The Semi (04-18-2005)
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Fuller Theological Seminary Digital Commons @ Fuller The SEMI (2001-2010) Fuller Seminary Publications 4-18-2005 The Semi (04-18-2005) Fuller Theological Seminary Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/fts-semi-6 Recommended Citation Fuller Theological Seminary, "The Semi (04-18-2005)" (2005). The SEMI (2001-2010). 147. https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/fts-semi-6/147 This Periodical is brought to you for free and open access by the Fuller Seminary Publications at Digital Commons @ Fuller. It has been accepted for inclusion in The SEMI (2001-2010) by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Fuller. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Spring Week 4 April 18 - 22,2005 A Reflection by Caleb Lund The church has established itself tions for this variety of claims as there sary, becomes a part of one’s lived reali over the years-year after year-since the are claims themselves. So never mind the ty. The habit thus deceives by coyly coming of Christ in all his glory. It has claims either. affirming itself in its repetition: it is jus undergone numerous permutations and Never mind the claims and the argu tified in its repetition. re-shapings, to the extent that its varied ment. Let the churches stand alone for a Second, consider what a psychology forms are more profuse now than has moment. Let the church as an ideal col student would call “neurosis.” A neurosis ever been the case. lapse in on itself. Let it stand without the deceives in an analogous way to the Still, as it stands, there are only two support of an argument or a claim to habit. By repetition, one’s person is split kinds of churches: the Church as it is authority. Let the church say nothing; or into two: 1) One’s self as self (essential meant to be and the church as it is not rather, let us say nothing for the church. ly), and 2) one’s self as personality. The meant to be. Or, put another way, there Allow instead for a series of questions danger here is equating any repeated, are two kinds of churches striving to be and musings on the subject. random, given, particularistic neurosis church right along side each other: One is Is it not true that often something is with one’s self, thus becoming assimilat striving in truth toward God’s ideal con not what it claims to be? Is it not the ease ed into one’s neurosis, quietly and decep ception, and one is striving in untruth (in that when something displays itself to be tively. vain) away from God’s ideal conception. true it can purposefully deceive its audi We’ll get to the church qua church in Arguments as to which church of the ence? Or perhaps, what deceives may not just a minute, but first consider these two many churches fits into either of these seek to deceive (for it is not malicious), examples of self-deception. There is a designations are endless. So never mind but nevertheless it does deceive, similar strand at work in these exam the arguments themselves. Rather, con unknowingly. In this way it is self- ples—repetition. Repetition, as described sider the equal claims being made by deceived, ignorant of its own deception. above, is the process of doing something countless churches-in fact, consider all Two examples are readily at hand: over and over and over again-ad nause- the claims made by every church from First, consider the nature of habit, or am-to the extent that the truth about one past to present that they embody the habituation. Habituation is a process by self is supplanted by deception. church qua church. Subsequent to one’s which the repetition of an action of some interpretation, there are as many explana kind, be it ever so particular and unneces continued on page 9 Broken Seminary This Issue... Reflection by Paul D eveaux--------------- 2 If you would like to respond to George E Ladd and Fuller Seminary items in this or other issues, or to Students Reflect Reflection by Yongbom L e e --------------- 3 Nouwen Society Leaders Coming to Fuller - - 3 contribute an article of your own, on Church & Aids In Africa:Hope in the midst. .. forward your contribution to: Jennifer Reeve-Parker & Carmen Valdes - 4 semi-editor @ dept.fuller.edu. Seminary Campus Encounter: Veli-Matti Karkkainen - - 6 j^g£^J_SpringW eek4_»A£rnj_8-22:_2005j^ullerTheological Seminary » www.fuller.edu/student_Iife/SEMI/semi.asp Broken Seminary A.Reflection by Paul Deveaux________________________________________________________ ‘SE.MI Chris, a recent Fuller graduate, is the conversation within Fuller? What is S comectuujthe-i'nnectùiA the- campus planting a church in Long Beach. I had holding us back? Why can’t we try some