I came across an interesting forum topic yesterday where someone was asking whether the word "them" in Gen 1:25.
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Does the word "them" mean just Adam and Eve, or does it mean many people. I figured there was a question that superseded this one: Is the story of Adam and Eve merely a metaphor for the fall of humanity, or is it an actual historic recounting of events?
It isn't something I know a lot about, but it is something that interests me (all Christian Theology does to some extent). So I started reading through Genesis to see what I could find.
As I was reading, I found it interesting that there are two separate stories of creation, that of Genesis 1 and that told in Gen 2-3. And there are so many holes in the story if one were to take it literally. Something just didn't sit right with me thinking that this story was to be read literally.
Who did Cain, Able, and Seth marry? Their sisters? If others were created alongside Adam and Eve, wouldn't the others still be perfect and in the Garden?
To me, it seems like the story is more of a metaphor, and less of a historical recounting of events. Though I think the Bible is full of metaphorical stories, and not always to be read literally.
I asked the question on my Facebook status whether people thought the story of Adam and Eve was a metaphor, or if it actually happened.
So a friend of mine chimed in with an answer that provided some great insight and knowledge. (And it was cool to have someone with education and knowledge on the subject far superior to mine, validate and support my position. :) )
The following is from my friend Tim who has a Ph.D in Biblical/Theological Studies.
"It is a mythological account intended to represent the universal human condition. There are several textual indicators to point the reader (both ancient and modern in this direction). For example, 'adam is the Hebrew word for "human" (not even "man" ... there is a separate word for gendered human distinctions) and is derivative from the Hebrew word for "ground/dirt" ('adamah). These are meant to be universal persons so that we can each see ourselves in them. Moreover, the Adam/Eve story is a part of the second creation account (Gen. 2-3) which differs significantly from the first account (Gen. 1). In the first account, the humans are the last creation (after plants/animals) whereas in the second account they are created before the plants/animals. The first account begins creation in a wet, chaotic environment (hovering above the waters) while the second account begins in a dry, barren, desert-like environment. Also, the words used for God (Gen. 1: 'el and Gen 2: yhwh)are different in the two stories. These stories are intended to communicate different truths about God and creation. Neither is intended to be "historical" in the sense we think of it (a renaissance and enlightenment imposition upon the biblical text). My use of the word "mythological" to describe the Genesis 2 narrative is not intended to say "false" but rather indicate the literary genre through which its truths may be communicated (who is God? and who are we?). By far the majority of both Protestant and Catholic biblical scholars would agree to the basic outlines of what I've described above."
Part 3: Crossing the Line
It has been a long time since I have read a book that has been as thought-provoking as The Naked Gospel. I appreciate being able to sit down and read something that challenges my beliefs, yet isn't insulting. I like to think that I'm a pretty liberal Christian, but I find that this book pushes even my limits, which is awesome. The Naked Gospel is causing me to grow in so many ways and I'm questioning previously unchallenged beliefs and coming away with strengthened resolve in some things I currently hold close, and with new ideas that are helping me grow in other areas of my faith.
There are a number of main points in Part 3 that Farley uses to further illustrate the point that we should be saying "out with the Old and in with the New" all while backing it up with scripture.
Farley starts off Part 3 by laying the foundation that Jesus' teachings were for Jews, not Christians, and that the new covenant came with the death of Jesus, not his birth.
This idea has the potential to drastically change the way Christians read and interpret the Bible. To say that Jesus' teachings are for Jews, and not instructions on how Christians are to live is a pretty major deviation from traditional Christian theology, and not one that I'm quick to accept. I do like that Farley backs up everything that he says with scripture, but then scripture can be interpreted to say almost anything you want, so I'm still not 100% sold. It is definitely an interesting idea, and something that deserves more thought than I've presently given it.
Following those initial foundational points, Farley goes on to say that while the Old isn't necessarily abolished, it has no place in the life of a Christian and that we shouldn't be making our own covenant that is a mix of Old and New. Creating a mix allows us to avoid the "suffering under the stringency of the entire law," but it also means we don't "enjoy the bliss of unconditional favour." Without giving ourselves fully to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within us, we will always find that there is something missing.
I'm one of those people that finds his Christianity to be a mix of the Old and New. And while I don't suffer from any of the guilt associated with not being able to meet the expectations of a perfect law, neither do I think that we can just throw it all away. Many of the laws from the Old Testament create the very moral fabric of our society, and I don't understand how the Holy Spirit wouldn't guide us along similar paths. I don't understand why we can't keep some of the old laws, without the guilt associated with not living up to them.
The final main point to this part is Grace. "Grace isn't just a treatment for sin; it's actually the cure for sin!" Farley does an excellent job with his description of grace in this section. He explains that grace isn't necessarily a response to sin, but rather something much greater. Grace was what allows "Jesus to produce through us what's needed in the moment." Grace is the opposite of guilt. Grace doesn't leave room for guilt, or inadequacy, nor is it merely nothing more than mercy. Grace is the Holy Spirit inside of us. Grace is the New Covenant. Grace "deactivates our pride and when we remove the law from our lives, our self-effort is no longer prodded to control behaviour."
Farley ends Part 3 with a section that is meant to give us a sense of comfort; that it is okay to feel shaken and uneasy by all of these new ideas he is putting forth. But also don't feel like just because you've read it, that it makes it true. He reminds us to keep an open, yet critical, mind as you read, and keep an open dialogue with God through prayer; allow Him to speak to you as you read and grow. There are some amazing ideas in here, but I don’t think we should adopt them just because they are a cool new thing. Try them on for size, see how they fit, but don't just accept them outright because someone wrote them in a book. Growth is a very important part of Christian life, and Farley puts forth some great ideas to get the brain thinking.
Now, despite my reservations about some of the idea's Farley puts forth, I'm loving this book and would recommend it to all Christians. It is something that needs to be read with an open mind, and if you don't agree with everything, that's fine, but just opening your mind to the possibility can bring so much growth. It will expose your weaknesses so that you may better explore them, and help to strengthen your beliefs.
It has been a long time since I have read a book that has been as thought-provoking as The Naked Gospel. I appreciate being able to sit down and read something that challenges my beliefs, yet isn't insulting. I like to think that I'm a pretty liberal Christian, but I find that this book pushes even my limits, which is awesome. The Naked Gospel is causing me to grow in so many ways and I'm questioning previously unchallenged beliefs and coming away with strengthened resolve in some things I currently hold close, and with new ideas that are helping me grow in other areas of my faith.
There are a number of main points in Part 3 that Farley uses to further illustrate the point that we should be saying "out with the Old and in with the New" all while backing it up with scripture.
Farley starts off Part 3 by laying the foundation that Jesus' teachings were for Jews, not Christians, and that the new covenant came with the death of Jesus, not his birth.
This idea has the potential to drastically change the way Christians read and interpret the Bible. To say that Jesus' teachings are for Jews, and not instructions on how Christians are to live is a pretty major deviation from traditional Christian theology, and not one that I'm quick to accept. I do like that Farley backs up everything that he says with scripture, but then scripture can be interpreted to say almost anything you want, so I'm still not 100% sold. It is definitely an interesting idea, and something that deserves more thought than I've presently given it.
Following those initial foundational points, Farley goes on to say that while the Old isn't necessarily abolished, it has no place in the life of a Christian and that we shouldn't be making our own covenant that is a mix of Old and New. Creating a mix allows us to avoid the "suffering under the stringency of the entire law," but it also means we don't "enjoy the bliss of unconditional favour." Without giving ourselves fully to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within us, we will always find that there is something missing.
I'm one of those people that finds his Christianity to be a mix of the Old and New. And while I don't suffer from any of the guilt associated with not being able to meet the expectations of a perfect law, neither do I think that we can just throw it all away. Many of the laws from the Old Testament create the very moral fabric of our society, and I don't understand how the Holy Spirit wouldn't guide us along similar paths. I don't understand why we can't keep some of the old laws, without the guilt associated with not living up to them.
The final main point to this part is Grace. "Grace isn't just a treatment for sin; it's actually the cure for sin!" Farley does an excellent job with his description of grace in this section. He explains that grace isn't necessarily a response to sin, but rather something much greater. Grace was what allows "Jesus to produce through us what's needed in the moment." Grace is the opposite of guilt. Grace doesn't leave room for guilt, or inadequacy, nor is it merely nothing more than mercy. Grace is the Holy Spirit inside of us. Grace is the New Covenant. Grace "deactivates our pride and when we remove the law from our lives, our self-effort is no longer prodded to control behaviour."
Farley ends Part 3 with a section that is meant to give us a sense of comfort; that it is okay to feel shaken and uneasy by all of these new ideas he is putting forth. But also don't feel like just because you've read it, that it makes it true. He reminds us to keep an open, yet critical, mind as you read, and keep an open dialogue with God through prayer; allow Him to speak to you as you read and grow. There are some amazing ideas in here, but I don’t think we should adopt them just because they are a cool new thing. Try them on for size, see how they fit, but don't just accept them outright because someone wrote them in a book. Growth is a very important part of Christian life, and Farley puts forth some great ideas to get the brain thinking.
Now, despite my reservations about some of the idea's Farley puts forth, I'm loving this book and would recommend it to all Christians. It is something that needs to be read with an open mind, and if you don't agree with everything, that's fine, but just opening your mind to the possibility can bring so much growth. It will expose your weaknesses so that you may better explore them, and help to strengthen your beliefs.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I was taking part in this group blogging project about the book, Servolution by Dino Rizzo. First off, I want to say, what an amazing book! It's exactly what I need right now. It's easy to read, clear, concise and to the point, but it's the content that really got my attention. Oh, and today was my day, where I wrote a bit about chapter 14 and the importance of community and serving with others.
For the past few months I've been looking for a way to get more involved in my church, but I've been unsure of the path to take. I expressed an interest in joining the board (elders), but they are in a sort of transition in the way the board is doing things and the way membership works so that will have to wait awhile. I play bass twice a month, but that isn't enough. They are also putting together a building team to do work on the church building as they are hoping to get some building maintenance done this summer.
I feel the need something more.
Then along comes this amazing book, and instantly I know what I need to do, serve. So now that I know what I need to do, I need to figure out how I'm going to go about doing it.
