Greetings to the Digital Continent!
I’m the Ephesian and this here is my blog: Lumen Est.
In case you didn’t know that’s Latin for “it is light.” I call it that because I read this letter by a guy named Paul – I think he’s dead now – and that letter had a little section all about “living in the light” and such. Well, right there in the fifth chapter Paul said that everything exposed “by the light” becomes “is light” (visible), and I like things being visible. Apparently some sleeping people will rise from the dead a get a whole lot of light from Christ, so now we’re supposed to live like wise people. Well, all this talk about wisdom, light, and rising from the dead got me thinking about a few things. Looking at the letter now, I kinda want to “expose” things to the light, make em visible, and start getting a little wiser.
Maybe I’m starting to get a little confusing so I’ll move on.
Paul was talking about some silly arguments and “fruitless works” that people were getting caught up in back in Ephesus. To keep us in line, he sent us a letter and told us to expose all these crazy ideas and works of darkness to turn em all into light. So we did.
Paul had some specific things in mind, but in making his point, he said that everything exposed to the light become visible and that visible things become light. I know he was focused on “fruitless works of darkness,” but nowadays people can’t seem to figure out that much on their own. Looking around at contemporary American culture, there seem to be a whole lot of “gray areas” that could probably use a little “exposure” and “visibility.” Thus, I think maybe Paul wouldn’t mind if I exposed confusing deeds as well as fruitless deeds, because who couldn’t use a little more light and visibility? (“Um, excuse me, but I hate being able to see clearly, could you please blindfold me?”)
So yeah, I’m not gonna just attack all the obviously evil stuff like murder, stealing, promiscuity, etc…I figure most of the people who are gonna read this know that stuff already and Paul made it all pretty clear himself. What I’m gonna do is start exposing and getting more light in the gray parts. You see, I’ve got this funny habit of really looking into to things and picking out all kinds of details. Turns out, I’m actually pretty good (thanks to Grace) and taking a lot of the hidden stuff in movies, books, cultural trends (memes), etc… and making them clear and upfront for other people who haven’t got the time, energy, or interest to go finding out all that stuff. So thats exactly what I’m gonna do (Quite frankly, I’m a little tired of pontificating to myself in my head and promptly forgetting all those joyful insights before I can pass them on to be loved [or hated]).
The goal is simple, about once a week I intend to pick out a movie, trend, book, cultural phenomenon and “expose” it by the “light” of reason informed by Grace and revelation. Maybe I’ll do more than one a week, maybe I’ll miss a week – we’ll see. I’m also a little new to blogging, so please forgive my slow, clumsy progress in making this fun and easy to read.
I invite you read and honestly consider what I say. I’m going to try very hard to present everything precisely and clearly. Most things will have good and bad in them, so I’ll point out each, but sometimes its a little too easy to justify overlooking the bad stuff just to get a little good that we think we need or want. I’m asking any potential readers to actively fight against that tendency so as to overcome the bias of concupiscence. Alas, I too am human and will make mistakes or false judgments from time to time – so we’re not alone in that struggle. If you like what I say, good, if not, ask yourself why. I’m gonna put the truth out there as best as I can, I’ll correct myself when I have to, but the rest is up to you.
Also, feel free to comment (appropriately) and suggest new topics to be exposed a lumine (by the light). As for next week, I hope to finally write out my analysis of Batman: The Dark Knight in time to be read before the next installment. No promises, but stay tuned…
P.S. The Title comes from the Latin Word “Arguuntur,” which is also in Paul’s letter. I know, I’m Greek, but I really like Latin for some reason… Oh… the word’s meaning? “expose” or “disclose.”