Exiles: Living Dangerously in a world seeking safety and happiness
I (Mark) am so pumped about this month's discussion. If you haven't attended the cohort in a while, it would be great to see you there!
It is always good to see you each time we get together.
Topic: Exiles: Living Dangerously in a world seeking safety and happiness.
Presenters:
Paul Littleton - Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Sapulpa
Wade Hodges - Preaching Minister of Garnett Church of Christ in Tulsa
Format: There will be brief presentations (5-15 minutes) by Paul and Wade and then discussion with everyone present.
Location: Agora - in the Fontana Shopping Center (51st and Memorial)
When: Thursday Dec, 7th. 10:30am
Contact info: Mark Riddle - 918.407.1545
More on the Topic:
For the past few years the topic of "Worldview" has been on the tongues of a lot of church leaders. Modern. Post-Modern. Biblical. etc etc. Worldviews are said to be the lenses through which we view the world. These lenses inform the way in which we interpret our experience. In the past year or two several folks I know have stopped talking about worldviews all together. (it's been a long time since someone has even said "postmodern" in my memory at one of our cohort meetings too!)
Since Story is the language our culture speaks, and I'd argue has always spoken, the language of "scripts" has taken root. What is the story we live out of? What is the script we live by. This is very different to me from a worldview, or construct of belief, but rather a more internal understanding of who I am and I understand how I relate to the world and who I belive God to be influence how I engage life, others and the kingdom.
Walter Brueggeman would suggest that our script is a technological-therapeutic-militarist-consumerism that promises safety and happiness. That is the story most American live into. Geoff Holsclaws has said, "Brueggeman is not saying that this is merely a worldview that best articulates how to promote safety and happiness, but also that is molds and shapes us into thinking that safety and happiness (individual safety and consumer happiness) are the greatest values, rather than, say, justice and peace.
So? Why Exiles as the topic??????
So the church has folded the North American script into the gospel and that has tremendous implications on what we do as the church. This has huge implications for how we understand the role of power and the church.In Walter Brueggemann's "The Prophetic Imagination" says that the church needs to find a way of moving from a position of dominance to a minority position. We'll talk about this and how the prophets speak to that and the role of God's people in that transition. Paul will compare the Biblical understanding of Exile in the prophets and the people of God (who lived within that story and script) and how what it's implecations might be for the American church. Wade will work through Brueggemann's stuff on Exile and point out several disciplines that will help us find our way in our state of cultural dislocation. He'll also be pulling in some stuff from Mike Frost's new book, "Exile", which he says is very good by the way.
In short: Exiles must cling to dangerous memories, make dangerous promises, offer dangerous criticism, and sing dangerous songs.
See you thursday!
Steve, Wade, Paul and Mark
It is always good to see you each time we get together.
Topic: Exiles: Living Dangerously in a world seeking safety and happiness.
Presenters:
Paul Littleton - Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Sapulpa
Wade Hodges - Preaching Minister of Garnett Church of Christ in Tulsa
Format: There will be brief presentations (5-15 minutes) by Paul and Wade and then discussion with everyone present.
Location: Agora - in the Fontana Shopping Center (51st and Memorial)
When: Thursday Dec, 7th. 10:30am
Contact info: Mark Riddle - 918.407.1545
More on the Topic:
For the past few years the topic of "Worldview" has been on the tongues of a lot of church leaders. Modern. Post-Modern. Biblical. etc etc. Worldviews are said to be the lenses through which we view the world. These lenses inform the way in which we interpret our experience. In the past year or two several folks I know have stopped talking about worldviews all together. (it's been a long time since someone has even said "postmodern" in my memory at one of our cohort meetings too!)
Since Story is the language our culture speaks, and I'd argue has always spoken, the language of "scripts" has taken root. What is the story we live out of? What is the script we live by. This is very different to me from a worldview, or construct of belief, but rather a more internal understanding of who I am and I understand how I relate to the world and who I belive God to be influence how I engage life, others and the kingdom.
Walter Brueggeman would suggest that our script is a technological-therapeutic-militarist-consumerism that promises safety and happiness. That is the story most American live into. Geoff Holsclaws has said, "Brueggeman is not saying that this is merely a worldview that best articulates how to promote safety and happiness, but also that is molds and shapes us into thinking that safety and happiness (individual safety and consumer happiness) are the greatest values, rather than, say, justice and peace.
So? Why Exiles as the topic??????
So the church has folded the North American script into the gospel and that has tremendous implications on what we do as the church. This has huge implications for how we understand the role of power and the church.In Walter Brueggemann's "The Prophetic Imagination" says that the church needs to find a way of moving from a position of dominance to a minority position. We'll talk about this and how the prophets speak to that and the role of God's people in that transition. Paul will compare the Biblical understanding of Exile in the prophets and the people of God (who lived within that story and script) and how what it's implecations might be for the American church. Wade will work through Brueggemann's stuff on Exile and point out several disciplines that will help us find our way in our state of cultural dislocation. He'll also be pulling in some stuff from Mike Frost's new book, "Exile", which he says is very good by the way.
In short: Exiles must cling to dangerous memories, make dangerous promises, offer dangerous criticism, and sing dangerous songs.
See you thursday!
Steve, Wade, Paul and Mark
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