I'm going to read through the book again and see if I can glean some more information from it and figure out what I want to do. I'm really excited to get out there and start a servolution. And if you haven't read it yet, please hit up your local Christian bookstore and get a copy and read it. Then let me know what you think. :)
For the past few months I've been looking for a way to get more involved in my church, but I've been unsure of the path to take. I expressed an interest in joining the board (elders), but they are in a sort of transition in the way the board is doing things and the way membership works so that will have to wait awhile. I play bass twice a month, but that isn't enough. They are also putting together a building team to do work on the church building as they are hoping to get some building maintenance done this summer.
I feel the need something more.
Then along comes this amazing book, and instantly I know what I need to do, serve. So now that I know what I need to do, I need to figure out how I'm going to go about doing it.
I'm going to read through the book again and see if I can glean some more information from it and figure out what I want to do. I'm really excited to get out there and start a servolution. And if you haven't read it yet, please hit up your local Christian bookstore and get a copy and read it. Then let me know what you think. :)
I used to think I could go through life with Simon and Garfunkel’s “I Am a Rock” as my theme song.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.
This was how I thought I could live my life. I figured I could get by doing everything alone, relying on others as little as possible. I had a very private faith, and I didn’t think I needed to go to church every week. Christianity is about a personal relationship with Christ, right? What did I need other people for?
Then God introduced me to the woman who would be my wife. Through her, he started to show me this amazing thing known as “community.” I learned that life is better when you aren’t alone. That life is easier when you aren’t alone. When you have someone to high five during the good times, and to support you during the bad, living, and by extension serving, becomes much easier.
We’re not made to go through life alone. We’re social creatures, some more than others, but we all require social interaction to some extent, and this need increases when we serve. Serving isn’t always easy. Serving isn’t always rewarding. But it is a whole lot easier when we have someone with us.
In elementary school, my teacher picked up a small stick and easily snapped it in two. She then grabbed a handful of sticks and attempted, unsuccessfully, to break them. This lesson may have been to illustrate how physical objects are stronger in groups, but it is also a lesson we can apply to many areas of our life, including serving.
Through the first 13 chapters, Dino lays out the various aspects of a servolution: what it is, how to do it, and what to remember, along with a ton of great advice and interesting stories. One constant that came up numerous times and stood out to me: his wife, DeLynn. DeLynn was there to support him from the very beginning; she shared in his joys and supported him during the tough times.
For Dino this support network started with his wife, and as Healing Place Church grew so did his support network of friends, family, staff, volunteers and so on. They are there to keep you going when things get tough. They are there to keep you accountable. They are there to bounce ideas off of and to help your reach greater heights than you could on your own.
Jesus’ ministry wouldn’t have had the impact it did had he tried to go at it alone. Sure, he would have amassed quite the following, and he would have had people flocking to him hoping to be healed or to see one of his miracles, but imagine what a lonely journey that would’ve been? Jesus understood the importance of serving with others.
He also understood the importance of choosing the right people for the job. All of Jesus’ disciples were somehow connected to one another, and they formed a tighter, stronger web than if he had picked 12 random dudes off the street. It’s much easier to get through the tough times when you have people who understand the importance of solid committed relationships.
From the very beginning, God destined us to be with others, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” (Gen. 2:18) So build up that support network and get out there and serve. As Dino says early in the book, “whatever, whenever.”
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.
This was how I thought I could live my life. I figured I could get by doing everything alone, relying on others as little as possible. I had a very private faith, and I didn’t think I needed to go to church every week. Christianity is about a personal relationship with Christ, right? What did I need other people for?
Then God introduced me to the woman who would be my wife. Through her, he started to show me this amazing thing known as “community.” I learned that life is better when you aren’t alone. That life is easier when you aren’t alone. When you have someone to high five during the good times, and to support you during the bad, living, and by extension serving, becomes much easier.
We’re not made to go through life alone. We’re social creatures, some more than others, but we all require social interaction to some extent, and this need increases when we serve. Serving isn’t always easy. Serving isn’t always rewarding. But it is a whole lot easier when we have someone with us.
In elementary school, my teacher picked up a small stick and easily snapped it in two. She then grabbed a handful of sticks and attempted, unsuccessfully, to break them. This lesson may have been to illustrate how physical objects are stronger in groups, but it is also a lesson we can apply to many areas of our life, including serving.
Through the first 13 chapters, Dino lays out the various aspects of a servolution: what it is, how to do it, and what to remember, along with a ton of great advice and interesting stories. One constant that came up numerous times and stood out to me: his wife, DeLynn. DeLynn was there to support him from the very beginning; she shared in his joys and supported him during the tough times.
For Dino this support network started with his wife, and as Healing Place Church grew so did his support network of friends, family, staff, volunteers and so on. They are there to keep you going when things get tough. They are there to keep you accountable. They are there to bounce ideas off of and to help your reach greater heights than you could on your own.
Jesus’ ministry wouldn’t have had the impact it did had he tried to go at it alone. Sure, he would have amassed quite the following, and he would have had people flocking to him hoping to be healed or to see one of his miracles, but imagine what a lonely journey that would’ve been? Jesus understood the importance of serving with others.
He also understood the importance of choosing the right people for the job. All of Jesus’ disciples were somehow connected to one another, and they formed a tighter, stronger web than if he had picked 12 random dudes off the street. It’s much easier to get through the tough times when you have people who understand the importance of solid committed relationships.
From the very beginning, God destined us to be with others, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” (Gen. 2:18) So build up that support network and get out there and serve. As Dino says early in the book, “whatever, whenever.”
So I decided to leave my comfort zone and do something new. I'm taking part in an online group blogging project over at bibledude.net on Dino Rizzo's book, Servolution. There are 15 of us involved including Dan King, the host and organizer; @bibledude on twitter. When he first posted about it I was excited about it and wrote an email expressing my interest, but I didn't send it. I was full of self-doubt. I figured he'd want people like pastors and ministers and seminary-type students to take part in it, not some IT guy who just wishes he was a pastor. So I didn't send it.
The next day he was twittering about it some more, and I figured, "what the heck, I may as well give it a try. if he doesn't want me then he'll let me know." So I fired off the email I had written the previous day and received a surprising reply, "I was actually hoping that you would see this and be interested!" With that I felt more than a little relieved, and have been super excited about it ever since. We are each assigned one chapter on which we are to write a little review. These are then posted, one a day, for two weeks. I have the honor of closing things out with Chapter 14 on July 2nd. I'm looking forward to the comments that will stem from the reviews we each write, so while the reviews are the meat and potatoes, the comments are where things really have a chance to get going.
I think what has me most interested (other than the content of the book) is the diverse nature of the contributors. We are all Christians, but range from one end to the other on the spectrum, bringing a wide range of viewpoints to the table.
Yesterday Dan got the ball rolling by starting it off with the introduction AND I received my book in the mail! (each contributor that didn't have the book was mailed a copy) I love new books, and so far this one has been awesome (i'm on chapter 2).
Today's post is by Jim Blake who is the National Chairman of Concerned Christians Canada. He does a great job of summing up Chapter 1 and giving us some stuff to think about it.
So come on over and join us and be inspired to go out and live like Jesus did! I'm excited what the coming weeks will bring, and the time following that for those that feel the pull to go out there and start a Servolution.
The next day he was twittering about it some more, and I figured, "what the heck, I may as well give it a try. if he doesn't want me then he'll let me know." So I fired off the email I had written the previous day and received a surprising reply, "I was actually hoping that you would see this and be interested!" With that I felt more than a little relieved, and have been super excited about it ever since. We are each assigned one chapter on which we are to write a little review. These are then posted, one a day, for two weeks. I have the honor of closing things out with Chapter 14 on July 2nd. I'm looking forward to the comments that will stem from the reviews we each write, so while the reviews are the meat and potatoes, the comments are where things really have a chance to get going.
I think what has me most interested (other than the content of the book) is the diverse nature of the contributors. We are all Christians, but range from one end to the other on the spectrum, bringing a wide range of viewpoints to the table.
Yesterday Dan got the ball rolling by starting it off with the introduction AND I received my book in the mail! (each contributor that didn't have the book was mailed a copy) I love new books, and so far this one has been awesome (i'm on chapter 2).
Today's post is by Jim Blake who is the National Chairman of Concerned Christians Canada. He does a great job of summing up Chapter 1 and giving us some stuff to think about it.
So come on over and join us and be inspired to go out and live like Jesus did! I'm excited what the coming weeks will bring, and the time following that for those that feel the pull to go out there and start a Servolution.
Every Wednesday, my wife and I join two other couples where we sit around with snacks discussing the Bible. (snacks are essential) We pick one or two of the lectionary* readings from the upcoming week, and we are also working through Hebrews one chapter at a time.
Last night as we were discussing Hebrews 8, the verse about God's new covenant with us, we got hung up on a question posed by one of the group members.
Why did God need a new covenant?
What was wrong with the first one when He gave the Ten Commandments (and further 600)? His very first covenant with us was in the Garden of Eden, which we screwed up. Then came the 10 commandments. So what was wrong with this covenant that prompted Him to give us a new one?
The previous covenant that God had with His people was all-encompassing, but didn't really have an end. This one seems to (see Revelation), thereby making it seem like we don't need another one, but might we screw this one up too? Did we screw up the last one?
We didn't really have an answer.
*Our church uses the Revised Common Lectionary, where we are in Year B and the Season after Pentecost, also known as Ordinary Time.
Last night as we were discussing Hebrews 8, the verse about God's new covenant with us, we got hung up on a question posed by one of the group members.
Why did God need a new covenant?
What was wrong with the first one when He gave the Ten Commandments (and further 600)? His very first covenant with us was in the Garden of Eden, which we screwed up. Then came the 10 commandments. So what was wrong with this covenant that prompted Him to give us a new one?
The previous covenant that God had with His people was all-encompassing, but didn't really have an end. This one seems to (see Revelation), thereby making it seem like we don't need another one, but might we screw this one up too? Did we screw up the last one?
We didn't really have an answer.
*Our church uses the Revised Common Lectionary, where we are in Year B and the Season after Pentecost, also known as Ordinary Time.
Last year, my wife and her two best friends were published in Geez Magazine when they submitted a sermon to a contest they were having, "Sermons you'd never hear in church."
I think it is a great piece that gives us something to think about and wanted to repost it here as I think it fits perfectly with the theme of this blog.
The big sermon
How small is our faith?
How fast is our time? We are broken into days – places to go, roads to take there, bites of sandwich to choke down at stoplights. Inside, each moment shatters into a million despairs, panics, triumphs, hopes, confusions. How small are the pieces of God that flicker through the cracks? In our days, how small is our faith?
