Expanding Horizons

A good scholar once challenged me to expose myself to books and movies that would stretch me--not just stuff with which I already agreed, but stuff that falls outside of my usual paradigms. It was good advice. For one thing, I find it more difficult to villify those with whom I disagree once I've actually listened. For another, I can see myself growing less myopic about America and our place in the world. (Note that I'm still myopic--just less so.)

Because of what I've been reading and watching lately, I want to tell you about some resources. This is not to say I recommend them without qualification--only that I found in each something to commend it, something that stretched me, something worthy of my time, even if I didn't fundamentally agree.

Yesterday. This South African film airs tonight on HBO in many locations. The main character, "Yesterday," a Zulu woman, faces the ravages of AIDS. The movie is a wonderful work, marvelously acted and beautifully filmed, which demonstrates how AIDS is destroying South Africa more than apartheid is. The first South African film to be nominated for an Oscar, it contains some implied violence. The subject matter also makes it a no-go for the young. But for grown-ups, it's definitely worth watching. (Thanks to my S.A. student, Leani, for providing a pre-release copy.)

Discovering Biblical Equality. This is one of the eight or nine books I require of my students in the class on the role of women in ministry that I teach at Dallas Seminary. It's a defense of the egalitarian position, and a work to which one of our own graduates contributed.

Years ago I was taught that the battle within evangelicalism about limitations on women in ministry is, at its core, about inerrancy. This book demonstrates that was wrong. It's not about inerrancy; it's about interpretation and hermeneutics. Each contributor to this work is completely committed to the verbal plenary view of scriptural inerrancy. Some, such as contributing editor, Gordon Fee, serve on the front lines of evangelical biblical scholarship.

"Back then" I was also taught that the complementarian view has church history to commend it. Yet a survey of the writings of Augustine, Aquinas, Tertullian makes it plain that the church has not always affirmed what Genesis teaches--that woman is created in God's image and was given dominion along with her husband.

If we claim to follow the One who is the Truth, how we arrive at our conclusions on this issue is as important as where we land.

It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton. I have to say up front that I am not a fan of Hillary Rodham-Clinton. In fact I have considered myself somewhat of an un-fan. So I never would have had the nerve to a) listen to Ms. Clinton read this book and b) admit to anyone that I'd done so had it not been for the courage of Dr. Howard Hendricks, distinguished professor at Dallas Seminary. He walked into chapel one day holding a copy. He didn't even hide it behind an issue of CT or Moody Magazine.

I saw an unabridged audio copy at a half-price book store recently, so I bought it and listened. To my great surprise, never once was I tempted to throw anything. My favorite story she shared: When asked during a children's sermon what she would give her mother if she could give her anything, Chelsea answered, "Life insurance." Later, when Hillary asked her daughter why she had answered as she had, Chelsea explained that she thought giving life insurance to her mom would mean she'd never die.

I used to think Ms. Clinton wanted the government to raise our kids. Having listened to her, I now know she thinks parents should raise their kids. But when parents fail, she believes we need a safety net of health, education, and safety policies and benefits so the kids don't fall through the cracks.

Three-bean salad. Books, movies...food? I know, three-bean salad falls outside of the realm of good reads and films, but I include it here because it falls within the group of stuff included in my expanding horizons.

Our church has provided regular meals for us since my nasty fall in mid-October (bless them!). Cooking one-handed poses quite a challenge, and my mother-in-law has had shoulder surgery, so my husband has a full-time job caring for two invalids. Thus, the need for the much-appreciated food ministry. Which brings me to the salad.

Last Sunday our friend Terri brought us her homemade soup and three-bean salad. Prior to last week, I had never actually eaten three-bean salad. Perhaps that's because each of the three beans in the recipe, if taken by itself, strikes me as rather unappetizing. Yet all together, the combination made for a downright yummy, healthful dish. Who knew?

What have you tried lately? What have you read or watched or eaten or done that has stretched you?