T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
---|
716.1 | wet blanket | USAT05::BENSON | Eternal Weltanschauung | Mon Apr 10 1995 14:59 | 5 |
|
What's wrong with this picture? A murder mystery put on by Christians
to raise money for missionaries?
jeff
|
716.2 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Friend will you be ready? | Mon Apr 10 1995 15:02 | 11 |
|
To be honest, I was wondering about that myself. Perhaps the author could
shed some more light?
Jim
|
716.3 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Mon Apr 10 1995 17:30 | 4 |
| Wet blanket #3... :-) I don't know either...but it sure seems to be
contradictory to what I'd identify with a church function.
|
716.4 | | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Tue Apr 11 1995 00:27 | 20 |
| Oh, really. Murder mysteries that I've been to have been light
enough to take kids to! Our chrurch put one on for a new
years eve party. Party-attenders were placed at tables with
people/couples they didn't know (expect their respective spouses
if appropriate.) This was to encourage parishoners to meet others
from the parish that they don't know. A brief play is presented
to help with some character development. Off-scene one of the
characters is murdered. We get some clues from the play, but
not enough to solve the mystery. The play sets the stage for
all the other characters to have a motive. Once the murder
occurs, the play ends, and all the characters are stationed
around the dinner hall, and we are supposed to ask them any
questions we can to gather clues. After about 30 minutes the
questioning stops, and we gather back at our assigned tables
and work together with the clues we've gathered to solve the
mystery. The table that collects the most key clues wins a
prize. The table that does the worst wins a booby prize.
It's lots of fun, and you get to meet people from your church
that you've never met before.
|
716.5 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Tue Apr 11 1995 02:17 | 3 |
| Thou shalt not murder... and a murder mystery?
Sorry but this does not compute to me.
|
716.6 | | RIPPER::BURT | Let us reason together | Tue Apr 11 1995 04:25 | 6 |
| Does this mean detective ficton is a no-no?
Time to go home....
I could murder a curry!
Chele
|
716.7 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Tue Apr 11 1995 05:15 | 35 |
| � Does this mean detective ficton is a no-no?
Depends on your particular sensitivity to the LORD on this matter.
I always felt uneasy reading the occasional popular murder mystery novel in
my youth, but couldn't pin down why, until some years ago, my wife and I
examined this before the LORD. By then I had given them up, but she had
started to enjoy them. She gave them up immediately.
Murder is a terrible crime, stealing stealing what belongs to the LORD -
the life of another. To make an amusement of the circumstances of murder
is to trivialise its importance - and, by association, His importance and
rights - in our hearts. Although the significance of the story is that the
perpetrator of a heinous crime is exposed, the fact of murder should be
further from our minds than to consider it a target upon which to hang
amusement.
Generally, people who read detective fiction at least think they do so as
an exercise in unraveling the clues, and the centrepiece of the murder is
merely an excuse, or motivation, for the problem. But in order to make a
problem of it, generally the novel has to weave a pattern of hatred and
distrust amongst its characters, leading to a climax where almost anyone
could have been motivated to hate someone so much that they murdered them.
In fact, they have, by the measure of Matthew 5:22. Had the focus of the
novel been on determining who had done some trivial - even non-sinful -
deed, few people's attention would persist to find the answer. The
whodunit is centred on sin, and in this world, it's hard enough to find
pure amusement without choosing one liable to make us weak in discernment.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy - think about such things."
Philippians 4:8
Andrew
|
716.8 | | USAT05::BENSON | Eternal Weltanschauung | Tue Apr 11 1995 10:40 | 5 |
|
The world says "the end justifies the means". The Christian should say,
"only good means justify a good end".
jeff
|
716.9 | Murder mystery - my two cents | SUBSYS::DYER | | Tue Apr 11 1995 10:54 | 19 |
| Hi All,
I do events and I often look for unique experiences for the attendees.
I did a murder mystery a couple of years ago "WHO KILLED THE BOSS?"
It was so much fun. There was nothing done in bad taste. It was always comical
and the fun part was trying to find out who dunnit. It is a fun way to get a
group of people together to break the ice.