How small are our minds? How closed are our politics? How many articles and clauses and subclauses do we draw up to delineate exactly where we stand? How closely do we measure the degrees that separate our way from our opponent’s? In our world, how small is our faith?
How few words do we have that say holy? How cramped are the boxes we build to keep God in? How sharp are the divisions within congregations, within communities, within denominations, within the Church? How small is our truth? In the great big Church, how small is our faith?
Our faith is small.
But God is bigger.
God is bigger than our state of mind, our static understanding. God is bigger than our small hearts and big doubts. God is bigger than this life. So, grab a mustard seed and keep the faith. Keep the faith.
God is bigger than every good and every bad thing we’ve done. God is bigger than every good and every bad thing that’s been done to us. God is bigger than the poor decisions we made three, five, ten years ago, and bigger still than the consequences we face now. God is bigger than our disobedience and lies, bigger than our addictions – to pornography, to drugs, to media, to television, to sugar. God is bigger than our words and behaviour. God is bigger than our sin. God is bigger than our pain. God is bigger than our happiness too. God is bigger than our right to success and wealth. God is bigger than the things we deserve. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than the people we love. God is bigger than all the conditional, unforgiving, unrequited love of every relationship that has hurt us. God is bigger than our social awkwardness, our need for acceptance, our need to be right, our need to blend in, our need to be loved. God is bigger than our parents’ mistakes and undue expectations. God is bigger than our imperfections, and definitely bigger than the imperfections of those around us. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than our dying soldiers, grieving mothers, fatherless and motherless children. God is bigger than our victimization and vengeance. God is bigger than nationalism and politics. God is bigger than victory, which is already won. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than our voice. God is bigger than our opinions. God is bigger than our hatred of people we don’t understand. God is bigger than our moral authority. God is bigger than sexuality. God is bigger than abortion, and better yet, bigger than the pro-life agenda. God is bigger than any propaganda condemning those who need God most. God is bigger than any human attempt to claim divine authority. God is bigger than all the things we think we’re called to do. We’re probably wrong, but God will get it done anyway. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than all the spirituality in the world, every religion, every faith, every church, including ours. Especially ours. God is bigger than our stagnation. God is bigger than our doubt. God is bigger than our intentional disregard of our brokenness. God is still bigger than our sin. God is bigger than poverty. God is bigger than AIDS. God is bigger than injustice. God is bigger than our inactivity and apathy. God is bigger than all the efforts we waste on things that do not matter because God’s love extends past our feeble, flawed, human hearts. God is love, will be love, will love, no matter what we do.
So keep the faith. God is bigger than this. Do your best. I’ll do mine. And God will still be bigger.
I think it is a great piece that gives us something to think about and wanted to repost it here as I think it fits perfectly with the theme of this blog.
The big sermon
How small is our faith?
How fast is our time? We are broken into days – places to go, roads to take there, bites of sandwich to choke down at stoplights. Inside, each moment shatters into a million despairs, panics, triumphs, hopes, confusions. How small are the pieces of God that flicker through the cracks? In our days, how small is our faith?
How small are our minds? How closed are our politics? How many articles and clauses and subclauses do we draw up to delineate exactly where we stand? How closely do we measure the degrees that separate our way from our opponent’s? In our world, how small is our faith?
How few words do we have that say holy? How cramped are the boxes we build to keep God in? How sharp are the divisions within congregations, within communities, within denominations, within the Church? How small is our truth? In the great big Church, how small is our faith?
Our faith is small.
But God is bigger.
God is bigger than our state of mind, our static understanding. God is bigger than our small hearts and big doubts. God is bigger than this life. So, grab a mustard seed and keep the faith. Keep the faith.
God is bigger than every good and every bad thing we’ve done. God is bigger than every good and every bad thing that’s been done to us. God is bigger than the poor decisions we made three, five, ten years ago, and bigger still than the consequences we face now. God is bigger than our disobedience and lies, bigger than our addictions – to pornography, to drugs, to media, to television, to sugar. God is bigger than our words and behaviour. God is bigger than our sin. God is bigger than our pain. God is bigger than our happiness too. God is bigger than our right to success and wealth. God is bigger than the things we deserve. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than the people we love. God is bigger than all the conditional, unforgiving, unrequited love of every relationship that has hurt us. God is bigger than our social awkwardness, our need for acceptance, our need to be right, our need to blend in, our need to be loved. God is bigger than our parents’ mistakes and undue expectations. God is bigger than our imperfections, and definitely bigger than the imperfections of those around us. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than our dying soldiers, grieving mothers, fatherless and motherless children. God is bigger than our victimization and vengeance. God is bigger than nationalism and politics. God is bigger than victory, which is already won. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than our voice. God is bigger than our opinions. God is bigger than our hatred of people we don’t understand. God is bigger than our moral authority. God is bigger than sexuality. God is bigger than abortion, and better yet, bigger than the pro-life agenda. God is bigger than any propaganda condemning those who need God most. God is bigger than any human attempt to claim divine authority. God is bigger than all the things we think we’re called to do. We’re probably wrong, but God will get it done anyway. So keep the faith.
God is bigger than all the spirituality in the world, every religion, every faith, every church, including ours. Especially ours. God is bigger than our stagnation. God is bigger than our doubt. God is bigger than our intentional disregard of our brokenness. God is still bigger than our sin. God is bigger than poverty. God is bigger than AIDS. God is bigger than injustice. God is bigger than our inactivity and apathy. God is bigger than all the efforts we waste on things that do not matter because God’s love extends past our feeble, flawed, human hearts. God is love, will be love, will love, no matter what we do.
So keep the faith. God is bigger than this. Do your best. I’ll do mine. And God will still be bigger.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about marriage lately. It has become a popular topic recently, due in part to the controversy over same-sex marriage, and the extremely high rate of divorce.
From my perspective as a Christian, there seem to be two types of marriage, though the distinction is often blurred. There is marriage in the eyes of God, and marriage in the eyes of man, or the legal marriage.
In western culture, a man and a woman are joined in marriage in front of a government appointed official and they are said to be married. The proper documents are signed and filed, and a Certificate of Marriage is obtained and that is it. Nothing more is required.
Being a Christian, I wonder if this ceremony is actually necessary. I can't seem to find anywhere in the Bible that two people are to stand before a government approved official and proclaim their intentions in order to be married. Doesn't marriage take place when a man and a woman are in love, true agape love, and have sex? Some would say that marriage requires a covenant between this man and woman and God, but isn't the act of sex a covenant? What about if two people verbally make a covenant with each other and God and then have sex, doesn't that constitute a marriage in God's eyes?
If you don't view marriage as a covenant between two people and God, then marriage is merely a label instead of a state of being. When two people make that covenant with each other and God, they are creating the only bond that is of any worth. A legal document doesn't make you married. Neither does being part of a ceremony before an officiant, religious or otherwise.
One argument that I keep coming across is that we are to follow the laws of this world, therefore the marriage ceremony is required. But I say that is only required if you want to take advantage of the legal benefits of marriage. The law doesn't care if we say we are married and live together and go about our lives as married couples. If you check the 'married' box instead of the 'common-law' box on a government document they might correct you, but otherwise it really doesn't matter. What should matter is that we are married in the eyes of God, no one else.
People are all up in arms about same-sex marriage saying that it is desecrating the act of marriage and turning it into something it is not. Isn't that what 50% of straight couples do with divorce? How is letting two people that truly love each other get married going to ruin the concept of marriage anymore than we are already doing? It's merely a legal label that humans use to keep track of who said what to whom and when. It is not binding with God. God doesn't care about this little piece of paper that we place so much emphasis on.
If same-sex couples want to get married, let them! They say they are in love, they say they want to get married, who are we to stand in their way? If they want to proclaim to the world that they are legally married and can enjoy all the benefits, legal and otherwise, that it brings, then let them! Marriage is a covenant between them and God, not us. We are not fit to judge them or tell them that God won't accept them and their marriage. That is God's deal, not ours. I don't see any difference between a same-sex marriage and that of two non-believers. Though if the same-sex couple are Christians then they would care more if it was accepted in the eyes of God. But that's between Him and them, not us.
Now I'm not saying the man-made wedding ceremony isn't important. God loves us to stand up and proclaim love in His name, and make public confessions before both Him and witnesses, take baptism as an example. I'm just saying that it isn't required to be married in the eyes of God, and that being married in the eyes of man is secondary.
From my perspective as a Christian, there seem to be two types of marriage, though the distinction is often blurred. There is marriage in the eyes of God, and marriage in the eyes of man, or the legal marriage.
In western culture, a man and a woman are joined in marriage in front of a government appointed official and they are said to be married. The proper documents are signed and filed, and a Certificate of Marriage is obtained and that is it. Nothing more is required.
Being a Christian, I wonder if this ceremony is actually necessary. I can't seem to find anywhere in the Bible that two people are to stand before a government approved official and proclaim their intentions in order to be married. Doesn't marriage take place when a man and a woman are in love, true agape love, and have sex? Some would say that marriage requires a covenant between this man and woman and God, but isn't the act of sex a covenant? What about if two people verbally make a covenant with each other and God and then have sex, doesn't that constitute a marriage in God's eyes?
If you don't view marriage as a covenant between two people and God, then marriage is merely a label instead of a state of being. When two people make that covenant with each other and God, they are creating the only bond that is of any worth. A legal document doesn't make you married. Neither does being part of a ceremony before an officiant, religious or otherwise.
One argument that I keep coming across is that we are to follow the laws of this world, therefore the marriage ceremony is required. But I say that is only required if you want to take advantage of the legal benefits of marriage. The law doesn't care if we say we are married and live together and go about our lives as married couples. If you check the 'married' box instead of the 'common-law' box on a government document they might correct you, but otherwise it really doesn't matter. What should matter is that we are married in the eyes of God, no one else.
People are all up in arms about same-sex marriage saying that it is desecrating the act of marriage and turning it into something it is not. Isn't that what 50% of straight couples do with divorce? How is letting two people that truly love each other get married going to ruin the concept of marriage anymore than we are already doing? It's merely a legal label that humans use to keep track of who said what to whom and when. It is not binding with God. God doesn't care about this little piece of paper that we place so much emphasis on.
