Breaking the Fourth Wall

 

            In film-making, there is a concept called breaking the fourth wall in which one or several characters acknowledge the existence of the viewing audience and address the viewers as if they are participants in the ongoing events.

            The first, second, and third walls are like a box around a stage set: the back wall and the two side walls. The fourth wall is the wall visible to the characters in the play but totally transparent to the people watching the events as they occur. Traditionally, the actors and narrators are assumed to be unaware that they are being watched by the audience.

            Breaking the fourth wall occurs when a character in the play or film glances at the audience or camera, makes movements like a wink or a knowing smile which betray a knowledge of the existence of the audience, or actually speaks directly to the viewers. Occasionally, the narrative itself becomes self-aware. Examples of this phenomenon occur in the films, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the Marvel Deadpool films, and The Neverending Story, which can be seen to exhibit as many as seven levels of fourth wall breaking.  

            What does this have to do with this Christian blog? Well, this is in reference to the Bible itself. The Bible is holy, but as an object it is just a book, ink on sheets of paper, or, in our current modern days, the arrangement of millions of pixels on your cellphone screen.

            There are widely varying levels of reverence for the physical book itself, with some actually bordering on idolatry, but the physical book is just that, a book.

            Two ways of understanding the Bible are as a tool or as a weapon. Both understandings can be biblically supported.

            So, back to the subject of this post. Sitting on a shelf or lying on a desk the Bible is just a book. The thing which only Christians can understand is that once it is picked up and opened, the Bible is itself indwelled by the Holy Spirit, the same person who inhabits each of us. Just as we can use the Bible, so can he. It is one of the many ways he can speak directly to us.

            The Holy Spirit is aware as we read the biblical text and he guides us to new insights, the meat of the gospel, new levels of understanding which we as believers can gradually comprehend as we mature. How do we know this? The Bible tells us so.

            One of the activities of the Holy Spirit is the Reminding Ministry. He will guide you in the Bible to the answers or understandings which you need to further mature as a Christian.

            Isaiah 11:2; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:1-4, 6:19-20; Hebrews 5:12-13; John 14:17,26, 16:13; Romans 8:9; Colossians 1:27; 1 John 4:15.

Don’t Serve the Lord in Automatic Mode

 

       

                Have you ever driven home from work and, as you got out of the car, realized that you don’t remember anything at all about the trip? You were probably thinking about a problem you had at work that day or about the argument you are about to have with your wife. You drove a large metallic vehicle weighing several thousand pounds among other vehicles also driven by distracted persons, all in automatic mode, no thought involved. Everyone involved placed their bodies, and even their lives, at risk.

                Recently, I noticed a church organist who obviously looked down and adjusted his feet on the organ’s pedals before he began to play. He was paying attention to what he was doing because he was serving the Lord. At this particular church, there are three morning worship services so this was the third time the organist had played that morning.  He gave the third performance as much of himself as he did the first.

               "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24.

                Be intentional, not automatic. Not just while playing the organ, but also at work, while washing dishes, while working at the free medical clinic, while changing a baby diaper, and while driving home from work. This link, https://saintsontheloose.blogspot.com/search?q=brother+lawrence, will call up seven posts related to this current post.

Music Comment: WOW Christmas

Music Comment: WOW Christmas

Capitol Record’s WOW Worship release, WOW Christmas, is a 2 compact disk collection of “30 top Christian artists and holiday songs.” The songs are a mixture of religious and secular tunes all performed by Christian artists. All the songs have a Christmas theme. The musical styles range from contemporary pop, to country, to rap.  The artists include Casting Crowns, Sidewalk Prophets, Matthew West, Hillsong, Mandisa, Third Day, and Amy Grant.

Some may object that not all the songs are specifically  Christian. They include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “Jingle Bells.” The thing to remember is that all the artists are Christian. Their work is done “as to the Lord.”

Whether you are a lawyer, deliver dairy products, are a professional athlete, install carpet, perform lawn care, write magazine articles, are a soldier, drive a truck, are a hospital venipuncturist, grow potatoes, are a florist, or engage in any other legitimate occupation, the following words of Scripture apply to you. For the Christian there is no secular. We belong to God and all of our activities should be performed for His glory; “as to the Lord.”