If it is a church group - I would tend to be alot more sensitive in choosing
the group of actors/actresses. I would make sure that
the scenes and conversation are as pure as can be. Do your homework on what
company is hired.
I had a great experience and everyone had a great night.
Steve
|
716.10 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Friend will you be ready? | Tue Apr 11 1995 11:00 | 14 |
|
Well, its certainly not up to me to judge, but I don't believe that a church
should offer such entertainment. We like to have activities for fellowship,
but also to welcome visitors who might not otherwise attend church. Somehow,
I can't see us offering to introduce them to the love of Jesus Christ by
putting on a "murder mystery". And I'm not so sure that we need to provide
"entertainment" to obtain funds in support of missions.
Jim
|
716.11 | | USAT05::BENSON | Eternal Weltanschauung | Tue Apr 11 1995 13:28 | 6 |
|
I'm with Jim. It matters not how fun it is, it is probably
inappropriate. And this example lends further creedance to my concern
about our churches today.
jeff
|
716.12 | An Astronomer, A Telescope, and An Image | YIELD::BARBIERI | | Tue Apr 11 1995 14:40 | 72 |
| Hi,
The following is an analogy of what I believe will happen to
the last generation of God's faithful.
An astronomer has an awesome telescope. At night he looks into
the heavens and he comes upon something. He can't tell what it
is, but he knows something is there. The image simply looks 'less
dark' than the rest of the pitch blackness around. The image
attracts.
The focusing mechanism on the telescope is kind of weird because
its not easy getting the image clearly while it is way out.
Anyway, most nights, the astronomer keeps trying to focus in on
the image and the change in quality of the image is taking place,
but its not real discernable. The astronomer's zeal in focusing
in is not that great; it is dependant in part on how well focused
the image is.
One night the astronomer goes into his 'observatory' to hone in
on the image. Suddenly something happens. The image really comes
in. And it is GLORIOUS!!! He is so enamored by the image that
all He does is continue to focus it in. And the more He focuses,
the better the image. IT IS GLORIOUS!!
No one has to urge the astronomer to continue obtaining better
focus. The sight itself is all the motivation he needs. His life
is simply one of a path of continuing in on a better image.
Everything else is strange and dim. The IMAGE beckons him. It
calls him to another life and ANYTHING contrary to that image is
strange and dim.
The astronomer is me. The image is Christ hung for me. The focus
mechanism is my faith. Better focus implies a more mature faith
and implies a deeper sight of the crucified one. The beginning
stages of the experience relates to lukewarmness for we barely
see the cross AS IT REALLY IS.
The image suddenly coming into a much better focus corresponds to
a future event I hope to partake in. When Christ is seen much more
clearly as He is, the picture is so glorious that the process of
drinking in more and more drafts of the Crucified One is inexorable.
NO ONE can suppress this experience any more.
Hoover dam has broken loose. We are drinking in an avalanch of
good news.
Things strange and dim are anything uncrosslike. Christ is all in
all. All worldly amusements that once seemed completely harmless
are seen through the perspective of a clearer picture of the cross.
They are seen as INSANITY. A world is perishing and nothing makes
sense, but to convey this same image to others.
And the image will come into sharper and sharper focus for eternity.
The cross is infinite in depth. Praise God that it never comes
into perfect focus. The study of the cross is an eternal theme
for our faithful contemplation.
Oh may the day be soon that we see Christ hung for us in such a way
that to choose sin is simply impossible. Another sight is far too
glorious. Christ is the Chiefest among 10,000 and finally the
9,999 other things we might be up to are absurd next to Him.
You need not ask me what I think of this murder mystery.
"The path of the just is like a shining light that shines brighter
and brighter unto the perfect day."
