Comfort Theology or Worm Theology?

I was struck by a section in our book this week entitled, “Functional Consequences of Comfort Theology.”  Our author traces some of the classic Sociological theorists’ ideas concerning the declining significance of religion.  As a society, we find it unsettling to be poked and prodded by sermons from the pulpit.  We go to church to feel good, so don’t remind us that there are starving Africans across the world – we just want to get through this and back home to our roast beef dinner.  I believe our author makes a valid point, however, it also reminded me of a concept called “worm theology.”  Rebecca of Rebecca Writes poses how certain uncomfortable phases have been excluded for even our hymnbooks due to the possibility of making one uncomfortable in the service. Another blogger, Andy, responds to some of Rebecca’s comments.  Are we so self-possessed that we really are only out to make ourselves feel good?  That concerns me.  I don’t like to feel bad – who does?  But I also feel a responsibility to be aware and actively involved in serving God however He might call me to do that.  Seeking only comfort will not challenge me to expand my horizons nor broaden my knowledge about the world.  So there is a measure of discomfort that I must endure to become the servant He desires me to be. 

To Spank or not to Spank

This week our book takes a look at marriage and the family from a Christian perspective.  Since we are discussing family violence in class, I wanted to address the section in the chapter entitled, “Abusive Parents.”  In this section, the author refers to the believe that to spare the rod is to spoil the child.  Currently, the issue of corporal punishment (spanking) is a hot debate.  The AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics has taken a public stand against corporal punishment.  A well-known sociologist from the Family Violence Center at the University of New Hampshire, by the name of Murray Straus, also has researched the effects of corporal punishment within the family. His findings support the idea that corporal punishment can be detrimental to a child’s well-being.  This is a topic that most of us have very strong feelings about and most of those feelings come from the fact that we were spanked as children, and since we are all ok, then spanking must be ok.  I am not an advocate of using spanking as a method of discipline.  That does not mean that I think children should not be disciplined – I absolutely believe that children MUST be disciplined.  However, I fear that spanking children is the least effective way to accomplish what most parents desire to teach.  We know the Bible proverb about sparing the rod, but does that actually mean we are to beat our children with sticks?  Since most of us would not do that, then I believe the principle being taught in this proverb is that we are to effectively parent our children and teach them self-control.  I spanked my children very few times when they were growing up and if I had it to do allover again, I would not spank at all. 

Christian Schools

Our chapter this week talks about education and focuses on Christian schooling.  Here is a quote from the chapter, “The Christian school educational environment is not perfect…but… it is nearer what God would have us provide for our children than is available in the secular educational world, where God and His Word are not welcome. (pg. 241).”  All three of my children attended Christian schools for all of their primary and secondary education.  My husband and I made great financial sacrifices to provide them with this opportunity.  However, as my children reflect back on their experiences, they do not always see this as an advantage and feel that the restrictive environment of the Christian school was actually harmful to them in many ways.  I struggle with this concept.  Should we take our kids out of public schools and isolate them in the Christian school environment?  How harmful is the Dewey concept that was discussed in this chapter that forms the basis of public education; that is, that human nature is basically good and that the child will naturally seek the highest level?  Most of you have either had public or private education, though perhaps a few were homeschooled.  What do you think about this idea and about the things discussed concerning Christian schooling in this chapter?

Deviancy & the Christian

Understanding the concepts and theory of deviancy should be helpful to us as salt in the world.  As our author suggests, it will heighten our concern about the oppressed, sensitize us to legal controls, assist us in ministering to deviant segments, aid is in developing a more effective ministry to deviant populations, and make us aware of the problems of social and economic injustice.  One way we can become more involved in the criminal justice system is through something called Restorative Justice.  These are three principles that guide this program: 

1. Justice requires that we work to restore those who have been injured.
2. Those most directly involved and affected by crime should have the opportunity to participate fully in the response if they wish.
3. Government’s role is to preserve a just public order, and the community’s is to build and maintain a just peace.

The key values guiding these programs are encounter, amends, reintegration, and inclusion.  They work through a variety of forums to bring justice to the victim and restoration to the offender.  Their principles are built on biblical justice and the often bring victim and offenders together in a face-to-face encounter for mediation.  I think their plan is pretty good and would like to see more communities adopting policies like this and more Christians involved in criminal justice movements that are based on scripture. 

