It seems to me that too much of what’s called the church today is highly arrogant! I used a less offensive title above; however, as Proverbs 13:10 tells us, where there is contention, their is pride. Just look at all the divisions within the church, the incessant breaking of fellowship because someone believes in a virgin birth and someone else does not. Do you think God cares what you BELIEVE as long as you are FOLLOWING Jesus? Isn’t it possible to disagree on theology (which is partial and provisional at best), and still felllowship? Wouldn’t a body which did such be stronger? Continue reading ‘Mired In Apathy & Complacency’
Monthly Archive for October, 2007
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I discovered a statement by B. F. Westcott (1825–1901: an English churchman and theologian, serving as Bishop of Durham from 1890 until his death) that added more glue to my Beyond Theism direction as well as putting a hole in the pantheism concept. One rock, two stones if you will. In a work he published in 1883 (that would be 124 years ago), entitled, The Epistles Of St. John, he took on the Abba Father message of Jesus and proclaimed the following. Continue reading ‘Abba Father’
October 12, 2007 – As one looks back on their life, many seasons and significant events can be seen. We’ve been given 20/20 spiritual vision to discern the now as well. The time has arrived for us to discover and acknowledge the REALITY of God, and to dispense with the religion(s) of man.
Foundationally and fundamentally, one cannot read the New Testament and come away with the idea that God is the Daddy, Abba Father, of SOME people on this planet! Almighty God, the Creator of the universe and all things within and without, who is greater than even that is Father of ALL! John Frederick Maurice (1805 – 1872 :an English theologian), reminds us that, “The truth is that ALL men are in Christ: the tragedy is that men will not OWN the TRUTH.” Continue reading ‘Who’s Your Daddy?’
I’m done for now. (MONDAY, I will begin a 3-part series on Jesus’ parables) This has been the longest topical series I’ve ever done because the Bible is inexhaustible. It’s as fresh every day as we allow the Spirit to be in out lives. One of the principle points that I’ve made earlier is that the Bible is basically what the church says it is. That’s logical because the church has chosen the Bible to be just that. But what IS the just that, and who IS the church anyway? Is the church a denomination? Not easy questions, but let me give you my answer. Continue reading ‘# 10- Revisiting The Bible’
You’re probably NOT going to like this but the Bible is for our Christian community! It’s the “norm” that we who call ourselves ‘Christians” have decided to embrace and follow. It’s not a library of books that we throw in the faces of people of other religious beliefs (and spiritual books) and say BELIEVE IT. God isn’t all that excited about what BELIEFS we hold or do not hold; but, how we relate to people- and are we LOVING? Continue reading ‘# 9- Revisiting The Bible’
The concept of salvation has not only been minimized (my earlier post), it has been made into a sort of Las Vegas magical trick of sorts. In our self-estrangement from God, we move into an arena of arrogance and pride in who we are as humans, capable of so many great things. Salvation isn’t like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, everyone cheering, and then going on about our own merry way. That’s what many do. That’s what the church too often believes and accepts. But neither are valid. Continue reading ‘No Magical Transactions’
The Bible is RAW material. It is print on paper. What we DO with what it says is dependent upon how we look at, view, or interpret what we think it says, what we think the authors meant. No easy task. In fact, many would just rather have somone else tell them what it means. Who has the time today to figure it all out for themselves. I was once there. It’s not a bad place to begin, but it’s a lousy place to end. Continue reading ‘# 8- Revisiting The Bible’
Western theological tradition seemingly trapped people in front of (or in back of) two doors. You either had the choice of an unjust and unloving God who simply asked you to forgive 70 x 7 , but He was exempted from such formulas: door # 1. Or, you had this God who created the universe that goes down in defeat (losing 90% of His creation to that sly devilish creature): door # 2. I don’t know about you, but I’m for door # 3! Continue reading ‘Door # 3 Please’
Paradox Of Parables
There was nothing new in Jesus using parables as a means of communication. What was new was the sheer impact and beauty that they possessed. Most often Jesus would employ a short annd to the point comparison like Luke 6:39 wherein ist’s reported that He said, “If the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch”. Or sometimes the parables seemed to echo more or a similtude such as Matthew 7:3 which says “Why do you worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own”? Good question for all of us in various ways. However, it was the parables that contained a paradox that impacted most greatly. Continue reading ‘Paradox Of Parables’