Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Why, Ford, Why?


Like many of you out there, I have been made full aware of Ford's recent moves to support and promote the homosexual agenda through its advertisements. The American Family Association has been feeding me regular e-mails keeping me up to date with the latest information. You can see their latest action alert here.

I was born and raised a Ford devotee. My family always owned all Ford vehicles, and so I was indoctrinated from birth. To this day I still love Ford vehicles, and for more reasons than merely my inbred bias. But no matter how much I support Ford, my loyalties will only go so far.

AFA is presently sponsoring an active boycott against Ford. Sine the boycott began just a few months ago Ford's stock has dropped 13%. I really do hate to see Ford suffer, but I mean, come on, you can't blatantly shake your fist in the faces of millions of people and expect that to be a equitable marketing ploy.

I personally found out about the boycott about two weeks after I purchased a new 2006 Ford Fusion. I was sickened by it, but what can I do? I love my car, and it is the first new vehicle either my wife or I have ever owned. But man, it sure does stink knowing that every monthly payment I send in partially funds some advertisement in a gay magazine or will be sent to a gay rights organization.

I don't hate gays, not by any stretch of the imagination. I think that most Christians in America have treated homosexuals with such contempt and disgust that it saddens Jesus. They need Jesus as much as the alcoholic or the drug addict, and to be quite honest, as much as you and I do. But my pity and compassion for the lost condition of homosexuals does not mean that I want to use my few hard-earned dollars promoting their "cause."

When, Ford, will you come to your senses and realize that supporting America's families means supporting what the Bible alone defines as "family?" And if nothing else, is it really a smart marketing technique to isolate America's conservatives for the sake of attracting an extreme minority that may not even ever buy your cars??? Come on.

posted by Sean Scribner @ 10:21 PM 3 comments links to this post
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Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Another Blog I Recommend

A good friend of mine is hosting his own blog now at http://21stcenturyministry.blogspot.com/. He's going to be exploring what it means to be a minister in an increasingly postmodern age. He's just getting the thing off the ground, so be sure to stop by semi-regularly and check out his progress. There should be some good stuff on there.

posted by Sean Scribner @ 11:13 AM 2 comments links to this post
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Monday, May 29, 2006

Another Blog

For those of you interested in the lighter side of things, visit my other blog project called Sarkazmos. This new blog provides everyone a place to loosen up a bit and talk about nothingness. I will set a permanent link in the sidebars of both blogs to make navigating back and forth as easy as possible. Come. Join. Participate. Relax.

posted by Sean Scribner @ 4:58 PM 0 comments links to this post
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Thursday, May 25, 2006

How John 20 Relates to Acts 2

Recently I was asked a challenging question by a friend of mine concerning how John 20:22-23 relates to Acts 2. Here's his question:

John 20: 22-23
Acts 2
How are these two separate instances of receiving and or being filled with the Holy Spirit different? Why was it necessary to "fill" those who had already "received", unless it either was a difference in yielding to the Spirit, or it was to fill the additional apostles who were not with the original crew?

I'll confess, I didn't do a lot of studying up before responding to his question. But I'd like to share with you exactly how I did respond, and then ask you what you think.

At first glance I would have to say that honestly I have no idea how to fully account for the John 20 passage. I have thought about the topic before, but not at great length. With that said, let me offer these few simple ideas (in no particular order of importance or logic):

1. Often times we err by assuming that everything Jesus said to the apostles is directly applicable to all believers. This is a dangerous assumption. Not everything recorded in Scripture that he said to them is to be understood as him talking directly to us. (This does not mean that those texts are irrelevant, but just that they should be understood in the correct sense. While certain things said to them may not be directly said to us, we can make the appropriate inferences based on those things he says.) With that said, perhaps in John 20 there is something of that kind of dynamic taking place. Jesus is "breathing" on the disciples in a way that is specific to his calling on them. In John 20 we see Jesus "breathing" on the apostles, but it is not until Acts 2 that the Holy Spirit comes to all who believe in fulfillment of the prophecies of Joel and others. That would make the breathing in John 20 a particularized event specific to the apostles. Maybe he is sealing his special commission for them to be his apostolic witness and consequently the founders of the church??? Maybe this bestowal of the Spirit is intended to "keep" them until the day of Pentecost??? Or maybe this "breathing" is not even an actual bestowal of the Spirit at all??? Which leads me to a second possibility:

2. Maybe this act in John 20 is merely an intimation of what is to come. Obviously we cannot equate what's going on in John 20 directly with what happens in Acts 2. Maybe John 20 is a symbolic "hint" of what is to come on the day of Pentecost. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit "descends" upon the apostles, IE comes in His fullness, and then on all who believe in a new way unlike any before. Maybe what happened in John 20 is a hint of this coming, or maybe it is like the coming in Acts 2 but in a lesser degree???