If same-sex couples want to get married, let them! They say they are in love, they say they want to get married, who are we to stand in their way? If they want to proclaim to the world that they are legally married and can enjoy all the benefits, legal and otherwise, that it brings, then let them! Marriage is a covenant between them and God, not us. We are not fit to judge them or tell them that God won't accept them and their marriage. That is God's deal, not ours. I don't see any difference between a same-sex marriage and that of two non-believers. Though if the same-sex couple are Christians then they would care more if it was accepted in the eyes of God. But that's between Him and them, not us.
Now I'm not saying the man-made wedding ceremony isn't important. God loves us to stand up and proclaim love in His name, and make public confessions before both Him and witnesses, take baptism as an example. I'm just saying that it isn't required to be married in the eyes of God, and that being married in the eyes of man is secondary.
So today was a Double Church day. We went to check out The Meeting Place,and then went to our regular church. It was a pretty good morning, and I really enjoyed going to two services and two churches; especially such different churches.
The Meeting Place is a great, little church in downtown Winnipeg. Well, not so little as it apparently has 2000 regular attenders, but it doesn't have the same attitude that seem to go hand-in-hand with larger churches. A lot of these big churches have these fancy-ass new buildings so that when you walk in you can't tell it if is a mall or a church.
The Meeting Place is a downtown church, and they seem to get a fair number of homeless and transient people, but the majority of the congregation seem to be folks driving in from outside of downtown.
When you walk into The Meeting Place, it feels comfortable. We didn't have anyone really talk to us, but then I don't think we give off the attitude that we want people to come up and talk to us. They have 2 services on Sunday mornings, 9 and 11. We went to the first one, which was a good mix of young and old people. Most churches I've gone to tend to have a mostly older congregation at their first service, so it was nice to see a mix of young and old. I figure there was about 200 people at the first service, though I couldn't see how many people were on the balcony.
Things I noted:
- There is an ASL interpreter, and a deaf guy in the congregation was signing the worship during the singing.
- There is a band playing or rehearsing elsewhere in the building and it was a little distracting.
- The band is pretty tight, but the drummer plays off music paper, and has a habit of rushing. The worship leader plays guitar left-handed, but instead of restringing it, he just has it flipped over. It's pretty awesome.
- Their order of service is 3 songs, announcements/video/prayer, a song with offering, a sermon, then a sort of reflective song with just the band, then a final worship song and the benediction. (but it isn't a sitdown-following-the-benediction church, it's more of a leave-your-seats-right-away church.
- It is very much a Mennonite Brethren church at its base, but they have it all gussied up to look like an emergent church. They almost seem like they are trying to hard to be relevant. They use too many buzzwords for my liking, but they seem to get their message across, and have a growing, dynamic congregation. And any church that is bringing people closer to God and creating spiritual growth, and helping to foster a deeper relationship with Christ, I can't complain.
Today's message was interesting, they had the local director of Living Waters come and speak about Sexual Brokenness. Living Waters was originally introduced to me as a program that "fixes" homosexuals, but today I learned they do a whole lot more. They help people suffering from brokenness. They help people struggling with addiction, sexual abuse, homosexuality and the like. He gave a pretty cool sermon on brokenness, and he also subscribes to the vertical vs. horizontal relationship model which I liked.
All in all a great service with a good sermon and awesome music.
The Meeting Place is a great, little church in downtown Winnipeg. Well, not so little as it apparently has 2000 regular attenders, but it doesn't have the same attitude that seem to go hand-in-hand with larger churches. A lot of these big churches have these fancy-ass new buildings so that when you walk in you can't tell it if is a mall or a church.
The Meeting Place is a downtown church, and they seem to get a fair number of homeless and transient people, but the majority of the congregation seem to be folks driving in from outside of downtown.
When you walk into The Meeting Place, it feels comfortable. We didn't have anyone really talk to us, but then I don't think we give off the attitude that we want people to come up and talk to us. They have 2 services on Sunday mornings, 9 and 11. We went to the first one, which was a good mix of young and old people. Most churches I've gone to tend to have a mostly older congregation at their first service, so it was nice to see a mix of young and old. I figure there was about 200 people at the first service, though I couldn't see how many people were on the balcony.
Things I noted:
- There is an ASL interpreter, and a deaf guy in the congregation was signing the worship during the singing.
- There is a band playing or rehearsing elsewhere in the building and it was a little distracting.
- The band is pretty tight, but the drummer plays off music paper, and has a habit of rushing. The worship leader plays guitar left-handed, but instead of restringing it, he just has it flipped over. It's pretty awesome.
- Their order of service is 3 songs, announcements/video/prayer, a song with offering, a sermon, then a sort of reflective song with just the band, then a final worship song and the benediction. (but it isn't a sitdown-following-the-benediction church, it's more of a leave-your-seats-right-away church.
- It is very much a Mennonite Brethren church at its base, but they have it all gussied up to look like an emergent church. They almost seem like they are trying to hard to be relevant. They use too many buzzwords for my liking, but they seem to get their message across, and have a growing, dynamic congregation. And any church that is bringing people closer to God and creating spiritual growth, and helping to foster a deeper relationship with Christ, I can't complain.
Today's message was interesting, they had the local director of Living Waters come and speak about Sexual Brokenness. Living Waters was originally introduced to me as a program that "fixes" homosexuals, but today I learned they do a whole lot more. They help people suffering from brokenness. They help people struggling with addiction, sexual abuse, homosexuality and the like. He gave a pretty cool sermon on brokenness, and he also subscribes to the vertical vs. horizontal relationship model which I liked.
All in all a great service with a good sermon and awesome music.
In response to selfrequiem's comments on "Christian vs. Christian's", I have written my thoughts on the post condemning World of Warcraft as evil. At the time I was just too pissed off and wouldn't have written anything of worth. I respect what she has written, I just wish it wasn't how people were introduced to the game, or that it is an all encompassing Christian view of the game.
You should write more about this... You say she represents the game incorrectly, but what about her "biblical" evaluation of it? Is there anything wrong with her "Christian" argument? You say it is well researched, but you don't agree with it. Where does it fall apart?
What should she say? What about her criticism bothers you exactly (other than an incorrect depiction of the game itself)? What would make her argument more "Christian?"
I think you should get more technical and explicit with your criticism. I want to hear what the twisted christian thinks.
Alright, the problems I have with her criticism and a Christian's view of WoW...
So she uses these "red-flag" icons as bullets for her various points. It doesn't necessarily mean what she mentions is a "red flag" issue, and that's my first problem with her article, it is misleading and immediately indicates that everything about the game raises red flags.
Her post starts off with a bit of a summary of the game. It states the facts plainly, though with a strong negative overtone. And then it goes into "A Christian View." (which, if you've read my previous post, you'll understand I'd rather it was "A Christian's View." It is a well done summary of the game, she goes over the main premise of the game and gives the reader enough of an understanding to know what the game is if brought up in conversation, but hardly scratched the surface of what the game really is.
So this "Christian View" starts off with quoting Galatians 5:20-21 saying, "Those who practice witchcraft (sorcery) will not inherit the kingdom of God...These practices are anti-God and are in rebellion against Him."
Now my first problem is that this verse is of the old covenant, so it can't be used to condemn someone as we are all saved by the blood of Christ. My chief complaint is that she is comparing practicing witchcraft to pressing buttons to cast a spell; there is no comparison. What the bible verse is talking about is the practicing of witchcraft, the mindset and beliefs, not sitting at home on a computer mashing keys.
She proactively attempts to counter my previous argument with the following, "Adultery is a sin, is it OK to pretend to practice adultery (virtual sex)? Homosexuality is a sin, is it OK to pretend to practice homosexuality (virtual sex)? Murder is a sin, is it OK to pretend to practice murder (video games)?"
This idea comes from Matthew 5:27-30, where Jesus is talking about how lustfully looking at a woman is the same as committing the act of adultery; a story that can be applied to all sin. Fair enough, but again it comes down to the player's mindset. They aren't thinking about killing someone, they are thinking about killing this fictional monster, it is NOT the same thing. It is similar to reading a fantasy novel where the hero is slaying dragons or villains. Or a group of kids that get together to pretend that they are various heroes on an epic journey in a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
The next issue she brings up is the addictive nature of the game, and how "Anything we spend time doing to the point of putting aside Bible study and prayer should be a signal to us that there is a problem."
I will not refute the point that the game is addicting, I have experienced that myself, but it is only a problem if you allow it to control your life, something that is entirely dependent on the individual. Some people can sit down and play for a couple of hours and get up and do other things, there is nothing wrong with this. Others will sit down and play for hours on end, neglecting to eat, sleep, or take care of themselves, this is a problem. If it a player isn't able to control the amount of time they play the game, then they must make the choice to stop. The fact that it is addicting to some people does not make it a problem for everyone. There are a number of other MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing games) that are apparently just as addictive, but when I played them I didn't find them to be addictive in the least.
She also goes on to say that we need to be careful of our thoughts as they control our lives and to, "to press toward the goal, to live a life that would honor God and kept his focus on eternity, not the things that this earth can give." This is all well and good, and something we should strive towards, but it isn't something that is going to, nor should it have to, fill our every thought all day long. You may as well say we should think on nothing but God, and our relationship with Him, and how we should tell others about him and so on. A great idea in theory, but it isn't going to happen. While we should strive to be like Him, we are still human and will never attain that level. We should live our lives the best we can, but understand that we are still human.
She concludes with words of advice on "How do we set the captives free?" And what are her words? To turn to Jesus of course, because, "God can set the captives free, once a captive turns their eyes toward Jesus. The way back from any captivity is first acknowledging that one is a captive and seeking God." What great words of advice, and she even includes some relevant Bible verses, all which would be great if you were talking about something that makes people captive and takes them away from God. She says, "World of Warcraft is one of the many tools used to captivate and desensitize many concerning the Occult and divination." I don't understand how she is coming to this conclusion. It is a game and it isn't desensitizing people to the Occult and divination. It is a game that has magic use in it. A game where you mash buttons to make fire or ice or whatever come from your character to kill something. There is nothing occultish about it.
