I was one of the only Christians in my circle of friends when I was in high school. My faith was widely respected, and I was never really pressed to compromise my beliefs, for which I am thankful. I took advantage of my acceptance by being what salt and light I could to my unsaved friends. One day one of the guys I was deeply burdened for invited me over to watch a movie. "I want to show you what I think the truth about Christianity is." The movie was Dogma.
For those who do not know the plot line, Dogma is a fantasy story about two angels who were kicked out of heaven and condemned to live on earth by God Loki, the angel of death, was so disturbed by his God-given mission to wipe out the firstborn of Egypt that he, at the urging of his friend Bartleby after going out for a "post-slaughter drink" walked into the throne room, "gave God the finger" and quit. After millenia on earth they have found a loophole in God's decree. A church is celebrating its centennial, and by Catholic dogma, anyone who passes through the archway will be absolved. Al they have to do then is cut their wings off to become mortal, be killed, and they can re-enter heaven. God has been incapacitated and trapped in human form, so she (yes, in the movie, God is a woman) cannot stop them. Thus the powers of heaven, including the Metatron (the voice of God), the black thirteenth apostle (who was left out of the Bible because the early church fathers were racist) and a muse (working as a stripper) team up with two prophets (stoners completely preoccupied with sex) and the Last Scion (the great-great-times-a-lot grand niece of Jesus Christ - a nurse working at an abortion clinic who has completely lost her faith) set out to stop the angels and find God.
My still tender innocence and naivete was so horrified by the gross excess of vulgarity and misrepresentation and perversion of truth in the film that I never did get the chance to actually discuss Dogma with my friend. I am a bit embarrassed to admit now how badly my "tender sensibilities" were offended. My initial reaction, though the disclaimer at the beginning of the movie states that it is meant for fun and to be enjoyed as a fantasy, was to loathe it. On one hand I still do for the same reasons.
My most severe grievance I have with the film is that it is postmodern at its core. The church the film mocks embraces postmodernism in retiring the crucifix as its symbol for Jesus did not come to "depress" us. They exchange the cross for the "buddy Jesus," a winking, thumbs-up, ridiculous manifestation of the One to be revered on his high and holy throne. In not wanting to be offensive the church sacrifices the crux of the gospel: atonement. Christianity is not supposed to feel good for Christ came to bring the sword.
In a conversation Rufus (the thirteenth apostle) has with Bethany (the descendant of Jesus' brother or sister), the apostle states that what gets on God's nerves is church factions: "denominations are self-righteous because it doesn't matter what you have faith in. It only matters that you have faith." They go on to dialogue about how God does not really wan humans o have beliefs that we rigidly cling to, but stick to ideas. The removal of the acknowledgment of absolute truth, right and wrong, the "anything goes" mentality is ever the destruction of humanity. "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." (Romans 1:28-32) There is Truth, and it is found in the Man, Jesus Christ. At the end of the film Rufus asks Bethany, "are you saying you believe." "No, but I have an idea," she replies. Even after all she has seen she will not take a firm stance. This is a direct contradiction to the admonishment we find in Scripture to be alive (either hot or cold). If our works (which follow what we think) are lukewarm they are deemed dead and incomplete by God, completely without use (Revelation 3).
Though I could not stand the film it stuck with me for years. As I grew in my faith and matured as a woman of God certain things kept returning to my mind. While in conversation with friends about the modern corporate church or while pondering what doctrine God truly deemed important my mind would wander back to Dogma, and I began to wonder... Could there be some small piece of pure metal amidst all the dross?
I imagine God does indeed find much of what we as human being place import on wearisome. James 1:27 says "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God our Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction and to remain unstained by the world." In the city I live in there is a church on every corner, yet there is still so much need unmet in our tiny corner of the world. I hear conservative Christians rail against welfare, yet I find no one to blame but ourselves, for if we as the body of Christ took care of those around us, the government would not have to. Yet we are more preoccupied with making ourselves feel good and holy instead of serving those around us.
The film demonstrates the fact that when humans cling to superfluous details we loose sight of what is truly important to God. This is truth. Granted, what the film deems important to God does not hold fall in line with the truths of Scripture. It does show that clinging to unimportant details keeps us from the basics of Christianity: to show love as we are in the world.
In addition Dogma draws into light the fact that God extends to human beings infinite mercy and grace, yet we as a whole deny Him and wallow in unrighteousness. This again is a truth. Unfortunately it contradicts itself by refusing to define righteousness and unrighteousness. Though as previously discussed the film quite adequately portrays that servants of God should show love in the world, they miss entirely the second part of Christ's admonition to not be of the world.
