Doctor Who is being featured in a worship service held in Cardiff on Sunday September 23, near the site of the fictional rift in time. Worshippers are being invited to compare a Time Lord with the Lord of Time during a eucharistic service.
Taste is a new cafe style worship experience for young people in Cardiff, part of the Anglican-sponsored Enter the Mystery experience. Teenagers and young people in their early 20s are being targeted for the “cafe-style” Communion service, with music and video clips from the hit series, at St Paul’s Church in Grangetown, Cardiff.
The Anglican church was used as a location two years ago for the Father’s Day episode of the first series, in which a giant reaper creature attacked wedding guests at the church.
Fr Dean Atkins, youth officer with the Diocese of Llandaff and one of the organisers of the service, said: “The figure of Doctor Who is somebody who comes to save the world, almost a Messiah figure. In the series there are lots of references to salvation and the doctor being almost immortal. We are using the figure of Doctor Who as a parable of Christ. The language used in the series lends itself to exploring the Christian faith.”
He added: “Christ is a kind of cosmic figure as well if you like, somebody who does not travel through time but all eternity is found in him. He is a kind of encapsulation of the beginning and the end, in fact he existed before time began and he will exist when time ends.”
Parish priest Fr Ben Andrews said: “I love the series, and it has such a great following that we couldn’t resist doing something for young people on a Doctor Who theme. Lots of people think that young people are the future of the Church. This kind of event will show they are part of the church of the present and have an important part to play in its future. We are building on the past but always looking forward.”
See the story on the BBC site, including a streamed interview with Dean Atkins.
Victory Family Church in Decatur, Texas, has hit the news with a billboard with the words, “I Hate Victory Family Church’, Satan”. The church is lapping up the publicity, enjoying the rise in hits to its web site, www.victoryfamilychurch.net.
Associate pastor Chris Bates said the web site has had more than 1,100 hits since the billboard went up. “That’s huge for a small church like us,” he said. Bates said his church isn’t done yet; the next billboard will read, “Victory Family Church stole my kids - Satan.” “It’s a different take on the God sign,” he said. “We just wanted something that didn’t look churchy.”
USA-wide church network Lifechurch TV runs satanhateslife.com, a web site associated with a billboard campaign for Billboards include the words, “I was robbed at lifechurch.tv”, “Lifechurch.tv is killing me”, and “Lifechurch.tv sucks”.
Cedarcreek, Ohio, one of those churches, provides the explanation:
“Satan wants people to be stuck in a meaningless, frustrated whirlwind with no apparent way out. But he knows better. He knows there is a way out and it’s found in a relationship with God, not in a religion. God is willing to forgive and forget your mistakes. Satan wants you to remain in a guilt-ridden state of mind and will constantly remind you of your miserable performance in life. Don’t fall for Satan’s tricks to get you to give up on and hate life. He hates life and hates you. God loves life and loves YOU! To find out more about God’s love, forgiveness and purpose click here.”
So what do you think? Is this an example of a church network with a sense of humour? Is it likely to get people thinking? I guess it depends on whether people believe in the existence of Satan or not. They do risk encouraging a polarisation in their community, unwittingly (or maybe consciously) inviting persecution and resentment.
How about the explanation of the gospel? Framing good news in the context of Satan’s hold on people is an approach used since the church first began - the Christus Victor approach. However the way this is written comes across like a political dirt campaign. It’s not convincing and paints the advertisers as people who believe in two choices - God or Satan. It assumes a common understanding of Satan.
A number of churches around Sydney this last week have put up signs saying “Jesus Loves Osama”, with the words from Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. Churches involved include Central Baptist and St Clement’s Anglican Church, Marrickville. I first heard about the story when ABC Radio Gold Coast rang up asking for some comments for their morning show tomorrow morning. The campaign has been organised by Outreach Media.
Andrew Bolt at the Herald Sun has provoked quite a conversation by linking the poster with Michael Leunig’s question, “Might we, can we, find a place in our heart for the humanity of Osama bin Laden and those others? On Christmas Day can we consider their suffering, their children and the possibility that they too have their goodness? It is a family day, and Osama is our relative.”
So does Jesus love Osama? I asked that question on the night of the September 11 bombings. At a memorial service on the Gold Coast we put up images from the web showing the destruction and horror of the day, along with pictures of human compassion and courage amid the suffering. We also had a photograph of Osama Bin Laden. I had the challenge of weaving into the prayers thoughts for this man and his colleagues.
1. Which Osama?
We assume they’re talking about Osama Bin Laden, the ringleader of the Al Quaeda. Of course there are thousands of people in the world called Osama. It’s a bit like saying “Jesus loves George”. So there’s nothing special about being called Osama then…
2. What is it about Osama Bin Laden that makes this statement neccessary?
We’re aware of Osama Bin Laden’s track record in sponsoring an underground revolution in Afghanistan, forcing Russian troops out of his country. And we’re aware of Osama Bin Laden’s track record in resourcing and training militants in campaigns of resistance and terrorism around the world, including the September 11 2001 bombing of the Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City. There are people who share the passions of Osama Bin Laden. There are people who are loved by Osama. But for many people this character does not qualify for the ‘lovable’ category.
3. What is it about Jesus that makes this statement possible?
Looking at Jesus’ track record we discover a tendency to search out people who have been rejected by their peers. In some cases he’s befriended people who have been spurned because of their despicable actions. In other cases it’s people who have been unfairly treated. What appears to be consistent is Jesus’ capacity for undeserved mercy (grace) for ’sinners’.
4. What kind of love are we talking about?
A common interpretation of the word ‘love’ is centred on the concept of affection and fondness. “I love that guy”. With that meaning inserted into the “Jesus loves Osama” statement we have a distorted perception of Osama, Jesus and love. The kind of love consistently shown by Jesus is more about the capacity of our creator to engage with creation with compassion, concern and call for renewal. This is the kind of love that sees beyond our perceived aggrievances and sees God’s gift of humanity even in the lives of abusive men and women. Jesus forgave even those who treated him unfairly and brought about his death. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. Abd yet God’s love is not about blind tolerance of destructive attitudes or behaviour. Jesus was not shy about calling people to model their lives on his compassionate love.
5. Can love go with the use of violence to prevent further destructive behaviour?
I think so. I would prefer that to embarking on a campaign of hate.
So what would you say in response to the statement, “Jesus loves Osama?”
Associate pastor Chris Bates said the web site has had more than 1,100 hits since the billboard went up. “That’s huge for a small church like us,” he said. Bates said his church isn’t done yet; the next billboard will read, “Victory Family Church stole my kids - Satan.” “It’s a different take on the God sign,” he said. “We just wanted something that didn’t look churchy.”