For me, MMORPG's started out as a game, but quickly turned into an escape. An escape from this world, from my worries and my cares. When I was running around as one of the many toons I had, I didn't have a care in the world (other than the in-game ones). I gave me some time to leave the cares of this world behind, and immerse myself in this fun little world. It is a high-tech version of what I used to do as a kid when I'd immerse myself in books for hours on end. If you are condemning games like WoW, or Everquest or any of the other MMORPG's, then you may as well condemn all fantasy books and games like Dungeons and Dragons (which unfortunately a great many do as you can read from the comments on her post, and that makes me even more sad than her post on WoW does). The game never took me away from God though, for as God is in the world around me, He is also in the game. He is brought in through other players, and through the designers themselves. There is religion in the game, and it is quite easy to see a Christian influence in various aspects of it.
She received over 100 responses to her post, with a good mix coming from both sides, though I was appalled by the number of people writing and saying this was the first they'd heard of the game and were so glad to get a "Christian view" of the game. I think that is what pissed me off the most when I first read it. It was that she was plying it off as though this is what all Christian's should think of the game. What I have written above are my views as a Christian on the game, as well as a former player of the game.
I follow @heartofworship (the author of the post I'm writing about) on twitter, along with a number of other people who's views I don't always agree with. I believe by reading what other people are talking about, and attacking, and defending, then I can learn how to respond, and what needs responding to. I can learn about all of the things that people have issue with when it comes to the Church and Christianity, and decide where I sit on the issue. How can I converse with someone about my faith if I don't know what people find wrong with it? I respect their opinions, I just don't share them. And if I think they are hurting the Christian reputation then I will take steps in my life to show people otherwise.
You should write more about this... You say she represents the game incorrectly, but what about her "biblical" evaluation of it? Is there anything wrong with her "Christian" argument? You say it is well researched, but you don't agree with it. Where does it fall apart?
What should she say? What about her criticism bothers you exactly (other than an incorrect depiction of the game itself)? What would make her argument more "Christian?"
I think you should get more technical and explicit with your criticism. I want to hear what the twisted christian thinks.
Alright, the problems I have with her criticism and a Christian's view of WoW...
So she uses these "red-flag" icons as bullets for her various points. It doesn't necessarily mean what she mentions is a "red flag" issue, and that's my first problem with her article, it is misleading and immediately indicates that everything about the game raises red flags.
Her post starts off with a bit of a summary of the game. It states the facts plainly, though with a strong negative overtone. And then it goes into "A Christian View." (which, if you've read my previous post, you'll understand I'd rather it was "A Christian's View." It is a well done summary of the game, she goes over the main premise of the game and gives the reader enough of an understanding to know what the game is if brought up in conversation, but hardly scratched the surface of what the game really is.
So this "Christian View" starts off with quoting Galatians 5:20-21 saying, "Those who practice witchcraft (sorcery) will not inherit the kingdom of God...These practices are anti-God and are in rebellion against Him."
Now my first problem is that this verse is of the old covenant, so it can't be used to condemn someone as we are all saved by the blood of Christ. My chief complaint is that she is comparing practicing witchcraft to pressing buttons to cast a spell; there is no comparison. What the bible verse is talking about is the practicing of witchcraft, the mindset and beliefs, not sitting at home on a computer mashing keys.
She proactively attempts to counter my previous argument with the following, "Adultery is a sin, is it OK to pretend to practice adultery (virtual sex)? Homosexuality is a sin, is it OK to pretend to practice homosexuality (virtual sex)? Murder is a sin, is it OK to pretend to practice murder (video games)?"
This idea comes from Matthew 5:27-30, where Jesus is talking about how lustfully looking at a woman is the same as committing the act of adultery; a story that can be applied to all sin. Fair enough, but again it comes down to the player's mindset. They aren't thinking about killing someone, they are thinking about killing this fictional monster, it is NOT the same thing. It is similar to reading a fantasy novel where the hero is slaying dragons or villains. Or a group of kids that get together to pretend that they are various heroes on an epic journey in a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
The next issue she brings up is the addictive nature of the game, and how "Anything we spend time doing to the point of putting aside Bible study and prayer should be a signal to us that there is a problem."
I will not refute the point that the game is addicting, I have experienced that myself, but it is only a problem if you allow it to control your life, something that is entirely dependent on the individual. Some people can sit down and play for a couple of hours and get up and do other things, there is nothing wrong with this. Others will sit down and play for hours on end, neglecting to eat, sleep, or take care of themselves, this is a problem. If it a player isn't able to control the amount of time they play the game, then they must make the choice to stop. The fact that it is addicting to some people does not make it a problem for everyone. There are a number of other MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing games) that are apparently just as addictive, but when I played them I didn't find them to be addictive in the least.
She also goes on to say that we need to be careful of our thoughts as they control our lives and to, "to press toward the goal, to live a life that would honor God and kept his focus on eternity, not the things that this earth can give." This is all well and good, and something we should strive towards, but it isn't something that is going to, nor should it have to, fill our every thought all day long. You may as well say we should think on nothing but God, and our relationship with Him, and how we should tell others about him and so on. A great idea in theory, but it isn't going to happen. While we should strive to be like Him, we are still human and will never attain that level. We should live our lives the best we can, but understand that we are still human.
She concludes with words of advice on "How do we set the captives free?" And what are her words? To turn to Jesus of course, because, "God can set the captives free, once a captive turns their eyes toward Jesus. The way back from any captivity is first acknowledging that one is a captive and seeking God." What great words of advice, and she even includes some relevant Bible verses, all which would be great if you were talking about something that makes people captive and takes them away from God. She says, "World of Warcraft is one of the many tools used to captivate and desensitize many concerning the Occult and divination." I don't understand how she is coming to this conclusion. It is a game and it isn't desensitizing people to the Occult and divination. It is a game that has magic use in it. A game where you mash buttons to make fire or ice or whatever come from your character to kill something. There is nothing occultish about it.
For me, MMORPG's started out as a game, but quickly turned into an escape. An escape from this world, from my worries and my cares. When I was running around as one of the many toons I had, I didn't have a care in the world (other than the in-game ones). I gave me some time to leave the cares of this world behind, and immerse myself in this fun little world. It is a high-tech version of what I used to do as a kid when I'd immerse myself in books for hours on end. If you are condemning games like WoW, or Everquest or any of the other MMORPG's, then you may as well condemn all fantasy books and games like Dungeons and Dragons (which unfortunately a great many do as you can read from the comments on her post, and that makes me even more sad than her post on WoW does). The game never took me away from God though, for as God is in the world around me, He is also in the game. He is brought in through other players, and through the designers themselves. There is religion in the game, and it is quite easy to see a Christian influence in various aspects of it.
She received over 100 responses to her post, with a good mix coming from both sides, though I was appalled by the number of people writing and saying this was the first they'd heard of the game and were so glad to get a "Christian view" of the game. I think that is what pissed me off the most when I first read it. It was that she was plying it off as though this is what all Christian's should think of the game. What I have written above are my views as a Christian on the game, as well as a former player of the game.
I follow @heartofworship (the author of the post I'm writing about) on twitter, along with a number of other people who's views I don't always agree with. I believe by reading what other people are talking about, and attacking, and defending, then I can learn how to respond, and what needs responding to. I can learn about all of the things that people have issue with when it comes to the Church and Christianity, and decide where I sit on the issue. How can I converse with someone about my faith if I don't know what people find wrong with it? I respect their opinions, I just don't share them. And if I think they are hurting the Christian reputation then I will take steps in my life to show people otherwise.
I came across this while I was surfing the internet (but have no idea where it was, as I forgot to grab the site address), and thought it was something interesting to think about. I'm a big fan of thought experiments, and enjoyed this one.
If there is a God, or a Universal Energy, and that energy is everywhere in everything, then everything about YOU must be made up of that. If God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, then everything that you are is God and as such those qualities are inherent in you. If everything that you are is GOD, then what you are must be omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
Thought experiments are fun if you take the time to actually think about it. Most are very easy to just dismiss outright or agree with, but that defeats the purpose. The idea is to think outside of the box, to explore all the different possibilities and options.
How do you think this example goes along with, or against, a Christian line of thought?
If there is a God, or a Universal Energy, and that energy is everywhere in everything, then everything about YOU must be made up of that. If God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, then everything that you are is God and as such those qualities are inherent in you. If everything that you are is GOD, then what you are must be omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
Thought experiments are fun if you take the time to actually think about it. Most are very easy to just dismiss outright or agree with, but that defeats the purpose. The idea is to think outside of the box, to explore all the different possibilities and options.
How do you think this example goes along with, or against, a Christian line of thought?
One letter and a punctuation mark can make all the difference when saying something.
What I am talking about is the difference between "A Christian View" and "A Christian's view." There is a huge difference between the two, and I am hoping the latter will become more prevalent.
What got me thinking about this is "A Christian View of World of Warcraft" which should be A Christian's View of the World of Warcraft. It is a very well researched, which I appreciate, though I do not agree with it, therefore it is not "A Christian View" but rather "A Christian's View".
I do not agree with what she has to say on the subject, and think she is wrong in a number of her statements. If she wants to think that games like WoW are evil for her various reasons, then that is fine. What bothers me is the number of people that are reading her post and it is their initial introduction to the game. It is a poor representation of what the game is like, and what a 'Christian' view is on the subject.
What I am talking about is the difference between "A Christian View" and "A Christian's view." There is a huge difference between the two, and I am hoping the latter will become more prevalent.
What got me thinking about this is "A Christian View of World of Warcraft" which should be A Christian's View of the World of Warcraft. It is a very well researched, which I appreciate, though I do not agree with it, therefore it is not "A Christian View" but rather "A Christian's View".
I do not agree with what she has to say on the subject, and think she is wrong in a number of her statements. If she wants to think that games like WoW are evil for her various reasons, then that is fine. What bothers me is the number of people that are reading her post and it is their initial introduction to the game. It is a poor representation of what the game is like, and what a 'Christian' view is on the subject.
I wrote a little blurb about what this site is, here. It's subject to change, and probably will, but I wanted to give readers a little idea of what's going on here.
I came across this interesting article about the whole Miss California thing that happened at the Miss USA pageant this past weekend. If you've been living under a rock, then here's a quick recap.
Celebrity blogger/sleazebag Perez Hilton was one of the judges at this years Miss USA Beauty Pageant. During the question period, Perez asked Miss California Carrie Prejean about same-sex marriage, to which she responded that she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. It was a bullshit cheap-shot question that may have been the reason she didn't win.
From Y!'s gossip site, OMG:
'During the show, Perez asked Carrie, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?'
'Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman,' Carrie said to a mix of boos and applause. 'No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be between a man and a woman.'
