So I am sure many of you are wondering what Matt is reading these days (NOT LOL). So I will tell you anyways. Currently I am reading too many books to list, but some of the more recent ones pertain to the history of Roman, the world of Rome between 40 BC and 180 AD, and an interesting book on Generations in the United States. I find the book on Generations very interesting as the authors posit that there is a pattern in the psyche of a generation that influences the state of mind of the next generation and that as one examines the History of the United States there seems to be a pattern that repeats itself. Whether or not this is true, it does encourage my continued search for trying to understand why things are the way they are. The interesting question to me is how a people become who they are and how that changes over time and how impacts and disturbances both internal and external results in mind sets that look for scapegoats, whether they be the new group on the block, the foreigner, or the outcast. It continues to amaze me how Paul would say that there is neither Greek nor Jew, Slave nor Free, Man nor Woman as it described what it meant to be a follower of Christ. Such an attitude runs so contrary with how we react and understand our world. Mankind continues to try to explain why things are the way they are or at least how they should be and if they are not this is the major source of the angst and pain we feel both individually and corporately. If you look at who the state of Rome blamed for its problems, we only have to look at who we blame for ours. It seems that the Muslims today fill the role of the Christian in Roman times, it is the migrant who is not a citizen that is also to blame. Are our boarder issues significantly different that the limes of Rome. In someways yes as we dont yet have armed groups invading, but in terms of telling us who is an American I am not sure its much different that who was a barbarian that would seek to live within the boundaries of Rome. The tone of our discourse seems to convey that it is the other who is the enemy and the source of our discontent. Things seldom change. Perhaps the names do. But is not our call like that of Paul, to see the world as neither Greek, nor Jew, Slave nor Free, Man or Women, etc. etc. etc.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 00:09:11 +0000
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