Clarion: Journal of Spirituality and Justice

Watchmen versus Watchdogs by Brad Jersak

Many of the newsletters and articles that I’ve written throughout 2007 have been a repetitive reminder to the church that these days call for an upgrade in our discernment. I’m convinced that we must vigorously test the spirits (1 John 4:1-4) to see whether their messages originate in God. We do this both to guard ourselves from swallowing that which is toxic AND to avoid dismissing that which is essential. Sifting for truth enables us to watch for and watch out: we want all that God has for us—we want only what God has for us. 

That being said, one of my intercessors alerted me to the distinction between two types of discerning watchers. In prayer, she was shown the vast difference between those whom God has appointed as “watchmen” and those who’ve appointed themselves as “watchdogs.”

Eastern Orthodox perspective on "the End Times" by Archbishop Lazar Puhalo

As in most Christian sects, Orthodox Christians do believe in a “Final Judgment”, but the Orthodox differ in their belief in that people - ultimately - judge themselves...One Orthodox prayer says that God is "...everywhere present and fills all things.” Therefore, Hell, to the Orthodox Church, is only a metaphor. Hell isn’t a place of eternal punishment inflicted by God, but a human soul's inability to participate in God's infinite love, which is given freely and abundantly - to everyone - for all time.

On 8.19.07, Jerome McDonnell interviewed Archbishop Lazar on Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ 91.5 FM). To hear the interview, click here or on the "listen" link.

Cynic or Prophet? What’s the difference? by Brad Jersak

Cynical Prophets and Prophetic Cynics

In recent years, I’ve had the joy of pastoring many fine prophets, some highly gifted, some deeply wounded, and some with a potent combination of gifts and grief. I’ve know the sorrow of watching broken prophets decline into cynicism and the joy of walking cynics forward into their true calling as prophets. In some ways, cynics and prophets are exactly opposite; in other ways, there are virtually identical. Maybe they are the flesh and spirit manifestation of the same gift.

I am a Soldier by Ward Draper

“He was on me. Pounding my face. Threatening to kill me if I screamed. His hand across my mouth muffled my cries. I bite down, hard. His dirty hand flew from my lips and I could taste his blood on my tongue. I parted my mouth to scream fire for help but no one responds. His fist drove into my face again and again. I shut up. I feel him inside. I feel him inside. I wish I was beautiful. I want to be wanted. Why am I here? In the shadows, on my back, the tearing between my legs. I want to live. I am nothing. Why? He is standing now, and I am crying, he says something about killing me. He walks away and I cower, bleeding and ripped. Who will care, who loves me?”

Tolstoy on Non-resistance

Q.  But if that is the true meaning of the rule of non-resistance, can it always be put into practice?

A.  It can be put into practice like every virtue enjoined by the law of God.  A virtue cannot be practiced in all circumstances without self-sacrifice, privation, suffering, and in extreme cases loss of life itself.  But he who esteems life more than fulfilling the will of God is already dead to the only true life.  Trying to save his life he loses it.  Besides, generally speaking, where non-resistance costs the sacrifice of a single life of some material welfare, resistance costs a thousand such sacrifices.

Non-resistance is salvation; Resistance is ruin."

Q.  But so long as only a few act thus, what will happen to them?

A.  If only one man acted thus, and all the rest agreed to crucify him, would it not be nobler for him to die in the glory of non-resisting love, praying for his enemies, than to live to wear the crown of Caesar stained with the blood of the slain?

(Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You, Translated by Constance Garnett [Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1984], 14-15).

God's Gonna Cut You Down -- Johnny Cash

The Reddenbops of Saturn by Christine Pendleton

On Saturn, a planet far, far away lived a large group of Reddenbops that drooled over anything red. 

Their chubby cheeks and furry bellies could make anyone laugh and their Red Rock Palace was a breathtaking sight to behold.  There lived the King and Queen Reddenbop with all their expensive red objects and glistening red fur.  No one was redder than the King and Queen and their palace was heaven to the eyes of all the Reddenbops.

The Voice of Christ: Sweet and Salty by Brad Jersak

I was meditating on perceptions about God's voice that float around out there. To some, their experience of the prophetic message has been harsh, judgemental, and condemning. They relate strongly to wrath-of-God texts and visualize roaring, hairy prophets and flying spittle. Indeed, I’ve run into many a bleeding lamb who suffered abuse at the rod of messengers purporting to speak for God.

Others encounter a version of God's voice that seems too nice, continually evoking God’s love in syrupy forms that seem as banal as a “Precious Moments” figurine (and just as apt to sit dusty on a shelf). I received two emails this week that challenged me on that, warning me against hearing and teaching a sugar-coated version of Christ as we engage in “listening prayer.” As I’ve tried to discern the real issue in the company of some wise counsellors, what came was a balanced acknowledgement that the voice of Christ is both sweet and salty, but neither bitter nor sour (Rev. 10:10 notwithstanding).

Mysticeti Discernment by Brad Jersak

When it comes to discernment, we are and should be like the mysticeti. What are the mysticeti? Some sort of mystical magi? Not at all... that's just the technical name for our friends, the baleen whales. I believe that with those great baleen strainers of theirs, they have the corner on discernment and we might learn from them.

Rene Girard and Violence by Wayne Northey

Originally presented at South Langley Mennonite Brethren Church, April 29, 2001.

Love to God and love to neighbor are like two doors that open simultaneously, so that it is impossible to open the one without opening the other, and impossible to shut one without also shutting the other. –Søren Kierkegaard

Introduction

The Anglican apologist C.S. Lewis wrote of reading George Macdonald for the first time, and knowing he had just crossed a great frontier. About ten years ago, I was asked to review René Girard's Violence and the Sacred (1977), and felt a similar sense of having encountered a "great frontier". Evangelical author Donald Dayton wrote of so connecting to Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics that he fairly had to go out for regular walks during reading them to burn off the excess energy. Likewise, in engaging Thanksgiving weekend the recent anthology of Girard's works entitled The Girard Reader (1996) while accompanying my sons salmon fishing on the Chilliwack River, at times it was all I could do to restrain myself from overwhelming the roar of that river - and totally embarrassing my sons! - with wild cries of YEEESSS!!!