In conclusion, I do believe that it is vital to know the pillars of the faith, the foundation on which we stand in the mire that is the world. I also know that I cannot find and will not recommend entertainment and enjoyment from a film that so degrades holy truths of Scripture. I did however find some measure of truth from this unlikely source. Oddly enough, it urges my spirit to live righteously, in the world, but not of it, so that I may serve as Jesus did and the world can find no fault with me, no hypocrisy, but substance and love.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Judge, Jury and Executioner
Why do we cheer the vigilante? Most people in America have grown up with comic book heroes as their faerie stories, fables, myths. I hope my sons ask me to sew a big red "S" on their blue T-shirts or tie my black bathroom towels around their necks and build a bat-cave in the backyard. It is my belief that children love these heroes because they want to perform the daring deeds; and, let's face it, the feel of the wind tugging the towel behind you is thrilling (this I know from my escapades as Diana Prince (...Wonder Woman, for those of you who had the misfortune to grow up uneducated about the comic book universe...). As adults I think the reason we love these heroes still is because they fight for justice in an unjust world, right the wrongs done by a corrupt and flawed system. Yet, they remain fantastic, outside the realm of plausible possibility.
What do vigilantes look like when they cross into plausible possibility? I began to really ponder this question when, a few months ago at the urging of one whose artistic savvy I greatly admire urged me to watch Boondock Saints. Sinful lifestyle aside, the character I found myself closely identifying was Willem Dafoe's, the federal agent battling between his duty as a civil servant to arrest the men murdering evildoers in the name of God or his desire to see them do more "good" as vigilantes than he could as an agent by allowing them to meet out the proverbial eye for the eye to the truly wicked and debauched.
I began to wonder, if there were a sniper, unsanctioned by any government, who used his training to take out rapists, child molesters, men who traffic in human beings, would I cheer him on or call for his arrest?
Jesus Christ said, "he who is without sin, cast the first stone." Cut and dried, black and white, we as ordinary citizens are not to pass judgement on our fellows. Also in Scripture, the sword is given to government, fallible and corruptible though they may be. But when the government does nothing?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a great man of faith, a true disciple of Christ. Many do not know that he set out to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Though I have little love for the characters of Connor and Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints) I cannot condemn Bonhoeffer for his decision. Some people just need killing.
But where is the line drawn? In my small and uneducated wisdom I would say that when a person is globally recognized as evil any person can stand up and do the world a service, such as in Hitler's case. But in a world where truth does not exist? Where people say that ascribing words such as right and wrong is judgemental? Is it incorrect to say that radical, fundamentalist Islamists who seek to wage jihad on the rest of us until we drown in blood are evil? Pardon me for hurting the poor, murderous terrorists' feelings. Postmodern political correctness will be the death of us all.
Unless we take a stance ...and when words fail take action?
When it is permissible to be the judge, jury and executioner, if ever? If the man I love were wrongfully taken from me, or my sister brutalized, and the government did nothing am I then allowed to dole out justice? Do we wait until the judicial system fails us and then take matters into our own hands? Do we allow the governments of our postmodern world to turn a blind eye to evil while a foreign wolf begins to devour all around it? When the government lays down the sword it has been given by God, are we ever allowed to take it up? For indeed... Some people need killing.
I do not claim wisdom or knowledge. I do not know the answers to these questions. All I do know is that I as a godly woman would be compelled to live by the laws of this beloved land, even if the judicial system failed me. If another like Hitler arose I as a godly woman would pray for his death. Somewhere in the vast gulf that stretches between these degrees of evil I believe a line can be drawn.
But where ... when?
*Disclaimer: It is my belief that radical, fundamental Islam is a threat to freedom, liberty and everything good that America was founded upon. I bear no ill will towards individual Muslims. I do recognize that there are many peace loving, moderate Muslims. This opinion I express with the freedom that comes with the first amendment*
What do vigilantes look like when they cross into plausible possibility? I began to really ponder this question when, a few months ago at the urging of one whose artistic savvy I greatly admire urged me to watch Boondock Saints. Sinful lifestyle aside, the character I found myself closely identifying was Willem Dafoe's, the federal agent battling between his duty as a civil servant to arrest the men murdering evildoers in the name of God or his desire to see them do more "good" as vigilantes than he could as an agent by allowing them to meet out the proverbial eye for the eye to the truly wicked and debauched.
I began to wonder, if there were a sniper, unsanctioned by any government, who used his training to take out rapists, child molesters, men who traffic in human beings, would I cheer him on or call for his arrest?
