It was inevitable



 

For my Pauline Epistles class, we are reading An Introduction to the Study of Paul by David Horrell as a brief overview before we dive into each of his letters. (By the way, this is the first of 10 REQUIRED books we will be reading. I am torn between giddiness and fear. Such is the nerd lifestyle.) Anyways, in the introduction, Horrell notes that his aim in writing the book is not to necessarily to present what he "thinks Paul said, one particular interpretation of Paul" (p. ix); rather, he hopes to give the reader an idea of the current critical topography in Pauline studies.

 

So far, so good. But then I started getting a little nervous, for various reasons:

• The above quote is Horrell's paraphrase of a statement by N.T. Wright. I probably don't even have to list anything else.
• In attempting to remain critically neutral, Horrell also takes a theologically "neutral" stance on the historicity of Luke's account of early church life in Acts or traditional, orthodox doctrines such as inerrancy and inspiration.
• He suspects whether half of Paul's epistles were really written by him, or even during his lifetime.

Then there was this kicker:

• "Conversely, the title 'Christ' is never found directly on the lips of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels, but appears frequently throughout Paul's letters. Most scholars would agree that the early church developed  an increasingly high 'Christology' - that is, its view of the person of Christ - which may have been an appropriate reflection of who Jesus was, seen in light of his resurrection, but can hardly have been a reflection of how Jesus himself understood his identity." (p. 10)

Aaaanndd I am only two chapters in. This is going to be an interesting read.

 

But to depart from all of my naysaying, there are a few observations I've appreciated in the book. One of the most interesting things it highlights is Paul's tendency to utilize preexisting formulae such as creedal statements or hymns throughout the text of his letters. Some of the more obvious which come to mind:

• 1 Timothy 3:15-16
  "By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
  He who was revealed in the flesh,
  Was vindicated in the Spirit,
  Seen by angels,
  Proclaimed among the nations,
  Believed on in the world,
  Taken up in glory."
• Ephesians 5:14
  “Awake, sleeper,
  And arise from the dead,
  And Christ will shine on you.”

I've only mildly followed the current debate amongst Reformed Baptists over the issue of Confessionalism, so I'm not the person to consult for earth-shattering arguments. However, seeing how Paul makes robust use of creedal statements in his own apostolic writing speaks to the high value he placed on such tools in church life. In light of the arguments promoting a Bible-only approach to theology, what do we make of passages of Scripture which include preexisting creedal statements? It's kind of a paradox. All in all, I find this to be one of the strongest incentives for adopting a confessional perspective in my theology. So there's my two cents.

Cambridge

Update on debit card saga: It is now working. I have money. Now I just have to figure out how to make sense of infinite varieties of coins they use here.

 

It's been a while, I know. My internet connection here is rather sketchy so uploading pictures to this blog is next to impossible. And I didn't want to post without including some. All of this is just a long-winded way of refusing to accept responsibility for neglecting ye olde blog.

 

But at last, I here give you the colleges of Cambridge:

 

 

 

This is the view from the main bridge in the city. On the left (only its shadow is visible) is Magdalene College, and on the right are all the punting boats. If you keep going to the right, you'll end up in the center of the city. The high street (main street) is full of a bunch of random shops and restaurants. Every day I pass things like "Byron's Proper Hamburgers" and an indie music shop which sells ridiculously cheap British cds. There's also a Sainsbury's grocery store which sells even cheaper pizzas and has a self-checkout which is eerily similar to the ones we have in the US, except the accent of the audio instructions is British. That threw us.

 

 

This is the Round Church. Also the second oldest building in the city. Because it's next to a major crossroads, it's a good landmark to orient yourself from for directions. An evangelical organization maintains the church and offers a bunch of tours and resources demonstrating the positive impact Christianity has left on Britain. I highly recommend visiting it.

 

 

 

This is Magdalene College's courtyard. I took the picture from underneath the gate. In front is the dining hall, and on the left is the Chapel. Magdalene was a big stop for us because this is where the great C.S. Lewis taught for the last years of his life. According to our tour guide, when Lewis would give the chapel devotional, he'd set a tea kettle going across the hall, and when it'd go off, he'd know that he was going on for too long. I found that entertaining.

 

 

Trinity College's gate. In the alcove above the great gate, there's a statue of Henry VIII, who I believe was involved in founding the college. What a festive guy. Some of the famous students here included Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon. AND GEORGE HERBERT. AHHHHHH!!!!!!! It makes me giddy just thinking about it.

 

 

This is the chapel of Sidney Sussex College. Along with Emmanuel College, this was one of the biggest centers of Puritanism in England. Which is cool. However, there is another important thing about the college....

 

 

THEY HAVE OLIVER CROMWELL'S HEAD.

 

This is how the story goes: After the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II, there was a major PR overhaul and they were very concerned about erasing any signs of republicanism from the country. So in their efforts to cleanse England of the taint of Cromwell, the natural course of action was to dig up his body, lop off his head, and stick it on a pole outside Westminster. That'll show them. In what I think is a surprising case of longevity, it stayed there for something like 25 years. However, amid a dark and stormy night, a gust of wind blew it off the pole and the watchman chilling out nearby stashed the head and brought it home. It became a family heirloom, being passed down from generation to generation until the 60's, when, as the plaque says, they donated it to his alma mater.