Tony
|
716.13 | | USAT05::BENSON | Eternal Weltanschauung | Tue Apr 11 1995 14:54 | 15 |
|
Tony,
that is an interesting analogy. I will go even further with your
analogy though; it is not the last generation but this generation and
every generation before and after us. True Christians grow and mature
in our earthly lives in a significant fashion. We see Christ more
clearly every day thanks to God's sanctification of our lives. I do
not believe the last generation will necessarily have any greater
insight or proximity to Christ than we have or those who have gone
before us have had. It might even be argued that those Christians
further from Christ's death and ressurection will see even more dimly
due to the influence of the culture. But then maybe not.
jeff
|
716.14 | What next? Ban Nancy Drew from the parish library? | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Tue Apr 11 1995 14:57 | 6 |
| Jeff --
It's not like the murder mystery is being acted out from the
pulpit! It's just entertainment after all. And guess what?
The murdered character even appears at the curtain call --
ALIVE!
|
716.15 | I'll have to think about this. | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Tue Apr 11 1995 15:02 | 12 |
| <<< Note 716.14 by CSC32::J_OPPELT "Whatever happened to ADDATA?" >>>
> -< What next? Ban Nancy Drew from the parish library? >-
After thinking about this, I suppose someone could challenge me
with an example to the other extreme. Would it be appropriate
to have a mystery dinner theatre like the one I described back
there whereby the audience is asked to determine who the father
of the prostitute's baby really is...
|
716.16 | | USAT05::BENSON | Eternal Weltanschauung | Tue Apr 11 1995 15:05 | 8 |
|
Sorry Joe. I don't believe the end justifies the means. I don't
believe something as serious as the evil of murder should be
acted out by Christians. Andrew gave some good reasons for this in an
earlier note. I understand the appeal but I think it unwise, however
innocuous it may seem to you and others.
jeff
|
716.17 | | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Tue Apr 11 1995 15:12 | 3 |
| I realize that, Jeff. After thinking about this more, and as
indicated in my reply .15, I may actually be coming around to
seeing this as you do.
|
716.18 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Tue Apr 11 1995 18:43 | 5 |
| Interesting.. wanna laugh I read Joe's note on first glance as saying
Ban Ben, Nancy 'rew from ?????
Ben Price, me and Andrew from whatever! :-) :-)
|
716.19 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Wed Apr 12 1995 04:57 | 8 |
| Tony, loved .12 . Thanks. Only I too would see it as the experience of
every generation of believer, all culminating with seeing Him face to face
(1 John 3:2)...
thanks again...
Andrew
p.s. - Nancy - I fell into something of the name trap too... ;-)
|
716.20 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Wed Apr 12 1995 12:28 | 5 |
| I was thinking in the shower this morning...that if its wrong for a
church [or questionable] to host a murder mystery night, how much less
wrong is it for a Christian to be captivated by murder by movies?
Especially the bloody graphic ones of today.
|
716.21 | | USAT05::BENSON | Eternal Weltanschauung | Wed Apr 12 1995 12:37 | 4 |
|
good question, Nancy.
jeff
|
716.22 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Wed Apr 12 1995 12:45 | 6 |
| � how ... wrong is it for a Christian to be captivated by murder by movies?
I'd put them in the same cate-gory. Only potentially worse, because of the
graphic representation to the mind.
Andrew
|
716.23 | | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Wed Apr 12 1995 13:10 | 7 |
| Maybe it's a matter of impressions, Nancy. Being captivated
by a gory movie is a personal issue. If a church were to
sponsor the showing of that movie, it would give the impression
of the church condoning the contents. And I think that is really
the issue of this topic and a church hosting a murder-mystery
theater production. Does it say that the church condones a
lighthearted treatment of murder?
|
716.24 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Wed Apr 12 1995 13:33 | 11 |
| .23
I disagree with you Joe... I believe that as Christians we are to keep
our minds pure.. per the verses in rew's note previously.
I was VERY strict and disciplined about this in my not to distant past,
but have found myself over the last few months relaxing my own
convictions.. this concerns me for when the Lord comes I don't want to
be engaging my time in absorbing worldly values.
Nancy
|
716.25 | | BIGQ::SILVA | Diablo | Wed Apr 12 1995 14:04 | 3 |
|
Better stop watching Murder She Wrote!!!! :-)
|
716.26 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Wed Apr 12 1995 14:06 | 28 |
| Hi Joe,
The visual images of a movie can make a big impression on the mind.
