For the Life of the World - a sort of review, but not really

For the Life of the World: Letters to the Exiles

is a 7 part DVD series from Acton Institute and the boys of Jars of Clay

I suppose you would call it a worldview rumination- the seven parts are:

1. Exile

2. Love

3. Creative Service

4. Order

5. Wisdom

6. Wonder

7. Church

It's quite a quircky/hipster series. It is put together creatively with a nod to retro themes but a focus on modern culture and our relevance/purpose as Christian's within it. I think some adults would enjoy it and hopefully some youth. I might offer it up to the youth pastor when I'm done watching them as a teaching resource. I could see them provoking some good discussion.

Today I watched the part on Love.  He gave us very relevant facts that pointed out little to no difference between "church" peoples and secular divorce and pre-marital sex stats. This I knew but it is still a little shocking to ponder how close they are. 

He talked about God being relational. The triune God has the ability within himself to relate and so we have a dualism. On R. C. Sproul's radio broadcast this week a guest teacher was talking about how no other religion holds to a God capable of that. Not Allah, who is described as an all encompassing ONE, obviously not atheists, and also not the religions that say we are all "one". You know, the whole "we are God and God is us" sort of thinking so prevalent in modern spirituality.  The video sort of refers to the debate that surrounds marriage equality but avoids any direct stance or mention. I believe by its' very nature of saying God made man and woman to form a connection that was meant to be "turned outward" to the family it raises and community it lives in, that they are affirming traditional marriage. I think it would be fair to say the interaction we prize in the doctrine of the Trinity is continued and reflected by marriage. Also and more obviously the relationship of Christ to the church who are referred to repeatedly in the scriptures as the bridegroom and the bride.

Also, on the radio today doctor Albert Molher was stressing the importance of marriage as not only a contract but a covenant entered into. The purpose of it? to minimize sin. We live in a fallen world, and our God-given desires are warped by our sin nature. Marriage is a chance to sanctify and minimize the effect of that nature. I always tell myself something I heard early in my marriage, "you are his only legitimate resource". Physical intimacy is designed by God so we might cultivate a family and bless a community by providing what should be considered the very foundation of society, a stable family unit. Love is at the heart of God's economy. It is shown by Christs' willingness to enter a family and to show love and respect for that unit though it is often so flawed. Even tragic. A recurring theme to this series is found in it's title, that all this (in part 2's case the purpose of marriage) is for "the Life of the World". I don't know that I will post thoughts on each part of the series, it just seemed like too many things this week pointed to the subject of marriage to not take notice. (I'm listening God)