3. Consider the words of John Wesley concerning John 20 from his Explanatory Notes:

John 20:22 – "He breathed on them" - New life and vigour, and saith, as ye receive this breath out of my mouth, so receive ye the Spirit out of my fullness: the Holy Ghost influencing you in a peculiar manner, to fit you for your great embassy. This was an earnest of Pentecost.

Wesley is making a direct connection between John 20 and Acts 2, although he is not suggesting that the two are identical events. According to him, John 20 is a promise made by Jesus that is not fulfilled until Pentecost. Jesus says, "Receive my Spirit," but this reception does not take place until the Spirit is ready, IE according to His timing. So to Wesley, while the events are not precisely identical, they are inseparably linked together in a promise-fulfillment type relationship.

I’m sure there are other possibilities, and I am open to any thoughts anyone might have. If I were pressed I would probably go with Wesley (which no doubt surprises you to no end), but I am open to a better interpretation if someone can find one. I know there are plenty of other sources out there, I just have not taken the time to look them up.

Any ideas? Reference any sources you quote.

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posted by Sean Scribner @ 10:36 AM 8 comments links to this post
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Wednesday, May 17, 2006

The Da Vinci Flop?

I'm sure you've all seen the headlines by now. After a sneak preview of The Da Vinci Code at the Cannes film festival, the critics are decidedly unimpressed with the $125 million project. Take a look at some of the articles listed below:

Variety Festivals and Markets
Critics crucify 'Da Vinci Code' in Cannes
Hollywood Reporter
'Da Vinci Code' Misses the Mark for Critics
The Da Vinci Code secret is out: critics hate it

While some of you may be elated to hear of the movie's initial flop, I would exercise caution against getting too excited right away. In other words, don't pop the cork off your celebratory bottle of Ginger Ale quite yet. Cannes is traditionally a very critical venue for movies. Chances are that when this movie hits the big screen and is accessible by the average movie-goer, especially those who have read the book, it might still be a huge success. Either way, the purpose and power of the church is unaffected by this movie's success. We will continue on whether or not the masses head to the theatres in droves.

So be happy, but not because the critics hate the movie at this point. Be happy because of who the Triune God over all creation is.

posted by Sean Scribner @ 9:24 AM 4 comments links to this post
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Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Bring it On, Da Vinci

I'm sure that many evangelical leaders around the world would love nothing more than to tar and feather me for my next statement, but so be it.

I'm actually looking forward to The Da Vinci Code.

There, I said it.

I know, you're probably wondering if I have gone liberal (which I assure you I have not) or have just simply lost my marbles (which I cannot assure you I haven't), but the truth is that I feel pretty confident in light of the movie's immanent release. I mean, what do we have to fear? Is this movie really going to threaten the church? Are millions going to be deceived any more than if the movie had not been released?

Sure, you could make the argument that this movie has potential to fuel an already rampant skepticism towards Christianity around the world and in our own culture. You could argue that millions of youth and other impressionable people will, in their minds at least, be given a substantial reason not to believe in orthodox Christian teaching. And, most likely, you could argue that many Christians will be plagued with doubt concerning what they already believe to be true.

Yes, you could argue all those things. But one thing I am beginning to understand about God is that He is so much bigger than all the devices of evil. God is not in any way threatened by Ron Howard or Tom Hanks. The integrity and power of the Word is not endangered by Dan Brown or his borrowed ideas. Despite what they think of themselves, even Hollywood does not hold sway the eternal destiny of mankind.

But even more than this, I am optimistic about grace. I find hope in the character of God. Despite whatever challenges the world faces, God's grace is greater than any obstacle. The enemy reigns in the hearts of those in darkness, this is true. But is watching The Da Vinci Code going to give him a grip that is too great for God's grace to overcome? I think not.

I'm not suggesting that God's grace is coercive. I am not a Calvinist. However, I believe that there is no condition wherein a person is too far gone for God to bring that person to a place of decision. No matter how deeply a person is entrenched in their own depravity, God's grace is sufficient to enable a free and conscious decision of the will.

Maybe that's the reason I look forward to The Da Vinci Code. Maybe God, in His infinite wisdom and love, is providentially working behind the scenes in the lives of millions around the world at this very moment. Maybe He is planning and purposing in preparation to bring about a work of grace in the hearts of those who, with the opportunity posed by this movie, will be confronted with a decision to turn to the Light. God does not in any way need The Da Vinci Code, but He certainly can use The Da Vinci Code.

I am not afraid. I am excited. I wish Christian leaders would just chill out and be a little more optimistic about grace.

Then again, maybe I just need to be tarred and feathered.

posted by Sean Scribner @ 9:38 AM 5 comments links to this post
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Friday, May 12, 2006

Da Vinci Code Resources

I published an article on The Da Vinci Code for this month's issue of junXion. At the end of the article I compiled a decent list of recommended resources. Check out the article here.

posted by Sean Scribner @ 12:13 PM 3 comments links to this post
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