Re: [asa] Fear and Loathing on this list

Of course he was exaggerating but had in mind the way that these texts have often been used - fortunately more in the past than today. The stereotype of "the Pharisees" as always hypocritical & self-righteous has been very common, & it has been extended to stereotypes of "the Jews" in general, even if it hasn't risen to the level of neo_Naziism or inciting pogroms. If you've never encountered this then you've been fortunate. The appropriate homiletical use of texts in this chapter would indeed be to address hypocrisy & other evils within the Christian community.

Shalom,
George

---- David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've heard plenty of sermons drawn from Matt. 23, none of which had anything
> to do with neo-Naziism or with the Jewish people at all, but all of which
> had to do with hypocrisy in the Church. Indeed, in many respects Matt. 23
> makes Preston's point, which is that we ought to spend more time critiquing
> ourselves than we do sniping at others.
>
> David W. Opderbeck
> Associate Professor of Law
> Seton Hall University Law School
> Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 5:07 PM, <gmurphy10@neo.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > The Dominican who taught the coourse I took on Matthew in seminary
> > commented when we got to this chapter, "You probably won't preach on Matthew
> > 23 very much - unless you're a neo-Nazi.
> >
> > Shalom,
> > George
> >
> > ---- "D. F. Siemens wrote:
> > > Preston,
> > > I note that you are comparing two groups with whom you meet and this
> > > list. While I agree that being polite is relevant, I have to note that
> > > there is a very different feel to face to face communication and the
> > > semi-anonymity of e-mail and other computer postings. There have been
> > > recent stories about people posting their nude photos on the Web, though
> > > the have been none that I have seen of any of them walking about town. I
> > > do recall a number of incidents of streaking, however.
> > >
> > > Additionally, I would call your attention to Matthew 23. I know of only
> > > one set of sermons with that chapter as the text. Out of curiosity, do
> > > any of the group know of a sermon based on that chapter? Additionally,
> > > it's been a while since I have heard a sermon explicitly on sin or on
> > > hell.
> > > Dave (ASA)
> > >
> > > On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:58:34 -0600 Preston Garrison <pngarrison@att.net>
> > > writes:
> > > > All,
> > > >
> > > > I have been lurking on this list more in recent weeks than I have
> > > > for
> > > > several years. As always there are brilliant people discussing deep
> > > >
> > > > topics. But there is something else that is consistent. There is a
> > > > constant current of sarcasm, declarations of war against this group
> > > >
> > > > or that, expressions of fear and despair about what is supposedly
> > > > befalling the church, and declarations from on high of what God
> > > > thinks about this or that.
> > > >
> > > > In the same period I have been meeting with two separate groups of
> > > > people locally. Both are composed of mixes of believers and atheists
> > > >
> > > > and agnostics, with a preponderance of unbelievers. In both of those
> > > >
> > > > groups, serious topics are discussed, scientific, political,
> > > > religious and philosophical, but everyone is treated with mutual
> > > > respect, there is humor, self-deprecation and even love. Even the
> > > > servers who bring the coffee are known and time is taken for them by
> > > >
> > > > both believers and unbelievers.
> > > >
> > > > I recently recommended this list indirectly to a young man who is
> > > > very intelligent and troubled about theological and scientific
> > > > issues. I have to say at this point that I think I made a mistake in
> > > >
> > > > doing so. If he looks here, he will find much more education and
> > > > brilliance than in the average church, but too much savagery for him
> > > >
> > > > to get much out of the intelligence.
> > > >
> > > > I just opened my Bible "randomly" to the following verse:
> > > >
> > > > If any man thinks himself religious, but does not bridle his tongue,
> > > >
> > > > but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is WORTHLESS. -
> > > > James 1:26
> > > >
> > > > Enough. Stop it. Repent. Consider that that none of us is right
> > > > about
> > > > everything. It isn't all of you. It is the same subset over and over
> > > >
> > > > and over again. You know who you are. Ask our Lord and the people
> > > > you
> > > > are insulting to forgive you and start praying for your intellectual
> > > >
> > > > enemies. Don't respond to me. It isn't me you have offended.
> > > >
> > > > Preston Garrison
> > > >
> > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
> > > > "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
> > > >
> > > >
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> > >
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> >
> >
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> >

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Received on Mon Feb 16 23:14:15 2009