In response to those remarks, Miss California 2003, Nicole Lamarche, minister at Cotuit Federated Church in Cotuit, Mass. had something to say that I find kind of interesting.
“As a pastor and a former Miss California, I am often asked to interpret what the Word of God has to say on a particular subject,” Rev. Lamarche says. “I am quite confident that God prefers that we human beings stick to speaking for ourselves. And yet there are occasions when God’s Word is used as a weapon, and I feel compelled to speak.
“In the past few days, much has been made of the words of Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean. She stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. I write not in response to her opinion, but rather about her comments that followed: that the Bible condones her words. She said, “It's not about being politically correct, it's about being biblically correct.” While this sentiment is shared by many who seek to condemn gay people and gay marriage, citing pieces of the Bible to further one’s own prejudice fails to meet the Bible on its own terms.
“Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging. For example, Leviticus also tells us that eating shrimp and lobster is an abomination. And that a person should not wear material woven of two kinds of material—an impossible mandate for a pageant contestant!
“In Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth we read, ‘For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church….’ And yet these words have not prevented Christian denominations from ordaining women, such as myself. Sadly, the Bible has been used to further prejudice throughout history. We have used it to permit ourselves to enslave people; to conquer and kill; and to denigrate the earth.
“The truth is that it is difficult to know for sure the intentions of the biblical authors, but we do know something about God. Those of us who know God through Jesus of Nazareth know that he went to great lengths to express God’s love to people who were labeled as outcasts. He spent time with children, prostitutes, and lepers, all of whom were labeled as outside of the grasp of the Holy. As we continue to seek God’s vision for us as a nation grounded in a love for justice, I pray that we might move closer to the cause of grace.”
Now what she is saying could easily picked apart theologically, but it is the message that I found I liked.
What do you think?
Celebrity blogger/sleazebag Perez Hilton was one of the judges at this years Miss USA Beauty Pageant. During the question period, Perez asked Miss California Carrie Prejean about same-sex marriage, to which she responded that she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. It was a bullshit cheap-shot question that may have been the reason she didn't win.
From Y!'s gossip site, OMG:
'During the show, Perez asked Carrie, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?'
'Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and in, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman,' Carrie said to a mix of boos and applause. 'No offense to anybody out there. But that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be between a man and a woman.'
In response to those remarks, Miss California 2003, Nicole Lamarche, minister at Cotuit Federated Church in Cotuit, Mass. had something to say that I find kind of interesting.
“As a pastor and a former Miss California, I am often asked to interpret what the Word of God has to say on a particular subject,” Rev. Lamarche says. “I am quite confident that God prefers that we human beings stick to speaking for ourselves. And yet there are occasions when God’s Word is used as a weapon, and I feel compelled to speak.
“In the past few days, much has been made of the words of Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean. She stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. I write not in response to her opinion, but rather about her comments that followed: that the Bible condones her words. She said, “It's not about being politically correct, it's about being biblically correct.” While this sentiment is shared by many who seek to condemn gay people and gay marriage, citing pieces of the Bible to further one’s own prejudice fails to meet the Bible on its own terms.
“Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging. For example, Leviticus also tells us that eating shrimp and lobster is an abomination. And that a person should not wear material woven of two kinds of material—an impossible mandate for a pageant contestant!
“In Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth we read, ‘For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church….’ And yet these words have not prevented Christian denominations from ordaining women, such as myself. Sadly, the Bible has been used to further prejudice throughout history. We have used it to permit ourselves to enslave people; to conquer and kill; and to denigrate the earth.
“The truth is that it is difficult to know for sure the intentions of the biblical authors, but we do know something about God. Those of us who know God through Jesus of Nazareth know that he went to great lengths to express God’s love to people who were labeled as outcasts. He spent time with children, prostitutes, and lepers, all of whom were labeled as outside of the grasp of the Holy. As we continue to seek God’s vision for us as a nation grounded in a love for justice, I pray that we might move closer to the cause of grace.”
Now what she is saying could easily picked apart theologically, but it is the message that I found I liked.
What do you think?
It makes me sad when I read garbage like the following...
This was your life
How can anyone come to know the love of Christ when they are first told to cower in fear of Christ? There is little wonder people despise sidewalk evangelists who hand out tracts. Why have I never seen a tract that touts the love of Christ? I will say there is no other way to everlasting life than through Jesus, but I will not condemn you for choosing any other path.
How can someone learn about the love of the church if they come to Christ through reading this kind of hatred?
Are Roman Catholics Christians?
I don't think all the rites and rituals are required, but to say someone isn't Christian for following them? Christianity is about accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and the last time I checked, Catholics believe Jesus to be the Son of God. Catholics use rites and rituals like the 7 sacraments because they feel it brings them closer to God and believe that they are REQUIRED in order to achieve salvation. They still believe in Christ, and while the sacraments aren't a requirement for salvation, there is nothing wrong with using them to bring yourself into closer communion with God. Saying that doing so is wrong is like saying that singing worship songs in a contemporary service to bring yourself into closer communion with God is wrong.
Is evolution vs. creation really that big of a deal? Big Daddy?I don't understand why it matters whether we evolved from a single cell organism or we just appeared as we look today. We were made in the likeness of Him right? Maybe he looks like a single cell organism, and we evolved from that into what we are today? Who knows how long those original "7 days" really were.
Oh, and for some reason these nut jobs also think that all bibles, with the exception of the King James Version, are of the devil and that we who read and follow them are being deceived and will be cast into the fiery lakes of hell. Just so you know. ;) It says so here...The Attack.
So if you are sitting somewhere and want to take yourself on a rollercoaster ride of emotions through disbelief, sadness, anger and ending up throwing your hands in the air and asking why God made Christians like these, then please go ahead and surf on over to Chick's Tracts, for all the evangelical bullshit you can handle.
This was your life
How can anyone come to know the love of Christ when they are first told to cower in fear of Christ? There is little wonder people despise sidewalk evangelists who hand out tracts. Why have I never seen a tract that touts the love of Christ? I will say there is no other way to everlasting life than through Jesus, but I will not condemn you for choosing any other path.
How can someone learn about the love of the church if they come to Christ through reading this kind of hatred?
Are Roman Catholics Christians?
I don't think all the rites and rituals are required, but to say someone isn't Christian for following them? Christianity is about accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and the last time I checked, Catholics believe Jesus to be the Son of God. Catholics use rites and rituals like the 7 sacraments because they feel it brings them closer to God and believe that they are REQUIRED in order to achieve salvation. They still believe in Christ, and while the sacraments aren't a requirement for salvation, there is nothing wrong with using them to bring yourself into closer communion with God. Saying that doing so is wrong is like saying that singing worship songs in a contemporary service to bring yourself into closer communion with God is wrong.
Is evolution vs. creation really that big of a deal? Big Daddy?I don't understand why it matters whether we evolved from a single cell organism or we just appeared as we look today. We were made in the likeness of Him right? Maybe he looks like a single cell organism, and we evolved from that into what we are today? Who knows how long those original "7 days" really were.
Oh, and for some reason these nut jobs also think that all bibles, with the exception of the King James Version, are of the devil and that we who read and follow them are being deceived and will be cast into the fiery lakes of hell. Just so you know. ;) It says so here...The Attack.
So if you are sitting somewhere and want to take yourself on a rollercoaster ride of emotions through disbelief, sadness, anger and ending up throwing your hands in the air and asking why God made Christians like these, then please go ahead and surf on over to Chick's Tracts, for all the evangelical bullshit you can handle.
What does it mean to be the spiritual leader in your household?
A few weeks during one of our weekly small group meetings the topic of spiritual leadership in the home came up. Our small group consists of 3 married couples, and we were discussing what this looked like in our households.
The topic of the "spiritual head of the household" stems from Ephesians 5:22-23 where Paul writes,
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." (NIV)
In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul also says,
"3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." (NIV)
So from these verses one could infer that since the "husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church," that man is the spiritual head of the household. This is a role I embrace, and think it has been perverted by many. So what does this role look like? What happens when the man is a new believer and his wife is a long-time Christian? What about when the woman is a pastor, or knowledgeable about Christian theology?
Being the spiritual head of the household doesn’t mean being able to recite various scripture verses on command or having mad prayer skillz, being more spiritually in-tune with God or having the knowledge to interpret scripture or read the New Testament in Greek.
Being the spiritual leader means keeping the well-being of your family, both spiritual and otherwise in prayer. Being the spiritual head of the household means loving your family as Jesus loved the church. This involves sacrifice and being a servant. It involves listening with your heart, not just your ears, and being patient. It involves loving unconditionally, and forgiving every wrong action or thought. It involves teaching your family about God, and allowing them to make their own choices. We are to teach and instruct, but not to impart our will, for God gave us all free will. Most importantly, it involves talking to God about our family; keeping them in prayer always.
Being the spiritual head of the household is a role that all men can, and should, gladly embrace. It shouldn’t be a burden, or a chore. It is something that even the newest brother-in-Christ can do, and will help to strengthen your relationship with both your family and God.
People enjoy using these verses to show that the man is the leader and that women should submit to their husbands and obey their every wish. Unfortunately they miss the equally important subsequent verses, thus perverting the message. I’ll look at that in a future post.
An interesting aside: as I was looking around the internet for insight into this topic I found less conversation from the point that it is degrading to women, and more from women asking what can they do to help their men be the spiritual leader that they require? Just something interesting that I came across...
Use the comments section to let me know what you think.
A few weeks during one of our weekly small group meetings the topic of spiritual leadership in the home came up. Our small group consists of 3 married couples, and we were discussing what this looked like in our households.
The topic of the "spiritual head of the household" stems from Ephesians 5:22-23 where Paul writes,
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." (NIV)
In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul also says,
"3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." (NIV)
So from these verses one could infer that since the "husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church," that man is the spiritual head of the household. This is a role I embrace, and think it has been perverted by many. So what does this role look like? What happens when the man is a new believer and his wife is a long-time Christian? What about when the woman is a pastor, or knowledgeable about Christian theology?
Being the spiritual head of the household doesn’t mean being able to recite various scripture verses on command or having mad prayer skillz, being more spiritually in-tune with God or having the knowledge to interpret scripture or read the New Testament in Greek.
