'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #2 - "THE BENEDICT OPTION" BY ROD DREHER

I was about to write that there are few books that really inspire me, and the fact that I had no problem coming up with 25 books for this summer reading list probably means I'm easier to impress than I think (or that there are more really inspirational books than I think). Either way, "The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation" by Rod Dreher is on that list.

Allow me to confess that Dreher is more Catholic/Orthodox than I am, and several of the ideas fit that line of thinking. However, I agree with his main thought that Christians need to strengthen community with fellow believers, both by forming communities and by encouraging others.

There are not as many community-building books in this summer reading list as there are apologetics (like yesterday's book). However, I remember being in a Facebook group discussing this book and Dreher's follow-up "Live Not By Lies" and reading a question about if we're reading any other books on community. At that time, I was finishing Leah Libresco's "Building the Benedict Option..." Check. I also started reading Rosaria Butterfield's "The Gospel Comes With a House Key..." Check. Then, in fiction, I was reading "Amish Werewolves of Space..." well, at first I thought "Two out of three aren't bad" until I reread the cover and read the first chapter and realized it was three of three. (Kerry Nietz' Terror in Plain Space trilogy all have strong themes on community, on our responsibilities to community, and that our community might be bigger than we think. 

You know, maybe I ought to reread this one.
 

EASTER CAROLING, ANYBODY? AND FAVORITE RESURRECTION SONGS.

Young Martin Luther and Carolers Sing For Mrs. Cotta in Eisenach by Ferdinand Pauwels

I will never forget one suggestion made by Leah Libresco in her book Building The Benedict Option: A Guide To Gathering Two Or Three Together In His Name: Easter caroling.

Why not? After all, we go Christmas caroling. Why not Easter Caroling? 

Now, while there are many great Resurrection Day songs (more on those later), I can only think of three that I'd use for Easter caroling. But do we need a long list? After all, we'd only sing at the most two or three songs at each place.

Plus, when we sing at shut-ins and the like, wouldn't they not only enjoy hearing familiar songs but being reminded that Christ has conquered sin and death?

Reminder - the blog title mentions two parts. Often in a two subject blog, you do one and then the other. In this case, though, I'll combine the topics, and start with three songs that are favorites on the resurrection and that would be great for caroling:

• "Christ Arose" (aka "Low In The Grave He Lay"). Isn't that a triumphant song for the season?
• "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today." Excellent and theologically deep and sound lyrics by Charles Wesley, as you'd expect. I did hear someone mention, though, that John Wesley did not include this song in early Methodist Hymnals. 
• To the more contemporary, how about "The Easter Song," written by Annie Herring, originally recorded by the 2nd Chapter of Acts (which includes Annie), and recorded by several others like Keith Green, Glad, and Jess Ray.

Now, there are other great songs for that time of year that I would not consider material for caroling, but other great resurrection songs. Pardon me for putting them in random order.

• "Tell The Whole World" by Becky Ugartechea. My all time favorite song. Upbeat, and the ending is enough to get you excited to tell the world. Unfortunately, I don't know how to access it if you don't have the project: not on Spotify, not on YouTube, not anyplace either. :( 
• "Star Of The Morning" by Leon Patillo. Great, powerful keyboards, great singing. It's also been covered by Shirley Ceasar.
  
• "The Victor" by Jamie Owens-Collins. This classic has been covered by the Green brothers: Keith and Steve. 
• "He Lives" by Erick Nelson. Yes, this is a more obscure one, but definitely a great song on the resurrection.
• "Love Crucified Arose" by Michael Card.
• "The King Is Alive" by Function. And you thought Erick Nelson was obscure? But you can find it on Spotify.
• "The Holy City" by Mahalia Jackson (and probably others). A classic.
• "The Roar of Love"/"I Heard The Stars Sing Before" by 2nd Chapter of Acts. This pair, back to back on their "Roar of Love" album based on C.S.Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" refers to Aslan the Lion, but is the meaning different?
• "He Came, He Saw, He Conquered" by Petra. Energetic song with John Schlitt's exciting singing.
• "Graverobber" by Petra. This one is from the Greg Volx era, focusing not just on Christ's resurrection but ours as well.
• "What A Day" by Alisa Turner. A newer one.
• "Christ is Risen" by Mia Fieldes. Another newby. Check both her and Alisa out on Spotify.
• "Living Hope" by Phil Wickham; still another contemporary one, but I think it's better known. For example, we sang it this morning (Easter) at my church.
• "The Garden Tomb" by the Isaacs. Yep, it's time to get into Southern Gospel.
• "She Found Jesus Alive" by Carroll Roberson. This is a song I could never stay depressed listening to.
• "Last Night" by Karen Peck and New River. Very solid song.
• "Russian Easter Festival Overture" by Rimski-Korsokov. Okay, it's instrumental. Is it dealing with the Resurrection, or with festivals celebrated that time? After all, the composer was an Agnostic. But it makes me think of Christ's being raised. Very energetic, and I have a tradition of listening to it on Easter. I like it better than Mahler's Resurrection Symphony (I've never been able to get into Mahler.)

