Some of you know that I read and like a Christian blog called Internetmonk.com that was begun in 2000 by a man named Michael Spencer. He was its chief architect until he died of cancer in April 2010. Michael was a Baptist, but probably different from most Baptists you may have known. He taught English and Bible at a Christian high school in Kentucky. He liked beer and minor league baseball. His wife Denise converted to Roman Catholicism. He often preached in a Presbyterian church and attended an Anglican church. He had a way with words. He always got to the heart of the matter with clarity and the ring of truth. His blog continues today under the auspices of a Lutheran from Indiana, Mike Mercer, who spent many years as a hospice and hospital chaplain. Mike Mercer has kept Internetmonk going, but I do miss Michael Spencer.
Yesterday having been the first Sunday in the liturgical season called Advent (and also, incidentally, the first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights), Internetmonk reprinted today a post Michael Spencer wrote in December 2007.
The Mood Of Advent
Read it; it might change your mind about those Bible-thumping Baptists.
An interesting take. And as true on many levels as when it was written.
ReplyDeleteJust the same the words which resonated strongest with me were 'Advent’s darkness includes the failure of religion to bring any light to this fallen and dying world'.
The sentence that meant the most to me was "We spend enough on our lights to save thousands upon thousands of lives". That is so true but as a pagan myself I dispute Mr Spencer's suggestion that paganism is all about the self and gaudy excess. Most pagans are reflective at this time of year as we wait for the sun to turn towards another year of renewal and hope. Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Roman Catholics, Jews and indeed Muslims do not have a monopoly on selfless thought and quiet contemplation - it's just that for we pagans there is no fairytale intermediary.
ReplyDeleteIn disputing Mr Spencer you might have missed the fact that his biggest concern is with the espoused Christians who have forgotten their need of Christ.
DeleteI understand that you (YP) don't think anybody needs Christ but for those of us who do, it's a scathing commentary and mostly well deserved.
Thanks for posting this! It's really a fantastic challenge to us all!
ReplyDelete