Cowboys and Aliens and Religious Commentary

What a great concept -- mix-up the genres of Westerns and Sci-Fi. Harrison Ford did it previously in the original Star Wars (aka A New Hope), don't you think!

Though the potential was there, once again the Summer blockbusters are just not quite getting there. Although huge amounts of money are flowing into Hollywood coffers this years, the quality of the films seems to be off a bit. [But let me say that Jon Favreau's meteoric rise has been well-deserved. The directing is good; I think the writing is probably weak -- never really got beyond the original cool idea with several formulas tossed in.]

Some religious theme could have been anticipated as the town's name was Absolution.

There is an interesting character in the film -- a preacher / doctor / posse member. Though there is a cross close to the pulpit in an area that also served as a surgery suite, the "theology" seemed weak. In fact, it was strongly the traditional understanding of religion as doing right, morality alone, personal accomplishment judgment. What exactly was God's function in this character's theology? And how did he mesh it with ALIENS?
Sadly we never found out as he tried to do good, and got stepped on by one of those pesky demon Aliens!

We wait for a good religious reflection in current cinema. Dare I say that the closest we have gotten so far was in Easy A among the mainstream films?

Interpersonal Wellness – Vocational Call

We are exploring the richness of the idea of call in the Adult Study on Sunday mornings. And for all its fullness, often the sense most folks have is of their vocation / work or their call to some action. Our understanding of our being has to do with our doing. And that is partially true, if we believe that God has called us to both that being and doing. We are called to faith and it is sealed in Baptism; we are called by the Spirit to act for God’s creation – being and doing. In this hot Summer, may we all be warmed by a certainty of both God’s call to faith and call to action – in jobs, professions, retirement, service, and love for the Lord’s creation.

One aspect of the “call” we will just touch on is the common understanding that clergy / pastors have a special “call.” And though pastors are called by God, they are called to action equally, alongside the teacher, the salesperson, the hospital worker, the scientist. Having said that, the pastor’s call is also from the congregation – to act on behalf of a local church in spreading the Gospel. It is not the pastor’s task alone (that Gospel business belongs to every Christian) but it is the focus for much of the pastor’s life, rather than grading papers or selling shoes or taking blood pressure. Interestingly, when a pastor is asked to come to a congregation, a “Letter of Call” is issued, specifying the expectations of the congregation – how the pastor will act publicly for that community of faith. I keep my “Letter of Call” on display, so I can look at it periodically and remember the expectations of the congregation’s call – to preach and teach the Word of God, to administer the Sacraments, to lead worship and provide the announcement of forgiveness, to provide pastoral care and be a voice for the suffering, to encourage others to be pastors, to remind us of connections to the broader church, and then to equip others for their witness and service. And then the final specific is to guide the congregation in proclaiming God’s love through word and deed. That is the kind of job to which I hope God has called me!

Maybe everyone should write up a “Letter of Call” for whatever that person spends a majority of waking time doing. Such a document could affirm the actions already being pursued, as well as be a challenge to fulfill other aspects of that call. And you know, one of the keys to Luther’s Reformation was that no matter the life-task, all Christians can speak of God’s love (preach and teach), can forgive, can soothe the suffering and assist the forgotten, can encourage persons to serve and support the church, can help others (and themselves!) embrace the task of proclaiming God’s love in word and deed! Together, we are all called to witness and service.

BR>