Even if it's a poorly acted movie, unconvincing and weak, a shock visual
can be a significant input which is very difficult to erase, which can
recur from time to time, and bring unsuitable associations. It is an
opening for fear (eg portraying a frightening experience - an unpleasant
encounter in the dark, a mock-up of a violent scene, maybe with a body
injured, spilling blood).
Some of these things may happen in real life, when we need to deal with
them and let the LORD purge them out and heal us. But to choose to allow
them there as an 'amusement' is dangerous. It can give the enemy rights he
should not have.
I still think Philippians 4:8 is relevant here.
It hits an interesting problem with the portrayal of Bilblical events. I'm
not in favour of these myself for various reasons, but there's one I'm
thinking of in particular, which is the third of a trilogy on the
tribulation. A church I know saw the first one, and assumed that the third
would be similar in impact. Apparently it was gruesome, and kids were
having to leave, because it interfered with their digestive capabilities.
There are things we know happen - have happened, will happen - which we
have no need to be graphically precise about. The measured language and
expression of the Bible is totally adequate.
Andrew
|
716.27 | | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Wed Apr 12 1995 14:27 | 12 |
| Understand, please, that I'm no longer trying to support any
one position in this discussion. I am sufficiently confused
about my own position here that I don't want to be forced into
defending this or that. More than anything I'm just thinking
out loud at this point, and I really encourage more input for
digestion. Originally I was 100% in support of murder mysteries,
seeing them as harmless fun, and I related with fondness an
experience I had with one our church sponsored. But somewhere
around entries .14 and .15 I realized some things that I still
haven't worked through. I would still like to think these are
benign events, but cannot do that with the same fervor I did
just a few days ago.
|
716.28 | horror - from the pit of hell | GAVEL::MOSSEY | | Wed Apr 12 1995 14:57 | 32 |
| I was at a (christian) friend's home last night. This friend has a
19-year old girl who recently accepted Christ (December?) living
in her household. This girl had it rough growing up (abuse,
alcohol/drugs), as well as some psychological problems
(manic-depressive, I think). We were seated in the kitchen talking;
I went into the living room to talk to the 19-year old. She was
watching one of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' movies. I came into
the kitchen and said to my friend, "are you aware that <n> is watching
a horror movie?" She said no. I said "This really disturbs me, how
does this sit with you." She said she would address it with her - I was
there ALL evening (7pm - midnight), and she did not speak with <n>
then, so I presume she continued to watch the rest of the movie.
Firstly, I can't imagine the impact this movie was having on <n>;
especially given her personal history. (This particular series of
horror movie deals with an evil man killing children - maybe they all
do for that matter, I don't know.) I realize the she probably
grew up watching this stuff and so is therefore somewhat desensitized
to it. HOWEVER, it would seem to me, no matter how 'new' you are in
your faith in Jesus Christ, that the Holy Spirit would quicken you to
know that 'somethings-not-right-with-this-picture.'
Secondly, I was concerned with the basic fact of that garbage coming
into my friend's home AT ALL, whether someone sat there and watched it
or not.
I know they (my friends) are dealing with alot of stuff with this girl
right now, and I'm not judging any of them, I'm just concerned, both
for <n> and my friends, for what they are allowing into their spirits,
that the Lord would show them the seriousness of this.
Karen
|
716.29 | | MIMS::CASON_K | | Wed Apr 12 1995 15:32 | 20 |
| What would you (not anyone in particular) say if we had a benefit
concert with a popular heavy metal rock group blasting out lyrics about
the senselessness of life and suicide or how about a famous rap group
chanting about murdering this or that group? I think most, if not all
of us, would shout that suggestion down.
It sounds benign, as Joe put it, but I think ultimately it can have an
impact on our walk and witness. The Word says that its not what a man
eats that defiles him but what comes out of his mouth. It also says
that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So whatever
is most prominent in your heart will direct and control your walk and
conversation. That is determined by what you feed your spirit. If its
God's Word then God's character will flow from you. If its murder or
lust or greed or whatever then that's what will flow out of you.
Bitter and sweet water can not flow from the same fountain. God's
Spirit and God's Word is sweetness but the things of this world that
are contrary to His Word and His Spirit are bitterness.
