Mary and Abraham

There's a fascinating discussion going on at Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed concerning the topic "Is the Reformation Over?" Especially interesting to me are the comments by historian Dennis Martin. Part of his excellent explanation of the veneration of Mary I've included here, because it sparked an idea in my head (scary, I know):

Mary is merely a human, but the first believer (she was the first one to know of God'’s plan to save us by incarnation and she believed). She could have disbelieved. Her faith was greater than Abraham's. (Faith is a gift, so what we are saying is that both she and Abraham did not reject the gift of faith but acted on it.) But Mary's challenge was greater and she did not give up believeing that her Son was the Savior even when he was nailed to the cross. Only faith could have carried her through that. So Mary is literally the very first Christian, the first to believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Savior. Those who cherish Romans 4-5 on Abraham's faith ought to cherish her for that reason alone.

***Warning: wild theological speculation ahead!***

It seems to me that if she is the first believer, she is also the last Jew. But here's my main thought: as a devout Jew, she would naturally have intimate knowledge of the story of Abraham and Isaac. She would've known that God had called Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac but that in the very last second, God provided a scapegoat. Now, I've heard a few sermons on this and how it relates to the crucifixion, but I've never heard this angle:

Is it possible that Mary expected God the Father to provide a similar scapegoat?

Was Mary hoping and praying that similar to her Son's prayer, this cup might pass from Him? At that final moment, when her Son was nailed to the cross and actually dieing in pain with no scapegoat in sight -- could this realization brought her even deeper sorrow? I think typically we see Christ as the scapegoat, because of our focus on substitutionary atonement, but perhaps Christ was more like Isaac, except that He actually was sacrificed.

Hiding My Catholicism

I'm a big fan of Amazon.com's Wish List feature. Many family members use it to buy presents for me for Christmas and on my Birthday. It's great! I get exactly what I want and they have some easy shopping. One of the problems is that my interests are sometimes so far removed from others in my extended family that they have no idea what they're looking at on my wishlist.

• Who is the band Opeth and why does Chad want their CD called Damnation?
• Why does Chad want to own a movie calld Cannibal! The Musical?
• And what the. . .
• What is Faith of Our Fathers by James Cardinal Gibbons?
• What is By What Authority: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition by Mark Shea?
• Wait a second. . .is this catholic stuff?
  

As many evangelicals looking into Catholicism do, I read many books in a short period of time.
Not surprisingly, several members of my extended family learned about my interest in Catholicism (they already were familiar with my eclectic music and film taste) from my Amazon.com Wish List.

But recently Amazon upgraded this feature: one can now create separate wish lists and limit their access. I have a private one now, just for me; I use it to keep track of what I eventually need to buy or try to get from the library. Protestant family members no longer need to dig through papist propaganda to find that Emperor's New Groove DVD I've been wanting.




PS: I have already acquired all the items mentioned above save Cannibal! The Musical. So my faithful readers can still show their support and buy me that one.

PPS: I had to tell blogger.com's spellchecker to learn "papist".

Quit(e) the Discussion!

Love those combox rallies?

Check out the comments for February 27th's post, What About Mary?

It's turned into a debate over praying to the saints because I posted a link to this article by Patrick Madrid.

Groovy New Design

Man, did it just get sexier in here, or is it just me?

Per Christum

The Brothers Bennett and others invited me to join the group blog from Ancient and Future Catholics called Per Christum. It's been up for while, but not publicly touted, since we wanted to get some actual content on there first.

What's the blog like? It contains conversational reflections from (mostly) younger catholic converts. Our views are probably more pre-modern than post-, though we are bringing them to a post-modern world. Many of the entries seem to chronicle our discoveries and compare them to our previous traditions. We hope that all such comparisons are done in a charitable manner and in a way that invites further discussion.

Without further ado, here's Per Christum.

(I have a couple posts on there. One is an edited version of my thoughts on the Epistle to Diognetus and the another titled The Rosary for Dummies.

I'd also specifically recommend Jason's post on The Real Essentials (Don't protestants all basically agree on these? nyuk nyuk) and DavidB's A Slave to Whom?)

Figuring Out the Church (Part 4)

Continued from Part 3


In late January of 2005, my wife and I decided to move from my hometown to hers. Besides living for 5 months in Germany and a summer in Minnesota, I had never lived anywhere else. We were also moving from a small, college town of 35,000 to a metropolitan area of a half-million.

I knew that this was my chance to figure out the church. I now longer felt obliged to attend my parents church (not that they forced me, it was just the easiest choice at the time, considering the options) Besides one fluke visit to a local Episcopal service, I had never worshipped with much liturgy at all. I could play just about every song from the red Maranatha Praise book on guitar. I could lead worship for 50 college students on campus. But all I knew about liturgy came from books and internet friends. But I knew what I wanted: a church liturgically rich and theologically conservative.

