My Seminary is a Time Machine

So apparently, my seminary's current chapel (which was built about two years ago) is either a time-traveling TARDIS, or has a much older sibling. Found this photo on the cover of one of my great-grandfather's church bulletins (photo of my seminary's chapel below):

(July 15, 1962)

(May 6, 2013)

Seven Reasons Why a Scientist Believes in God

Found this pamphlet in folder #131. "The Presence of God":

Seven Reasons Why a Scientist Believes in God

Martin Luther and the Reformation

Discovered this little tracing/cartoon that my great-grandpa included in one of his church bulletins for Reformation Sunday. What a curious-looking rendition of Martin Luther!

Church is the Most Important Institution?

As I was finishing up scanning folder #139. "The Sabbath: An Isle of Safety," I found this little blurb in the church bulletin for services at Pacific Methodist Church in Pacific, MO, for July 22, 1951:

"Some Sabbath Barbs," indeed. It is peculiar for me—a 21st century, 20-something Christian—to see such blatant pro-church propaganda. Did my great-grandfather's generation really believe that the "Churches are the most important institutions in any community"? The postmodern (and indeed, post-Christian) movement have defied such a notion quite heartily. So much so, in fact, that I think it would be difficult to find a Christian under the age of 30 that would agree with the "Sabbath Barbs" above. If you are a Christian (regardless of age), do you believe that the Church is the "most important institution" in a community, or are there others that serve equal or higher purpose?

Prayer for Humility—A Poem

Currently Scanning: #140. "Retailers of Religion"

I found this interesting poem among the many (and I mean MANY) clippings in folder #131. "The Presence of God":

Full text:

Prayer for Humility, by Burnham Eaton

God of the simple trees:

Deliver us from vainglory.

God of the flowering of the Earth:

Deliver us from pride.

—That we may reach toward Thee

As a bare tree in winter

Reaches toward the sun

Itself lined on every branch with light.

—That we may flower richly

As a tree in summer

Not from self-light

But from higher light.

—That our life my bear fruit

Not with pompous glitter

But as the forthright

And simple tree.

God of true light:

May we come as near to Thee

With as clear view unbroken

As the tree to the sky. . .

Help us to cast so lovely a shadow

Upon Earth.

Prayer for the Day of Atomic Bombs

Currently Scanning: 131. "The Presence of God."

One thing that is becoming increasingly evident about my great-grandfather as I learn more about him through his sermons is his strange combination of traditional, conservative theology and social progressivism. Yesterday's post featured a newspaper clipping of an article by Bob Jones. Today we have another clipping featuring a prayer against the violence and destruction caused by the American nuclear bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. In a time in which wars often had a definite cause behind which U.S. citizens could rally (far from the uncertain nature of our government's secret and numerous international "conflicts" we see most prominent today), to stand against the nuclear option as a viable form of warfare seems pretty bold to me.

Bob Jones, Why You Gotta Be Hatin' on Judas?

Currently Scanning: 121. "Rational Reasons for Our Faith in God."

Apparently, Pa found this article on Judas by Bob Jones helpful in sermon #105, "Lord, Is It I?".

I am not a fan. Obviously.

I don't appreciate Judas being referred to as the "picture of human depravity," nor the suggestion that those who fall under the vague label of "modernistic preachers and educators" should hang themselves. I much prefer Clarence Jordan's (a Southern Baptist!) description of Judas:

"[The Book of Acts] says Judas fell and busted open and his guts spilled out. Here I think we have a clue as to why Judas really betrayed his Lord. He's a man who has been subjected to great tension—the pull of Jesus Christ (the prophetic message of the Gospel) and the pull of Caiaphas the High Priest. The pull of this professional religious establishment and the pull of this prophetic Gospel pulled the man in two and broke him. His body symbolized what had already happened to his spirit. Judas was what we might call a busted gut Christian. And let me tell you his number is legion."—Clarence Jordan, "The Sons of God"