Kent
|
716.30 | The event is meant to just have fun solving a mystery | SUBSYS::UYENO | | Wed Apr 12 1995 15:38 | 10 |
| The Murder Mystery Dinner Party mentioned in events is not sponsored by any church. The group involved is
doing it in order raise money that they can give towards mission work. The idea is just to get to know
each other and work together to solve a mystery. I guess unfortunately when one thinks of mysteries,
murder is usually the theme. Of course, someone did have a point in such that there goes Murder She Wrote
and shows similar to that. All the actors/actresses involved are Christians, so there won't be the impure
connotations I have seen with many mystery parties. If too many people are offended by such an event, I
can delete the entry.
-Alice Uyeno
|
716.31 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Friend will you be ready? | Wed Apr 12 1995 16:09 | 12 |
|
Why must there be entertainment involved in order to support missionaries,
who likely don't have a great deal of entertainment out in the field? Our
church manages to raise ~$85000/year for missions with a Faith Promise
program.
Jim
|
716.32 | | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Wed Apr 12 1995 16:21 | 34 |
| re .29
On being benign.
I wouldn't consider a suicide-rock group as being particularly
benign. But some might, which begs the question about where
we should draw the line. I originally saw murder mysteries
as being benign. But I realize that even something as mild as
that would not be sold by Feature Films for Families (I think
there is a topic on them in here somewhere). Likewise, Focus
on the Family's "Adventures on Odyssey" wouldn't partake of
something like that. Obviously these groups have drawn a
different line from what I would have drawn.
Someone back there spoke of violent films leaving lasting
impressions on us that we probably don't see. I wanted to
argue that there is a difference between graphic violence in
movies and a theatrical murdery mystery. That is probably
true, but it is only a matter of degrees, the more I think
about it. The same can be said of graphic sex vs sexual
innuendo on TV and in advertisements. The clothing ads we
see on TV may very well seem "benign", but they really bathe
us in a constant low-suggestion lust in a way. Cosmetics
and toiletries ads (shaving creams, soaps, fragrances, etc.)
also do. Car ads wash us in envy. Investment ads foment
personal dissatisfaction which can lead to greed. On what side
of "the line" do these fall?
So is an Ellery Queen novel on the wrong side of the line?
Angela Lansbury? Alfred Hitchcock? If so, do we also discard
Nancy Drew? The Hardy Boys? Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Three
Investigators'?
Is it all-or-nothing? Or do we draw lines?
|
716.34 | Whats The Motivation??? | YIELD::BARBIERI | | Wed Apr 12 1995 17:50 | 12 |
| re: .31
Good point Jim!
I believe the giving that God most honors is that giving that
flows from a nonegocentric motivation...not a "Whats in it for
me motivation."
No need for raffles, entertainment, just give to help those in
need!
Tony
|
716.35 | | MIMS::CASON_K | | Wed Apr 12 1995 17:56 | 18 |
| Joe,
I was using those examples to draw specifically the conclusion you came
to. Where do we draw the line? I don't think that the line should be
draw at the church doors either. It's okay as long as we don't do it
in church. First, that identifies church as something we attend rather
than something we are. It compartmentalizes life into what goes on at
church versus what goes on in the world. I think most people have a
clear concept of sacred and secular and some of the offence I'm hearing
in here is that we don't want to have a secular event (a play may be
secular such as a Passion Play) in a sacred setting. Its not so much a
matter of appropriateness so much as it is offending the sanctified
spirit. Our lives are to be holy (wholly) consecrated to God and
therefore if it's offensive in the church building then I think it should
also be offensive in my living room.
Kent
|
716.37 | | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Wed Apr 12 1995 18:17 | 3 |
| Even more to think about!
Thanks, Kent.
|
716.38 | | WRKSYS::CAMUSO | alphabits | Wed Apr 12 1995 18:20 | 10 |
| RE: last few
Excellent replies! Most Menonite and all Remnant fellowships
eschew TV and drama. None of them seem to be missing anything or
hurt by it. In fact, their family lives are exemplary, to say the
least.
