Comments on: “Terror Texts”: A Biblical Musical http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:11:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Rose Mawhorter http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3356 Rose Mawhorter Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:53:45 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3356 I think I'll temper my first comment just a little. I do agree with Elisha that we need to keep our audience in mind. I don't read my kids about Sodom and Gomorrah in all it's details. One good children's bible that I found from the 50's did a very nice job though by just saying that the men of Sodom were inhospitable and wanted the angels to come and "entertain" them. It's the truth, simplified, but not gutted entirely of the dirtiness of humanity, which would have been the case if the story was just omitted. Even our selective choice of bible stories can be evidence of moralizing truth. There are good ways of writing children's bibles or Sunday school lessons without stripping the truth out of the bible for purpose of teaching a moral lesson. Lots of people do a good job of this but I think it's more common than most of us want to believe. I think I’ll temper my first comment just a little. I do agree with Elisha that we need to keep our audience in mind. I don’t read my kids about Sodom and Gomorrah in all it’s details. One good children’s bible that I found from the 50’s did a very nice job though by just saying that the men of Sodom were inhospitable and wanted the angels to come and “entertain” them. It’s the truth, simplified, but not gutted entirely of the dirtiness of humanity, which would have been the case if the story was just omitted. Even our selective choice of bible stories can be evidence of moralizing truth. There are good ways of writing children’s bibles or Sunday school lessons without stripping the truth out of the bible for purpose of teaching a moral lesson. Lots of people do a good job of this but I think it’s more common than most of us want to believe.

]]> By: John Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3354 John Frye Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:43:01 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3354 Elisha, You're sweet. You know and I know the Bible has been dumbed-down to a "how to" book. It's become a "manual" for life. Rather than being this honest, graphic Story that sweeps us into the redeeming heart of God, we get nice Book of how-to's to live our lives. I know you don't want the Bible to be that. And I am not advocating grossing out kids. The bigger discussion is about how we view and use the Bible in its entirety. I love Sunday School teachers and I often do our church's "children's sermon." So, of course, discretion is necessary. As I've said before, we still have adults running around with flannel-graph ideas of Jesus as their Savior. Elisha,
You’re sweet. You know and I know the Bible has been dumbed-down to a “how to” book. It’s become a “manual” for life. Rather than being this honest, graphic Story that sweeps us into the redeeming heart of God, we get nice Book of how-to’s to live our lives. I know you don’t want the Bible to be that. And I am not advocating grossing out kids. The bigger discussion is about how we view and use the Bible in its entirety. I love Sunday School teachers and I often do our church’s “children’s sermon.” So, of course, discretion is necessary. As I’ve said before, we still have adults running around with flannel-graph ideas of Jesus as their Savior.

]]> By: elisha http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3353 elisha Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:51:06 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3353 Hey Mom & Dad! I agree with you both. My comment was just to say, let's not get mad at the sweet Sunday School teachers. :) Like I said, Ben reads the Bible, no censorship required; of course, not Lillian. But Sunday School has taught her "Jesus Loves Me" and that is beautiful. I'm thankful for this blog, especially this post, because you are speaking to people who may think *adults* only need Sunday School stories. Not so. Again, I was just adding my two cents, look! there's two more. :) Love you! Hey Mom & Dad!

I agree with you both. My comment was just to say, let’s not get mad at the sweet Sunday School teachers. :)

Like I said, Ben reads the Bible, no censorship required; of course, not Lillian. But Sunday School has taught her “Jesus Loves Me” and that is beautiful.

I’m thankful for this blog, especially this post, because you are speaking to people who may think *adults* only need Sunday School stories. Not so.

Again, I was just adding my two cents, look! there’s two more. :)

Love you!

]]> By: julie frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3352 julie frye Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:16:33 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3352 what work does it do in the lives of children? what work does it do in the lives of children?

]]> By: julie frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3351 julie frye Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:15:38 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3351 Elisha, I totally agree with you. I don't understand the need to teach the horrors of the Bible to everyone. I do understand that it is part of Scripture and shouldn't be ignored, but wait until it is appropriate for children to comprehend. We certainly wouldn't let them watch an R rated movie at such a young age. It is interesting that the Bible is full of these stories. Love, Mom Elisha,

I totally agree with you. I don’t understand the need to teach the horrors of the Bible to everyone. I do understand that it is part of Scripture and shouldn’t be ignored, but wait until it is appropriate for children to comprehend. We certainly wouldn’t let them watch an R rated movie at such a young age. It is interesting that the Bible is full of these stories.

