You might have thought that Jews were the only ones who have "issues" with Jesus. Turns out we're not alone. Though Jay Michaelson wrote recently in the Forward about our "problem" with Jesus, you'd be surprised to hear how many Christians have a Jesus problem.
Today at Chautauqua, Rev. John Buchanan gave a sermon, "What About Jesus?" that seemed to me like a basic, good, old fashioned piece of Christian preaching. While trying to explain why people should believe in Jesus, Rev. Buchanan emphasized the Jewishness of Jesus: "He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and died a Jew." Later, some of my Christian colleagues solicited my reaction to the sermon. I wanted to know why the Jewish identity of Jesus was important. In fact, I told them, it struck as somehow inappropriate from a Christian theological perspective to dwell on his Jewishness. It seems to overemphasize the humanity of Jesus and his connection to a system that he ultimately comes to replace (that is, after all, the core of Christianity, right?) Don't they think that Jesus is God? And it seems odd for Christians to say that God is Jewish.
One answer seemed straight out of Michaelson's article. A senior minister explained: "We have a Jesus problem." She went on to describe a mainline Protestant world where most people are uncomfortable with Jesus. They either associate Jesus with some crazy form of fundamentalism or they squirm in their theological uncertainty with the person-God blending. One of the clergy (at another time) referred to the "spookification" that makes Jesus just too "spooky" for a lot of Christians.
It's a strange world out here in Chautauqua land. So much Jesus but, apparently, so much ambivalence as well. Reverend Buchanan certainly got one point right - the question, "What About Jesus?" needs a real answer for lots of people.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The New Clergy Program
Today's Daily Chautauquan featured a story about the New Clergy Program and the current class of fellows. Not a bad looking group of suffering servants (if I may say so myself). Check out the article here.
Monday, June 29, 2009
The day's harvest
From a day filled with lectures, worship, conversations, food and fellowship, here are a few pearls. These are not quotes but my recollection of the speaker's ideas. I am not sure any of them are true, but they made for good thinking. You can, of course, download any of these sermons or lectures from Chautauqua's on line library: http://www.thegreatlecturelibrary.com/ (I think I get a free Chautauqua Bell Tower tote bag if you tell them I sent you).
From Prof. James Heckman: the attributes that used to be lumped together and called “character” (i.e. ability to finish a job once started, ability to delay gratification, hard work, focus, respect for rules, et al.) turn out to be vital for long term success in life as measured by certain economic – though not necessarily financial - parameters. We should therefore shift our policies and invest in programs that cultivate “good character” in children from a very early age instead of focusing on testing and remediation.
From Rev. John Buchanan’s sermon: a recent Pew Trust survey shows that people who go regularly to church are more likely than atheists to believe that torture is acceptable. From his lunchtime talk: You are not called to be successful you are called to be faithful.
From Prof. Elaine Pagels: The Gospel of John is, at least in part, a polemic against the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. References to Thomas, especially the “doubting Thomas” episode, are not really about the apostle character, Thomas, but about the Gospel written in his name. John presents a theology whereby Jesus is absolutely unique – above and unlike humans. Thomas, according to Pagels, sees the light of divinity in all humanity. The “light” in Jesus is equally in all people and all living things. [note: some of my pastor colleagues here did not agree with Pagels’ interpretation.]
From Garrison Keillor: All good stories are about people’s mistakes. You should serve your family homemade potato salad on the Fourth of July because that is how “cautious” “unexpressive” people show their love. It's also an honest way to keep faith with Thomas Jefferson.
From Prof. James Heckman: the attributes that used to be lumped together and called “character” (i.e. ability to finish a job once started, ability to delay gratification, hard work, focus, respect for rules, et al.) turn out to be vital for long term success in life as measured by certain economic – though not necessarily financial - parameters. We should therefore shift our policies and invest in programs that cultivate “good character” in children from a very early age instead of focusing on testing and remediation.
From Rev. John Buchanan’s sermon: a recent Pew Trust survey shows that people who go regularly to church are more likely than atheists to believe that torture is acceptable. From his lunchtime talk: You are not called to be successful you are called to be faithful.
