Help Make Darfur the Squeaky Wheel

One of the unfortunate consequences of the media focusing so many resources to the coverage of the ongoing conflict in Iraq as well as the gathering threat in neighboring Iran is that less directly impacting events go almost without mention.

An example of such an almost invisible happening is the ongoing massacre taking place in Darfur in the Sudan. All reports suggest that if anything the situation is only growing direr by the day. And yet at most this is a second or third page story for most American media outlets.

While it is important to cover the trial of Saddam Hussein and how that relates to atrocities he committed against his own people in the 1990's, it is even more important that we address similar atrocities that are happening in the NOW- as we speak. Saddam is safely locked away. The government forces in Sudan that authorize ethnic and religious cleansing are not.

As a result countless thousands continue to suffer displacement, rape, torture, and murder on a weekly basis. Recent reports suggest that infants are now being singled out for murder by the Janjaweed forces from Khartoum. The Janjaweed are marauding bands who are targeting Sudanese southerners- consisting mostly of Christians and other non-Muslim minorities.

Making noise might seem like a pitiful response to such horror but believe it or not this is by far what is most likely to cause government bodies, US and others, to address the issue - by getting directly involved.

We can help by lending our voices to the chorus of concern. A website known as Save Darfur is asking people to get involved by emailing government officials and expressing a demand that something concrete be done- NOW. You can do this by visiting their website at http://www.SaveDarfur.org.

Jesus, Judas, and the Gnostic Publicists

I find it a little humorous, and more than a little sad, when news commentators say "religious interest is on the rise" by pointing to the media fervor circling around projects such as the Da Vinci Code and Holy Blood, Holy Grail. This week, in addition to all the press being devoted to the lawsuit between the these two sets of authors, interest has also been peaked in reference to the public release of the so-called, Gospel of Judas.

In reality this interest has very little to do with religion and a lot to do with sensationalism. It's the same old, same old. Of course all three of these "projects" seek to undermine the traditional view of Christianity. They would not be nearly so interesting if they merely towed the party line- so to speak.

By the way, despite media comments to the contrary, the Gospel of Judas is, in my opinion- and the opinion of most scholars as well, just as much a work of fiction as is the Da Vinci Code and Holy Blood, Holy Grail. Not only is the Gospel of Judas widely believed to be a work that originates, at the earliest- in the second century (which makes it historically suspect), but it is also widely believed to be of Gnostic origin. And as with other Gnostic creations, it argues for a hyper-dualistic sense of reality. And this Gnostic agenda does much to explain the decidedly "unorthodox" perspective of the Jesus portrayed in the book.

Another myth being passed around the media is that this "gospel" is new. It's not. While it's true that our re-discovery of it is new (this particular version was discovered in the 1970's), the early church was certainly aware of the work. Early Christian writers such as Irenaeus (130-202 CE) made reference to this work as a heretical fiction that landed well outside the bounds of the common, shared history of the Jesus tradition.

Of course, the media is not reporting the historical context behind the Gospel of Judas. And that's simply because you're much more likely to titillate people with "loose reporting" about an ancient text that threatens to "undo Christian history". This titillation pleases the masses which pleases the media because it pleases the advertisers. And thus the line between gossip and "news" moves ever closer towards complete obliteration.





The Secret Behind the Secret Message of Jesus

Many an Emerging/Emergent Church enthusiast will no doubt be eager to snatch up Brian McLaren's most recent effort- which has just been released. The book, titled The Secret Message of Jesus, is largely about the counter-cultural, "welcome to the Kingdom of God" message that was actually the crux of what Jesus spoke about.

The "secret" aspect of the title seems to reflect in part, how poorly the institutionalized church has done in sharing the fullness of that message with the world. In other words, this message shouldn't be secret- but it is.

There is more to the title than this however. McLaren has spoken out about the misunderstanding the book has already run into. Christian writers writing only for Christian audiences point out that the title appears almost "Gnostic"; in the sense that it hints at secret, revelatory information designed for a select group. Brian responds to this by saying,

".my primary audience is the "spiritual but not religious" people who are interested in what Jesus was about, but are generally turned off by the Religious Right, institutional religion, etc. I felt that the title would connect with this audience, and I was willing to risk being misunderstood for that purpose. Jesus, I think, took similar risks again and again."

"As I worked on the book, I was repeatedly struck by how "strategically indirect" Jesus was - hiding his message in parable, sign, and wonder. I began to realize that this strategy of hiddenness was integral to Jesus' whole message and ministry. I think people who read the book will be struck by this theme as well."

I have to admit that I didn't like the title when I first heard it either. It sounded a little too much like something you'd expect to see on the front of the National Enquirer. However, after hearing Brian's heart and his reasoning I think his actions show courage and conviction.

This also reveals something about Brian that he says of himself, that underlying he is an evangelist at heart.





Alternative Fuel for the Future?

Recently, I came across an article that talked about a particularly promising type of alternative fuel known as "Cellulosic" Ethanol. A man named Vinod Khosla, who started Sun Microsystems, has made the emergence of this new fuel a bit of a personal crusade- putting much of his own time and resources behind the push for the development of this particular blend of Ethanol.

At present conventional thinking suggests that the wait for the mainstream production of this form of Ethanol is about 6 years. Khosla would like to cut that in half.

Part of his plan involves taxing gasoline in his home state of California as a means to helping Ethanol become more cost competitive. As can be expected this part of the plan is rather controversial. Not surprisingly the oil industry is fighting back with a campaign of its own, titled "Californians Against Higher Taxes". My blood boils a little at this campaign title; it's more than a little misleading. Basically the Oil Industry is using this campaign against higher taxes as a ruse for the protection of their dominant product.