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Colossians 3:23,24, NASB

“With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.” Ephesians 6:7-8, NASB

"Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

WOW Christmas WD2-888766

Ashton Kucher on Work, Manhood, and Conformity

This is surprisingly profound advice from a person whose public persona is as an intellectual lightweight.  The three ideas which Ashton Kucher presents in his short speech have parallels in Christianity. 

1.     Work is ennobling.  Kucher’s  best line is “opportunities look a lot like work.”  A Christian who is focused on Jesus will pay attention to details and will not take shortcuts which damage the quality of their work. You, the Christian, may not think that driving a cab, or cooking, or kicking a soccer ball is holy but that is what holiness means, separated for God, dedicated for God.  When ordinary work is done for God, it becomes holy.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

In Genesis 2:2, God’s activities in Creation are called “work.”  Genesis 2:15 says that man was created to work the earth.

2.     Kucher says that the traits of intelligence, generosity, and thoughtfulness in a man are “sexy” and that “everything else is crap.” The mature Christian man understands this.  Do not allow the world to confine you with its definitions of who you should be.  Be the Christ-like man into whom God is sanctifying you.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

The King James Version translates συλαγωγῶν as “spoil.”  It more accurately is “to carry off as spoil,” as in a treasure stolen by the victors in a battle. The New International Version translates the word as “takes you captive.”

3.     You do not have to be a sheep, living as the world tells you to.  Kusher is telling his listeners that they do not have to slavishly fit in, they do not have to follow the crowd.  Where this falls short of the Christian standard is in setting the ultimate standard as one’s own self.  The standard for the Christian is Jesus.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

Ashton Kuchner was raised in a Roman Catholic family but has said, "I try not to have religious beliefs.”  He is currently a student of the Kabbalah.

Honoring Your Father

The New York Yankees professional baseball team defeated The Baltimore Orioles 7-2 last Saturday night in the American League Division Series.  The team found out on Thursday from a newspaper report that manager Joe Girardi’s father died before the Saturday game. Girardi learned of his father’s death while on the team bus travelling from Yankee Stadium to Grand Central Station for a train ride to Baltimore for the game.  Why would Girardi have continued to manage his team and tell no one of his loss?

The answer: he was honoring his father.  One of the things his father taught him was to “finish the job.”  The father, Jerry Girardi, once illustrated the principle by finishing a home plumbing repair even though he broke his thumb during the repair.

“So I thought that’s what my dad would want me to do, so that’s what I tried to do.”

Honoring one’s parents means respect in what we say and what we do.  It is an attitude, a decision for action based not only on love but also on the position of authority into which our parents have been placed by God.  It is based not only on merit, what they “deserve,” but also on direct instructions from God.

What the Bible says about what Joe Girardi did.

“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

“Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Deuteronomy 5:16

“Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 19:19

“For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:” Mark 7:10

“Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;” Ephesians 6:2

“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.”  Luke 18:20

“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”  Matthew 15:4

“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.”  Mark 10:19

“And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: 19Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.” Jeremiah 35:18-19

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” Proverbs 1:8

“A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.”  Proverbs 13:1

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”  Colossians 3:20

Jesus practiced what the Bible taught.

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”  Luke 2:51

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”  Matthew 26:39

The Power of Words

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

James 3

1”My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

 Words can hurt, words can cut.  Words can also heal and empower.  Your words reflect what is in your heart.

Christians, with the Mind of Christ, can, as they listen to the Lord, be led to say the right things, the needed things, the things God wishes to be said, at the times He wishes them to be said.  If that sounds like a lot of responsibility, it is. But remember, God will never ask you to do more than He will empower you to do.

Proverbs 16:24, Psalms 39:1, Colossians 4:5-6, Ephesians 4:29.

Film Comment: At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul

Jose Mojica Marins (b. 1936, Brazil) is a director/actor of what would be known in the United States as independent, non-studio films, and is credited with producing the first Brazilian horror films.  Marins’ entire life has revolved around films; his father ran a movie house in Sao Paulo and the family lived in an apartment above the theater.

Though he has made and appeared in many other films, Marins is almost exclusively known for one recurring character, Ze do Caixao (Coffin Joe), who is always portrayed by Marins.  The character is so popular that he has appeared in films, on television,  in comic books, and in documentaries.  Mentions of Coffin Joe occur in numerous songs, magazine articles, and film reference books.  He even has been parodied in the short film, The Blind Date of Coffin Joe. (2008)

Coffin Joe is the embodiment of the amoral man dedicated to one thing and one thing only, himself.  Joe first appears in the 1964 film,  A Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma (At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul).  The film will not be confused with Citizen  Kane but is undeniably powerful.

