We insist on distinctions being relevant simply because we like it that way.

We hurt each other by insisting on tertiary or even entirely irrelevant distinctions.

This insistence creates everything from new countries to new religious denominations, schools, clubs, and playground cliques.

In fact, we reach a point of such zealous adherence or hate that the reasons behind the distinctions become unimportant and we insist on the distinctions being relevant simply because we like it that way.

Providing a litany of absurdity would do no good. It's endemic. And we can't remove it, but we can at least tolerate it so we don't injure ourselves further.

[2014-07-12]

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When you realize you're different, you begin to formalize that difference.

When you realize you're different, you're compelled to define and eventually codify the differences so you can train others and protect against change. It's the basis for everything from a clubhouse oath to the Declaration of Independence.

I never heard the term "Baptist distinctives" until I was in my 30's, but I had unwittingly internalized them during my 18 years in the GARBC (General Association of Regular Baptist Churches).

What's a Baptist distinctive?

Biblical Authority

The Bible is the final authority in everything; no person or decree can override it.

Autonomy of the Local Church

The local church is independent and accountable only to God and itself.

Priesthood of the Believer

No other mediator is needed between us and God.

Two Ordinances

Ie, two sacraments, believer's water baptism (by immersion), and communion.

Individual Soul Liberty

Free will and religious freedom.

Saved, Baptized Church Membership

You must first be saved (said a prayer of salvation) and be baptized before you can be a member.

Two Offices

Pastor and deacon.

Separation of Church and State

There are differences here, but the Baptists I know no more want to meddle in government affairs then they want the government meddling in theirs.

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The Prologue from the Code of Hammurabi, a probable
source for the Ten Commandments
(Wikimedia Commons)

Now, there is great strength of conviction and a long-standing tradition of loving sincerity in each of these, but they each also bring divisive consequences:

Biblical Authority

Eschewing the complementary authority of a body or person(s) outside the church inevitably leads to new local bodies that claim the same right, until you have 5,000+ denominations (and countless individuals) thinking they know best. No organization, man's or God's, can flourish that way.

Autonomy of the Local Church

See above.

Priesthood of the Believer

This privilege Christians have doesn't remove our need (and desire) to seek forgiveness in the company of others. All churches I know of practice some fashion of this; some, like my boyhood church, Bethel Baptist in Erie, PA, encourage a public appeal in front of the congregation for serious sins.

Two Ordinances

Since these are not sacraments as such, but observances, an enormous amount of joy is lost and grace never received because no one is looking for it where the rest of the church has been enjoying it for 2,000 years.

Individual Soul Liberty

Yes, but in practice this sometimes means "free to leave the errors of your church and join ours." But Baptists, just like Catholics and Lutherans and Episcopalians etc, will commend anyone who follows Jesus and their conscience.

Saved, Baptized Church Membership

Membership in a denomination is a necessary evil, a price we pay for fitting a divine institution into human structures. It reinforces commitment, consistency, constancy, and new members (babies), all good things in themselves, but over time every new baby wedges the door wider.

Two Offices

One of the legacies left by the Reformation is a belief that the early church contains all we need to know to conduct the affairs of the modern church. There's nothing wrong with limited government (I kind of like it), but setting yourself apart on account of it means you miss out on the fellowship of others who retain it.

I learned only recently that the two-office format is more Pauline and the three-office Ignatian; Ignatius was a student of the Apostle John. I don't think it's a stretch to call Protestantism more Pauline and Catholicism more Johannine in this regard.

Separation of Church and State

No disagreement here.

(See the full GARB list and commentary here >)

[2014-07-12]

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If I could put a sign in my car rear window, it would read…

 I would like to do this too:

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Ajax Nerd

A different type of Ajax Nerd; AJAX is also a group
of technologies for web display, and so if you search for
 'ajax nerd' you're more or less searching for 'programming
nerd'. JSON is now often used instead of AJAX.
Photo from a German AJAX site.

I've been looking for the driver training videos I used to see in high school (McDowell High School, Erie, PA). Our class was taught by a high-testosterone fellow that liked making fun of the girls, who giggled at his condescension. That was 1978 or so and some misogyny was still tolerated (women driver jokes were common).

We watched a film series with a cast of characters that represented different types of drivers. There was the careful driver, the little old lady, the speed demon, and one I recall especially well, "Ajax Nerd," who wore sun glasses, slouched a lot, and thought he was above the rules.

What struck me the most, however, was the music. Each film opened and closed with a happy, adventurous, Hollywood travelogue theme while the camera put you in the front seat of a car touring through panoramic America.

Even then, it seemed dated, so I suspect it was a 60's vintage, as it drew on images that reflected the coolness that was still spilling over from the 50's (leather jackets and "rebel without a cause" angst).

[2014-07-11]

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Why doesn't the world look like this?

 If you didn't immediately recognize it,
this the Earth turned upside down.

Did you ever wonder why we call ourselves the "West" and others "East"? Or use terms like "third world," "south of the border," etc?

And why "North America"? There's no scientific reason that the north pole should be "up" or at the "top" of a map.

The "why" of course is that the people who modeled magnetism, created maps, or described unfamiliar cultures, did those things in reference to existing frameworks and predispositions, their own Weltanschauung.

Why did this controversial Absolut ad cause such a fuss?

Controversial Absolut ad showing
rather different North American borders.

It violated the sensibilities of a culture whose Weltanschauung has molded most of our politics, mores, laws, taboos, etc.

Let's not get self-righteous over others who did the same in the past based on what their understanding of the world was at the time.

We live out our ignorance every day. It filters everything we say or do, perhaps everything we can say or do, and since we can't change it (very much), how about we learn to celebrate the diversity in creates?

[2014-07-10]

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Want a real eye-opener? Install "Red Alert Israel."

If you install Red Alert Israel >, you'll get an alert every time a missile enters Israel and threatens a city.

It's the real deal, not a game. Israelis in that city have 15 seconds to take cover.

You'll be shocked to watch it go off numerous times every day. Each time that happens, real people are trying to kill other real people who are running for their lives. These aren't military targets. Just people.

Tell me that if the US were the target of daily missile assaults that we wouldn't bomb the smithereens out of them.

I'm not taking sides. I'm asking everyone to just put themselves in an air raid bunker today. 

And I'm not forgetting the death and destruction suffered by Palestinians.

But if you stop shooting at someone, they'll probably stop shooting back.

EOM

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