The Ambiguity and Clarity of Scorcese's Silence

PLEASE NOTE: This film review/reflection goes into nearly every significant plot point. It assumes you've already seen the film or don't mind having the plot revealed to you.

The meaning of Martin Scorcese's film Silence emerges to us out of the fog, but then only slowly. And if the film is any indicator, the understanding God wants impart to us can take a lifetime to learn.

Several scenes throughout the film are shrouded in mist: dense, billowy clouds of gray persist for half a minute or more, out of which come people moving steadily toward us, all of whom rarely bring good news. The film's beginning and ending is enveloped with an audio fog, the "silence" of nature: the calming low-hum of insects, birds, and wind, a hum that can oddly enough become deafening and maddening in it's never ending silent blaring.

Derek Webb Isn't Exactly A Christian Anymore...Or is he?

So...according to an interview with the Give and Take podcast Derek Webb isn't exactly a Christian anymore...or is he? 

You can listen to the interview here: http://mygiveandtake.com/2016/04/22/a-conversation-with-derek-webb-and-david-zahl/ (here's the itunes link)

Webb was his typically provocative self during the interview and had many fascinating and insightful things to say about the current state of the music industry and about intentionally being an artist who flies under the radar, which in Webb's case means having enough committed fans that he makes a decent living but not enough fame that he has to make compromises in his art in the hopes of pleasing the adoring masses in the hopes of maintaining the fandom of the masses. Essentially, Webb has been able to make the kind of music he's wanted to throughout his career and he expresses his profound gratitude in the interview for this set of circumstances. Webb's career has certainly been a test case for pushing the boundaries as an artist (especially within the realm of "Christian Music"), being an innovator and disruptor on the economic side of his artistry (e.g., giving away his albums, starting Noisetrade), all while finding a decently modest amount of success and recognition (despite "flying below the radar" Webb is still pretty much in the upper echelon of known artists)

But in the interview (which was recorded after Webb's Mockingbird Conference, which was put on to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his landmark album) he also says he's scared to death of the new songs he's writing because of the stories he's telling. I have my guesses about what he means by this, and this is based on where he goes in the rest of the interview. Webb says he hasn't been going to church since his divorce and admitted infidelity to his ex-wife and artist Sandra McCracken. Webb says he is in the midst of a deconstruction and possible re-construction of his faith. He says that when he is in the realm of having and practicing his faith it takes on a relatively conservative theological bent. He has a pretty high ecclesiology, which means that if he were a Christian, his beliefs would not allow him to not be in Christian community, which is to say that his belief in Christ (when it is present) causes him to strongly believe that he should live in committed Christian community, which is to say he cannot allow himself to be one of the "spiritual but not religious" types who believe in Jesus in some personal way but do not practice their faith outwardly in a typical way such as regular church attendance. Here is a direct quote: "The last time I put any real thought into the construction of my theological grid, I don't know that I would allow myself Jesus without the Church...and so, is there a season where I'm having to say no to both for a minute? Maybe...? Um...and I think that if I come back to it I'm going to have both. I don't think there's a version..I have a very high view of Scripture. I have a very conservative theological ethic when I have it...That's the only answer I have right now."

Notice Webb's emphasis on the "if" and "when" of his beliefs. Webb seems to intentionally leave his self-definitions vague and the interviewer doesn't really press him to parse out where he presently finds himself on the spiritual map other than to say/ask "you don't exactly seem like a religious "none" but maybe more like a religious "done" (my paraphrase), titles which Webb mostly eschewed. Webb also noted that the turnover of his friends in the past 2 years have been near 100%, which is to say that he has almost an entirely different set of friends then he had before. He says he has found people to be more accepting in bars than in churches. They more readily accept you for your past than people in churches, who are more ok with you singing about your sins in your songs than actually being a sinner in real life.

So where will Webb go with his new batch of songs (which he says might take on a synth-heavy industrial rock tone—think Nine Inch Nails)? Will he turn his critical eye on the church who wasn't willing to accept his mistakes and who was not there for him when he needed them? Will he confess his personal doubts and struggles for belief? Will he bring to light the part he played in his failed marriage? Or will he be putting God himself on trial? Will this be a walking towards or moving away from faith record? I know—it is all speculation for the time being.

Here are the vital questions: has a prophetic voice for the Church led to doubt which has led to skepticism which has led to cynicism which has led to non-practicing unbelief? Has Webb allowed the witness of the Body of Christ to speak into his life or has he simply chosen to "go his own way"?

You can click here to see my article written as a counter argument to Webb's views on "Christian music: "Yes There Is Such a Thing As 'Christian Music': A response to Derek Webb

Sermon: Taking a Pilgrimage to the Wounds of Christ in the "Doubting Thomas" Story

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas,“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” —From John chapter 20

Within Christianity and human culture in general is the concept and practice of pilgrimage. When someone "goes on a pilgrimage" two important things happen to them at once. First, in a very physical sense they go on a journey, they travel to the place of their pilgrimage, they arrive there and take in all that that place is. Second, they prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the time they will spend in that place because the place itself means something and because they expect to have some kind of experience when they are in the place of their pilgrimage.

Where is God When a Tornado Hits?

Photo Courtesy of Heather Lockwood (https://www.facebook.com/heathAlocks)

I hesitate to even put up this post, I really do, but...

Most everyone knows by now a tornado ripped through central Illinois (specifically the towns of Washington and Pekin) on Sunday November 17, killing two people, injuring many others, and destroying some 1000 homes, leaving many many indefinitely homeless.

As people begin to pick up the pieces of their lives, inevitably questions will begin to emerge in an attempt to find meaning in what has happened, and eventually they will begin to point their questions heavenward:  "Why did this happen God?"  or even "God why did you allow this to happen?" and then "Why did this happen to some people and not others? Did the people who this happened to deserve to have their houses destroyed?"