There is an almost constant stream of eerie background noises, including ominous music, screams, animal sounds, and echoes.  The feeling of the film is quite intense and aggressive, pushing itself at you.  Just like Coffin Joe himself.

You Tube appears to have blocked this video.  Try this link instead.

Coffin Joe is an undertaker in a small, very superstitious town in rural Brazil.  Joe is a sadistic and brutal man who believes in nothing and enjoys the fear, disgust, and open hatred shown to him by the townspeople.  He believes himself to be infinitely superior to  all of them, For him, they exist only for his pleasure and for the accomplishment of his desires.  They are his slaves and he brutalizes them to force their obedience to him.

The one thing that Joe wants above all else is immortality, to be remembered forever.  Since he does not believe in God or the Devil and knows that he will eventually die, Joe decides that his name must live forever; in order to ensure “the continuity of blood” he decides that he must have a son, a perfect son.

To produce a perfect son, Joe is willing to commit murder, rape, torture, or any other brutality.  He is the totality of everything which is evil about the self.

The Christian view is that the self is the problem.  The Bible assumes that everyone loves themselves and it never says that we should hate ourselves.  What it does say is that we should love others as we love ourselves.  Romans 13:9-10, John 13:34-35, Colossians 3:12, Philippians 2:3, 1 Peter 5:5, James 3:13-18, 4:7.

Instead of prosperity (the heretical doctrine of the Prosperity Gospel), the Bible promises that we can expect opposition even from our own families and sometimes, persecution.  Matthew 10:34, 16:24-25.

Brothers, Sisters, and Saints

If you have read this blog for very long, you are aware that I do not refer to biblical persons as "Saint Paul" or "Saint Andrew" or "Saint Lydia."  I call them by their personal names.  I have to admit that this is partly due to my Protestant beliefs but I believe that there is strong biblical warrant for it.

The believers in the Bible called each other by their personal names and referred to one another as brothers and sisters.  Paul referred to the believers in the churches as ἁγίοις, "saints," "set apart ones."  This is the meaning of the word, set apart or separated for God.  We are all saints.

A few examples of this from scripture:

"Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:" Philippians 1:1

  

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:" 1 Corinthians 1:2

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: 2 Corinthians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 1:1

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Colossians 1:2

All the saints salute you. 2 Corinthians 13:13

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:13

Paul's Metaphor of the Old Man and the New man

Paul uses the metaphor of the “old man” and the “new man” to help explain what Christ did for us in His crucifixion.  Jesus was fully God.  Because He was also fully Human, His death was our death (Romans 6:6), His resurrection was our resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The excellent article in the link below is by Pastor Greg Herrick of Hillside Community Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  http://bible.org/article/“old-man”-and-“new-man”-paul 

Bible references:

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Colossians 3:9

“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” Ephesians 2:15

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Someone is Always Watching

“I grew up in Birmingham, Ala., a religious town. In my junior year of high school, something I had never expected started happening to my non-Jewish friends. They fell in love with their Christianity. They started reading the Bible. They would talk theology in the cafeteria. It was inspiring, and in a Jewish way, I began doing the same. I dusted off the Bible I had received as a bar mitzvah gift, and like my non-Jewish friends, read it cover to cover. The more engaged I became with my Judaism, the more I fell in love with it. By the time I was 17, I had set my sights on the rabbinate. In a way, my Southern Baptist friends turned me into a rabbi.” Rabbi Aaron Miller, assistant rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation, Washington, D.C. (USA)

Read the entire article here: 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/for-new-local-rabbi-a-blessed-life/2011/11/01/gIQADMKdfM_blog.html

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. “ Colossians 4:5

“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

Someone is always watching you even if you do not know it.  You are God's letter to them.  What will they read in that letter?

Comments About Laminin

There appears to be a great deal of excitement in the evangelical community about a protein, even though many don't really understand what a protein is.  The protein in question is laminin, one of the major proteins in the basal lamina.  Laminin has a cross-like structure with three short arms and one longer arm.  The three short arms link with those of other laminin molecules to form sheets of the protein.   The long arms bind the molecular sheets to cell membranes.  The effect is to be like a mesh holding everything together.  Read more about laminins here.

