7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 85)

1. I’ve arrived at the most stressful part of the year. Trying to get lots and lots of work done while still fitting in time for Easter, family, and friends. Making time for others is helping my sanity but really taking a hit on my schoolwork. So to alleviate some stress, here are some videos and songs that have brightened up the more stressful days lately.

2. Samuel L. Jackson artfully expresses the beauty of Boy Meets World. In related news, the Girl Meets World promo was released this week. Even if the new show is awful, I'll have to watch it for a bit just to see Corey and Topanga.

3. Action Bill. Lego stop motion, Shakespeare and Star Trek? What's not to like?

4. I finally got around to watching Scrubs. I knew I would like it when I realized that the writers clearly liked the same music as me. It fully won me over with Erasure's "A Little Respect" taking over the hospital.

5. All that is wonderful about being a girl in the '90s: Spice Girls and Disney princesses.

6. A slightly sacrilegious song to prepare for Holy Week.

7. A more serious song to prepare for Holy Week.

Council of Jerusalem (50)

I’ve decided to do a series on the official councils of the Church. Because doctrine is usually defined in face of heresy, councils are good ways of 1. learning doctrine of the Church and 2. learning some history of the Church. While councils usually clarify doctrine, it doesn’t stop heresies from continuing. But they do help us recognize and name those heresies and hopefully avoid them. 

Council of Jerusalem

The Council of Jerusalem is not really considered an ecumenical council. The religion had not yet spread far enough. Yet there was already divisions forming. This council is unique in that is recorded in the Bible and sets the president for further councils. Councils are usually called with the purpose of addressing divisive issues and clarifying doctrine as disagreements arise. The Council of Jerusalem was held around the year 50. 

Issues

The main issue at the time was whether Gentiles converts to Christianity first had to become Jews. Christianity was still seen as an extension of Judaism, so there was the idea that to be Christian meant to be Jewish. James and his followers believed that following traditional Judaism was part of accepting Christ as Messiah. Paul and his followers believed that Christ’s message was open to Gentiles without having to go through Judaism.

Results

It was determined that Christianity was separate from Judaism. Gentiles were not obligated to be circumcised or live under the Law of Moses. However, they were expected to follow the rules regarding idols, fornication, and blood (Acts 15). This created two set of rules: one for Jewish converts and one for Gentile converts. But over time, the Jewish converts were pushed out of their Jewish communities and began to reflect the Gentile Christian community more and more.

Heresies

I’m not really aware of any contemporary group that requires converts to get circumcised. But there still is debate about how Christians are supposed to follow (or not follow) Jewish law as listed in the Old Testament. The Council of Jerusalem was not about addressing a heresy so much as figuring out what this whole Christianity thing actually meant. Was it a branch of Judaism or something completely new? I for one am quite glad that it was opened up for everyone.

Annual Tithe

Tithing is usually thought of giving 10% of one’s income to the church. I always try to give what I can, but I’ve never followed the 10% rule. I’ve heard of churches that focus quite a bit on members giving a full 10%. That gives me that uneasy feeling of a church being more focused on its members financials than its members faithfulness. I wouldn’t want the church to demand 10% of my money.

Except I realized this season that the church does have a 10% demand. Lent constitutes about 10% of the year (10.9% to be exact). It is a time that is especially devoted to sacrifice and prayer. In a way, Lent seems kind of pointless, because it asks us to do what we already should be doing. And yet, we’re failing. That’s why we need a special time hollowed (hallowed?) out to consciously, collectively, try again. Lent is our opportunity to do what we’re supposed to and try to make it a habit. 

Much like a traditional tithe, it isn’t so much about exact change or exact minutes put into the offering. The tithe is about offering a portion of ourselves. It might be more or less than our neighbor’s offering, but like the widow in the temple who gave her last two coins, it is the intention and faith behind the offering that is important. We give what we can. It’s never enough, but it’s part of the journey forward.