ereafiny dialogue the privilege of having lunch with him a thing different? Dean of Students Ruth Vuong few weeks ago. As a relatively new sem Several weeks ago Fuller students Managing Editor Carmen Valdes inarian, I asked him what he would had the opportunity to go to the Editor Quentin P. Kinnison change or do different about his seminary Windrider Forum at the Sundance film [email protected] Production Editor experience. He said that he definitely festival. I heard one student say that her Ray Choi Ads Coordinator Michelle Harwell would not study harder, but invest more entire experience at Fuller was worth that semi-ads @dept.fuller.edu time into relationships with his class one experience. (There is currently a mates. He is finding his vocation bureaucratic struggle for these students The SEMI is published weekly as a service to the Fuller extremely lonely and he longs for a to get academic credit for their experi community by Student Life and Services, Fuller venue to discuss and work out his strug ence.) What other great educational Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA 91182. Articles and gles. commentaries do not necessarily reflect the views of the opportunities are being stifled by the fact Fuller administration or the SEMI. Final editorial respon “One could almost predict that the that we have to go to class? How many sibility rests with the dean of students. development of the Master of Divinity times have you had a great educational degree would serve as the religious experience interrupted by class? We need Letters to the editor: The SEMI welcomes brief responses equivalent of the M.B.A. Seminaries to articles and commentaries on issues relevant to the to find a way to alter the educational Fuller community. All submissions must include the began to produce what local churches model that we are in to make it useful to author’s name and contact information and are subject to perceived they needed: godly men who us. editing. had a professional understanding of the “But abundance has produced an ology, pastoral care, and management. Announcements: Notices may be submitted to semi- ironic result. The Information Age has ads @dept.fuller.edu or dropped off at the SEMI Office on Pastors were valued for their ability to unleashed a prosperity that in turn places the 2nd floor of Kreyssler Hall above the Catalyst. They bring and keep order rather than for their a premium on less rational sensibilities- must be submitted by the deadlines printed below and not ability to bring and lead change.”1 beauty, spirituality, emotion.”2 exceed 35 words. For Chris, Fuller’s mission is accom- We are moving from an information Advertisements: Notices for events not directly sponsored plished-or is it? Is there something al age to a conceptual age. We have so by a Fuller department, office, or organization will be wrong with theological education? In my much stuff that art becomes even more printed in the “Ads” section and charged per word. All first Foundations for Ministry seminar, valuable. (Just count the iPods next time requests should be made through the production editor at Dr. Eddie Gibbs spoke. It was akin to a you are on campus.) semi-ads @dept.fuller. edu. shotgun blast to the face. He said that the I have heard it argued that the rest of Submission Deadline old models of ministry were becoming the world isn’t postmodern yet, that the Spring Week 5 April 21 obsolete especially in pluralistic, urban Spring Week 6 April 28 U.S. and Europe are off way ahead of the Spring Week 7 May 5 contexts. He plainly told us that the theo rest of the world. If it’s true that cultural logical training that we would receive trends, ideology, and language are often would not be entirely adequate for min closely tied we should consider the fol Hours of Operation istry in a rapidly changing 21st century lowing facts. By 2010 India will be the context. We will a have to be life-long nation with the largest number of English learners as we continually confront new speakers.3 As China speeds through the Library/Computer questions. I could have easily brushed industrial revolution in an effort to create Lab these comments aside if they were com enough jobs it will be right behind us. ing from a twenty-something, postmod Why would we prepare for a reality that M - P 8am - 10:30pm ern guru, with the requisite piercings and is going away? It is no wonder that so Sat 9am-10:30pm tattoos, but Dr. Gibbs is an Anglican many feel the Church is irrelevant. Closed Sunday priest and has more years in ministry “In this case, they’ll realize they’re than I have on the planet; I was justifi not just in the certification business or Bookstore ably scared out of my mind.