From Prof. Elaine Pagels: The Gospel of John is, at least in part, a polemic against the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. References to Thomas, especially the “doubting Thomas” episode, are not really about the apostle character, Thomas, but about the Gospel written in his name. John presents a theology whereby Jesus is absolutely unique – above and unlike humans. Thomas, according to Pagels, sees the light of divinity in all humanity. The “light” in Jesus is equally in all people and all living things. [note: some of my pastor colleagues here did not agree with Pagels’ interpretation.]
From Garrison Keillor: All good stories are about people’s mistakes. You should serve your family homemade potato salad on the Fourth of July because that is how “cautious” “unexpressive” people show their love. It's also an honest way to keep faith with Thomas Jefferson.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Chautauqua Day 2 - Monday
Here's Monday's schedule, typical of the week to come:
8 AM breakfast
9:15 Worship in the 5,000 seat amphitheater, Rev. Dr. John Buchanan, senior pastor Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago and Publisher of Christian Century Magazine is preaching.
10:15 Coffee and discussion of the service and sermon at United Church of Christ Guest House.
10:45 Morning Lecture - Prof. James Heckman, Nobel Prize Economist
12:15 Luncheon and discussion with Rev. Wendy Heinz, "Pastoral Care of a Congregation"
1:30 Break
2:00 Religion Dept. Lecture - Dr. Elain Pagels, author, "The Gnostic Gospels"
4:00 Session - A conversation with Rev. Dr. John Buchanan
5:30 Break
6:00 Fellowship (I think that's like an oneg)
6:15 Dinner followed by review of the day with faculty and other fellows
8:15 "An Evening with Garrison Keillor" in the amphitheater.
A day that only a clergyman could love.
8 AM breakfast
9:15 Worship in the 5,000 seat amphitheater, Rev. Dr. John Buchanan, senior pastor Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago and Publisher of Christian Century Magazine is preaching.
10:15 Coffee and discussion of the service and sermon at United Church of Christ Guest House.
10:45 Morning Lecture - Prof. James Heckman, Nobel Prize Economist
12:15 Luncheon and discussion with Rev. Wendy Heinz, "Pastoral Care of a Congregation"
1:30 Break
2:00 Religion Dept. Lecture - Dr. Elain Pagels, author, "The Gnostic Gospels"
4:00 Session - A conversation with Rev. Dr. John Buchanan
5:30 Break
6:00 Fellowship (I think that's like an oneg)
6:15 Dinner followed by review of the day with faculty and other fellows
8:15 "An Evening with Garrison Keillor" in the amphitheater.
A day that only a clergyman could love.
Three Taps and a Little Hebrew
The Chatauqua Institution opened its 136th season this morning as Institution President Tom Becker delivered the ceremonial three taps of the gavel. I helped open the interfaith service with a Hebrew recitation of the first day of creation from Genesis. It was, they tell me, a "first." My week-long tenure at Chautauqua will be a series of "firsts." I am staying at the just-finished Everett Jewish Life Center on the Institution's grounds. This apparently makes me the first guest in the house (yes, we had the obligatory 'shehechiyanu' moment).
I am here as a participant in the New Clergy Fellows Program, a interfaith gathering of clergy who have been ordained for seven years or less. We started last night with a tour, introduction, dinner and social hour. This morning, like all Sundays at Chautauqua, was even more religious than most. Every denomination held its own worship services before the community wide service for 3,500 people in the Amphitheater. The New Fellows were assigned to divide and visit - each of us to a different worship service. I attended the Catholic mass, my first since sleeping over Chris Callanan's house in the seventh grade. I'm off to Vespers with Reverend John Buchanan and later I will do my best to sing the hymns at the sacred song service. This will be, as I'm sure you could guess, my first vespers service. What a week of firsts it will be!
I am here as a participant in the New Clergy Fellows Program, a interfaith gathering of clergy who have been ordained for seven years or less. We started last night with a tour, introduction, dinner and social hour. This morning, like all Sundays at Chautauqua, was even more religious than most. Every denomination held its own worship services before the community wide service for 3,500 people in the Amphitheater. The New Fellows were assigned to divide and visit - each of us to a different worship service. I attended the Catholic mass, my first since sleeping over Chris Callanan's house in the seventh grade. I'm off to Vespers with Reverend John Buchanan and later I will do my best to sing the hymns at the sacred song service. This will be, as I'm sure you could guess, my first vespers service. What a week of firsts it will be!
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