The Society for Pentecostal Studies meeting was a good one this year. I was especially impressed with Ben Witherington’s session on the Talipot Tomb, the “Lost Tomb of Jesus� (for more analysis: http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/2007/03/jesus-tomb-show-biblical-archaeologists.html). He informed us that the Discovery Channel was so overwhelmed with criticism against the documentary from archaeologist across of the spectrum that they have chosen to pull the show and never re-air it. Witherington noted that he asked the Discovery Channel to give the other side a couple of hours. His question to them was very appropriate: if they had aired a two hour show denying the Holocaust would they feel compelled to air another show presenting a dissenting position? Surely a show that “scientifically� denies the resurrection of Jesus ought to be given a rebuttal.

One more note about the conference: I was amazed in one session with a discussion regarding the concept of “holy war� in the Old Testament. Aside from the question of whether the idea of “holy war� is even in the Old Testament, I was astounded with the utter fear of some of the session attendees with the prospect that God may have actually commanded Israel to wipe out Canaanites in the conquest. Now, I fully admit that although I could theologize the reason I believe God did in fact make the command, I have no politically acceptable answer to the problem that would appease the modern conscience. Nevertheless, I was dumbfounded by the fact that most in the room feared that if God really did command Israel to wipe out the Canaanites, then they would have no sound argument against George Bush going to war in Iraq if he felt the same divine imperative. In my book this reflects bad logic and horrible theology.

I was in Missouri this weekend. This makes the last two weekends spent in the south or Midwest. I have to admit, the people are different. They are . . . well, friendlier. Maybe they’re no friendlier than people in other places; I certainly have not traveled enough to state anything definitively, but in general it seems to me that they are friendlier to strangers. People in the elevator smile at you and ask you how you’re doing. They’re not afraid to talk to you. I’ve been told that it’s all a put-on, they don’t really feel that way; they just fake it. I got to thinking, why do people say that? Maybe it’s true, maybe they don’t really want to smile and say “hi,� they just do it because culturally they feel obligated. I guess that means that for the rest of us, it’s okay to not be friendly if we don’t feel like it . . . we wouldn’t want to fake it. It’s unfortunate that no boss I’ve ever had would let me get away with that excuse. And while I’m at it, I don’t let my kids get away with that attitude either. In fact, I even tell my students the same thing. I tell them that they need to be friendly to others no matter how they feel. It also makes the marriage relationship a bit better too. Maybe people in the south, faking it or not, have got something.

Posted by Dwight at 2:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s spring break this week and I am taking care of all those things I don’t do when classes are on. I know people who all at the same time are able to carry a full teaching load, be a father and husband, take care of the home, publish, preach, etc., all so seemly well. I cannot do this. I am not sure if it is because I am just lazy, unintelligent, unproductive, or a combination of these. Maybe I’m more normal than I think. It is frustrating, though, when I see how far I’ve let things go around the house. I’m sure my wife shares the frustration, but she is very forgiving.

I watched the Discovery Channel special The Lost Tomb of Jesus, as well as the debate that followed. My impression is that whatever the outcome of the investigation, what was shown was not ready for prime time. I am not a naysayer to the project; if Jesus’ bones were put in that ossuary, I for one think everything possible ought to be done to prove it. Finding the body of Jesus would hand Christian theology, as most have known it, a great blow. J. Dominic Crossan and others may be perfectly content with a “spirit being� resurrection, but the theology of the church has been that Jesus’ resurrection was his glorification, the first fruits of our own. Apart from the resurrection and ascension I have a very difficult time explaining the birth of the earliest church within a Jewish context and the concept of second coming. If it can be proven that Jesus’ bones were in the box (something that must be pursued, but I'm doubtful can be shown), then Paul was not only a great formulator; he was also the creator of Christianity as we know it. I’m sure we’ll hear more about this issue.

March 8-10, I will be in Cleveland, TN, at the Society for Pentecostal Studies yearly meeting. It is not a meeting that I often attend. I plan to every year, it just seems that something comes up making it impossible. I will report on my reflection of the meeting in my next entry.

Posted by Dwight at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)