One last thought: Don't worry. I'm not going to suggest Good Friday caroling.

WHAT DAY DID CHRIST DIE? WHEN DID HE RISE? AND IS THIS SOMETHING TO ARGUE ABOUT?

Christ Crucified Between Two Thieves, by Rembrandt

 I'll never forget my surprise one Good Friday when I worked in downtown Indianapolis. As I was out of the building for lunch, I saw a gentleman who was always handing out tracts. Well, I wished him a happy Good Friday.

His reply? "Every Friday's a good Friday."

Really? From a person who's trying to tell others the Gospel, and how Christ's death, celebrated that day, would give them life?

Allow me to give you some news that would surprise some people and not surprise others: Not all Christians observe Good Friday or even Easter. It's not that they minimize Christ's Substitutionary Atonement on the Cross or deny His resurrection from the dead. Rather, they see these days, as well as the Lent season and Christmas, as started by the Catholic Church and borrowing pagan traditions.

What day should we celebrate Easter? Most holidays are either celebrated on the same date (Christmas, Independence Day, Groundhog Day) while others are celebrated on the same day of the week on a set week of the month (Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Mother's and Father's Day). Not Easter. Don't ask me how they determine when it should be celebrated. Yes, it's always on Sunday, but it could be any time from mid-March to late April. 

You may be aware that not all Christians agree how the date should be calculated, with Orthodox Easter celebrated later than Catholic and Protestant Churches. And none of them seem to consider connecting it to Passover, as the original Easter was. 

At least they agree that Easter is on Sunday, or at least the first day of the week (some will say that Christ rose not on Sunday morning but after sunset on Saturday, which is when Jews believe the first day begins). There is not the same agreement on the day Christ was crucified. Sure, most of the organized church believe it was on Friday. But did Jesus rise on the third day, counting the tail end of Friday as day one and the beginning of the first day as the third? Or did He spend three days and three nights in the earth as the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:39-40)? If the latter, then He would have been crucified Wednesday, which doesn't fit the traditions we have.

As I asked in the title, is this something to argue about? Of course... NOT!!!

The Gospel is contained in the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 15, which mentions that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and rose the third day according to the Scriptures. The focus is on Jesus' death and His resurrection. The day He was crucified doesn't change the fact, and when we celebrate the Resurrection doesn't either.

So why don't we plan on celebrating Jesus' substitutionary death for our sins and His victory over the grave with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, both in our local church and those we know outside the church? And maybe borrow the idea of author Leah Libresco in Building the Benedict Option and go Easter caroling?! (Wouldn't your neighbors like to hear you singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "The Easter Song?")

HOW ABOUT AN ALL SAINTS DAY PARTY?

 

When I read Building the Benedict Option: A Guide to Gathering Two or Three Together in His Name, author Leah Libresco mentioned two ideas that intrigued me. The first was Easter caroling. Hey, why not? Stopping at homes and singing about the Resurrection? The other was a Saints party, where everybody would go around and talk about their favorite saints.

Yes, Libresco is Catholic, and this concept sounds more Catholic than Baptist. Other than Christmas and Good Friday/Easter, the only other liturgical calendar event I've seen at a church I attended was the lighting of the Advent candles. Even though Pentecost is based on a Biblical event focusing on the church, I see more emphasis given to Mother's Day and the Fourth of July. Reformation Day may get some attention - which it deserves - but don't expect All Saints Day to be noticed.

Let me give a dissenting voice. I want to celebrate All Saints Day. I want to have a Saints party! I want to get together with other believers and hear which saints have made an impact on them.

Of course, as most Baptists, I have a different definition to the word "saint." Catholics believe certain people are saints. They go through a process that starts with Beatification, which requires a miracle their posthumous intercession is responsible for, followed by canonization to sainthood following a second miracle. My hunch is most saints to gain that status during the lifetime of their contemporaries. 

When I read the term "saint" in the New Testament, it refers to all believers, not just the spiritual superstars. Paul addressed his recipients as saints, even the model church in Cornith. (A model church of what should be avoided.) Church fathers Tertullian and Origen didn't make the cut of being saints in the Catholic definition, but I expect them to be in the company of the saints in heaven. Besides, as hinted at, you can be a saint where you're alive.

I'll never forget listening to a call on a talk show the day Mother Theresa passed. The host said that she was a saint, and that he and the caller were not. If I had access to a non-work phone, I would have dissented. If we believe in Christ, we're saints. And we're not to see others as being so far beyond us that we can never be close to them, but rather make it our aim to be fully pleasing to Christ (2 Cor. 5:9). 

Another objection is that we're to follow Christ. All human models are fallible. The so-called heroes in the Bible like Noah, Moses, David, and Peter have moments (or more) of failure. Only Jesus lived a sinless life. True, but don't forget 1 Corinthians 11:1 where Paul says be imitators of him as he imitated Christ. 

So who are my favorite saints? I thought about making a list, and I might next year, but I will give five off the top of my head to get conversations going. They would be:

• Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. Is my tongue in cheek here? Just a little. I know enough to know he's the real deal as a believer.
• Charles Simeon, a pastor in England and contemporary of Jonathan Edwards and the Wesleys. He endured a lot of hostility from his congregation for over a decade, even getting locked out of the church. As a wealthy man, he bought churches (a common practice then) so he could hire Gospel preaching pastors for their pulpit. And I love his dialog with John Wesley (I might write a blog about that sometime).
• Isaac Watts. Not quite my favorite hymn lyric writer - Charles Wesley edges him out. But besides hymns, he also was an apologist. He wrote age-appropriate catachisms for children, and a logic book that was used by Oxford and Cambridge (schools he wasn't able to attend because he was a non-conformist) and Yale.
• Brother Alex in Columbia. He and his co-workers were stopped by guerillas, most of which were killed. They shot Alex in the eye, to which Alex replied, "Has anybody told you Jesus loves you?" After the incident, the gunmen were arrested and imprisoned, and Alex went to visit them and tell them of the love of God.
• Pastor Joe LoMusio, former pastor at Cactus Baptist Church (Phoenix, AZ) and Temple Baptist Church (Fullerton, CA). I can tell you about the sermon he preached the first Sunday night I heard him preach at Cactus Baptist Church, including his text, his main point, an illustration he used from his life, and a joke he made. That sermon was in late August, 1978.

 I'd love to talk about more, but I'll pass for now. Allow me to comment, though, that like the meme I have at the top of this blog - "Surround yourself with those who bring you closer to God. This includes not just your friends, but the authors you read (non-fiction and fiction), the musicians you listen to, and even what you watch (some might help your walk with the Lord, some might hinder).

Who are your favorite saints?

JEFF'S NON-FICTION READING OF 2020

 It's been an odd year. And with all the craziness, I didn't read much non-fiction. That surprised me: I expected with short hours at work not to read as much fiction and having more time to read non-fiction. Nope. The 28 fiction books I read was at the high end of normal, the 8 non-fiction wasn't. And I'll admit - I didn't finish one of the books I included yet.

Two variations. First, this list will not necessarily be my favorite non-fiction read this year. I'm including my first and last favorite in the list. Also, while I normally rank the non-fiction, this year I'm doing what I do with the fiction: putting them in alphabetic order by title. 

1. Building The Benedict Option by Leah Libresco. I've been promoting Rod Dreher's The Benedict Option for years (Dreher wrote the foreword for this book). This book is a follow-up on how to build community among believers. Dreher gives the why, Libresco suggests some hows. Enjoyable and thoughtful reading - she gave me some ideas including Easter caroling.
   
