the essence of Feminism. a book review @500

Any book that can explain Feminism in less than 135 pages is worth reading. Birkett again captures the essence of another important movement or idea that informs my world in this. If you want to know about First and Second Wave Feminism, important Feminists including our produce from down-under such as Greer, and if you wish to understand the achievements of feminists in their historical context, then read this book.

What struck me was the personal journey of Birkett as she thought through the morality and central tenets of feminism as a world-view that tries to make sense of what is the greatest good one can do for herself as a female? Is it total liberation? Is it self-assertion? Is it self-determination? To what degree can and should the female sex pursue these goals? What is the implication for abortion and sexual relations? What is the cost, social, physical and moral? Is it the ultimate achievement for females?

There is a tantalizing bite, in the last 3 pages, of the alternative Christian worldview that makes sense of what it means for females to achieve fulfillment of a different agendum that is not all about self-determination at whatever cost. This is really the most personal part of the book and is a foretaste of what refreshment the Christian answer to the above questions can bring.

The writer is interesting, intelligent and has thought through the issues personally. Again, at such an appealing price and length, it really is a must on feminism, whether ex-, pro-, anti-feminist or simply Christian.

the atonement. book review @500 June '08.

Is God an angry God? There is a problem of humanising God with people who say no. Some who say yes also idolise a humanised god. But in brief, the Lord hates sin and all that is demeaning of his glory and goodness. "The Atonement", by Leon Morris, is a condensed treatment of the propitiation - the turning away of God's anger - achieved at the crucifixion of Jesus, His only Son. I remember the rich meaning Morris made of the "Cross" when I read it, shortly after I became a Christian at 14.

Similar treatises and books have been written throughout history on the atonement. Paul is the first one to have done so at length in his letter to the Romans. Followed by church fathers who formed the Nicean Creed (though for a slightly different purpose of refuting Arianism and other heresies). The Reformation were full of people, such as Luther, Calvin, who continued this tradition. To this day, it is the most important aspect of Christian faith that is attacked, scorned and abused at the scoffer's expense. I think if you do not see the beauty of God's character in sacrificing His one and only Son so that our sins are paid for and punished, then you cannot be sure about your salvation, your right state with God or understand the full extent of His love and justice. As I said, many say yes and no to atonement a priori are idolisers of a humanised god, not the God of the Old and New Testament as revealed in the Law, Prophets and His Son.

Morris goes through the Old and New Testaments thematically to look at big headings of atonement. Covenant (promise), Sacrifice, Day of Atonement, Passover, Redemption, Reconciliation, Propipiation and Justification. Not only does he do a good job at the Bible explanations, but there are hugely important daily ramifications of understanding the atonement and its themes. What does it say about our guilt feelings? Where does the death penalty fit in? What does it mean for freedom from sin in our lives? The atonement overshadows every aspect of the Christian life.

We should always be reading a practical book, and culturally relevant book, and a theological book or bible study at the same time. This is of the last category. Please borrow it from me at NDCCC if you'd like. It saves you from reading Calvin (in German originally), Packer (technical) or Stott (longer).

sex is not the problem, lust is. book review @500

Sex is not the problem. Lust is. That's the new title of 'Not even a Hint", which was briefly reviewed at 500, our evening fellowship at NDCCC. It's been 2.5 years since I've been married, 3.5 years since I've read the book. But it all still makes sense and is relevant. I'm still reminiscing parts of what I remember in my single days from this sweet book on sex, protecting and nurturing Christian sexuality, for the wonderful gift of sex in marriage.

I still struggle. So do all other Christian men and women. No one has defeated lust. That is the summary of the opening pages. But there is the gracious reminder of the good God who created sex and meant it for our fullest enjoyment of this gift. Josh always reminds us of the Holy God who is willing to forgive freely, and restore us in relationship with Him.

The book is easy to read, with short biting chapters. Some helpful hints I remember are:

It's not good to be a lone ranger.

The help of non-judgemental Christian friends who will pray and point us toward holiness is necessary.

Understanding of how different guys and gals struggle with sexuality allows us to be helpful toward one another. 

Perhaps one of the most promising ideas is: sex is meant for loving another, it is other person centred. Sex was made by God as a means of expressing a very special love. It is not to be self-centred. So, what does this say about certain acts of masturbation? What does this mean in when and how we make-love to our spouses? Whose enjoyment and good are we seeking in sex? These made sex a very noble task in my mind. It was certainly a consistent look at sex that is totally against the grain of our stupid and selfish world that lies: seek your own pleasure, do what you want, it is your need and right. God's advice is seeking another's pleasure, doing what is best for them and foregoing our own needs, this applies even in sex. And be surprised, the pleasure in return is all the more greater. God is no spoiler, He designed us for the highest pleasures.

Christian Guys and Girls, read books such as these. They are a fresh wind in a dank, dark and seedy world of lust, self-gratification and waste. It's not an end-it-all book, but another tool we use against lust.

p.s. check out my pastor's short blog on pornography and how to slowly fight it.

p.p.s. the cover is slick too, your friends may willing to take a peek.

outreach media: good news through icons, really.

Our vision dominates our senses. Advertising companies suck us in with billboards, shopfronts, webpages to get their message. On the brighter side, there is an organisation with a good message to give, not to sell, it is called Outreach Media, and is based in Sydney.