 

I just love how random and macabre that story is. After reading about the first part in a history book when I just started homeschooling, I have always wondered whatever happened to the head. And now I know. It's in Sidney Sussex College's garden, and only the Warden knows where it's buried. 

 

King's College chapel. The picture is really dark, I know, but I needed proof that I was there. The structure dominates the surrounding area - it's HUGE. Sometime, when it isn't sunset, I'll come back and get a better picture.

 

Next to King's College is a plaque commemorating the site of the original White Horse Inn. Not only is it the namesake of the podcast, it was the heart of the Reformation in England. I reacted as any good reformed person ought to react. And now you have evidence.

 

---

 

So there's your short tour. Other interesting things:

• I found a copy of Harry Potter translated in classical Greek in one of the bookstores here. So English. So nerdy.
• The one hill in Cambridge is the site of an old roman fort/castle that used to control the area. I climbed to the top with some friends and the view is gorgeous. I'll add that to the list of photos I need to take.
• I now have a library card for the university library, which grants reading privileges. The place is so huge, I don't know what to do with myself inside it.

Coming back to the States is going to be hard. I am absolutely smitten with England. Pubs are fun. You can walk pretty much anywhere, and in the cases that you can't, there's fantastic public transportation. I've been spending an embarrassing amount of time planning trips around the country. I was going to go to Bedford today to see the John Bunyan attractions, but I don't have a bus pass (=cheaper fares), and it's cold outside. And by cold I mean upper 30's. I'm getting soft.

 

I made it to the congregation I'll be attending here - Cambridge Presbyterian Church. The people are lovely and very welcoming, and the preaching is excellent. I've already been invited to bible studies and people's homes for dinner, and got to grab some coffee with my new pastor. And then on top of all that, the building they meet in on Sunday mornings is incredible. Every surface is covered in some form of Gothic Revival décor. As much as I miss my church in Milwaukee, I know I am in a very good place here as well.

 

Also of interest, I had my first week of classes. Philosophy of Religion has emerged the frontrunner. Throughout the two hour class period, I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat, barely able to stay calm because IT IS THAT GOOD. Christianity and the Arts is also going to be lovely, with all of the fieldtrips we have planned. Keywords include "Roman Villa" and "Salisbury Cathedral." And then there's the whole issue of the 2nd Commandment and its implications on art. I'm the lone descendant of the Puritans here, so it's going to be a trip.

 

Off to buy some shampoo and $0.30 pasta from Aldi. Not going to confirm or deny whether we have been living off the latter. Living the dream.

International travel is a joy

Or, in which Sarah discovers she has a disturbingly deep-seated Type A personality.

 

This was my plan before I left:

 

1/7

9pm: Magically fall asleep on the transatlantic flight

 

1/8

• 9.30am (3:30 central): Grab bags
• 11am Hop a train from Heathrow to Cambridge
• 12.30pm: Walk from station to school, because it's only a mile
• 1pm: Get settled, eat lunch, buy stuff
• 6pm: Orientation dinner

So naïve. So precious.

 

What actually happened:

 

1/7

• 9pm (8 central): Pilot informs us we will arrive in London an hour earlier than expected. Who needs that full 6.5 hours of sleep when you have a train ride waiting for you to catch up?
• 9.45pm: Give up on anything close to 6 hours because they are serving a meal and as a college student, YOU DO NOT PASS UP A FREE HOT MEAL.
• 11.30pm: Abandon all ideas of sleep because a child has chosen to display what can only be described as a Herculean effort to produce as much noise as possible, for as long as possible, from human vocal cords.

1/8

• 7.30am (1:30 central): Wake up to breakfast being dropped in my lap. I ate that while we flew over Ireland, which was kind of cool. Motherland and all that.
• 8.45am: Disembark. Queue into UK border control.
• 9.15am: Baggage claim. Took forrrrreeeeevvvvverrrrr.
• 10.15am: Attempt an ATM. Debit card does not work. Console myself with going crazy on the free wifi as we wait for the last of us to arrive.
• 11.30am: Figure out our group is in separate terminals, and lose said wifi (=means of communication) as we trek toward the centrally-located bus station. As de facto ringleader of the expedition, I almost panic. But then we randomly run into Tom as we exit an elevator, and order is restored to the world.
• 12pm: Too overwhelmed to figure out the train system, we buy overpriced last minute tickets for buses which leave at 3. Bethany and I spend the time filming goofy facebook videos and embarrassing Tom in the process.
• 3pm. Bus trip. Since it's rush hour, it took 3 hours. I don't let myself fall asleep because I'm scared we will all miss our stop if everybody naps.
• 6pm. Finally arrive in Cambridge. This part has to be my favorite so far, because the three of us legged it from the bus station on the south side of the city center (over cobblestones) to school, on the north, with all of our baggage in tow. I had been studying maps of Cambridge before we got here, but there was one point where I had no idea where we were. I felt like Gandalf in Moria: "I have no memory of this place."
• 6.20pm. Finally arrive at school and find (to my horror) that they waited for us before they ate. British people are too polite; they make American me feel bad!!!

