Alan - Alan Rudnick

Ashy Baptists

Ash Wednesday is an occasion to mark the beginning of Lent and be marked by ashes. To receive ashes on our forehead and hear the words, ‘You are dust and to dust you shall return’ can be a powerful reminder of our life and hope in Jesus Christ.

Baptists have traditionally have a rejectionist approach to anything in church life that is not found in the Bible. Ashes on foreheads, responsive prayers, a liturgical calendar, and the like are things not prescribed in the Bible. Thus, Baptists often choose to make worship much more about a conversion event rather than expressions of lament, sadness, contemplation, reconciliation and forgiveness.

For those of us Baptists who do participate in the more liturgical practice of imposition of ashes, I shall deem us “Ashy Baptists”. Some Baptists may think ashes and Lent are more Catholic things, but they are not. However, the marking of ashes are Biblical, as a sign of mourning and repentance. There is nothing magical about the ashes. We are not more holy for participating in Ash Wednesday, but it is another way to experience the presence of God in our lives in a symbolic way.

Christians from many denominations have rediscovered the value that Lent and Ash Wednesday can provide. The liturgical worship movement is a movement of compassion, experiential and participatory worship, image based, and connective community. Every church has a liturgy, no matter “high” or “low” the church is. A liturgy is a set order or worship, whether printed or spoken.

For us “Ashy Baptists” we find company in the likes of Christians who want to make a public statement about their belief and comfort and Jesus Christ. But, ashes on our foreheads go beyond being public about our convictions. The symbolic nature of being marked by ashes serves as a tangible expression of one’s commitment and acceptance in the Kingdom of God.

In a world were many churches offer an over load of visually and auditory stimulation, we need more physically experiential expressions of our faith. Ashes on Ash Wednesday, for Baptist, can be a meaningful expression and opportunity.

blog

Going to #smAlbany

Today I’m attending smAlbany, which is Albany small business, social media, tech, and (fill in the blank trendy industry). This year the gathering is sponsored by Google. I hope to pick up on some trends for social media, tips, and info for promoting churches on social media. Look for updates on twitter: .

NFL

Gisele Bundchen asks for prayer for Brady, then curses

As most of us are talking about Madonna’s halftime show or Cee Lo Green’s bling robe this morning. However, Super model Gisele Bundchen, wife to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, created a stir this weekend. As most upstate New Yorkers around here are cheering the Giants’ win in the Super Bowl, Pats fans are in grief this morning. Bundchen and Brady were in grief after the game.

Bundchen was in so much grief that she apparently said to some hecklers:

My husband can not [expletive] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.

Earlier this week, Brady’s wife was in a different mood as she sent a message to friends and supporters asking for prayer for her husband. According to Fox News, an e-mail asked: Continue Reading…

blog, NFL

Super Bowl: New robes for clergy?

The Super Bowl, okay, let’s be real… Madonna Halftime Show 2012 was also a fashion show to roll out the line of Cee Lo Green and Madonna’s robes for clergy:

Bling!

NFL

Who does God want to win the Super Bowl?

I remember watching the pregame coverage of Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 and being shocked when a reporter asked Green Bay Packers’ defensive end and ordained minister Reggie White if he thought God wanted him to win the Super Bowl. White shot back, “Well, I’m praying to win.” The reporter replied, “Do you think the Broncos are praying to win too?” “I’m sure they are,” White said. Then the reporter asked this bombshell: “If you are praying that Green Bay wins, and the Broncos are praying to win, then who does God want to win?”

With this year’s big game set for Sunday, it seems that God and football have been the hot topic lately. Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow has been criticized for appearing in an ad to be aired during the game paid for by Focus on the Family that promotes the Christian organization’s pro-life stance. Tebow is also known for biblical references to “John 3:16″ and “Phil 4:13″ on the eye black strips he uses to cut glare.” Tony Dungy, a Super Bowl champion coach and author of The New York Times best-seller, “Uncommon,” has attributed his success to Jesus Christ.

According to the NFL, 87 percent of its players come from some sort of “Protestant background.” Every team in the league offers its members Bible study groups, chapel or worship services. Athletes in Action, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ, provides chaplains for numerous NFL teams. Tom Krattenmaker, in his book “Onward Christian Athletes: Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preachers,” makes the case that public displays of faith are not spontaneous, but rather part of a large Christian presence in the professional ranks.

Mitt Romney

Romney: I’m not concerned about the very poor

As the president race unfolds, we received a message from Mitt Romney that will certainly be replayed and analyzed:

I’m not concerned about the very poor…

No matter what he said after that, this is a certain blunder. Romney put the rest of the sentence into context by saying, “…there’s a safety net there, and if it needs repair I’ll fix it.” Watch the video:

One of the richest presidential candidates proclaiming his concern is not for he poor? This will send a shock through the political and religious establishment. Of course, Romeny has to be concerned about the poor. It’s required of his Mormon faith. If you don’t think this quote is damaging, then just read about how the Associated Press changed their article head line of the comment.

To be fair, the whole comment is as follows from CNN:

religion, war on religion

Three reasons why there is no ‘war on religion’

Something is heating up GOP presidential primaries after Mitt Romeny’s win in the Florida primary and it’s not the humidity. GOP leaders are declaring that a war on religion is here. First, it was Rick Perry with his “strong” video that proclaimed a war on religion exists. Now, it’s Newt Gingrich who tried to harmonize Perry’s message by accusing both Mitt Romney and President Obama: “I think Gov. Romney is extraordinarily insensitive to religious freedom in America and the Obama administration is clearly engaged in a war on religion.”

Religious persecution or a war commanded by Romney or Obama is just not there. Such claims are aimed at charging a base of the electorate to vote in favor of a particular candidate. Why should we believe there isn’t a war on religion? There are three reasons:

blog

Make way for AlanRudnick.org

It is with mixed feelings that I announce that I’m giving up On The Bema in order to segue to AlanRudnick.org. I started On The Bema in 2009 to blog on issues regarding Christianity and culture. The blog racked up over 74,000 hits in its nearly 3 year life span. On The Bema accomplished as much as it can. It enabled me to share ideas that were featured on Christian Century, WordPress.com, and other blogging websites. Some of the most shared and clicked blog posts are: