Mr. Show presents: The American Heresy

"The only thing preventing your resurrection is YOU!"

Human Righteousness as performed by The Portsmouth Sinfonia

Have you heard the Portsmouth Sinfonia?



You see, The Portsmouth Sinfonia was founded by an English art school in 1970. Oddly, its primary requirement was that the musicians not be...well... musicians, or at least not play the instrument to which they were assigned. This reminds me of what I put my parents through for nine years of semi-annual school orchestra concerts (not to mention practices).

But why expose anyone to this abysmal cacophony of Nixon era ear horror? Because they took it seriously. Just as we take seriously our daily moral efforts and supposed petty superiorities. The music presents itself as if it was as beautiful as the New York Philharmonic. There is no irony. With its chin held high the Sinfonia smashes its way through some of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed, distorting and defiling their original beauty. 

Have you ever wondered what our righteousness would "sound" like to God apart from the work of Christ? Well here it is.

Isaiah 57:12:
"I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you."

Heidelberg Disputation:

Thesis 3.
Although the Works of man always seem attractive and good, they are nevertheless likely to be mortal sins.

Thesis 4.
Although the works of God are always unattractive and appear evil, they are nevertheless really eternal merits.

ht ML (not html)

O[MG!] Holy Night

A "special" version of "O Holy Night" has been popping up on YouTube in various forms over the past few years. Many have tried their hand at lip synching this utterly dreadful rendition of the Christmas classic. The best version going is from highly talented Mockingfan, Martin Landry. Bringing you a bit of much needed humor this season:



On a more serious note, notice the difference between the popular John Sullivan Dwight (unitarian) version and Adolphe Adam's original.

Six Story Jesus Statue in Ohio Struck by lightning

Proof that God is not a "theologian of glory".

Associated Press
"MONROE, Ohio — A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night and burned to the ground, police said."

"...was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown."

Interestingly, the statue was erected by the evangelical Solid Rock Church. The statue of Jesus was made of plastic foam and fiberglass.

Thursday Fun: Sling Bang Boom!

All My Sons: The Law in Three Acts

This weekend, at the recommendation of fellow Mockingbirder David Gaston, I went to see a community theater production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. Afterward, the reaction of a woman sitting behind me said it all:

"I think I'll go stub my toe now, so I'll feel better"

Arthur Miller's play is all about sin, judgment, denial, guilt and hopelessness as played out in the lives of two families in post WWII anytown USA. In short, All My Sons is a classic exposition of the problem of being human. Be forewarned, there is no Good News here folks. The law comes at every character from all angles: father to son, wife to husband, neighbor to neighbor, brother to sister, and, ultimately, from beyond the grave. Here are a few of the more light-hearted quotes:

[CONTINUE READING]

Calling A Spade A Spade

"Theologians of the cross, however, 'say what a thing is.' That is, a characteristic mark of theologians of the cross is that they learn to call a spade a spade."

From On being a Theologian of the Cross by Gerhard O. Forde (p. 13)

(caution: slight vulgarity and total absurdity)

(ht David Gaston)

This American Christianity -"Bait and Switch"

"Our goal is to save souls and make money for the church"

Ira Glass' much-acclaimed NPR radio show This American Life continues to be an unparalleled source of great sermon illustrations. Episode #213 "Devil On My Shoulder", which was re-aired just before Halloween this year, provides a devastating look at the human heart and our attempt to deal with evil. The episode references C.S. Lewis, the Amish, the psychology of a convicted murderer, and Hell House - a film by George Ratliff documenting Trinity Assembly of God Church's annual production. Hell House is an attempt to scare teens into the arms of Jesus by threatening the fires of Hell. Several damnable sins are demonstrated (with an eerie sense of enjoyment) by the teen actors who all tend to audition for the "sinner" roles. See the trailer below - though a word of caution, as it is a bit graphic:




Audio of the Hell House portion of the show:





And then there was this past week's flat-out incredible episode "Bait And Switch" (ht AZ and NRP), which discusses evangelism, among other things.

The Gospel for Price Is Right Cheaters

Bob gets it!

(now spay or neuter your pets)

Mahler and that Easter Feeling

We 21st Centurians aren't the only ones to identify Christian/Gospel concepts in Art. How about 19th century Austrian Romanticist composer Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911)? Witnessing his 90 minute Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" is probably the most spectacular musical event of my life...so far (U2 comes to Atlanta this fall). Imagine a full orchestra, 150+ choir, 2 soloists, organ, and a second orchestra located outside the hall!

"Why the second orchestra?" you might ask. The second orchestra (operating via live video feed from the conductor) represents the response of Christ being called out of the tomb by the God the Father (the main orchestra). This call and response is very clear and surprising during the middle of the 5th and final movement. It's almost like 19th century surround sound.

Mahler came up with the idea for the ending of his majestic symphony while at a funeral. He heard a poem called Die Auferstehung (The Resurrection) by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock.

And...
"It struck me like lightning, this thing...and everything was revealed to me clear and plain."

Crank up your speakers:



Some lyrics from the video:
O Schmerz! Du Alldurchdringer!
Dir bin ich entrungen!
O Tod! Du Allbezwinger!
Nun bist du bezwungen!
Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen,
In heißem Liebesstreben,
Werd'ich entschweben
Zum Licht, zu dem kein Aug'gedrungen!
Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen
Werde ich entschweben.
Sterben werd'ich, um zu leben!
Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n
wirst du, mein Herz, in einem Nu!
Was du geschlagen
zu Gott wird es dich tragen!

Okay, in (hyper-literal) English:
O Pain, You piercer of all things,
From you, I have been wrested!
O Death, You masterer of all things,
Now, are you conquered!
With wings which I have won for myself,
In love’s fierce striving,
I shall soar upwards
To the light which no eye has penetrated!
Its wing that I won is expanded,
and I fly up.
Die shall I in order to live.
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you, my heart, in an instant!
That for which you suffered,
To God will it lead you!

And, I might add: "Welcome, Happy Morning!" Age to age will say!

Shades of Glory

From Saturday's Birmingham News Religion section: Seeing through Christian lenses: Calera brothers lost their jobs in October but their faith burns so bright they had to sell sunglasses.

"God gave him a vision, he said. That vision was Christians wearing sunglasses. Ones that say "I love Jesus" on the sides and "John 3:16" on the
lens, and have a cross above the bridge of the nose."

"He thinks that people will want to share their faith while reducing their exposure to ultraviolet rays."

"When you wear these shades, you're saying you love Jesus"

"Those sunglasses are going to glorify Jesus Christ our Lord and savior"..."We love him, we're proud of him. We want to say, This is who I am. Be proud to glorify Jesus and wear them in faith."

Just in time for Summer. I'm ordering mine this week!

Hear what an Asian ad sayeth:

Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Matthew 11:28

Black Shabbos (Shalom Auslander's Foreskin's Lament)

The blurbs on the back cover describe Shalom Auslander’s recent memoir Foreskin’s Lament as angry, funny, irreverent, and bitingly hilarious. This is all true. But at its core Lament is a pithy chronicle of the effect of unremitting law in combination with violent abuse - especially as it applies to our relationship with our fathers and our concept of God. The book details specific instances of Auslander’s embattled childhood in a conservative Jewish home in Monsey, New York where he attended a strict yeshiva run by Pharisaical and often violent rabbis. The central and recurring theme is Auslander’s hatred of God as it is reinforced by his religious upbringing and his own father's abusive nature.

Recalling the first time he heard the phrase “Our Father Who is in Heaven”, he writes, "I shuddered. There’s another one? In heaven? THAT’S God? Did he stumble around in His underwear? How big was his fist?..." Here are a few more quotes:

I believe in a personal God; everything I do, He takes personally. Things don’t just happen.

My relationship with God has been an endless cycle not of the celebrated “faith followed by doubt,” but of appeasement followed by revolt; placation followed by indifference; please, please, please followed by [expletive] it, [expletive] you, [expletive] off.

The people who raised me will say that I am not religious. They are mistaken. What I am not is observant. But I am painfully, cripplingly, incurably, miserably religious.

I believe in God.
It’s been a real problem for me.
I have very little sympathy for Veal.

Speaking of Veal, Auslander creates an analogy between his life and that of a boxed-up veal being told about an Almighty Cow in the sky; commanding that the veal stay in his place.

What makes Auslander’s case so powerful is that unlike many contemporary well-educated thinkers, he has not refused to believe in this horrific God of his youth. He is eternally tormented by Him - both above and below the level of consciousness.

As a Christian you just want to reach out to this man with the soothing balm of the Gospel; which, alone, has the power to break us of our bitterness and hatred. Indeed, this post barely scratches the surface of all the insights to be gained from Auslander's book. I can't recommend it enough.