We went to the FEVA (Fellowship for Evangelism of the Arts) annual dinner last night at Newtown, and was reminded of how creative these christian images from Outreach Media were. You may remember the "Jesus Loves Osama" poster back in February last year? It made world headlines, and were repeated stolen from churches that displayed it. People wanted it because it was controversial. But Christians loved it, because Jesus Christ really loves Osama, even Osama, whom the world hates. It encapsulates the outrageous love God has for His enemies.

I'm all for sending the right message. The technical term is message discipline. Every breath I take is another moment for the proclamation of something. The stars proclaim their beauty and fame. Leaders proclaim their discipline and ability. School kids proclaim or rather yell out their need for security and peers. Christians proclaim the good news.

So far, not many churches have made use of these creative icons that proclaim the good news. "Oh, they're controversial. It's just art. What would the neighbours think? Shouldn't we spend the money elsewhere?" Please, at the very least people think when they read these billboards from Outreach Media. And, in all their products so far, their theology has been spot on. Jesus came as Lord, He divides the world into love or hatred of Him, not a tasteless backwash. The good news ought to confront everyone, sinner, saint, believer, agnostic or unbeliever.

So I ask, which of the icons above do you worship? Jesus is not one of them, because He can't be sold to you. He gives himself freely. Is that okay with you?

film: The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

3 brothers on a spiritual journey to bond, gather and resolve their sorrows from their father's death. It's not a typical comedy by J. Schwartzman (also lead actor) and W. Anderson. But there is a funny randomness in the re-union of a domineering older brother (O. Wilson), a repressed husband taking a break from his pregnant wife (A. Brody) and a hopeless romantic writer (J. Schwartzman) trying to find some spiritual meaning across the desert plains of India.

The story begins on the Darjeeling Limited, the train that would take these brothers to temples, towns and all the "spiritual" hop-scotch tourists are supposed to be excited about. The oldest brother is set on a quest to bring closeness between estranged brothers, culminating on a visit to their mother, now a nun in rural India. This mother had run out on them since their father's tragic death from a pedestrian v. car accident a year back. Their quest is ludicrous, deliberately tacky and also fails in the end. The mother, out of supposed fear, leaves them once again, after showing them how to express their sorrow and anger "without words", in a scene where all 4 of them look at each other with meaningful expressions, but none of them uttering a sound, with heart-warming music filling in the silence. The next morning the 3 sons are disappointed with another runaway by their mother.

There are amusing minor characters throughout their trip. The captain of the train, a Sikh speaking perfect English, who fights off a poisonous snake with his kitchen spatula. There is an attractive Indian hostess, with whom Schwartzman has a fling on the train, with cigarette smoking (band on the train) as their binding hobby. B. Murray makes a cameo, as a businessman who misses out on the train ride because he carries too much baggage, despite his assertive rudeness and jumping of the queues.

The key event, which turns the 3 brothers' journey around, lies in the death of an Indian boy. This boy is also 1 of 3 brothers, who has a mishap over a crossing of a river. The central characters each tries to rescue a boy from drowning, but alas Brody fails to save his. They spend a good time mourning with the rural family, even though they don't speak their dialect. As they are about to leave, Brody appeals to one of the other Indian brothers rescued, that he did his best to save his brother. They are asked to stay and partake in the cremation funeral rites as honoured guests. After this event, along with a symbolic ritual devised by the brothers themselves with the burial of a peacock feather, finally binds the 3 somehow. They realise what it is like to be alive together and to have spent this precious time with the village in mourning. In particular, it leads the middle brother (Brody), to the realisation of the importance of his own, unborn child. The 3 begin to trust each other, no longer recounting confidential secrets made to each other, but openly sharing each others' problems.

The second last scene at the airport departures show the 3 brothers, each ringing a dear confidante, spouse, girlfriend in ordinal sequence and how they were able to encourage each other in dealing with those relations when they get home. It is quite a sweet moment. Of course, they end up ripping their return flight tickets and set off for another journey in India.

The film is slow, the humour is not the main focus, though it is there, the colours of scenery make an interest watch for someone used to our boring Sydney street styles. It does make a comment on how the customs of India seem to hold more spiritual meaning than that of their home land (America?). The brothers did have to go out to find, but only by pure coincidence, a meaning in their relationship and a resolution of their past sorrows from the loss of their father. There is no resolution with the runaway mother, she remains unredeemed by the writers. And interestingly, she became a nun in India, whose orphanage is threatened by a vicious man-eating tiger. Is this making a slighting comment on the Christian religion as a means of finding self-absolution? I'm probably reading too far.

As a Christian, the problem of resolution from old hurts and reconciliation from broken or just estranged relationships is important. The brothers find it in treasuring what they have now in life. We Christians can treasure what we do have, through the forgiveness that comes freely from God by the death of His only Son. And the relations that we have now are not temporary, so we are not driven by fear of loss, but by the wonderment of reconciliation now, continuing onto eternal relationships that will be made perfect. We can even forgive those who are not repentant or seeking to reconcile (like the runaway mother in the movie), because we have experienced a deep forgiveness with a personal God, whom we have rejected. We don't have to find it and hope it will happen by chance. God has reconciled this world to Himself through His Son (2Corinthians 5:18-19), according to His plan.

Not a bad film in the end, when read the right way. 3.5/5