Icons

I’m not talking about the faces of people we see on TV but the images of things we might see in a church.  Let me be more specific; images we might see in an orthodox or catholic church.  Why do these churches employ the aid of icons, whereas most protestant churches avoid them?  Go into an orthodox church and you’re likely to think you’re inside a building full of idols.  On the other hand, enter a baptist church and you’ll see nothing but white walls and windows.  Perhaps the reformers over-reacted when they rejected the iconography of the medival church.  Or maybe they were right to make the word, the central element in worship like in most protestant churches.  In my last post, I talked about the movie, Henry Poole is Here.  In the movie, we see a host of religious folks flocking to what appears to be an image of Jesus on a wall, and praying before it.  I asked one of my friends who was with me at the time whether they liked the movie.  They said that it was acceptable except for the idolatry.  This brings up a very interesting question.  Is it idolatry, in the negative sense of that word?  Is it comparable to praying before an image of Zeus?  What about before a cross or a bible?  I suppose I don’t have strong feeling either way, but I just want to bring up the question, is it okay to have icons in church? Put another way, are they helpful or sinful?

Henry Poole Is Here

A couple of weeks ago, I went with some friends to see the movie, Henry Poole Is Here.  Not really sure what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised.  The movie has strong religious overtones: the mute speak, the blind receive their sight, and the dead live.  It all revolves around a stain on a wall that some believe to be the face of God.  The movie is about finding hope through faith in the midst of chaos.  If you get a chance, check it out.

Derek Webb

I first came across Derek Webb as a senior in college, and didn’t really like his music.  That was over 5 years ago.  Now, I find myself going back to him over and over again.  His album, She Must And Shall Go Free, is one of my favorite.  It’s hard to pinpoint what it is that draws me to him.  Maybe it’s his brutal honesty or boldness in calling out the church for what she is.  Perhaps it’s his understanding of man’s depravity and the amazing love of a jealous husband for his bride.  Or maybe it’s the sacramentalism I hear in some of his songs.  Whatever it may be, he’s worth a listen if you can find him.