Things I am thankful for:

• Getting barely any sleep on the plane. I have no jet lag.
• The food on the plane was surprisingly satisfying. I still have leftover snacks.
• Taking the bus instead of the train. The train station is twice as far from school.
• Being almost-lost in Cambridge. We arbitrarily turned on "Emmanuel Street" because it was in the direction we needed. Later on, I realized that it was named for Emmanuel College, alma mater of my favorite Puritan, Thomas Watson. I WALKED BY HIS SCHOOL awegfovhfdag[rwgh9re0hghrepohagejrhataihjrea

So, besides the minor detail of being stranded in a foreign country with no money currently available, I am very much enjoying England. The terrain reminds me a lot of Wisconsin, except instead of fields and barns, they have fields and the occasional Georgian manor house. Also, it is extremely warm (55 degrees) for what I'm used to in January. They tell me this is unusually mild, but that is not stopping me from gleefully running around outside with no coat.

 

Off to go explore the city. Pictures forthcoming.

Hello, Goodbye

I fit my life inside this suitcase:

Chose 6 of these to bring with me:

It was originally 5, but my mad packing skills fall apart when it comes to books and I have no self control.

• Haykin, Rediscovering the Early Church Fathers
• Packer, Knowing God
• Wilson, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl
• Eco, The Name of the Rose
• Austen, Sense and Sensibility
• Barrs, Echoes of Eden

Rounded up this festive slew of official-looking documents:

Left a silly haiku on my professor's door:

Fixated on an over-dramatic-for-the-situation piece of poetry:

IN what torn ship so ever I embark,
That ship shall be my emblem of Thy ark ;
What sea soever swallow me, that flood
Shall be to me an emblem of Thy blood ;
Though Thou with clouds of anger do disguise
Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,
    Which, though they turn away sometimes,
        They never will despise.

I sacrifice this island unto Thee,
And all whom I love there, and who loved me ;
When I have put our seas 'twixt them and me,
Put thou Thy seas betwixt my sins and Thee.
As the tree's sap doth seek the root below
In winter, in my winter now I go,
    Where none but Thee, the eternal root
        Of true love, I may know.

(Donne, "A Hymn to Christ, at the Author's Last Going Into Germany")

And now I must go to bed. Goodbye America. Hello England.

Confessional doxology

Continuing to appreciate the anti-celebrity of Carl Trueman:

To many modern evangelical ears, the idea of a confession of faith sounds just too cerebral and propositional to have much to do with the idea of Christian praise and doxology. Indeed, given the way in which confessions are most obviously significant in confessional denominations, that is, as judicial documents for deciding who can belong and who cannot, it is easy even for those who delight in them to forget that doxology or praise is a vital aspect of their function. Indeed, we might go further and say that not only is this doxological dimension crucial to their use today; it is also vital to an understanding of how they came to be formulated in the first place. Historically, one could make the argument that Christian theology as a whole is one long, extended reflection upon the meaning and significance of that most basic doxological declaration, "Jesus is Lord!" and thus an attempt to provide a framework for understanding Christian praise. If we fail to make this connection, then our appreciation of the creeds and confessions of the church will be dramatically impoverished as, I would argue, will be our understanding of Christian worship itself. 

(The Creedal Imperative, p. 135)

Time travelling

Somehow, six years have gone by since I began blogging. How the heck did that happen? When I first started, my dad had just stopped writing on his own blog, and I was still very influenced by his site. It's weird to think I've now been at it for twice the amount of time he was. It seemed longer than three years.

On my flight back to Milwaukee today, I was reading Carl Trueman's The Creedal Imperative, and he referenced the last question of the Heidelberg Catechism. Said catechism has been sneakily becoming my favorite (as much as I appreciate the invaluable doctrinal precision of the Westminster). In what is probably an embarrassing confession to make following the previous sentence, I have never actually read the whole thing, and was shocked by how lovely the last question is:

129 Q. What does that little word "Amen" express? 

A. Amen means, This is sure to be! It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer, than that I really desire what I pray for.

 (Isa. 65:24; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:13)

At the crossroads of an old and new year, I want to fix this last question in my memory, as I did with the first several years ago. These bookends of the catechism echo what has been on my mind at the close and opening of a time of my life. God will always provide for His children in ways we can never imagine on our own.

Finally, with English shenanigans approaching in a matter of days, I am contemplating the unthinkable and debating whether to share this jolly old blog with my extremely wide and adoring sphere of acquaintances living in the Facebook. The upside is my minions friends and family will have a place to creep on my adventures in detail. The downside is that I will now have to be responsible for what I say. Decisions like these are the times that try men's souls.

And now I'm late to meet up with Maddie. Signing off. Don't miss me too much while I'm gone.