Even more frustrating has been OPEC's response to the possibility of Ethanol emerging as an alternative to gasoline. They offer you a wink and a smile and suggest that if Ethanol begins to move quickly towards production that they will simply cut the price of oil as a means to crushing the economic competitiveness of the rival product.

And this of course underlines the problem. The terms dependency and monopoly come to mind.

My hope is that, for once, Christians- and especially Evangelicals, will take the lead on this issue and become part of the solution. Our faith is certainly tested when our bank books pay the price for standing up for doing the right thing. But this issue is worth acting on. Not only is it the right thing to do; but it's also the kind of action that serves as a real witness to an unbelieving culture.

Historically, environmental concerns have not been "a hill to die on" for Evangelicals. We'll give to international missions but not towards international stewardship of the planet.

My hope is that we're about to see that change. It's certainly high time that this changed. I want to say I won't hold my breath but instead I'll hope for the best and hold my tongue.





The Mute Evangelical Response to the Immigration Debate

I can't help but notice that in the midst of all the recent debate about illegal immigration in America Evangelical leaders have been rather mute. Perhaps this is because Evangelicals are actually a little more free-thinking than some suppose. In other words, there is no one party line. In fact I'm sure that's part of the reason.

Still, you have to wonder, is that the only reason for the lack of response and the lack of moral leadership amongst our Evangelical leaders? Again, regardless of how you come down on the issue, one has to wonder if the silence is due to the unction of the Holy Spirit, or the unction of our something much more base and un-Christlke?

Illegal immigration is a massive enough problem that it can and probably does burden the nation in some ways. But burdens alone, whether they be personal or societal, or both, should not dictate our response.

Again, if our witness is to appear sincere; if we are to stand out from our secular humanist neighbors, then we must step forward as "little Christs" in every nook and cranny of our culture.

I am not so concerned about where our convictions lie (as long as they arise as a consequence of our true Christ-centered discipleship) as I am that we should be making those convictions known.

Whether or not you agree with the Catholic response in southern California, where leaders have called for civil disobedience to a hardline immigration law, at least you have to respect the fact that they are responding out of Christian conviction.

The Catholics are making their voices heard. Where are the Evangelicals?





Science, Prayer and the Soveriegnty of God

By now you might have heard of a recent study that was designed to test the effectiveness of prayer in healing people with heart disease. Apparently one set of patients had strangers praying for them while another, equal number of patients didn't. At the end of a test period the results were compared to see if those patients that were prayed for received any positive benefit from the prayer.

The results: no effect whatsoever.

Of course several mitigating factors occurred to me; mitigating factors that I think make the study almost useless. For one- what about the Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle? By studying prayer, as with anything else, you are likely to affect the results. The belief in absolute objectivity of findings in such circumstances is long gone.

Secondly, it occurs to me that "God will not be mocked". If prayer is effective then that's because God is real. And if God is the divine agent who chooses whether or not to respond to prayer then might He not choose to ignore the kind of "prayer" that was motivated by scientists effectively "seeking for a sign"- rather than from heartfelt human concern and real and substantial faith?

Is this kind of thing really prayer at all?

God is not a lab rat who will be placed in a maze for our amusement.

I never cease to be amazed by the degree to which some people still see science as the true meta-religion; destined to determine the nature of everything.

Most with a postmodern sensitivity are far beyond that set of presuppositions by now.





Italy to Rahman's Rescue

Last month we made note of Abdul Rahman's tricky situation. Rahman is the Afghan Christian who was alomst executed for his confession of Jesus. In the end pressure from all over the world managed to win Rahman his freedom.

Even after the Afghan government decided to let Rahman live; pointing to his "mental instability" as a convenient technicality to get him off death row while saving the state some face, it was clear that Afghanistan was not going to be a hospitable place for Mr. Rahman.

Enter the Italians. As of yesterday, Mr. Rahman had happliy relocated to Italy. The Italians offered him refuge following his Afghan ordeal.

I know Italy is neither the Vatican nor the Catholic Church. But still, it seems fitting that this former Muslim, who has come to know and worship Jesus, would be offered a home in a country known for its deep Christian heritage.

Good on the Italians. And good on Mr. Rahman for standing strong in his convictions when his life was on the line.

I only pray that we Westerners would be "mentally and spiritually stable" enough to the do the same if we faced similar circumstances.





A Peacful Papal Passage Remebered

As Catholics (and Christians in general) around the world make note of the one year anniversary of the passing of Pope John Paul the II, some compelling and heartwarming stories about his final days are coming to light.

Apparently Pope John Paul II often asked that the Bible be read to him in his final days and hours. One longtime friend and colleague of the Pope, a woman named Mother Tekla, remembers those final moments:

"Two eyes as his, they were like the eyes of Jesus upon me. They were like two stars. He talked, but I couldn't understand anything besides, 'Thank you' -- it was like he was saying we will see each other again. Such a beautiful thing, so joyous."

I personally remember media commentators making note that in his final months of life the Pope seemed like a man of pure will. A will so single-minded in its devotion and sense of purpose that it forced a largely unwilling and withering body to co-operate.

That's quite a testimony. As much as the way we live our lives reveals much about what we truly believe, so too does the way we die.

Pope John Paul IV, with the promise and knowledge of future resurrection deep in his soul, no doubt approached those final moments prior to death thinking:

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Peace be with you, Brother.




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