Occasio

The church and Halloween

At this time of year I often receive some kind of urgent prayer warning from a Christian friend, a student in class or a well-meaning congregant. Usually the request is to fervently pray against the satanic powers on this evil day, Halloween. While there is considerable mischief done and a great amount of media attention given on this day, is it any more evil (or holy) than any other day?

My colleague and friend Pam Johnston recently wrote an article debunking many of the common myths about Halloween (most of which are propagated by overly enthusiastic Christians). As a historian she reveals that much of the folklore around Halloween comes from ancient Celtic agricultural practices. Her conclusion: "the harvest festivals celebrated by some churches as an alternative to Halloween may be a more accurate reflection of the original Celtic agricultural festival." Her husband, and my good friend, Marshall Johnston, also wrote a piece on how the media sensationalizes and distorts anything connected to the supernatural, especially around Halloween.

I've said often and repeat again, churches have two basic options when dealing with culture: isolate themselves and battle the culture or engage it and use it for a connecting point with the culture. See my post from last October 31 for a commentary on the difference between my Christian neighbor who posts anti-Halloween signs and my church which ministers to it's neighborhood. Isolationism is not an option if we are seeking to be God's people on a mission for the kingdom.

There are countless ways that Jesus and his early followers engaged and used the cultural practices of their day.

• Baptism was practiced by Jews and Pagans alike and other rituals of purification go back to prehistoric times
• The Eucharist (communion) is a type of divine meal that is found in Jewish and secular literature long before it was used in the upper room
• The first Christians had no choice but to meet in the Jewish temple and synagogue
• The Apostle Paul was able to use the Athenian's worship of multiple gods, including the "unknown god," to introduce the one true God
• Christmas was borrowed from pagan celebrations honoring the gods of the winter solstice

Since its birth the church has always engaged the culture it has resided in, often giving new and reinterpreted meaning to the practices of the day. Halloween is just such an opportunity to continue the hard work of interpreting scripture and community while inhabiting an alien culture.

The Good Samaritan, U2, and Diversity in the Church

On October 2, I and two students, Jessica Mast and Caitlin Baird, presented the workshop “The Good Samaritan, U2 and Diversity in the Church” for Fresno Pacific University’s Building a Culture of Peace Week. With about 35 students and faculty present we focused on the theme of “one, but not the same.”

The first part of our presentation was a reading and discussion of the Good Samaritan parable from Luke 10:25-37. While most of us read the story from the perspective of the Samaritan, we challenged the group to understand the parable from the Jewish man’s vantage point. This, after all, is a story about a religious leader who is beaten and left for dead, and in need of aid. The surprise of the story is that assistance finally comes not from his ethnic kin, but from a most unlikely source – the foreigner. The Samaritan was the marginalized stranger in a strange land. If Jesus were telling the story to us today, who would he use to surprise us – a foreigner, an ethnic minority, a political party we disagree with, a social group that is stigmatized?

The second segment of our workshop focused on U2’s “One.” The song is also a parable about someone who is not easily accepted (as the Samaritan). While a U2 song can never be said to have a single dominant meaning, there are certainly important influences. One dimension of “One” is its commentary on conflict and rejection between two parties that are very different. Bono has spoken of the song as a story of a father’s denial of his homosexual son. The image of buffalos that is often associated with the song in concert and on the album comes from David Wojnorowicz, a gay artist who was tormented by a lack of acceptance in politics, church and society as a whole. We had several questions for the group: What is more important in the church, being “one” or “not the same”? Is the church guilty of offering a message of love but then making people scratch and crawl as they beg for entrance? Aside from the issue of whether homosexuality is wrong or not, how does the church make this group feel? We watched the live version of “One” in which Bono ends with a prayer that is really more a commentary on the church:

Do you hear him coming, Lord, Do you hear us call
You hear us knocking, We’re knocking at your door

You hear us coming, Lord, You hear us call
You hear us scratching, Then you make us crawl

The third part of the workshop brought the focus back to the church. We looked at 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (we’re one body but many parts) and Ephesians 2:11-22 (the dividing wall has been removed and we are one new humanity). We also introduced the concept of “the other” from French/Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas. Levinas suggested that the ultimate injustice is to reduce “the other” (anyone you might come into relationship with) by minimizing the differences he or she might have. Ultimately this is what many of us do with God, the supreme “Other,” by making him in our own image and desiring a God who is like us. When we transfer this to the congregation we get an extremely homogeneous group of people. This led to a discussion of various ways we are or are not including diversity in our own congregations.

We closed our time together by showing Bono’s introduction in a live performance of “Please” (thanks to Beth for the link) and then the music video of “Please,” a moving and passionate plea to the church to “get up off your knees.” The final application: “One, but not the same” means that we find strength in diversity; this happens when we realize we can learn from those who are different than us; who will God use to surprise us in the same way the Samaritan surprised the Jewish man?

Want more? Find our teaching outline here and the PowerPoint presentation here.

Bono comments on Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi

Here are some bytes from or about Bono with regard to the crisis in Burma:

"Rock star Bono praying for people of Myanmar," Sep 26, 2007

Irish rocker and activist Bono said Wednesday he was praying that the peaceful campaign against Myanmar's military junta would finally triumph and expressed concern over the deteriorating situation.

