theo|digital

For the Lord God is our light and protector
He gives us grace and glory
No good thing will the Lord withhold
from those who do what is right.
O Lord Almighty
happy are those who trust in you.
[psalm 84.10-12 NLT]

Grace is glory, begun. [Matthew Henry]

A programmer a Google created a piece of interactive art/java application that aggregates quotes throughout the web from the KJV version of the Bible, and shows you visually what is quoted the most. The site is called exegesis.

Yeah, it turns out Revelation is quoted a lot. Judgement, etc.

The project was commissioned by Turbulence, a New-York-based fund that commissions, exhibits, and archives new hybrid networked art forms.

It takes a minute to understand, but you can click and drag the cursor in areas to scroll through the text quickly. It also allows you to search for terms and uses small blue or orange arrows to indicate results. Orange is direct word-matches, blue are matches that finds using the text of the website the scripture was quoted on.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.

Do you have the nerve to say, “Let me wash your face for you,” when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

~ Jesus (Matthew 7), translated sans “splinter/plank” with heart-exposing simplicity by Eugene Peterson’s The Message. This got me today.

Last week, I gave a talk with Nick M called “Miller Genuine Draft and the Kingdom of God.” We explored the Christian’s view of alcohol, and not simply from a moralistic perspective. I think I’ll do several posts on the topic, outlining a few of our points, but also adding extra research, thoughts, and questions that came up, but maybe we didn’t include in the final talk.

This time, let me start with just asking, “What does God think of alcohol?”

Wine is mentioned 234 in the scriptures (NIV). 194 in the Old Testament, 40 in the New Testament. From Noah to Revelation, it’s present in scripture. Let’s see what’s written.

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (Proverbs 20.1 NIV)

Woe to those who rise early in the morning
to run after their drinks,
who stay up late at night
till they are inflamed with wine. ~ Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 5.11 NIV)

Go eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. ~ Solomon (Ecclesiastes 9.7)

He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.
(Psalm 104.14,15 NIV)

Hmm. How about the New Testament?

Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. ~ Jesus (Luke 21.34 NLT)

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ~ Paul (Ephesians 5.15 NIV)

Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled to the brim, he said, “Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So they followed his instructions.

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “Usually a host serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!”

11This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus’ first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him. ~ Apostle John (John 2 NLT)

A quick and fun exercise. For each of the biblical commands or statements below, answer: Which of these instructions from Scipture are still in force for us today exactly as they are articulated “on the page”? You have a couple choices:

A. This instruction is still in force completely as stated
B. This instruction is in force only in part or in a modified fashion through an underlying principle
C. This no longer applies today

(hint: don’t forget to note the scripture references!) Have fun.
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___ “God… said to them [Adam and Eve], ‘Be fruitful and increase in number’” (Gen 1.28)

___ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Duet 6.5)

___ “When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce… you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow” (Duet 26.12)

___ “Greet on another with a holy kiss” (1 Cor 16.20)

___ “Women should remain silent in the churches” (1 Cor 14.34)

___ “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman” (Lev 18.22)

___ “Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it” (Lev 18.23)

___ “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28.19)

___ “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (Jn 13.14)

___ “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish” (Prov 31.6-7)

___ “Praise God with tambourine and dancing… praise him with the clash of cymbals” (Ps 150.4-5)

___ “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh” (1 Pet 2.18)

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If you – like me – hold the Scriptures as God’s story and voice that is our bedrock for life and practice… this can make your head spin, huh? The above text is copied almost verbatim from Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals by William J Webb. The topic is cultural hermeneutics, and I think to be a Jesus-follower or a critic alike – we need to understand this…

technocrati tags: cultural hermenutics theology christian thought William J Webb homosexual