The shapes of proteins and their exposed surfaces determine their function.  Proteins are not rigid structures, but are flexible and constantly moving;  think of the arms on an octopus.  

Louie Giglio on laminin

colossians 1:17 - "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together"

Laminin

A non-believer’s very hostile response

A Christian scientist’s comments

http://www.chongsworship.com/2011/08/28/a-word-about-laminins-repost/ 

Our belief in the Gospel cannot be based on extra-biblical "evidences" like the Shroud of Turin, pieces of the True Cross of Christ, Christian relics of saints, water stains on a wall, the shape of a vine on a pole, the "face" of Jesus in a design on a billboard or on a piece of toast.  Even the strong evidences are just evidences, they prove nothing.  Listen to Dr Georgia Purdom from AnswersinGenesis.org, “Only if we start with the Bible as our ultimate standard can we have a worldview that is rational and makes sense of the evidence…”

Paul's Letter to the Laodiceans

Paul's letter to the Laodiceans is obviously a lost letter.

"And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea." Colossians 4:16


There have been numerous guesses (and that is all that they are) as to the identity of this letter.

It is a totally lost letter.

It is the book known as 1 Timothy.

http://www.godshew.org/PaulsEpistles.html 

It is the book known as Philemon   

http://columbusbiblechurch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54:colossiand-416&catid=37:articles&Itemid=59 

http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2003/2003-10-29.htm 

It is the book known as Ephesians

http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/20100808.htm 

http://www.onenesspentecostal.com/colossians.htm 

Some consider the sixth century letter mentioned on this web page to be the Letter to the Laodiceans, others insist that it is totally spurious.  No copy of this letter can be proven to have existed before 546 AD/CE, much later than any other biblical book.

http://reluctant-messenger.com/epistle-laodiceans.htm 

A Mormon perspective saying that the mention of this letter proves that the canon of Scripture is not closed.  The majority of Christians reject this as heretical.

http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/NewTestament/Colossians4.htm 

Book Comment: Will I See My Dog in Heaven?

Father Jack Wintz is a Franciscan and, so, he is in the tradition of the respect for animals expressed by St. Francis of Assisi.  Wintz's book, Will I See My Dog in Heaven? God's Saving Love for the Whole family of Creation examines the question.

I am not convinced of the effectiveness or necessity of rituals such as the "Blessing of the Animals" as is practiced in some religious traditions, but these rituals are certainly not harmful or unbiblical.  It seems to me to be more for the humans than for the animals, since the animals are incapable of understanding what is being done for them.  They do understand the kindness and love with which they are treated.

One question which Father Wintz asks is "...does God's plan of salvation include only humans, or does it include animals too?  In even broader terms, does God intend the whole created world to be saved?"

Yes.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Colossians 1:20

 

Familial Relationships in the Bible: Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus

The earliest Christians were very few in number and were, in the beginning, mainly from a very small number of families.  This is a new, recurring segment on this blog and it will show, basically, who was related to who.

Many scholars believe that Apphia and Archippus (Colossians 4:17 and Philemon 2) were the wife and son of Philemon.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Alice Guy-Blache: (b. 1873, France – d. 1968, USA) Pioneering French filmmaker and director.  She was the first female film director and one of the first directors to make a fictional film.  She wrote, directed, and/or produced over 700 films.  In 1906, she made The Life of Christ. Roman Catholic.

Wang Ming-dao (b. 1900, China – d. 1991) Chinese evangelist, Protestant leader.  He founded the Christian Tabernacle in Beijing in 1925.  He advocated separation of church and state.  He was arrested in 1955 for refusing to join the state sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement.  He spent 22 years in prison.  Upon his release he became a leader in the illegal house church movement.  Founder of the Christian Church in Christ. Protestant fundamentalist.

Arizona Drane: (b. 1891?, Texas – d. 1963?; Best known as Arizona Dranes) Blind Holiness Gospel singer and pianist of African-American and Mexican ancestry.

Archippus: A Gentile convert in the city of Colossae, he is mentioned in Colossians 4:17 and exhorted to “complete the work you have received in the Lord.”  Also mentioned in Philemon 2.  He was possibly the son of Philemon.


Conchobar mac Meic Con Caille: (b. Ireland - d. 1176, France; aka Cornelius of Armagh, Cornelius McConchailleach) Irish Augustinian Archbishop of Armagh.  He died in France while returning from a pilgrimage to Rome.