Regards,
TonyC
|
716.39 | re: .31 (modified to fit within 80 column width) | SUBSYS::UYENO | | Wed Apr 12 1995 18:26 | 4 |
| There doesn't have to be entertainment involved to raise money for missions.
This is just an individual's effort to raise more money so they can put more
money in for the effort. Remember this is just a group of
individuals, not some organized group.
|
716.40 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Thu Apr 13 1995 08:40 | 19 |
| Where any individual draws the line depends on their personal sensitivity
in this area. I'd take Romans 14 as being very applicable. For someone
who has been used to, say murder mysteries, it seems a very legalistic
restriction to say they mustn't read them any more. But if they reach a
time when the LORD convicts them about a certain case, or parallel
situation, and they begin to perceive it as grieving their spirit - or the
Holy Spirit within their hearts - then that is the time to be ready to
remove it. Until then, it is a balance of conscience between those who see
either perspective, for neither to impose their view to the point of
hurting the other.
That's for 'debatable' issues. We have to live with our own consciences in
this area. The whole issue merges very smoothly from things that most
would accept, into aspects which most would consider unacceptable. For
each of us, it is a balance according to how God speaks to our own
consciences. But it is an especially delicate balance for a pastor to
apply in church activities, where the LORD must be givein preeminence.
Andrew
|
716.41 | Good Point! | YIELD::BARBIERI | | Thu Apr 13 1995 10:42 | 10 |
| Good point Andrew!!
I would say that Rahab's experience with the Lord might
have been injured had someone accused her of lying!!
No one is ready to see all of their sin and hence it is
a sacred thing to NOT expose sin sometimes.
Praise God that He has not shown me all of my sin.
Tony
|
716.42 | Degrees | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Thu Apr 13 1995 13:51 | 5 |
|
I'm just trying to get a hanlde on this topic. So would playing the
game of Clue at a church-sponsored game night be wrong?
Jill
|
716.43 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Thu Apr 13 1995 14:26 | 20 |
| � I'm just trying to get a hanlde on this topic. So would playing the
� game of Clue at a church-sponsored game night be wrong?
If it embarrassed any of the participants, or made them feel uncomfortable,
on the basis of :
"...make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in
your brother's way."
Romans 14:13
I don't know the game, but presume it could be like our 'Cluedo', where you
have to deduce the contents of a blindly-selected packet by following game
rules.
If everyone was keen, and no-one felt excluded by it, and your pastor
didn't have a problem, with it, it's likely to be ok!
But awareness in this area is liable to change over time, for the individual.
Andrew
|
716.44 | | CSC32::J_OPPELT | Whatever happened to ADDATA? | Thu Apr 13 1995 14:30 | 4 |
| So by that answer, Andrew, should I conclude that a murder mystery
(which is really little different from the CLUE board game except
the characters are live actors) would be OK for those who attend
and are not offended by it?
|
716.45 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Thu Apr 13 1995 14:36 | 16 |
| Hey, Joe, don't take my word...!
I'm saying that it depends on the individual's consciences.
And that they should be sensitive to the Spirit.
If their witness is that this is ok (whatever 'Clue' is), then I am not
overriding their conscience with law. However, if someone is aware of a
check in the spirit on this, they should all be ready to go along with that
one. Also, if their pastor (or an elder - spiritual leader) feels that
their lack of conscience on this particular item is due to a deficiency in
teaching, he can instruct them immediately, so that they will be protected
against a trap.
Andrew
|
716.46 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Thu Apr 13 1995 14:40 | 10 |
| p.s.
My perception of the murder mystery is that the murder situation and
atmosphere is more mind-invasive than a board game. The board game is
merely to identify the missing cards, whereas the mystery centres on
precise personalities and circumstances. It is likely that people would
feel uncomfortable with the latter who do not perceive the former as
associated with sin. So it might just be a matter of progression.
Andrew
|
716.47 | Hmmmm.... | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Thu Apr 13 1995 14:53 | 19 |
|
Yes - I believe it's probably a similar game to what you are talking
about. There are different characters such as Colonel Mustard and
Miss Scarlett, rooms of the house and weapons. My brother and I used
to play this as kids all the time. There was no focus on the murder,
just on our sleuthing skills. I've never done a murder mystery but I
gather that you're meeting the personalities and then a murder occurs
offstage so it's not focused on either and then it's still just a
matter of focusing in on sleuthing skills. I think we're talking a
few degrees of difference, but not a wide margin.
