The essay argues that no matter how great the wall that divides or separates, there really is no “other” place. The connectedness of “me” and “you,” “self” and “other,” “near” and “far”—the deeper sense that we are all of one community, one body, as it were, whether we are aware of it or not, and whether or not we accept it. Carlson contends that greater appreciation of our interconnection can help moderate the divisions and rancor occurring in even the most homogeneous groups—for every injustice or injury hurts all in some way.
Dining with the ‘Other’
The essay illuminates the way in which the desire for community can and should outweigh our differences. Offering a narrative of how the desire to understand the “other” led people from both camps, Buddhist and Christian, to sit down over one table as one family for one dinnertime discussion. The discussion between the followers of Buddha and followers of Jesus sought to draw closer to one another while growing in a deeper understanding of what it means to be players upon the world’s stage.
Click HERE to download the full article.
Building the Bridge Back
The essay reflects on periodic efforts to learn a little bit about those who neither share nor “validate” our views. As Donald Miller points out, Jesus was comfortable hanging out with people who did not validate his views. The essay explores attitudes that both hinder and help us in bridging the cultural divides that became entrenched after the Scopes Monkey Trial. “Building the bridge back,” as Miller puts it, is a kind of action Evangelicals are attempting, but are not yet fully comfortable doing.
2006 New Wine benefit dinner
The 2nd annual New Wine benefit dinner highlighted New Wine, New Wineskins’ value of holistic cultural engagement for the sake of Christ. Audio of the evening’s program is available below.
New Wine director, Paul Louis Metzger, articulated the vision and missional passion of New Wine.
New Wine interns, Andreas Lundén and Crystal Santos, spoke of New Wine’s role in their personal efforts to engage culture.
Environmentalist and director of Restoring Eden, Peter Illyn, gave a talk entitled “Belly Button Christianity – Encountering Jesus in Tribal Culture,” giving a tangible example of how cultural engagement refines our understanding of Christ.
Living + Hope: A Conference on HIV/AIDS
Living + Hope addressed the complexities surrounding HIV/AIDS and what people can do to help those suffering from the virus. Through New Wine’s engagement with the pressing issue of HIV/AIDS, people were convicted to help the millions who are suffering from HIV/AIDS and be compassionate towards them. Guests at the conference included REACH Ministries, who “through the love of Jesus, extends compassionate care to those affected by life threatening illnesses and situations, focusing on the most isolated, children infected with HIV/AIDS and their families,” Dr. Tony Campolo, Honorary Chair of REACH Ministries, Todd Korthuis, M.D., Director of the HIV Program at the Oregon Health and Science University.
“Jesus was and is theologically conservative and compassionately liberal. U2’s Bono calls AIDS the modern day leprosy. God’s Son came down to earth to transform hearts and heal lives. We must seek to be his hands and feet today. We must reach out to those with modern day leprosy—those so often despised, misunderstood, and abandoned by the church and broader society. We must follow Jesus.” – Dr. Paul Louis Metzger