Resources Reading the Word the Darkend Room Table Grace Out
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Issue #6 - 2006 CritiqueA Publication of Ransom Fellowship Helping Christians Develop Skill in Discernment 04 The Darkend Room David John Seel reviews a horror film, The Exorcism of Emily Rose. It’s designed to raise vital questions, for both Christians and non-Christians. 08 Table Grace In the first of a series, Karen and Stephen Baldwin help us reflect on how a simple 04 meal of corn bread and soup reveals grace. 12 11 Reading the Word The IVP Atlas of Bible History is an excellent new resource, with maps, charts, and artist’s renderings, to have at hand when reading Scripture. 12 Resources Travis Scott finds Donald Miller’s new book, To Own a Dragon, to be an insightful book on a topic of increasing importance in our fragmented world. 02 Editor’s Note 15 Out of Their Minds 03 Dialogue Quotes from Anthony Hoekema, John Stott, Tom Hodgkinson, and the Chief Rabbi 16 On the Web of London. Layout Paper & Graphics Editor’s Note Two new ong time read- tips—so we can get past theory and into ers of Critique everyday faithfulness. I thought of beginning L might notice this column when Margie and I were speaking something new in in Concord, NC, hosted by our dear friends, this issue. Two new Karen and Stephen Baldwin. They don’t just things important eat for nutrition, but because food is a good enough to mention grace of God and because hospitality is a form here: a new genre of radical Christian faithfulness in our frag- and a new column. mented world. They demonstrate how our The new table can be a grace extended to people who genre appears in live fast-food lives and often come from bro- The Darkened Room, our column on film. ken families where cooking together and eat- Movies have had a prominent emphasis in ing together rarely occurs. Critique. Film is a lively creative art, and Rachel, Stephen and Karen’s daughter, seems to be the visual art which has the great- mentioned that when she was in highschool est reach in, and the greatest impact on, our her friends loved to hang out at the Baldwin globalized world. Some films are merely home. Often they just happened to show up escapist entertainment, many are carefully in time for dinner. They were made welcome, crafted, thoughtful art. Nevertheless, films swept into the meal preparation and a lively both reflect and shape our world. Movies con- conversation which would be allowed to tain the stories of the postmodern generation, unfold naturally, often touching on what was and thus are central to an ongoing conversa- in the hearts of those who were there. The tion in our culture about the hopes, fears, Baldwin’s continue that same practice with ideas, and values that matter most. We want those God naturally brings into their lives, to be part of that conversation. their table and kitchen made into a place The thing that is new is that for the first where people meet grace. Not everyone can time we review a horror film. John Seel asks live like that, day by day, and since we have us to reflect on Scott Derrickson’s The different callings to pursue, we should not try. Exorcism of Emily Rose. He argues that the But meals are a part of everyone’s life, and film identifies an important aspect of the hospitality is a gift we can all offer to friends, Christian world view that most Christians co-workers, and neighbors who may not share have ceased to believe. That we have been so our deepest values and convictions. So, I hope molded by our culture that, contrary to what that Table Grace will help us all to seriously we claim in our creeds, we tend to see and live consider how we can grow ever more faithful life from a secular rather than a supernatural in offering the grace of food, unhurried time, perspective. Seel’s challenge is one I hope and conversation to a hungry and~Denis lonely Haack every reader will take to heart. world. The postmodern generation will not The new column we have decided to call come to church, but it will come to our table. Table Grace. It’s about food, the delight of I’m delighted Steve and Karen have consented cooking, meals, and hospitality. It’s where we to become Contributing Editors. will reflect on these essential aspects of com- ~Denis Haack munity, family, and life, and provide practical insight—like recipes, menus, and cooking Critique #6 - 2006 2 Dialogue Re: It wasn’t Chesterton, breaths of fresh air, & Narnia o the editor: music you have guided me to has been a won- I noticed in Critique #3-2006 (“Life, derful experience that has helped me get in T Love, Lust & Love: a review of Match touch with my humanity. It is so encouraging Point) that you attributed the quote, “Every to know that you and others have committed man who knocks on the door of a brothel is your lives to faithful, thoughtful, and refreshing looking for God” to G. K. Chesterton. cultural engagement. I look forward to your However, he didn’t write it. It is from the ministry in my life and in the lives of those I author Bruce Marshall in the book The World, meet in the next chapter of my life. Thank you the Flesh, and Father Smith published in 1945. for everything, and may God bless you. The actual line is: “I still prefer to believe that Stacy Kim sex is a substitute for religion and that the Fairfax, VA young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.” I don’t share o the editor: this to nitpick. I know you are concerned for For the past year, I have received accuracy and when I was doing research for one T issues of Critique and Notes from Toad of my books I had planned to use the same Hall and have enjoyed them thoroughly. I par- quote but the President of The Chesterton ticularly find the book and movie reviews help- Society was kind enough to correct me. ful, especially as I am going off to UNC-CH Peace and Prayers, next year. My friends and I will get together, Steven James watch a recommended movie (last week we via email watched Match Point) and usually discuss the movie afterwards. enis Haack responds: In Critique #9-2005, the Editor’s Note Thanks for the correction. I suppose (titled “An Unseemly Cheer”) talked about D one of the reasons this has so often been reactions to the film, The Lion, the Witch and attributed to Chesterton is that it sounds like the Wardrobe. I cannot help but heartily agree something he could have said, complete with with you in letting the film, book, (and gospel) wit and a level of insight into life that comes stand on its own. As a little girl, my mother only with deeply honed wisdom. I’m glad to would read the Narnia books to us, and at the get it right in the future. end I would always ask if Aslan was Jesus—just to be sure. But she would never answer me directly, which was very wise. At that time, I o the editor: could not reconcile the God I found in church I will graduate from Trinity to the God of these (and in these) stories. Years T Evangelical Divinity School next week later, He delighted me with Himself, but only with an MDiv, the fruit of 3+ years of laboring after that point could I love Aslan as I did in God’s word. As I face graduation and my Jesus. first full-time children’s ministry position I real- Thank you for your refreshing and win- ized how Ransom Fellowship has been an some articles. They are a delight. important part of this season of my life. Every Natalie J. Moore time I received Critique it was like a breath of via email fresh air—a reality check in the midst of exegetical and ultra-technical academia. The 3 Critique #6 - 2006 The Darkened Room A review of The Exorcism of Emily Rose by David John Seel, Jr. Confronting the Paradigms of Plausibility hen Jesus says to his disciples, “He who has ears to hear, let W him hear,” he is pointing out the simple but sobering fact that we tend to see what we want to see, hear what we want to hear, understand what we want to understand. Facts don’t speak for themselves. They are only meaningful Credits: within a given framework and the choice The Exorcism of Emily Rose of an interpretive framework will deter- Starring: mine which facts are important and what Laura Linney (Erin Bruner) they mean. More often than not, inter- Tom Wilkinson (Father Moore) pretive frameworks are culturally derived. Campbell Scott (Ethan Thomas) Jennifer Carpenter (Emily Rose) The zeitgeist dictates the boundaries of Colm Feore (Karl Gunderson) cognitive plausibility—what is thinkable, Joshua Close (Jason) Kenneth Welsh (Dr. Mueller) say-able, and doable. Duncan Fraser (Dr. Cartwright) For example, to be modern is to Mary Beth Hurt (Judge Brewster) Henry Czerny (Dr. Briggs) accept the premise that public life is to Shohreh Aghdashloo (Dr. Adani) be governed by science and reason, not consumerism. They have a point worth Director: by religion or revelation. Religion and Scott Derrickson acknowledging, even if we disagree with revelation is the province of a supposedly their means and ends.