Socialization

How much influence does our primary socializing have on who we become?  This chapter gives us many insights into that question.  I am especially interested in the agents of socialization.   The author suggests that the 2 major agents are parents and schools.  In his analysis of sex-role acquisition, he makes some strong statements about the roles of men and women intentionally created by God or, as he calls it, “God ordained circumstances.”  He believes that there are parameters for each gender.   While I would agree with him in theory on this, I believe I would not be able to accept the parameters he sets forth as being “God ordained.”  In studying the life of Christ while he walked on this earth, I find him oftentimes showing women especially that they are released from the gender socialization that was imposed on them by their culture.  I actually believe that God ordained men and women to be more alike than different.  Sure there are some differences, especially biological differences but I see this in much the same way as racial difference.  God created men and women in diverse ways physically yet he tells us in many places that we are all the same.  We are one in Him.  He does not treat me differently because I am a woman and my male counterpart in a different way because he is simply male.  Therefore, it makes no sense to me that we treat each other differently due to our physical makeup.  We have been socialized that this is appropriate.  If you want to argue this point from a cultural or socialization aspect, then I can understand why we treat one another differently.  But to place parameters based on the Bible upon particular role behavior goes beyond what I believe was intended by God.  Much of what we learn as masculinity and femininity is simply the socialization process begun early in life.  It is important that we sort this out – this nature/nurture debate.  It has deep implications in each of our lives as we try to determine how best to please God. 

Christians & Racism

This chapter takes an interesting look at the history of racism in the church.  First it defines racism as, “the ideology that maintains that a group should be subordinated due to the alleged genetic or cultural inferiority (pg. 295).”  As I read through this, I was struck with a couple of things.  First, there is no strong admonition against slavery in the Bible.  There is, rather, a focus on equality.  It is interesting to see how we have gone through periods in time where different applications have been made using these passages.  “The curse of Ham” is a phrase you may have heard about.  It is the basic scripture that was used to justify slavery and later, under the Jim Crow laws, even segregation.  During my teenage years, in the 60’s (I know, that dates me!), this still existed.  One Christian college I visited as a high school senior had clearly defined laws of segregation for their white and black students.  That included no inter-racial dating.  These rules were justified using some of the scriptures used in this chapter.  I especially like the section on A Christian Response.  The author calls for use to “face squarely the inescapable fact that to do nothing about the system and its unintended consequences is to perpetuate its consequences (pg. 307).”  I believe we have a biblical obligation to diligently study our social system, as our author states, so that we can be better informed about issues such as this.  But beyond knowledge, there must be some action.  Once we know the problem exists, we are called to be agents of change.  That is why I believe it is important to engage in a discussion of our white privilege and how it has affected relationships even within the community of believers.  I am hopeful that discussion will lead to action or else this is all just an effort in futility. 

Biblical Authority & Cultural Relativism

The chapter for this week addresses the topic of how cultural relativism relates to our biblical worldview.  On page 53, the author asks, “Is there any place for a concept such as cultural relativity in a Christian world view?”  This is a good question and one I have asked myself many times over.  How does something that I was taught as “Truth” and coming from (supported by) the Word of God change over time?  Let me give you an example.  Growing up in the 60’s & 70’s, there were many cultural practices that I was forbidden to participate in because I was told it was “against my religion.”  First of all, that is a terrible phrase and I hope we never use it these days.  Nevertheless, I was told there were things Christians should not do because the Bible taught against it and now these same things are acceptable and not frowned upon.  Let me give you a few examples:  because my parents believed dancing was wrong, I was not permitted to participate in the gym classes where we did a section on square dancing each year.  I had to bring a signed statement from my parents, also signed by my pastor, which said that this practice was not acceptable and I should be excused from this.  So for 6 weeks each year, while the rest of my classmates square-danced, I sat on the sidelines and watched.  (It was not fun!).  Other examples are playing cards (we were not allowed to use face cards), mixed bathing (boys and girls swimming together in a pool), or inter-racial dating.  None of these issues was presented to me as preference but rather as biblical issues for which support for abstaining could be found in the Bible.  Today, both my parents and myself have rejected the basis for biblically abstaining from these issues but back then we believed with our whole hearts that these things were wrong.  We must be very careful to weed out the biblical absolutes from cultural preferences.  So often we get caught up in making judgments about culture and basing them on biblical principles when, in reality, it is a cultural issue or even a sub-culture issue.  The author of our book says, “It is important to remember that all cultures are relative, and this includes the cultures in which the Scriptures were given…We must look behind the cultural form recorded in Scripture to the divine, supracultural principle that will find its expression in a form compatible with the receiving culture.” 

Hello class!

Welcome to my sociology blog.  We will be discussing how Christians should react/act toward the issues of our social world.  How can we be salt in a world such as ours?  We hear that phrase “salt of the world” alot these days.  What does it mean?  So often, as Christians, we have a coded language that only we know the meaning of special words.  This is one of those pat phases we use all the time.  Pretend you have never heard the phase “salt of the world.”   How would you describe what that means without using those words?  For me, that means being real, acting out the love of God that was shown to me.  Mostly, I need to act out that love to those who do not know His love.  So I must engage in this society in which I live.  It is not just words (giving out tracks!) but rather physical action.  Not that there is anything wrong with giving out tracks – I sure have done alot of that myself – but true salt is those actions that have a lifechanging (savor-changing) effect on those around me.  I can’t do that if I surround myself with those like me so I have to move into circles where I am different.  This is why I love sociology.  It allows me to be engaged in a world that is very unsavory.  Some find that distasteful but I find it invigorating.