theology

theology

"It's Good to be The King"

An earlier version of the this post did not post correctly. This is an updated post.

“It’s good to be the king.” That was the classic line from Mel Brook’s History of the Word, Part I (He never made part II). This line is said throughout the movie, often during wanton behavior from different characters. In one part of the movie, Brooks plays King Louis during the French Revolution and he uses his power to oppress the people, gives the citizens of France rotten food, and treats people with contempt. The joke about being the “king” in the movie is centered on the fact that being the king allows one to abusive power… when it suits the king. Towards the end of the movie, the King Louis is running for his life because his “kingly attitude” catches up with him in the form of a mob!

When we look at kings in history, there are certainly kings who look like the Mel Brook’s King Louis and that leaves us with a bad taste in our mouths about the idea of kingship. We can easily see a king as one who does not deserve power and who abuses power. The idea that one person can assume leadership simply because his family has power and money is just downright wrong to us 21^st century Americans. We come from a democracy!

theology

The Buddy Christ

For years, Christians have innocently reduced Jesus Christ to a personal pal or best friend. This theology is sometimes called the “Me and My Jesus” mentality. It is comforting to know that Christians believe in a personal God, but how far can we take that image? A good example of this was in the movie Dogma. In the movie, the Catholic Church roles out a new image of “The Buddy Christ”. In some ways irreverent, but yet funny, the scene from Dogma calls out to us Christians, who can talk about Christ as if we go out to Starbucks with him everyday.

True, scripture points to an individual believer’s confession as Jesus as Lord as the normal mode of salvation, but do we also forget that Revelation presents Jesus as the eternal Judge? Do we forget that God is eternal, divine, Master, Creator of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the God of all things seen and unseen? Do we dare approach God with concept of reducing The Almighty to our friend?

John Suk, a professor of homiletics at Asian Theological Seminary in Manila, Philippines gives a great non-western perspective on the “Me and My Jesus” mentality. In 2005, Suk wrote an essay entitled, “A Personal Relationship with Jesus?” in Perspectives (A journal from the Reformed perspective). Suk gives some great thoughts about how to approach the personal relationship with God issue. Here are a few highlights:

theology

A Theology Of Failure

Have you ever gone back to your home town after being away for years? Did things change? Did they remain the same? I remember going back to my home church to be ordained in 2006. I was excited. I just finished seminary, got my first job as a pastor, and all my family came into town to attend my ordination. A lot of the people from my home church who guided me through my spiritual life were there: Sunday school teachers, youth workers, pastors, family, and friends. The ordination service was beautiful and touching for everyone. It was the culmination of years of preparation for ministry.

As the excitement continued on into the reception afterward, one of my Sunday school teachers came up to me and said: “Boy, what a day! I remember when you used to be in my Sunday School class. You were such a little trouble maker!” Wow. I hope that Sunday school teacher remembers my ordination day more than the day I poured glue on someone.

"It's Good to be The King"

The Buddy Christ

A Theology Of Failure

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