"Bono appeals for prayers for Burma," Sep 27, 2007

Bono said the situation did not belong to the 21st century. The singer, speaking at the London premiere of movie Across the Universe, said he had met and corresponded with Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader of the opposition the National League for Democracy Party.

He said: "I have a little bit of a relationship with Aung San Suu Kyi. I've met her family and corresponded with her. U2 actually wrote a song - Walk On - for her.

"I've always followed her progress and that of the Burmese people."

He added: "She is a study in grace and they are a study in patience."

Bono said everyone should offer their support to the Burmese people.

"Bono Gets Medal for His Work in Africa," Sep 27, 2007

"When you are trapped by poverty, you are not free. When trade laws prevent you from selling the food you grew, you are not free," said Bono, wearing his trademark sunglasses even at night as he stood just steps away from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

"When you are a monk in Burma this very week, barred from entering a temple because of your gospel of peace ... well, then none of us are truly free," he said.

From 2004 in TIME, Aung San Suu Kyi: Unbearable Choices, written by Bono (thanks to Kent Burgess for pointing this one out):

It's hard not to become a monster when you are trying to defeat one. Aung San Suu Kyi is the moral leader of Myanmar, the country more correctly known as Burma. She has been, in effect, under house arrest since 1989.

Suu Kyi is a real hero in an age of phony phone-in celebrity, which hands out that title freely to the most spoiled and underqualified. Her quiet voice of reason makes the world look noisy, mad; it is a low mantra of grace in an age of terror, a reminder of everything we take for granted and just what it can take to get it. Thinking of her, you can't help but use anachronistic language of duty and personal sacrifice.

Bono brings us a good reminder to pray for the Burmese people. See "Can Christians Support Buddhist Monks?" for more on this.

For one week I have just been commenting on the crisis in Burma. I began on October 4, International Bloggers Day for Burma. I'll continue to comment but will also return to issues of the missional church, church and North American culture and, of course, U2 & theology.

Two reflections on Burma from NPR

NPR carried two very helpful features regarding Burma this morning. Each gives a better picture of the crisis and the need for freedom and democracy.

In the first segment, Bridget Welsh discusses three groups who oppose the illegitimate government and gives a brief summary of Aung San Suu Kyi’s involvement and sacrifice. Listen to the audio here.

In the second segment, commentator Hanna Ingber Winn reflects on the recent crackdown after talking with those who have endured it. Listen here.

"Is power all that necessary?"

Aung San Suu Kyi's interview with Ivan Suvanjieff of the Shambala Sun, January 1996. The article was written to an audience of youth.

OFTEN, YOUTH ARE MADE TO FEEL POWERLESS. HOW CAN YOUTH RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN WORTH AND POWER TO EFFECT NONVIOLENT CHANGE?

ASSK: Do the youth really feel powerless? It is probably because they have less of a community feeling. You may feel powerless as one alone, but if you're part of a community, I think you would feel less powerless.

Perhaps the reason they feel powerless is because they feel apart from the rest of the community-that the generation feels apart from other generations. If they could be made to feel a part of humanity in general-not just a part of a generation, an isolated group-they would feel more powerful.

But is power all that is necessary? Is power all that desirable?

That's another question you have to put forth...

IT'S NOT THAT YOUTH FEEL THAT THEY NEED "THE POWER" PER SE...

ASSK: ... they feel helpless ...

.. AND HOW CAN THEY OVERCOME THIS FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS TO AFFECT CHANGE. DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS?...

ASSK: I've always thought that the best solution for those who feel helpless is for them to help others. I think then they will start feeling less helpless themselves.

Free Bird Towards a Free Burma

By Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

My home...
where I was born and raised
used to be warm and lovely
now filled with darkness and horror.

My family...
whom I had grown with
used to be cheerful and lively
now living with fear and terror.

My friends...
whom I shared my life with
used to be pure and merry
now living with wounded heart.

A free bird...
which is just freed
used to be caged
now flying with an olive branch
for the place it loves.

A free bird towards a Free Burma.

 

Now go watch "Walk On." It'll make a lot more sense. "Unto Thee, Almighty - Thank You..."

In the Quiet Land

By Aung San Suu Kyi

In the Quiet Land, no one can tell
if there's someone who's listening
for secrets they can sell.
The informers are paid in the blood of the land
and no one dares speak what the tyrants won't stand.

In the quiet land of Burma,
no one laughs and no one thinks out loud.
In the quiet land of Burma,
you can hear it in the silence of the crowd

In the Quiet Land, no one can say
when the soldiers are coming
to carry them away.
The Chinese want a road; the French want the oil;
the Thais take the timber; and SLORC takes the spoils...

In the Quiet Land....
In the Quiet Land, no one can hear
what is silenced by murder
and covered up with fear.
But, despite what is forced, freedom's a sound
that liars can't fake and no shouting can drown.

International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October

U.S. Envoy Reflects on Burma

As a military government crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Myanmar persists, the most senior U.S. diplomat in the country finds herself in a delicate position. Shari Villarosa talks about her role. Villarosa, the U.S. charge d'affairs in Yangon, speaks with Steve Inskeep.

Listen to this October 4 NPR interview here.

Who Is Aung San Suu Kyi?

View this video from ABC News for a quick overview of Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle against the illegitimate military regime in Burma.