Tag Archives: Social Gospel
A new way or and old way to read the Bible…
A new way to read the Scriptures… or maybe the original way…?
Robert Webber challenges his reader to read the Scriptures as he says; the way the Apostles and early church read them.
Now, if you’re like me, and you have been taught how to read your Bible in the past 50 years or more, then you have taught to read the Bible literary historical grammatical approach. This way is not opposed to what Webber says, but its focus is misplaced. Continue reading
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The Richness of Atonement Theories
Theology is an integrated area of study, and it works to our disadvantage by compartmentalizing its many different facets. To study atonement without the understanding of its relationship to the rest of theology would be detrimental to its significance. The atonement would be meaningless without the depravity of man; it would be powerless to display the love of God without the incarnation, and it would be hopeless without the promise of a resurrection. Continue reading
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Letting Go & Letting God be God.
“We want a God we can in some measure control. We need the feeling of security that comes from knowing what God is like, and what He is like is of course a composite of all the religious pictures we have seen, all the best people we have known or heard about, and all the sublime ideas we have entertained.”
-A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy.
What a sad commentary on humanity. How short even our thoughts are from God. God in the mind of many, as Tozer said, is a collage of religious images; skinny unscathed Jesus on the Cross; gentle Jesus snuggle close to lambs; God stretching out his finger to Adam but not quite touching. Experiences and people we know taint the image of God. We see God like we see our Father, or Mother, Pastor, or influencing figures. However, the worst seems to be Tozer’s last assertion that becomes a culmination of all the sublime ideas we have entertained. This is as if to say, God is a great as we can imagine. How tragic! A God whose glory and majesty power and grandeur can be housed in the mind of a man. God is none of these things. God is Holy other. He is separate and far from the thoughts of man. He is bigger than we can imagine and more intimate than we grasp. He is more than our sublime ideas, and possible less. Continue reading
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The Power of Nonviolence
A nonviolent response robs violent offenders of their power.
The kingdom of this world’s greatest threat and manipulation of power is the illusion that they can take your life or make it miserable. However, in truth God is the giver and taker of life. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). Furthermore, as believers we have a greater hope, a hope of resurrection. As Paul understood he said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”(Philippians 1:21). Continue reading
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Justice or Charity?
Justice or Charity?
Both justice and charity are mentioned in the Bible as qualities of both God and the faithful. Yet, it seems to me charity has somehow been subtitled for justice. People think they are supporting justice when all they are is being charitable. Continue reading
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Religion: Christian.
The Church as been obsessed with the concept that “Christianity is not a religion it is a relationship.” And although I understand the theological understanding of that phrase I still see it as bad bumper sticker theology. I think the widespread acceptance of this theology highlights a growing problem in the church. Namely, the growing inward focus rather than an outward focus. The modern Church is completely absorbed with the individual rather than the community.
Religion is not an entire bad thing. In fact I will argue it is a good thing. Religion is not something believers should run from or shrink away from. Instead it should be embraced in its true form. James 1:27 tells us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” So if religion is doing its job correctly it is a positive force on society and culture. Continue reading
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Rejection of the Witness
Why was Sodom and Gomorrah really judged? Continue reading
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Our love for God is expressed through our love for others.
Love God love others-Love others love God Continue reading
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What is the highest form of spirituality?
What is the highest form of Christian spirituality? Continue reading
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