Cruciformity

There were a few CDs I really got into in 2007, and one of them was ‘Orphans’ by Tom Waits. I love his sound: deep, rough voice with a variety of folky/bluesy sounds, upbeat and downbeat. I love his words: I can’t vouch for all his lyrics (or language) but, generally, they’re rich and deep. It’s great music to study to!

One of the things that I heard about him was that when he’s written a song he goes and buries it down in the shed somewhere for a few months to stew. He then digs it up again to see if it’s worth keeping or changing or recording. Isn’t that cool! Has anyone else heard that story?? Sometimes I think I should do that kind of thing for my sermons… Anyway, Tom’s both familiar and unlike any artist I’ve heard but definitely worth checking out.

For fellow fans or those interested, Ben Myers has written a little piece on Tom Waits the Theologian. It’s good, check it out: http://faith-theology.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html

After just writing about not seeking victory ‘according to the flesh’, I hope that it’s not hypocritical of me to shout out a big COME ON YOU SPURS! There have been 9 years of humiliation and embarrassment and scorn from the fans of our bitter North London rivals - Arsenal. Over time our home ground, White Heart Lane, was dubbed by Gunners fans as “3-point lane”. However, there was a different song being sung at the Lane last night as we put 5 goals past a strong Arsenal side! What’s more it sends us into the final of the Carling Cup against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. I’ve watched some of the footage andat 4-1 the whole crowd is belting out: Que Sara, Sara; whatever will be will be; we’re going to WEMB-ER-LEE; Que Sara. Sara… and in the dying minute of the game, Malbranque slots in one last goal and the fans went mental and WHL practically starts melting because of the energy produced.

Admittedly is only the third rate Carling Cup, but a victory is a victory. And there is no sweeter smelling victory than against Arsenal. With Arsenal twelve places ahead of us in the Premiership, I’m sure this boasting will be short-lived so I thought I’d get in while I could. COYS!

Perhaps the most depressing thing about my all-too-recent studies, after hammering away at Greek and Hebrew vocab, is opening up my required reading and having to do English vocab. One of these words was ‘exculpate’ - “To show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing”. But while unfamiliar with the word, sadly, I’m all too familiar with the concept. If only I could communicate clearer the first time and avoid all of those frustrating meta-conversations. Hopefully nobody saw me unsuspectingly walking down a naughty street at Kings Cross earlier tonight and drew the wrong conclusions. Hopefully people don’t find me guilty of being extraordinarily boring because of the state of my blog!

In 2 Cor 10, superficial, swish, sweet-talking leaders had persuaded the congregation that Paul had reared that he was passé, embarrassing and even dangerous. So Paul is in this kind of situation where he needs to exculpate himself. And part of me really wants Paul to lay down some smack. Do you remember Mr Mayage in Karate Kid being underestimated by young punks? He gives it to them. I really want Paul to give it to the Corinthians and show them what a real apostle looks like.

Here Paul uses warlike and powerful imagery that suggests he might just do this. He says that he fights to demolish arguments, take captive thoughts to obey Christ, and punish disobedience. He’s not to be underestimated because he’s got the ammunition to make serious damage! But here Paul’s attitude to power is not the same as that of ‘the flesh’. Can you see the weapons that he uses? The strength of his appeal to them: by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ.

2Cor. 10:1 Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person, but bold toward you when absent. 2 I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are •walking in a fleshly way.a 3 For although we are walking in the flesh, we do not wage war in a fleshly way,a 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

In 2 Cor 10-12 Paul does exculpate himself, he sets forth the truth about his claim to being a genuine apostle. But doesn’t set the record straight in a way that is all too common in our world: using violence; or looking to get some kind of revenge or recompense; or looking to gain a soap-box for his own cause; or look to push other people down to push himself up. Paul is not the same as others in this regard. He paradoxically demonstrates the genuine power of his apostleship “by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ. His medium and his message show that his ammunition is the love and grace of the Lord Jesus, powerful to demolish strongholds.

While people that are different can be refreshing, reminding us of the things we truly value or pushing us out the ruts that our lives tend to settle into, they can also be distasteful. Some differences are distasteful before they’re understood to be refreshing. Other things immediately bring a smile to your face, while other differences are and remain just plain distasteful.

Before I reflect on Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians, I’m curious to know what people know about Ben Fold’s words in the song I mentioned in the previous post: “Not the same”. What kind of impact do you think that this story’s had on the artist? Refreshing or distasteful?? Neither? Have a read and tell me what you think happened…

You took a trip and climbed a tree
At Robert Sledge’s party
And there you stayed ’till morning came
And you were not the same after that
You gave your life to Jesus Christ
And after all your friends went home
You came down, you looked around
And you were not the same after that
(Ahhh ahhh)
You were not the same after that
(Ahhh ahhh)
You were not the same after that
You see ‘em drop like flies from the bright sunny skies
They come knocking at your door with this look in their eyes
You’ve got one good trick and you’re hanging on you’re hanging on…
To it
You took the word and made it heard
And eased the people’s pain and for that
You were idolised, immortalised
And you were not the same after that
Walking tall, you’d bought it all
And you were not the same after that
Till someone died on the waterslide
And you were not the same after that
You see ‘em drop like flies from the bright sunny skies
They come knocking at your door with this look in their eyes
You’ve got one good trick and you’re hanging on you’re hanging on to it
(ooh ooh ooh ooh)
(YOU WERE NOT THE SAME!)
You see ‘em drop like flies from the bright sunny skies
They come knocking at your door with this look in their eyes
You’ve got one good trick and you’re hanging on you’re hanging on:
You’re hanging on:
You’re hanging on:

Well, it’s been ages since I’ve written here. I’ve decided to change my approach which will hopefully mean that I’m more motivated and this site becomes a little more useful.

I’ve recently been struck by the ways in which Christians are not the same. My reflections on this have ranged from 2 Corinthians where our beach mission team spent time reflecting on God’s power being demonstrated through our weakness; to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s reflection that an unchanged life reflect ‘cheap grace’; but also to a Ben Folds tune called ‘Not the same’ which I’ve been getting into recently. When I say ‘getting into’ it, I’ve been really loving it, and and I’m really interested in the puzzled expression of outsiders on Christian conversion. Why are the children of God so different?

The obvious example of this clear difference is Jesus. Jesus, the Lord and ruler did not come in the way of other human kings. Jesus was the son of Man who came not to be served but to serve and give is life as a ransom for many. Jesus was refreshingly, graciously, lovingly, perfectly different. Inspired and empowered by Jesus, Christians are also called to follow this old but somehow refreshingly new way of living.

I want to write more on this and the next time I will share some reflections on 2 cor 10-12 left over from beach mission.