A most interesting reply to Joe, Andrew. So you're saying that
everyone should be ready to pack it in for one persons sensitivity
rather than waiting on the Spirit to convict them. I think that's
dangerous. I think that's how legalism starts. You have people
delivering edicts and everyone cowering to them whether they are really
from God or not. What happened to test the spirits?
Jill
|
716.48 | Just thinking aloud. | CSC32::KINSELLA | | Thu Apr 13 1995 15:39 | 16 |
|
Actually my last note brought a thought to mind. Shouldn't we be
sensitive to the Lord's leading in all our brothers and sisters. God
is gracious and doesn't show us everything we need to work on at once.
If we're trying to push what God has developed as a sensitivity for us,
could we be interfering in God's timing for that person? Could we
acutally harm them by pushing on them. Also, is there ever a situation
where God may convict one person of someone that is sin because of his
circumstances, but not for someone else. For instance, an alcoholic.
God may convict him that drinking is a sin. Whereas someone may feel
that there is nothing wrong with an occasional drink. And then there
is someone like me who has a sensitivity to this because of friends who
are recovered alcoholics saved by grace, so even an occasional drink
doesn't appeal to me.
Jill
|
716.49 | Oh wow! [p.s. Hi Jill] | BBQ::WOODWARDC | between the Glory and the Flame | Thu Apr 13 1995 16:19 | 1 |
| "All things are permitted, but not everything is helpful" Reb. Shaul
|
716.50 | | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Sat Apr 15 1995 07:44 | 34 |
| Hi Jill,
716.47 � So you're saying that everyone should be ready to pack it in for one
716.47 � persons sensitivity rather than waiting on the Spirit to convict them.
No - I was abbreviating Romans 14, and similar passages (eg 1 Corinthians
10:23 ff, which Hazza quoted), where if someone has a valid spiritual
concern about what others perceive as an everyday matter, we should be
sensitive to their conscience, rather than insist they see everything our
way immediately. It doesn't make a rigid, permanent rule for all those
present; it does say they're not going to force the one person into
offending against his conscience, just because the majority want that
particular amusement. They can still play it another time. ;-)
ie - it's a matter of caring for each other, rather than submitting to each
other, in this instance.
The 'testing of the spirit' comes in when it's to be made into a doctrine -
commandment #11 : 'Thou shalt not play Clue' needs chapter and reference.
[ btw, it seems to be the same game, even with the same character names etc. ]
716.48 � acutally harm them by pushing on them. Also, is there ever a situation
716.48 � where God may convict one person of someone that is sin because of his
716.48 � circumstances, but not for someone else. For instance, an alcoholic.
Precisely. I knew a recovered alcohlic who stayed clear for years after he
was saved. Then one day he had a coke, which re-awakened all the old
addictions. I don't know what it is about coke that associates it with
alcohol, but apparently it does for people in that situation. For people
like him, I'd not even suggest a coke, but generally, I don't actually know
anything seriously wrong with drinking coke. I'm still looking ;-)
Andrew
|
716.51 | | WRKSYS::CAMUSO | alphabits | Tue Apr 18 1995 18:55 | 13 |
| >don't actually know
>anything seriously wrong with drinking coke. I'm still looking ;-)
How about the causes they support? Planned Barrenhood, for one.
Or is that Banned Parenthood?
I guess it depends on if it's the US or the UN version.
Not suggesting a boycott. Just sensitivity to where the money God
gives you goes. ;-)
Regards,
TonyC
|
716.52 | | AUSSIE::CAMERON | And there shall come FORTH (Isaiah 11:1) | Tue Apr 18 1995 21:44 | 8 |
| Re: Note 716.51 by WRKSYS::CAMUSO
> How about the causes they support?
Ooh ooh... can you list the causes they support? I would like to
inform some people in my youth group of this list.
James
|