Jesus Christ said, "he who is without sin, cast the first stone." Cut and dried, black and white, we as ordinary citizens are not to pass judgement on our fellows. Also in Scripture, the sword is given to government, fallible and corruptible though they may be. But when the government does nothing?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a great man of faith, a true disciple of Christ. Many do not know that he set out to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Though I have little love for the characters of Connor and Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints) I cannot condemn Bonhoeffer for his decision. Some people just need killing.
But where is the line drawn? In my small and uneducated wisdom I would say that when a person is globally recognized as evil any person can stand up and do the world a service, such as in Hitler's case. But in a world where truth does not exist? Where people say that ascribing words such as right and wrong is judgemental? Is it incorrect to say that radical, fundamentalist Islamists who seek to wage jihad on the rest of us until we drown in blood are evil? Pardon me for hurting the poor, murderous terrorists' feelings. Postmodern political correctness will be the death of us all.
Unless we take a stance ...and when words fail take action?
When it is permissible to be the judge, jury and executioner, if ever? If the man I love were wrongfully taken from me, or my sister brutalized, and the government did nothing am I then allowed to dole out justice? Do we wait until the judicial system fails us and then take matters into our own hands? Do we allow the governments of our postmodern world to turn a blind eye to evil while a foreign wolf begins to devour all around it? When the government lays down the sword it has been given by God, are we ever allowed to take it up? For indeed... Some people need killing.
I do not claim wisdom or knowledge. I do not know the answers to these questions. All I do know is that I as a godly woman would be compelled to live by the laws of this beloved land, even if the judicial system failed me. If another like Hitler arose I as a godly woman would pray for his death. Somewhere in the vast gulf that stretches between these degrees of evil I believe a line can be drawn.
But where ... when?
*Disclaimer: It is my belief that radical, fundamental Islam is a threat to freedom, liberty and everything good that America was founded upon. I bear no ill will towards individual Muslims. I do recognize that there are many peace loving, moderate Muslims. This opinion I express with the freedom that comes with the first amendment*
Monday, January 3, 2011
Drops from 2010
2010 has been and incredible year. The past several New Years I have been so discouraged because it has felt like nothing of any significance has happened, no great lessons have been learned, no great achievements have been made. December 31, 2010 segued into 2010 quietly still, but as I drifted off to sleep early on January 1, 2011 my heart overflowed with joy because of the gifts and lessons of the past year. Nothing extraordinary happened in my life, no great message from the Father was blazoned across the sky of my existence this past year, no goals were really reached, no major life changes implemented, and yet my heart was so full. These are the top ten realizations of 2010:
1. I am an artist, and there is no fear in embracing it.
2. As a daughter of the High King of heaven, I have a purpose in each day, no matter how mundane or stressful.
3. Everything in moderation
4. The Father's timing is perfect.
5. Lack of time should never be an excuse.
6. Relationships of every kind are difficult and full or hard work, but worth each tear shed, each prayer whispered in the dark and each gesture of kindness and love.
7. Though I by nature abhor confrontation, I am called to battle evil and wickedness in the world, complacency in my own heart and charged to be a loving voice of wisdom and discernment for those I call friend.
8. As long as there is a desire to grow in the Lord there will be growth.
9. Just because the feeling is not present does not mean there can not be the action that is supposed to be prompted by the absent feeling.
10. Reality is better than any dream, wish or fantasy.
Resolutions:
1. Memorize 1, 2 and 3 John.
2. Get involved in a church.
3. Finish The Guardian
4. Finish they lyrics for Destiny's Knot
5. Love more, serve more, pray more...
Blessings in 2011.
-Raine
1. I am an artist, and there is no fear in embracing it.
2. As a daughter of the High King of heaven, I have a purpose in each day, no matter how mundane or stressful.
3. Everything in moderation
4. The Father's timing is perfect.
5. Lack of time should never be an excuse.
6. Relationships of every kind are difficult and full or hard work, but worth each tear shed, each prayer whispered in the dark and each gesture of kindness and love.
7. Though I by nature abhor confrontation, I am called to battle evil and wickedness in the world, complacency in my own heart and charged to be a loving voice of wisdom and discernment for those I call friend.
8. As long as there is a desire to grow in the Lord there will be growth.
9. Just because the feeling is not present does not mean there can not be the action that is supposed to be prompted by the absent feeling.
10. Reality is better than any dream, wish or fantasy.
Resolutions:
1. Memorize 1, 2 and 3 John.
2. Get involved in a church.
3. Finish The Guardian
4. Finish they lyrics for Destiny's Knot
5. Love more, serve more, pray more...
Blessings in 2011.
-Raine
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