Somewhere along the line, Christians
began to expect the
Bible to be more like a textbook than an expression of the
art and mystery of God. Mystery has been so banished
from Protestant churches that most of them have adopted
theologies that more or less leave the mystical completely
out of their practices. Today the Protestant Church is by
and large disengaged from any true artistic or mystical
expression of the faith.
Oh, we use the arts, especially music and drama, as
vehicles to communicate our beliefs, but we use them to
argue a point rather than tell a story. We tell the facts as
though they were the whole truth. We reason rather than
point to the mystery. We speak to the mind rather than
to the heart. We use artistic tools in mathematical ways,
which is why so much of our church-based “art” is hollow
and thin. It’s not even art. It’s an ad campaign. It’s
logic masquerading as mystery.
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From cold prison did the apostle Paul write mysterious artistic tools that went to the local Sadducee/Pharisee/Roman parchment scroll bookstore for transference to peasants hands by mathematical equation?
When ‘King Aslan’ returns will He continue with the existing mode of ‘Buying and Selling’ (BS) and replace it with some kind of new global ‘economic’ system of ‘Giving and Receiving’ (GR)? – GR does not include bartering, just another earlier form of BS.
Being Canadian in USA I’m curious, what are these ‘logical’, mysterious, mathematical tools designed to do for us? For example, ‘Google’ study fully understand these for starters: Patriot Acts I & II : The Enemy Belligerents Act: Presidential Directive 51: The John Warner Defense Authorization Act: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): FDA Food Safety Modernization Act S. 510.
It seems that American Protestant church fails to understand what is happening in their nation. How might the broader Kingdom community (that seems so scattered) fully respond in a Christlike manner?
‘Where’ is this blog going? Might it sooner than later foster/produce a network of friends greater doing life together in creative ways that reflect Acts 2-4, Isa 58, James 1:27…?
Jesus wept. will we? Know the Father and make Him known.
Looks, like you forgot an ‘f’ in your last sentence: “Does the White Horse Rider draws near with sharp double edged word sword (f)or some and gentle embrace for others?”
Neo, it’s almost like you are me Being You talking to myself here.
Any body out there?
Like moons, planets and stars, galaxies with feelings, guts, knowings, intuitions and creative expressions are we not also coded with math-like qualities as we dance and spin in harmony, or are we isolated, restless, wandering meteors on a count-down to zero collision course, eventually, one way or another, with East Star Artist on this 24th of Dec 2010?
“In art, and in the higher ranges of science, there is a feeling of harmony which underlines all endeavor. There is no greatness in art or science without that sense of harmony.” Albert Einstein. Page 42 ‘The Art of Being You’
Bob/Joel, have you ever interacted with this ‘mysterious’ artist now on the rise again?
http://www.yusufislam.com/news/2010/east-meets-west-in-unity/
What ideology am I sailing into 2011 with?
“PRETENSE
Faith is the nerve center of every ideology.
What you believe today shapes your destiny. Align your sextant to the horizon, then set your proverbial sails. Yet, you must realize that what you have come to believe may or may not be accurate, or wise. What you hold firm and dear may or may not have any bearing on the future of anyone else other than you.
Ancient peoples have left us their ideologies in stone. When they were crafted, those stories and structures either carried or buried entire civilizations. Ideology make believes all the idols it wants.
“The Pharisees were left sputtering, ‘Hocus-pocus. It’s nothing but hocus-pocus. He’s probably made a pact with the Devil.’” Matthew 9:34
Wielding ideological alchemy, no one puts Jesus to stone.” http://clairvauxmanifesto.com/2011/01/04/pretense/
A certain artsy carpenter from Nazareth turned out to be the greatest alchemist of history confusing math simply by his words that raised the dead, fixed paraplegics and turned base metal hearts to gold, like Roman tax collector Jew Matthew.
Alchemy is an early protoscientific practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine, mysticism, and religion. There were three main goals many alchemists sought for. The most renowned goal of alchemy is the transmutation of any metal into either gold or silver. Also they tried to create universal panacea, a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. The philosopher’s stone was the key in these goals. This mythical substance, which could just as well be powder or liquid as a stone, had the ability to do both. The third goal was creating human life. Alchemy can be regarded as the precursor of the modern science of chemistry prior to the formulation of the scientific method.
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Alchemy
Yes there was Carmen’s ‘artistic’ The Champion and there was this excellent art evangelism piece like a C.S Lewis classic that will live on: ( http://www.colinharbinson.com/toymakerandson/masterpiece.html )
Like Bob’s Beetles ‘Blackbird redemption’ ‘Toymaker and Son’ was illegally re-written/adapted to ‘Toymaker’s Dream’ ( http://www.impactproductions.org/index.cfm?id=3&projectid=14&theprojecttypeid=4 ) in a similar manner as did the ASCAP guy who rewrote Bob’s ‘Lord, Be Glorified’, though the ‘Toymaker’ redo version outcome was different because was artist’s pride abolished in Kingdom humility or was original true art compromised for $$$$ profits shared, or ?, the point is that it’s iInteresting what happens when MY copyRIGHTS and Babylon’s ‘Buying and Selling’ system are involved. Would the Beetle Fabs have sued Bob if they just heard not-for-profit Bob singing their redeemed art on some ‘Prayer and Work Abbey’ road street corner?
Do you think the apostle Paul has massive big-buck lawsuits lined up with all those commentaries and interpretations on his prison letters to the Church he sold at the Roman book store.
Bob, God is perfect Artist and perfect Mathematician. Does the White Horse Rider draws near with sharp double edged word sword for some and gentle embrace for others?
Bob, I just completed the “Secrets of the Silence” and it really ministered to me. I get up at 5am each morning and can not wait to have time with my Lord. I have used as an addition to my prayer time, your CD “Reign”. What a blessing! Thank you. Secrets of the Silence will be with me as a tool to use again and again. I have recommended your book to many of my friends.
Regarding “The Art of Being You”. I’m just beginning the book and love it so far. I enjoy your style of writing. Thank you for being a vessel to be used by God.
Thank you, Paula!
Bob, Bob. …… or do I say Joel Joel?
I’m signing out.
Peace.