Though the book Surprised by Truth had answered some of my questions and made me think about some of my assumptions, but I had no desire to become Catholic. I wanted to become Anglican. I thought as an Anglican, I could have the historic liturgy I so longed for and yet remain protestant. I really liked the 39 Articles in the BCP, but I also knew that many Anglican and Episcopal congregations were liberal in theology and morality and I wanted no part in that. I began looking at websites for Anglican churches in Kansas City, looking for clues to gauge a congregation's orthodoxy. I looked at the "Minister" pages, hoping to find male clergy. I looked at the bulletins, hoping to see some more Bible studies than Gay support groups.

To the parishes that looked promising, I sent out the following email on February 7th, 2005:

Hello,

My name is Chad and I recently moved to the Kansas city area with my wife and soon-to-be-born son. We are looking for a church in the area. My background is of the independant bible church variety, but have developed a desire for a liturgical and historical foundation for my Christianity.

I'm looking for a church that is both unashamedly liturgical and orthodox. One that values the Bible, preaches the Gospel, and cherishes the historical traditions of the church. I'm not interested in liberal theology, I don't care for feel-good, self-esteeming sermons, and I believe the homosexual lifestyle is a sinful one.

If you know of a church that fits these criteria, please let me know! I hope it's yours! I'd love to visit ASAP!

Thanks,
Chad

Yes, I specifically included the statement on homosexuality as a litmus test. There are so many kinds and flavors of churches and approaches out there, that I felt I needed to use this to cut to the quick. And yes, though I am thoroughly ashamed of it, I also used the word "ASAP".

Alicia and I visited one parish downtown that was not in the ECUSA. I think it was called St. John Anglican Church. I liked it alright but Alicia couldn't handle the incense. The parish was very small and under-attended. There was no choir and the organ left much to be desired.

Next week we visited ChristChurch Anglican in Overland Park. What can I say? I was enraptured. Genuflecting, kneeling, the choir, Rev. Tom Pritchard's booming, commanding voice, the wonderful choir, classical music, and processional hymn and descant! I called my parents and friends. I was in love. As well as the liturgically fulfilling 10:45 "traditional service" the parish was evangelically orthodox, had recently left the ECUSA and even had a well-done modern service with with rock band (in case I ever needed a U2-style worship fix). What a perfect combination! This was what I had been looking for!

Continued in Part 5

a-googlin'

I use StatCounter.com to track hits on my blog here.

I always get a kick out of some of the searches that bring up my blog. When I was blogging about the Plymouth Brethren, I got several search hits from that. But my favorite was this:

A google search for "is lent scriptural?"

VS. of the Bible

1 Corinthians 9:23 (New American Standard Bible)

"I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it."

Growing up an evangelical protestant, there were plenty of verses in scripture that stuck in our craw. As much as we tried to be "biblical", the language didn't always match up. This is why our sermons made regular use of the phrase "now what Paul is really saying here is. . ." and perspicuity goes very quickly out the theoretical window.

And not surprisingly, we never talked about the gospel and works the way this verse does.

Socialize This!

In the Kolbe Little Home Journal (Fall 2005), there is a
brief item called "Homeschooling Family Finds Ways to Adapt to a Public
School 'Socialization' Program." Here it is:

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering homeschooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about socialization?' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities. Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car. Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality...And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values."

If those things happened at a pace and frequency that were unbearable for the child, it would be understandable for their health to remove them.

However, teaching them to respond to sin and pain and all the other crap in manageable doses as they mature is vital.

Here's my version:

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering private schooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about evil?' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same isolation that homeschools provide. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally stuff my son's ears with cotton so he doesn't hear the pagan ravings of the world. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to praise our children for being separate from the world, taking special care to poke fun at any other families' personal decisions. Fridays will be 'Buzz Cut and Bible Memorization Day.' We will all compete to see who has the shortest, blandest haircut, the most skin covered with woolen clothing, and the most biblical proof-texts memorized.

Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of letting our kids teach themselves from books, since we have inadequate knowledge of math, science, grammar, and basic pedagogy as parent-teachers. And we have asked them to report anyone to us that exerts any kind of influence from the depraved outside. . .

. . . including Grandma."

For the record, my current position is this, in order of preference:

1. private school
2. home school
3. public school

Reading This Book (Part 1)

I'm just about finished with When Faith Is Not Enough by Kelly James Clark. I saw it at the library and I suppose it caught my eye because I thought it might be about justification by faith alone. The jacket blurb from Thomas Howard also prompted me to check it out. It's actually about the type of faith-draining doubts and despair that Christians face during our lives. Clark doesn't beat around the bush. What if our faith is a fraud? What if we're wrong? He deals with these questions head-on, and guides us through pastoral and philosophical answers.

