In this episode we continue to discuss: Atonement.

BEYOND JUSTIFICATION: An Orthodox Perspective by Valerie A. Karras. This is the second of a multipart series – maybe two or three parts total.

In this section we mention our friend Nate’s article, Masturbation, Sin and Showers.

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In this episode we discuss: Atonement.

BEYOND JUSTIFICATION: An Orthodox Perspective by Valerie A. Karras. This is the first of a multipart series – maybe two or three parts total.

___

Our Facebook group is here…

You can leave us a message at 716/462-5647

In this episode we discuss technology: is there a place for iPad in worship?

In this Episode we mention:

iPad

St Gregory of Nyssa Church

And Music that makes Community mistakenly called “Music from the heart”. The teaching text/songbook is called Music by Heart

Shoutout to Nate @ OrganicFaith

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This we we discuss segregation in church: race, age, disabilities… This may be the first part of a multiple episode conversation.

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Every device of which man boasts as an invention of his mind is revealed by Divine Providence and every invented device has its two-fold significance one physical, the other spiritual. Even the clock is a wonderful device but it was not invented merely to tell us the time of day and night but also to remind us of death. This is its spiritual significance. When the small hand completes its rounds of seconds and minutes then the large hand arrives at the ordered hour and the clock strikes. So will the clock of our life strike when the days, months and years of our life are numbered. That is why St. Tikhon of Zadonsk counsels every Christian to reflect:

1. How the time of our life continually passes;

2. How it is impossible to bring back time that is past;

3. How the past and future times are not in our control but only that time in which we are now living;

4. How the end of our life is unknown;

5. How we must be prepared for death every day, every hour and every minute;

6. How because of that we must always be in the state of continual repentance;

7. How we must be repentant in every hour and spiritually disposed as we would wish to be at the hour of our death.

The common sermon, at this point (I grabbed these two paragraphs from this one) makes it clear that Jesus’ point was and is that we must relinquish our “rights” in order to advance God’s kingdom through sacrificial service — an idea captured well in a paraphrase of Matthew 5:41: “And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life” (The Message).

The common sermon is, roughly, right… but it totally misses something really deadly, really dangerous and shocking image in this passage.

Roman soldiers were forbidden to marry. There was a reputation (deserved or not) that continues to this day that a Roman soldier was, if you will, a sexual risk – and Jewish ideas about gentiles and forbidden sex furthered this image. Being left alone with this guy was dangerous. I have to admit that “oh, that’s ok, I’ll stay with you another mile, sir…” sounds like a come-on. Why would you tell your followers that they should go not just the required one mile but even volunteer for two?

Even if this is not an “authentically Jesus” statement (I know some want to doubt such things) the implied content – given the cultural perception of the soldiers – is very interesting. I think this, taken alongside the Centurion and his Boy (more here), also in the Matthew Gospel, brings us some interesting images to think about.

This week we hit on Church and State, voting (Huw: no, Drew: yes), taxes, Byzantium and the Supreme Court Decision against the Christian Law Students in San Francisco.

In this podcast we mentioned:

Village Beer Merchant

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This is the second part of Drew and Huw’s conversation about “Spiritual but Not Religious”. We also touch on what is the early church, how’s emergent getting there, and hookah smoking.

In this podcast we mentioned:
The Epistles of St Ignatius

St Lawrence Orthodox Church

Mezza

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Drew and Huw discuss “Spiritual but Not Religious”. We also touch on the big ugly statue of Jesus that burned up in a lightening strike. This is part one of this conversation. Come back for part two next week.

In this podcast we mentioned:
The Village Beer Merchant (of course)

The Epistles of St Ignatius

Touchdown Jesus

Roman-Era Egyptian Funerary Art

Frank Viola

In part two, next week, we’ll get to Emergents and “early church” issues as well as community.

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Huw and Drew discuss the question “What is theology?”. We also touch every so briefly and ranty on immigration. Enjoy :)

In this podcast we mentioned:

And also, The Village Beer Merchant…

Our facebook group is here…

And as we noted you can leave us a message at 716/462-5647