tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191814566134809079.post7297179270782119101..comments2023-05-21T03:53:49.288-05:00Comments on Icarus Always: Digging out!daemonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09153553633523797522noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191814566134809079.post-49679802337215791322011-01-24T13:26:04.158-06:002011-01-24T13:26:04.158-06:00Oh, about brands.
In Christ's day there were ...Oh, about brands.<br /><br />In Christ's day there were Pharisees, Sadduccees, and Essenes, among others. But they were all Jews and all recognized each other as being part of God's people.<br /><br />Likewise one reads in the Talmud that many rabbis had different interpretations of Torah, and sometimes reached new insight by comparing notes, but they were all recognized as Jews in good standing.<br /><br />A beam of white light, shining through a prism, reveals itself as a rainbow of color. Why shouldn't Christ our Light be manifest and experienced in varying ways? As long as the bottom line of love/grace is present, I have no reason to think God is not present in another brand of church.<br /><br />Your experience of church sounds mostly Evangelical/fundamentalist at various points in your life. Check out Episcopal, ELCA Lutheran and United Church of Christ, not to mention United Methodist and United Presbyterian and Greek Orthodox -- and realize that the Body of Christ is a huge thing, and the People of God are found everywhere.<br /><br />michael eAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191814566134809079.post-24057459489080143902011-01-24T13:15:47.861-06:002011-01-24T13:15:47.861-06:00I love all your writing. :) And I've never m...I love all your writing. :) And I've never met you and probably won't until paradise, but I'm so glad to encounter you in your blog.<br /><br />I was taught that the text carries the Word, but is not identical with that Word. The Word of God is living and active -- an encounter with love, joy, holiness and peace which transforms us continually.<br /><br />And the New Testament witnesses to the Word made flesh, but *Christ* is the Truth -- not a book or a set of dogmas. He's also the Light who shines on all people (John 1:9) and is an equal opportunity Lord.<br /><br />Since the whole Body of Christ is "anointed" with Truth, I figure that the majority of believers over time have probably got something right if they are in agreement, however, if a Church loves Christ and gracefully embraces all human beings, I admire them regardless of whether I agree in every tittle of doctrine.<br /><br />As per doctrines, my own belief is that what really counts is relationship, both the vertical (God) and horizontal (neighbor) axes.<br /><br />Honestly I don't think God gives a fig as to who is "right" about the mode of baptism or the intricacies of spiritual gifts. God looks for love. The pharisees were "right" about most things, but their hearts were of stone, so orthodoxy didn't help them.<br /><br />Romans 11 I see as God using our resistance to unfold an even more glorious opportunity: if some Jews didn't embrace Jesus, then we'll open things up and enfold the whole world. But that doesn't imply that the Jews are rejected or unloved -- it is merely a temporal working out of God's providence to gather us all in.<br /><br />Bahaha! What are you doing enrolling in a super rigid college? That sounds insane, but you will have fun if you don't first leave in disgust. :P<br /><br />I'll keep on praying that you get a good boyfriend. I reckon he'd have to have some self-confidence to ask you out: since you are pretty amazing most guys might doubt their ability to land you. I guess it will be a guy with big faith. :)<br /><br />Cheers!<br />michael e<br /><br />p.s. -- where do you *get* those pics...? ;)<br /><br />p.p.s. -- i know i ramble on in my posts. if this ever annoys you let me know. :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191814566134809079.post-75810210225187744412011-01-23T22:26:58.599-06:002011-01-23T22:26:58.599-06:00A crisis of faith is as normal & natural as an...A crisis of faith is as normal & natural as anything else. The real test is wether or not we are open to actually listening to what God reveals, or are we simply wanting the answers that we think work the way we want them to.<br /><br />It's really as old as Genesis 3...wanting to be God and call our own shots.<br /><br />I'll be praying for you, bro. God is faithful even when...maybe ESPECIALLY when, we are unfaithful our selves. He'll pull you through.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663450606002281193noreply@blogger.com