality and fiction. The second reason is I would be aware of what my children are reading and talk to them about it. I know that not all parents will do this, but this is a better solution than boycotting.
In addition, I also believe that this book does not threaten God. There has been many other people than Mr. Pullman that have tried to kill God and God is still alive. In fact, I think that two thousand years ago on a hill called calvary, the church, the very people God had claimed as his own, tried to kill God. It did not work then and will not work now. God can take care of himself, I think I will let Him.
In summary, I do not plan on going to see this movie. I will finish the books and if my children want to read them, I will let them. However, I will discuss them and show them how what Mr. Pullman says is wrong. In the meantime, I am not going to worry about this. I am too busy loving others and doing the work of God.
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