Love, Mom

]]> By: John Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3350 John Frye Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:17:18 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3350 Elisha- Part 2, Oops! I must have hit a wrong button...it sent before I was finished. ;) We must have some since of the Bible's times and ways, if we are to enter into the Bible's wisdom. In an obsessively sanitized culture like ours we actually think we're smarter than God. We filter the Bible so that it cannot do its amazing work in our lives. Love, Dad Elisha- Part 2,
Oops! I must have hit a wrong button…it sent before I was finished. ;) We must have some since of the Bible’s times and ways, if we are to enter into the Bible’s wisdom. In an obsessively sanitized culture like ours we actually think we’re smarter than God. We filter the Bible so that it cannot do its amazing work in our lives.
Love,
Dad

]]> By: John Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3349 John Frye Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:12:44 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3349 Elisha, You're great, Hon. No one's out to "scare the crap of kids," but to question the way the Bible is turned to a Christianized Aesop's Fables...nice little stories with a tidy moral...clean your room, be kind to people, share, etc. Elisha,
You’re great, Hon. No one’s out to “scare the crap of kids,” but to question the way the Bible is turned to a Christianized Aesop’s Fables…nice little stories with a tidy moral…clean your room, be kind to people, share, etc.

]]> By: elisha http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3348 elisha Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:35:15 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3348 Ok, I have a couple kids here, too young for some of the "R-rated" stories of the Bible. But I don't think we need to put the blame on Sunday School teachers and stories. We "dumb" everything down for kids. It's part of protecting them and sheltering them until they are emotionally and cognitively ready for dealing with tough issues. My boys, ages 9 & 7, each have a Bible with the full text, nothing taken out. And my 9 year old reads as he chooses (I was surprised to see that he read Song of Solomon-"because it was short." Anyone want their 9 year old to "climb up her trunk and grasp hold of her fruit"? ;) ), but I'm not going to tuck my 2 1/2 year old daughter into bed with the graphic story of the concubine being chopped into 12 pieces. I'm just adding my two cents, because it seems like we might be starting to "blame" Sunday School, when the whole point of Sunday School is to introduce the stories of the Bible and Jesus, not scare the crap out of kids with blood and guts. That's all. Peace! Ok, I have a couple kids here, too young for some of the “R-rated” stories of the Bible. But I don’t think we need to put the blame on Sunday School teachers and stories. We “dumb” everything down for kids. It’s part of protecting them and sheltering them until they are emotionally and cognitively ready for dealing with tough issues.

My boys, ages 9 & 7, each have a Bible with the full text, nothing taken out. And my 9 year old reads as he chooses (I was surprised to see that he read Song of Solomon-”because it was short.” Anyone want their 9 year old to “climb up her trunk and grasp hold of her fruit”? ;) ), but I’m not going to tuck my 2 1/2 year old daughter into bed with the graphic story of the concubine being chopped into 12 pieces.

I’m just adding my two cents, because it seems like we might be starting to “blame” Sunday School, when the whole point of Sunday School is to introduce the stories of the Bible and Jesus, not scare the crap out of kids with blood and guts.

That’s all. Peace!

]]> By: John Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3347 John Frye Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:20:51 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3347 Andrew, I admire the courage of NW and the writer and actors in the musical. We need these kinds of expressions to get us back in touch with the Bible as God gave it. God bless!! Andrew,
I admire the courage of NW and the writer and actors in the musical. We need these kinds of expressions to get us back in touch with the Bible as God gave it. God bless!!

]]> By: Andrew http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/terror-texts-a-biblical-musical/comment-page-1#comment-3346 Andrew Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:13:41 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=496#comment-3346 I was in this show, and it's good to hear what people are saying about it. These stories are in the Bible for a reason and we need to discover their purpose. The second act of our show begins and ends with this verse: "In those days there was no king in israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes" Where was God during these hard times in Israel? He was still ever present! His people turned their back on him and ignored his laws. The people then fell in to chaos and disorder. I think that ties in wonderfully in today's culture. I was in this show, and it’s good to hear what people are saying about it. These stories are in the Bible for a reason and we need to discover their purpose.

The second act of our show begins and ends with this verse:

“In those days there was no king in israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes”

Where was God during these hard times in Israel? He was still ever present! His people turned their back on him and ignored his laws. The people then fell in to chaos and disorder. I think that ties in wonderfully in today’s culture.

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