Being the spiritual leader means keeping the well-being of your family, both spiritual and otherwise in prayer. Being the spiritual head of the household means loving your family as Jesus loved the church. This involves sacrifice and being a servant. It involves listening with your heart, not just your ears, and being patient. It involves loving unconditionally, and forgiving every wrong action or thought. It involves teaching your family about God, and allowing them to make their own choices. We are to teach and instruct, but not to impart our will, for God gave us all free will. Most importantly, it involves talking to God about our family; keeping them in prayer always.
Being the spiritual head of the household is a role that all men can, and should, gladly embrace. It shouldn’t be a burden, or a chore. It is something that even the newest brother-in-Christ can do, and will help to strengthen your relationship with both your family and God.
People enjoy using these verses to show that the man is the leader and that women should submit to their husbands and obey their every wish. Unfortunately they miss the equally important subsequent verses, thus perverting the message. I’ll look at that in a future post.
An interesting aside: as I was looking around the internet for insight into this topic I found less conversation from the point that it is degrading to women, and more from women asking what can they do to help their men be the spiritual leader that they require? Just something interesting that I came across...
Use the comments section to let me know what you think.
This year for Lent I gave up my “lust for gear.” I decided I would stop spending so much time dreaming about basses, amps, effects and all that other wonderful stuff that comes along with being a gear head. For those not familiar with the term, GAS or Gear Acquisition Syndrome is the more commonly known form of “lust for gear.” I would spend hours thinking about the next bass I wanted to buy, like that Custom Shop 1968 reissue Fender P bass...$2500 of pure beauty. It played like butter, and sounded like liquid smoothness pouring out of the amp. I’d dream about bigger and better amps, 1500W of pure pounding low-end coming out of an 8x10 and 2x15; enough power to make the souls of anyone standing in front of it throb. Or even the new effect that I wanted to try out, Boss’ Octaver, or a nice muff or overdrive, and maybe even some distortion. Nothing I’d actually use in any capacity with what I’m involved in, but it’s just so much fun to think about and play with.
So I gave all of that up. Most people use Lent as a time to sacrifice something that they would miss, and whenever they missed it they would think about God. This year, I realized that Lent is more than that, it is about giving up something that is getting between me and God; something that is keeping my relationship from growing. So I chose something that I spend a fair amount of time doing, and gave it up for 40 days, 40 days that are almost up.
The first couple of weeks were tough and made me realize just how much time I used to spend on my GAS. I would spend hours surfing talkbass.com; the premier forum for bass players worldwide. I would surf the classifieds, looking at the cool shit people were selling, browse the reviews for the latest amps and basses, and follow the debates about picking vs. finger-style. I would go to the music store after work some days and look at the basses and dream. I would try out some new effects pedal, and look at the massive amount of power the new amps could produce.
So with all of this free time on my hands, I realized I could start doing things I otherwise didn’t have time for. I started spending more time practicing my bass playing instead of just reading about it. I started reading more. And I started this blog. By giving up all the time I spent lusting for stuff, I found I had more time to devote to God and to learning more about my faith, and growing in Christ. It caught me off guard at first, this growth. I didn’t realize that what I had given up for Lent was actually bringing me closer to God. Sure that was the initial idea, but I didn’t actually think about it. This blog is the result of my sacrifice, and it is turning out to be a real blessing. I have started learning about new concepts and ideas. I’ve started reading cool things people have to say about the Christian faith. I’ve come to the conclusion that by spending all this time writing and reading, I am going to be a much better student when I eventually go back to school, and a much more knowledgeable pastor when I’m done.
So many good things have come from my Lenten sacrifice, and I think that is the point of Lent. It is an opportunity to grow closer to Him, and it’s so cool to see how that has happened over the past 37 days. Now the question poses itself, if we give up something for Lent that is getting between us and God, then shouldn’t we continue to sacrifice it? Shouldn’t it stop becoming a sacrifice and just become natural? For me, with all the growth that’s happened, the answer seems obvious. But does that apply to everyone? I’m not talking about those people that gave up coffee, or cheese, or some random thing that they like to use it as a reason to think of God. I’m talking about people, and sacrifices of things that are getting in the way of their relationship with Him. Shouldn’t these things be given up forever?
For example, Todd has been suffering from a porn addiction and it is getting in the way of his relationship with Christ. He decided that beginning Ash Wednesday, he would not look at any porn for 40 days. If, during Lent, Todd finds things improving due to his absence from porn, wouldn’t it make sense that he should continue this trend past the end of Lent?
It would make sense that if you have given something up for Lent that has been impeding your relationship with God that you would continue to give it up after Lent is over.
Now I’m not denying the importance of the sacrifice that others make for Lent. Those that give up things that are important to them like coffee, video games, junk food etc., if done for the right reasons, can also get also reap the benefits of growing closer to God through this sacrifice. These types of sacrifices are great for providing regular reminders that it is Lent, and that something is being sacrificed, but I don’t think they have the same long term effect that giving up something that is actually interfering with your relationship with Him, and continuing to give it up after Lent is over.
God has used Lent to teach me a lot, and I am thankful for those lessons. I am going to continue to reign in my GAS, and use that time to further my spiritual growth. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still in need of a solid 4 string and an additional 15” cab would make a wonderful addition to my rig, but I am not going to spend copious amounts of time obsessing about it, and endless hours researching something I’m not going to buy anytime soon anyway. When I do decide to make a purchase I will spend the time to do the proper research, but until then I have better things to spend my time on.
So I gave all of that up. Most people use Lent as a time to sacrifice something that they would miss, and whenever they missed it they would think about God. This year, I realized that Lent is more than that, it is about giving up something that is getting between me and God; something that is keeping my relationship from growing. So I chose something that I spend a fair amount of time doing, and gave it up for 40 days, 40 days that are almost up.
The first couple of weeks were tough and made me realize just how much time I used to spend on my GAS. I would spend hours surfing talkbass.com; the premier forum for bass players worldwide. I would surf the classifieds, looking at the cool shit people were selling, browse the reviews for the latest amps and basses, and follow the debates about picking vs. finger-style. I would go to the music store after work some days and look at the basses and dream. I would try out some new effects pedal, and look at the massive amount of power the new amps could produce.
So with all of this free time on my hands, I realized I could start doing things I otherwise didn’t have time for. I started spending more time practicing my bass playing instead of just reading about it. I started reading more. And I started this blog. By giving up all the time I spent lusting for stuff, I found I had more time to devote to God and to learning more about my faith, and growing in Christ. It caught me off guard at first, this growth. I didn’t realize that what I had given up for Lent was actually bringing me closer to God. Sure that was the initial idea, but I didn’t actually think about it. This blog is the result of my sacrifice, and it is turning out to be a real blessing. I have started learning about new concepts and ideas. I’ve started reading cool things people have to say about the Christian faith. I’ve come to the conclusion that by spending all this time writing and reading, I am going to be a much better student when I eventually go back to school, and a much more knowledgeable pastor when I’m done.
So many good things have come from my Lenten sacrifice, and I think that is the point of Lent. It is an opportunity to grow closer to Him, and it’s so cool to see how that has happened over the past 37 days. Now the question poses itself, if we give up something for Lent that is getting between us and God, then shouldn’t we continue to sacrifice it? Shouldn’t it stop becoming a sacrifice and just become natural? For me, with all the growth that’s happened, the answer seems obvious. But does that apply to everyone? I’m not talking about those people that gave up coffee, or cheese, or some random thing that they like to use it as a reason to think of God. I’m talking about people, and sacrifices of things that are getting in the way of their relationship with Him. Shouldn’t these things be given up forever?
For example, Todd has been suffering from a porn addiction and it is getting in the way of his relationship with Christ. He decided that beginning Ash Wednesday, he would not look at any porn for 40 days. If, during Lent, Todd finds things improving due to his absence from porn, wouldn’t it make sense that he should continue this trend past the end of Lent?
It would make sense that if you have given something up for Lent that has been impeding your relationship with God that you would continue to give it up after Lent is over.
Now I’m not denying the importance of the sacrifice that others make for Lent. Those that give up things that are important to them like coffee, video games, junk food etc., if done for the right reasons, can also get also reap the benefits of growing closer to God through this sacrifice. These types of sacrifices are great for providing regular reminders that it is Lent, and that something is being sacrificed, but I don’t think they have the same long term effect that giving up something that is actually interfering with your relationship with Him, and continuing to give it up after Lent is over.
God has used Lent to teach me a lot, and I am thankful for those lessons. I am going to continue to reign in my GAS, and use that time to further my spiritual growth. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still in need of a solid 4 string and an additional 15” cab would make a wonderful addition to my rig, but I am not going to spend copious amounts of time obsessing about it, and endless hours researching something I’m not going to buy anytime soon anyway. When I do decide to make a purchase I will spend the time to do the proper research, but until then I have better things to spend my time on.
Rev Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, the new Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts recently gave a sermon saying that abortions are a blessing. She lays out four examples, and ends each with the statement, "the abortion is a blessing."
She started off with an example that many would find they agree with. Maybe not that it is a blessing, but that it is semi-acceptable.
"When a woman finds herself pregnant due to violence and chooses an abortion, it is the violence that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing."
Her next example will find fewer supporters, yet it is still something that many would find to be an acceptable option, though maybe not a blessing.
"When a woman finds that the fetus she is carrying has anomalies incompatible with life, that it will not live and that she requires an abortion – often a late-term abortion – to protect her life, her health, or her fertility, it is the shattering of her hopes and dreams for that pregnancy that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing."
There are far fewer supporters for her last two examples, with many saying that abortions should not be allowed as a "get out of jail free" card to those who make poor decisions. Though it is still a woman's right to make that choice for herself and we cannot judge the experiences that lead to the decisions she is making, nor can we judge the decision itself.
"When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing."
"And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion – there is not a tragedy in sight -- only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing."
The bible does not specifically address the issue of abortion, and I don't think any amount of Christian dogma or doctrine can make up for what the bible says or doesn't say.
Jeremiah 1:5 is often quoted as a verse that shows God's view on abortion, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," along with Psalm 139:13-16, another verse that talks about God's role in our creation in the womb. But that is just talking about the role of God in creation, not in the placement of the soul in the body at that moment. God has his hand in the creation of everything. He knows everything before He creates it.
Exodus 21:22-25 is another verse that is used to show how God punishes those that cause (perform) abortions,
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth . . ."
While I don't think this verse has anything to do with abortion, both sides of the debate have used it to either defend, or condemn the act.
