Faith and Movies

April 10, 2011
led by Tom White

Why Study Movies?
1. The literature of our age, “the movies” are the form in which our times and our culture are best expressing themselves.
2. The art form of our age, many of the creative geniuses of our culture are working in this medium.
3. This is a group art form that is characteristic of our age; it reflects the technological revolution.
4. “The movies” are among the greatest teaching devices ever invented, influencing millions of people, across hundreds of cultures.
5. Most of us spend a lot of leisure time looking at movies, and you need to be aware of what is being done to you.
6. This is the best form of social history ever discovered; people will look at our movies in the future to see how we lived.


How to Watch a Movie
1. Good movies move ~ notice the word.
   a. There are lots of ways to make them move, but they have to do this.
   b. This is not a synonym for violence or for speed.
2. Good movies are visual ~ the sound is an afterthought.  One good rule here is that a good movie tells the story with the camera, rather than the dialogue.
   a. This is one of the things that distinguishes a movie from a canned play.
   b. Don’t fall into the trap of equating the movie’s worth with the nobility of its theme or the fashion of its subject matter, or the glamour of its cast.  As a movie, Singing in the Rain is far superior than The Ten Commandments.  This is true of most movie attempts to illustrate the Bible.  Most of them are bombastic and overly reverent.
   c. Movie acting is not to be equated with stage acting.  Movie acting and stage acting are two entirely different forms.  A movie actor works mostly with his face and hands;   it is close-up work.  Stage acting is exaggerated so that it can be seen and heard in the last row of the theatre.
   d. A real problem with film criticism is that, traditionally, American critics and reviewers are trained in theater.  They see theater as more glamorous and movies as sop for the commoners.  They are frustrated drama critics and they see movies as technological drama (they are listening to scripts).  I refer you to “The King’s Speech.”  Some of the condescending attitude toward American films and actors stems from this view point.

Paul: The Hymn to the Cross (Isaiah and Pericles)

April 3, 2011

Dr. Kenneth Bailey

A look at 1 Corinthians 1:17-2:2

Paul has several groups from different cultures that he needs to appeal to in his writing.  In the “Hymn to the Cross” he masterfully appeals to both Jewish and Greek listeners.

To appeal to Jewish listeners, Paul uses “ring composition.”  This is where the first Bible verses in a paragraph address certain themes, working down to the main theme, and then continue by reprising the initial themes in reverse.  See the end of this post for an example from Isaiah. 

In the "Hymn to the Cross" (1 Cor 1:17-2:2), the central message is in verse 23 “But we preach Christ crucified.”  This is like the meat of the sandwich, and the surrounding verses on either side are like the bread surrounding it.  Another example Paul is drawing from is found in Isaiah 50:4-11.  

For Paul’s appeal to the Greek side, we turn to Pericles’ Epitaphios – a speech given about a hero who died to save.  This speech preserves the traditions of Greek oratory.  In the "Hymn to the Cross" Paul uses many of the same oratory techniques as Pericles.

Conclusion:  In this “Hymn to the Cross” in 1 Cor, Paul is appealing both to Jewish readers and Greek readers.  The Jew would say, “Ah, he’s talking about the Suffering Servant from Isaiah.” The Greek would say, “Oh, he’s debating Pericles.”

An example of ring composition, as found in Isaiah 28:14-18.

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers

   who rule this people in Jerusalem.

Section 1 (verse 15a) COVENANT WITH Death and Sheol affirmed! Scourge avoided:

15 Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death,

   and with Sheol we have an agreement;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through

   it will not come to us;

Section 2 (verse 15b) REFUGE/shelter

for we have made lies our refuge,

   and in falsehood we have taken shelter’;

Section 3 (verse 16): BUILDING material:

16 therefore thus says the Lord God,

See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone,

   a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation:

Section 4 (end of verse 16): Inscription/ Future Hope.  This is the central message.

   ‘He who believes will not be shaken.’

Section 5 (verse 17a): BUILDING tools:

17 And I will make justice the line,

   and righteousness the plummet;

Section 6 (verse 17b): REFUGE/shelter:

hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

   and waters will overwhelm the shelter.

Section 7 (verse 18) COVENANT WITH Death and Sheol cancelled! Scourge destroys:

18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled,

   and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through

   you will be beaten down by it.

The Power of Love to Transform

Learning to Love People, Part 3


Our ability to love is from God, not ourselves.

Loving someone won’t change THEM. Only God can change them.

Love is an action, not a feeling.

When deciding how to proceed, ask, “Can I do this and still be loving?”

When someone doesn’t respond to love, don’t take it personally. AND it doesn’t absolve you of responsibility.

You can’t always plan when to love; sometimes you find yourself in that situation, like the Good Samaritan.


Quotes:
“When I practice tolerance, I become more tolerable.” –Jan O.

And my favorite quote from Bob:
“Ask God to fill us with love, so when we’re shaken, that’s what spills out.”


Thanks to Jan F. for these notes!