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Many years ago Calvin & Hobbes explained the Occupy Wall Street movement to us. Surprisingly prescient? Perhaps…
Speaking of OWS, Andrew Sullivan links to a talk on what inequality does to a society.
There are some odd tumblr’s out there, but few are as odd and funny, as this one: Teenage Mutant Ninja Noses.
J Lee Grady, an editor of Charisma Magazine writes on the importance of a charismatic reformation. This is an important read, and should be deeply considered. Highlights:
1. Let’s reform our theology. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is God and He is holy. He is not an “it.” He is not a blob, a force, or an innate power. We must stop manipulating Him, commanding Him and throwing Him around.
2. Let’s return to the Bible. The Word of God is the foundation for the Christian experience. Any dramatic experience, no matter how spiritual it seems, must be tested by the Word and the Holy Spirit’s discernment.
7. No more Lone Rangers. Those who claim to be ministers of God—whether they are traveling evangelists, local pastors or heads of ministries—must be accountable to other leaders.
9. Stop faking the anointing. God is God, and He does not need our “help” to manifest Himself. That means we don’t sprinkle glitter on ourselves to suggest God’s glory is with us, hide fake jewels on the floor to prove we are anointed or pull chicken feathers out of our sleeves to pretend angels are in the room.
15. Let’s make the main thing the main thing. The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s anointing is to empower us to reach others. We are at a crossroads today: Either we continue off-course, entertained by our charismatic sideshows, or we throw ourselves into evangelism, church planting, missions, discipleship, and compassionate ministry that helps the poor and fights injustice. Churches that embrace this New Reformation will focus on God’s priorities.
The whole thing is worth a read, especially as its written by an insider. Many within protestant circles have been either (a) severely hurt by the things Grady speaks to or (b) severely disillusioned by the show; in these cases, rather than walking firmly in the power of God it’s something denied or rationalized away.
- Matt Wiebe on The God Shaped Hole and consumerist culture. Also worth some thought…