The pro-abortion side says that it clearly states that if the fetus dies, then a beating is due, but if the woman dies, then it shall be a life for a life, thus showing that the fetus isn’t a “life”.
The anti-abortion side likes to say that certain words have been mistranslated and that if you read it in the original Hebrew there would be no way you could use it for a pro-abortion argument.
Whether we interpret the verses as pro, or anti-abortion, it doesn’t matter. We can all twist scripture to say whatever we want through all sorts of arguments, but that isn’t going to help any.
Abortions are going to happen. Whether we label them as right or wrong, they are still going to take place. This is not the time to condemn; this is the time to show love. The Christian stance on abortion is one of the major issues that is showcased to the world when describing the ignorance and out-datedness of Christianity. Now I’m not saying we need to change our beliefs to be more popular, but I think we are making the wrong thing the center of attention.
When people think of Christianity and abortions, they think of those selfish assholes that stand outside picketing abortion clinics. What a travesty this is! Christians shouldn’t be known for their arrogance, their ignorance and their hatefulness. This is the perfect opportunity to reach out, to show people that we are caring, loving people that aren’t going to judge you for the decisions you make. We should have support groups, counselling services, and an open, accepting invitation to all women that make the decision to have an abortion. We should be known for our love and support, not our hatred and judgement.
Christianity is about love. Picketing abortion clinics is not love. Judging people for the decisions they make is not love.
Now I'm not arguing statistics here. I know that the majority of abortions are for the reason of convenience. And I’m not going to say that abortions are a “blessing.” Abortions will always be a contentious issue, and I just think that gives us all the more opportunity to change this image people have of Christians. Lose the picket signs and hateful slogans and pickup an attitude of love and forgiveness. It doesn’t matter what you believe, whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, what matters is how you love those that are making the decision.
She started off with an example that many would find they agree with. Maybe not that it is a blessing, but that it is semi-acceptable.
"When a woman finds herself pregnant due to violence and chooses an abortion, it is the violence that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing."
Her next example will find fewer supporters, yet it is still something that many would find to be an acceptable option, though maybe not a blessing.
"When a woman finds that the fetus she is carrying has anomalies incompatible with life, that it will not live and that she requires an abortion – often a late-term abortion – to protect her life, her health, or her fertility, it is the shattering of her hopes and dreams for that pregnancy that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing."
There are far fewer supporters for her last two examples, with many saying that abortions should not be allowed as a "get out of jail free" card to those who make poor decisions. Though it is still a woman's right to make that choice for herself and we cannot judge the experiences that lead to the decisions she is making, nor can we judge the decision itself.
"When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing."
"And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion – there is not a tragedy in sight -- only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing."
The bible does not specifically address the issue of abortion, and I don't think any amount of Christian dogma or doctrine can make up for what the bible says or doesn't say.
Jeremiah 1:5 is often quoted as a verse that shows God's view on abortion, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," along with Psalm 139:13-16, another verse that talks about God's role in our creation in the womb. But that is just talking about the role of God in creation, not in the placement of the soul in the body at that moment. God has his hand in the creation of everything. He knows everything before He creates it.
Exodus 21:22-25 is another verse that is used to show how God punishes those that cause (perform) abortions,
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth . . ."
While I don't think this verse has anything to do with abortion, both sides of the debate have used it to either defend, or condemn the act.
The pro-abortion side says that it clearly states that if the fetus dies, then a beating is due, but if the woman dies, then it shall be a life for a life, thus showing that the fetus isn’t a “life”.
The anti-abortion side likes to say that certain words have been mistranslated and that if you read it in the original Hebrew there would be no way you could use it for a pro-abortion argument.
Whether we interpret the verses as pro, or anti-abortion, it doesn’t matter. We can all twist scripture to say whatever we want through all sorts of arguments, but that isn’t going to help any.
Abortions are going to happen. Whether we label them as right or wrong, they are still going to take place. This is not the time to condemn; this is the time to show love. The Christian stance on abortion is one of the major issues that is showcased to the world when describing the ignorance and out-datedness of Christianity. Now I’m not saying we need to change our beliefs to be more popular, but I think we are making the wrong thing the center of attention.
When people think of Christianity and abortions, they think of those selfish assholes that stand outside picketing abortion clinics. What a travesty this is! Christians shouldn’t be known for their arrogance, their ignorance and their hatefulness. This is the perfect opportunity to reach out, to show people that we are caring, loving people that aren’t going to judge you for the decisions you make. We should have support groups, counselling services, and an open, accepting invitation to all women that make the decision to have an abortion. We should be known for our love and support, not our hatred and judgement.
Christianity is about love. Picketing abortion clinics is not love. Judging people for the decisions they make is not love.
Now I'm not arguing statistics here. I know that the majority of abortions are for the reason of convenience. And I’m not going to say that abortions are a “blessing.” Abortions will always be a contentious issue, and I just think that gives us all the more opportunity to change this image people have of Christians. Lose the picket signs and hateful slogans and pickup an attitude of love and forgiveness. It doesn’t matter what you believe, whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, what matters is how you love those that are making the decision.
The ability to leave comments has been fixed...I hope. :)
Here are some things I've been thinking and writing about:
~The things we give up for Lent, they are supposed to be things that have been getting between us and God. So wouldn't it make sense that we give them up for good?
~What does it mean to be the spiritual leader of the household?
~Is the emergent church watering down the gospel?
~What are the advantages to the cyber-church? What is more important, the evangelical or pastoral aspects?
~The things we give up for Lent, they are supposed to be things that have been getting between us and God. So wouldn't it make sense that we give them up for good?
~What does it mean to be the spiritual leader of the household?
~Is the emergent church watering down the gospel?
~What are the advantages to the cyber-church? What is more important, the evangelical or pastoral aspects?
Have you ever had God talk to you? I don't think I've ever felt God tell me something. Not the way some people say. Maybe I'm not listening.
What does it mean when someone says that God has talked to them? Does that mean they literally heard his voice? Or maybe He imparted thoughts directly into their brain. I've never really understood how that works exactly as I don't think I've ever experienced it.
Maybe I'm not listening? Maybe I'm too busy with "me" stuff, and I'm not listening to "Him" stuff? I like to think I'm living His will, not mine, but sometimes I don't really understand what that means. Someone once told me that God doesn't talk to me because I'm a heathen for not believing in a sexist, hateful God who prefers rules over love. Granted that was on a forum, as I don't tend to have discussions like that in real-life (not for lack of not wanting to, more because I just don't associate with people like that).
I'd love to hear from Him. Hear what He has to say to me. For my life. I just kinda roll with things, and pretend like what I'm doing is His will for me. Whether it is or not I really don't know, but then maybe He is at work in my life and I just don't know it?
It's weird. I'm going to learn how to listen. Maybe He's been saying stuff all along and I'm just not listening.
What does it mean when someone says that God has talked to them? Does that mean they literally heard his voice? Or maybe He imparted thoughts directly into their brain. I've never really understood how that works exactly as I don't think I've ever experienced it.
Maybe I'm not listening? Maybe I'm too busy with "me" stuff, and I'm not listening to "Him" stuff? I like to think I'm living His will, not mine, but sometimes I don't really understand what that means. Someone once told me that God doesn't talk to me because I'm a heathen for not believing in a sexist, hateful God who prefers rules over love. Granted that was on a forum, as I don't tend to have discussions like that in real-life (not for lack of not wanting to, more because I just don't associate with people like that).
I'd love to hear from Him. Hear what He has to say to me. For my life. I just kinda roll with things, and pretend like what I'm doing is His will for me. Whether it is or not I really don't know, but then maybe He is at work in my life and I just don't know it?
It's weird. I'm going to learn how to listen. Maybe He's been saying stuff all along and I'm just not listening.
I'm exploring the label, "Twisted Christian" that was given to me by a friend. I want to expand on it, and use this place as a forum for discussion on Christianity that doesn't fit the mold.
So this site grew out of an excess of time that I found myself with during Lent 2009. I had given up spending hours lusting for bass gear and decided to spend it writing more worth-while stuff.
The title, "Twisted Christian" was given to me by a co-worker back when I was an industrial mechanic. I was into guns and knives, I drank and swore like a, well like a mechanic. I went to church every week, had a weekly small group on Wednesdays, and would regularly question the "Christian norm." So this attitude earned me the moniker, Twisted Christian, which I am quite proud of. Questioning should never be a fault, and it should always be paired with the search for answers.
So that's what I'm doing here. I'm no scholar by any stretch of the imagination, though I am hoping to one day be that and more. I'm tired of the negative image Christians have and want to do my part to change that. In order to do that I need to first learn what we, as Christians, are doing to give us that negative image, and how it can be changed.
Throughout all of this I will be learning as well. I don't have this solidly cemented faith, it's more fluid-like with small islands of things I've accepted.
I want this site to be a learning place for everyone. A place to share your opinions, and be exposed to other ideas. I try my best to be diplomatic and intelligent, so feel free to let me know when I'm not. So feel free to join in with your opinion, or respond to others in the comments section.
I am Christopher, and I am a Twisted Christian.
As a little disclaimer, this won't always be "twisted christian" things. I might occasionally come across a totally normal Christian thing that doesn't make us look particularly good or bad and write about it. Just so you know. :)
The title, "Twisted Christian" was given to me by a co-worker back when I was an industrial mechanic. I was into guns and knives, I drank and swore like a, well like a mechanic. I went to church every week, had a weekly small group on Wednesdays, and would regularly question the "Christian norm." So this attitude earned me the moniker, Twisted Christian, which I am quite proud of. Questioning should never be a fault, and it should always be paired with the search for answers.
So that's what I'm doing here. I'm no scholar by any stretch of the imagination, though I am hoping to one day be that and more. I'm tired of the negative image Christians have and want to do my part to change that. In order to do that I need to first learn what we, as Christians, are doing to give us that negative image, and how it can be changed.
Throughout all of this I will be learning as well. I don't have this solidly cemented faith, it's more fluid-like with small islands of things I've accepted.
I want this site to be a learning place for everyone. A place to share your opinions, and be exposed to other ideas. I try my best to be diplomatic and intelligent, so feel free to let me know when I'm not. So feel free to join in with your opinion, or respond to others in the comments section.
I am Christopher, and I am a Twisted Christian.
As a little disclaimer, this won't always be "twisted christian" things. I might occasionally come across a totally normal Christian thing that doesn't make us look particularly good or bad and write about it. Just so you know. :)
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