Comments for presbymergent

Comment on Who is My Jesus? by Beloved Spear

Beloved Spear — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:30:32 +0000

@ marie: I’m all ready to disagree with you too and get into one of those blog ranting exchanges. But I can’t. Bummer. It appears that you and I have a very similar understanding of obedience in a Christian context. Christian obedience is not the same as worldly obedience. Laws rely on coercion, and people obey them out of fear of punishment. It’s all about power dynamics, and not about love. The love of wealth is the same thing, as wealth is just a social proxy for power. If we obey the call of mammon, we’re engaged in the same sort of power struggle.

But we obey God for very different reasons, not from fear and not from desire for power, but because we find ourselves transformed by the depth of love and grace we encounter in Christ.

Comment on Evangelism as Honesty by Renee

Renee — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:16:51 +0000

Thanks for writing this, Chris. I’ve wrestled pretty deeply with evangelism. Then, recently, God placed a correspondence in my life where to not share what I thought about God would have been to deny who I am and what I believe about life–and thus, to deny God too–to deny who God made me to be. It was through copious amounts of honesty–about my own walk and joys and failures, and about the Church’s walk and joys and failures–that I accidentally led someone to God. It was, perhaps, the most amazing experience of my life… and his too.

Comment on Evangelism as Honesty by Beloved Spear

Beloved Spear — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:52:38 +0000

I tend to answer that last question with Romans 12.

You’re right about honesty. Ultimately, our doctrinal trench warfare and compulsive use of AmeriChrist Inc. groupspeak leaves people without a clue what the Gospel story is all about. This is…unfortunate…because the story we have to share carries a truth that resonates every soul that’s hoped for something better.

Comment on Evangelism as Honesty by David

David — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:06:23 +0000

Well written. I hope others link to the blog as it speaks to so many issues that the mainline needs to deal with. Evangelism isn’t about filling the pews!

Comment on Who is My Jesus? by marie

marie — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:27:43 +0000

I disagree with the sentiment on obeying. I find that those people or things I love, I truly obey, from the heart expressing in action. If I love money, my heart is going to do what that love tells me. If I love an abusive person, unfortunately I am going to do what they tell me. But if I truly love God, I will obey Him from my heart which will show in my actions. I think sometimes we see obedience as doing something we don’t want to do. That is actually what the Bible calls sacrifice. Obedience is aligning my will with another’s. It is something that 1st takes place in our hearts and then transforms actions. Obedience to God is the call of a Christian—to align our wills to God’s.

Comment on Evangelism as Honesty by Chris Thomas

Chris Thomas — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:34:04 +0000

Well put I couldn’t agree with you more. I love how you emphasized that evangelism is about Jesus Christ. Simply put the good news is Jesus himself. Most people these days seem to think it is about a get out of jail free card. When we look at Jesus, our Lord, as the good news we are confronted with our own sinfulness in the reflection of his perfection. Then the great thing is the truth of his death and resurrection giving us the grace to serve him as our Lord once again. Great synopsis Chris!

Comment on Who is My Jesus? by Beloved Spear

Beloved Spear — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:06:50 +0000

@Dannah: By “participating in Christ” I’m describing the essential and transforming role that the Holy Spirit plays in our relationship with Christ. We’re not “obeying” in the way that we obey a law, under fear of coercion. We’re not “emulating” in the way that we might mimic the actions of someone we respect, hoping for societal approval. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are acting as a people transformed by the nature and reality of God.

We’re till our own bad selves, but…different. I know it’s a bit fuddly, but then again, it’s supposed to be.

I’d tend to look to places like John 15:1-17 or John 16:5-15 for more detail. Or Galatians 5:13-26.

Comment on Who is My Jesus? by Dannah

Dannah — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:19:50 +0000

@EP- that quote articulated how I feel much more precisely than what I was trying to say in my entry about who is my Jesus. Thanks for sharing.

@Spear-I’m not sure what you mean by “Being Christian..and being saved…is less about obeying or emulating Christ and more about participating in Christ.” How do you participate in Christ without obeying or (trying) to emulate him? Just wondering. What does participating in Christ mean to you? I enjoyed reading your post but I must admit it probably went over my head.

Comment on Who is My Jesus? by Existential Punk

Existential Punk — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:51:25 +0000

YES! i think you nailed it on the head. Pete Rollins says that, ‘I do not believe Christians are called to believe in the resurrection of Christ. I believe we are called to be the resurrection of Christ. To be the site where resurrection takes place.’ That statement is amazing and has such deep implications for our faith. Take time to mull on those 33 words and allow them to really sink down into your being, your soul! This is deep stuff! Thanks for your thought-provoking post!

Warmest Regards,
EP

Comment on Who is “My Jesus” by Dannah

Dannah — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:34:58 +0000

@Sue- I don’t really know. Everyone has a different path. I have always been in search of understanding, so I do a lot of reading and Bible studies. It just doesn’t always make sense to me.I feel close to God, I just am trying to make sense of the things that seem to make no sense to me, like everyone else. Sometimes it’s easier for me to just do what I feel Jesus asked us to do rather than believe in things that don’t seem real to me. I am a recovering alcoholic, and in AA the “12 steps” are obviously (to me, I’m sure there are those that would argue they’re not) derived from teachings in the New Testament. Specifically surrender to God (higher power), amends, being of service, and praying daily. It has worked well for me, when I practice the program. It’s based on taking actions whether or not you fully have reconciled your faith. Sometimes I just have to set aside the task of trying to figure out what happened 2000 years ago and let God work in my life, and, give to God what I feel he was asking of us through Jesus.