Sacrifice

I don't understand sacrifice in atonement theory.  The sacrificial system is so foreign to me that I can't seem to wrap my head around it.  I kind of get it but not really.  More importantly, I don't understand how it relates to God.  Why does killing something bring us closer to God?  It just doesn't fit.

I have decided for 2012, or at least part of it, I'm going to research sacrifice and how folks following this Jesus guy understand him as an atoning sacrifice.  I think that means I'm going to have to look at the biblical mandate for sacrifice and reinterpretation throughout history.  I'm going to have to look at Girard's thoughts, which I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get a hold of.  And, I'll have to look at evangelical interpretations of it.  At the end of the research, I hope to have some understand of how sacrifice fits into bring creation into a right relationship with God.  Along the way, I'll post thoughts here.

But I'm going to need your help.  What are some great books and resources for the concept of sacrifice?  I took an atonement class in seminary, so actually I have some evangelical books.  I'm looking for some thoughts from more progressive, process/relational sources.  As well as, Jewish understanding of the ancient sacrificial system and why it is no longer necessary.  Please, leave any resources in the comments section. 

Jingle Bells

Every year my wife and I start listening to Christmas music together, and it is an absolute must that a Bing Crosby Christmas album gets listened to, as well as Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and others.  Although, my wife and I disagree on when the starting point of Christmas music is, she thinks after Halloween, I think after Thanksgiving, we agree on what quality Christmas music is.  We are not of the opinion that all Christmas music is worth it.  For instance, there is a song called "Christmas in Kansas City" that I hope is only played in KC because it is like radio active noise pollution.  I'm pretty sure it causes auditory cancer.  (Side note: cancer is not funny and neither is this song)

There is one song that we have from Bing Crosby.  It's an old hymn originally penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  It was written towards the end of the Civil War, but every year this song really strikes me.  The song is called "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," the poem was originally called "Christmas Bells."  Two things always strike me about this song.  First, the gender exclusive language which my 21st Century sensibilities struggles with.  Second, the emotion in the last two stanzas of the song/poem.

I'm going to write little about the first thing.  It just bugs me that we can't just put the word "all" in place of "men" in these songs.  But it was a different time with openly misogynistic views instead of our veiled misogynistic views of today...

The second thing is the reality that 2000ish years ago Christ's birth was supposed to bring about peace on earth, but what do we have.  We just ended one of two long running wars in the US, and worldwide there is so much struggle.  Let alone all the haunting memories and internal struggle that each individual faces.  Peace doesn't seem to be something that we really have.  The verse says "for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

The following stanza or verse says, "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep."  The bells are the signal, a reminder that God isn't gone or inattentive or asleep.  The bells are a reminder of the peace we can have through Christ.  The peace we can have because God came as a person, experiencing all that it means to be human, so that we can experience a little more deeply who God is.  God has poured out Godself for you so that you may know peace in a way that this world doesn't seem to understand.  A peace through forgiveness, nonviolent correction, not through force.

Let the bells of Christmas truly remind you of the peace we have through God in Jesus the Christ so that you may strive to share that peace with everyone you meet!

Amen and Amen!

P.S. Here is a version of the song from Youtube for your listening pleasure.

Following Devotionals

I'm really bad at following devotionals.  Right now, I'm trying to read through "The Journey" by Adam Hamilton.  It's an advent devotional with a book attached and a dvd series as well.  I've read some of the book, but I'm trying to do the devotional each day.  I'm currently three days behind.  It's not that it's bad or anything.  Actually, it has helped me refocus a little and think a little more clear about the nativity. 

I struggle to carve out the time to sit down and just do it.  In years past, I've tried setting up a specific time for it.  That's not worked and this year was harder, not impossible just harder, to set aside the daily time.  My one year old has seen to that.  So this year, I read it when I think about it.  Which is usually mid morning while sitting in my office.  I'm three days off because I'm not in my office every day of the week. Plus, forcing it seems a little off.  Shouldn't I want to read a devotional in order to dive deeper into to the divine reality?  Why does it feel like work, even when I enjoy the writing?

I could use some input from my one lone reader who stumbles across this.  What do you do to get in the habit of doing a devotional?  What time of day?  How do you hold yourself accountable? 

June to Decemeber Not Bad

My last post on here was 7 months ago, and was a post about small groups being a fuller incarnation of church than a worship service is, especially in large churches. 

I don't have anything specific to write about today, just felt a little like writing publicly private thoughts on Christmas in list form:

1. Wise Men have little to do with Christmas.
2. Santa is creepy but St. Nick's my hero...although I don't hate Santa, he does come off as a creepy old dude with ways to peep on kiddies and deal harshly when they don't act as he deems "good."
3. I don't really know what Egg Nog is, and it's gross...but do we nog other things beside eggs?  Have some delicious cheese nog!
4. Matthew and Luke seem to see Jesus' birth very differently.  Why can't we just keep them separate and within their own stories? 
5. Commercialism is the new Jesus!
6. Advent is not a thing anymore...or is it?  Maybe advent is the time we buy things in preparation of better 4th quarter profits--our true god.
7. Justin Bieber should not have a Christmas album, or a recording contract.  I blame Usher!
8. When is someone going to write a new Christmas song that will be covered for the next century or so?
9. Winter is not Christmas.  Winter songs should be enjoyed all cold and flu season.
10. Pre-lit Christmas trees are a pain and should be outlawed.  They are only good for a couple of years then you have to take the lights off or throw it away.  Wasteful!  

Bonus:  Artificial Christmas Trees hurt my hands when I put them up, yet I put up three of them this year.

What would you add to this list about Christmas?  Who are you?  Do you even still look at this page?  Are you spam, or a robot?