I'd recommend it.

Annoying Question

My Blog title: Chad Is Not Enough

Ok, what shouldn't be captitalized? The I in Is?

To find the answer, I googled "capitalization in titles" and found this helpful page:

Google Answers: Title Case

1. The "The Chicago Manual of Style" says the following about
capitalization in titles:
"
-Always capitalize the first and the last word.
-Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and
subordinate conjunctions ("as", "because", "although").
-Lowercase all articles, coordinate conjunctions ("and", "or", "nor"),
and prepositions regardless of length, when they are other than the
first or last word.
-Lowercase the "to" in an infinitive."

Source: WritersBlock.ca
http://www.writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipmar98.htm 

I think I'm actually correct having captitalized all the words in my title. If you disagree, please let me know!

Yes, I'm pedantic.

Lenten Reading (Day 3)

More thoughts from the Church Father's Lenten Reading Plan.

Day 3 brings us to the 2nd half of the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, an early Christian apologetic.

Part of a beautiful passage describing the manifestation of Jesus Christ, describes they way he draws his people:

This [messenger] He sent to them. Was it then, as one might conceive, for the purpose of exercising tyranny, or of inspiring fear and terror? By no means, but under the influence of clemency and meekness. As a king sends his son, who is also a king, so sent He Him; as God He sent Him; as to men He sent Him; as a Savior He sent Him, and as seeking to persuade, not to compel us; for violence has no place in the character of God. As calling us He sent Him, not as vengefully pursuing us; as loving us He sent Him, not as judging us. For He will yet send Him to judge us, and who shall endure His appearing? [emphasis mine]

The bolded text above presents an engaging illustration of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. Christ was an ambassador of the king, while at the same time, a king Himself.

The primary focus of apologetics is "giving and answer". Answers are relatively useless however, unless there are questions. I think that while many questions concerning Christianity stay the same, others are dictated by cultural and personal environments. These answers must be constantly developing and adapting. Let's look briefly at what questions the Epistle to Diognetus answers.

• What makes Christianity different from my other religious options? (Ch. 1)
• What's wrong or lacking in those other religious options? (Ch. 2-4)
• If I become a Christian, how will I relate to the world? (Ch. 5-6)
• Who is Christ, after whom you are named? (Ch. 7)
• Why do we need Him? (Ch. 8)
• Why did God take so long to send Him, if we need Him so badly (Ch. 9)
• What will I get out of this? (Ch. 10)
• Are you just making this up? (Ch. 11)

Chapter 12 concludes with contrasting the true Christian life with the failure in the Garden of Eden.

Lenten Reading (Day 2)

Here's some more thoughts from this day's Church Father's Lenten Reading Plan.

The assigned reading for Day 2 the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, one of the earliest examples of Christian apologetics.

It begins with a comparative study of the religious offerings at that time:

Since I see thee, most excellent Diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of worshipping God prevalent among the Christians, and inquiring very carefully and earnestly concerning them, what God they trust in, and what form of religion they observe, so as all to look down upon the world itself, and despise death, while they neither esteem those to be gods that are reckoned such by the Greeks, nor hold to the superstition of the Jews; [emphasis mine]

In Chapter 5, details are given concerning the universality of Christianity:

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe.

And perhaps their greatest apologetic asset is the early Christians' response to persecution:

When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

Some of us have experienced this irrational hatred for Christianity. I can't say I've seen much, but I know it exists. In today's pluralistic United States, this does not often result in widespread physical persecution, but there are exceptions. However the severity of persecution, we should always remember to rejoice; for we know that we are sharing in Christ's suffering and therefore being quickened into life.

Lenten Reading (Day 1)

Wanted to post brief thoughts on the Church Father's Lenten Reading Plan.

The assigned reading for Day 1 was the Didache, a very early document that includes moral teachings, ritual instructions on baptism and eucharistic celebration, and ministerial guidelines.

Among other things, this passage stood out to me:

Bless those who curse you, and pray for your
enemies, and fast for those who persecute you.

I've been raised with the concept that loving and praying for your enemies is vital. But I have never considered fasting for them. I've fasted a few times in the past, but purely for my own spiritual growth. As I observe the days of fasting and abstinence this lenten season, perhaps I can add this dimension to it, and consider the salvation of my enemies, instead of merely my own.

Army Crawlin'

I need to set up some plastic toy barbed-wire for Brendan to crawl under.

These Quicktime .mov files are 2 months old, but he still crawls this way. I think he'll go straight from this to walking, since he's already cruisin'.

Crawlin' 1
Crawlin' 2

Tender Brender

Brendan enjoys pulling stuff off the shelves.



















Brendan can now cruise like a pro.



















Brendan smiling for Daddy in his PJ's. Little does he know he will soon face the torture that is Bedtime.