2. Come To The Lord'sTable by Claude King. The author, brother of my good friend and former pastor Dennis King, presents a 4-week guide for preparing for the Lord's Supper (aka Communion, Eucharist). King, who co-wrote Experiencing God with Henry Blackaby, has some practical ideas on getting your heart ready for this solemn Christian sacrament/ordinance. Included are some meditations by Andrew Murray.
   
3. The Gospel Comes With A House Key by Rosaria Butterfield. Excellent book dealing with showing hospitality, a very counter-cultural activity nowadays. I read it after reading the above mentioned Building The Benedict Option, and found it interesting to compare. You may not agree with her views, but she does a good job of showing how you can serve your brothers and sisters in Christ and be a witness to the lost.
   
4. The Knowledge Of The Holy by A. W. Tozer. The classic devotional volume on the attributes of God. I read this as one of the textbooks in Theology I at Bible College back in '85, and finally reread it. Wonderful book. If you haven't read it, you should.
5. The Life Of Christ In Stereo by Johnston M. Cheney. Like the above entry, a textbook from college, this time for Life Of Christ. This is a harmony of the Gospels where the author makes use of every word in the four Gospels. In doing so, he has some conclusions that are non-traditional, such as that Jesus' ministry was four years and that Peter denied Him a total of six times before the rooster crowed twice.
   
6. ReGrace by Frank Viola. This book, subtitled "What the Shocking Beliefs of the Great Christians Can Teach Us Today", has the valid, useful, and needed assumption is that Christian leaders are not infallible and thus we should not write someone of if we disagree with one doctrine.
   
7. Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy, edited by Bradley Green. This is a collection of ten individuals who impacted Christian thought through the centuries. (Technically, eight chapters - the Three Cappodocians were dealt with in the same chapter). If you want an introduction to the Church Fathers, I'd go with Bryan Litfin's Getting To Know The Church Fathers. Then, you're ready for this one. This goes deeper into the theology of these individuals.
8. With by Skye Jethani. This book was recommended by my good friend Josh Jacobs. Jethani mentions that people try to live a life for God, from God, over God, or under God, when His desire is for us to have a life with God.

Have you read any of these books? Are you motivated to read any of them? What books have you read?

BOOK REVIEWS: BUILDING THE BENEDICT OPTION AND THE GOSPEL COMES WITH A HOUSE KEY

 

I am in a Facebook group that was discussing The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher, and a memeber asked about any books about building community. I replied by telling them the three books I was currently reading, and allow me to review two of them. I'm still reading the third and will mention it later.

Building the Benedict Option: A Guide to Gathering Two or Three Together in His Name by Leah Libresco and The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World  by Rosaria Butterfield have interesting similarities and contrasts. Both are written by former atheists who as adults converted to Christianity: Libresco to Catholicism, Butterfield to Reformed. Both distinguish true hospitality between counterfeit hospitality (when you pay for that hospitality). Also, both books came out in 2018.

Some of the differences are due to personality - Butterfield admits she's an introvert; I doubt that term fits Libresco. Others come from their theology. The main difference is that Libresco's focus is on how to create community and thus writes a lot about planned gatherings, while Butterfield's theme is that hospitiality is something that needs to be a part of our lives day in and day out.

Libresco's book was fun to read, and gave me some ideas, such as having a group discussing which saints influenced them (her approach was more Catholic than mine would be) and going Easter caroling (I love that idea - wish I thought of it sooner). She also encourages taking a role you enjoy doing. I would definitely recommend it.

If you had time for only one, though, I would point you towards Rosaria Butterfield's book. It deals with the cost of being hospitable, but makes the point that all Christians need to be hospitable. In it, she tells several stories about how hospitiality made a difference. One story was when a friend went in for eye surgery and told Rosaria she didn't need help and could get back and forth there and recover at home. Rosaria showed up at the clinic with her books and knitting, to let her friend know she was there for the long haul. Afterward, the friend stayed with Rosaria where she could recover.

The timing for the above question was excellent. I mentioned both of these books as well as the one I'm still reading: Kerry Nietz' Amish Werewolves of Space. You'll have to wait till I review that book to know if it also is a good book on hospitality. 

And yes, I intentionally am posting this the Tuesday preceding Thanksgiving.