Jesus' Message
| Posted On: 02/28/08 05:07:14 PM |
Age 22, IL |
Do you think it's possible to reduce the message of Jesus to a couple words? Think about it. Why did God send Jesus to die for our sins? After reading Velvet Elvis, I did not think he was trying to undermine Christianity. I think the reduced message of Jesus Christ has been lost amongst systematic theology. Systematic theology is important. There is or should be one message that holds all denominations together. This message is grace and love. God loved us, this is why he sent Jesus. It is by his grace he loves us. What does it mean to "take care of my sheep."? Jesus calls us to make disciples, well, what did Jesus teach his disciples? Paul says all is done in vain if love is absent. John reminds us that "God is love."
Rob Bell is not rethinking Christianity, he is rethinking the messages being preached. Based on your denominational background, God can be many things, and in our pluralistic culture, it is hard to define certain things. The Bible is specific, so what was lost? Is it fair to reduce the Bible? Am I deconstructing it to much? Whether or not you agree, think about what Christianity has been reduced to today, is it a message of a grace and love? I submit for your consideration, that Rob Bell has stepped outside of Christianity and this is what he saw. Christianity looks different to different people. Rob Bell is calling for some consistency. Repaint the Christian faith. What has been lost in the shuffle?
I recommend for your stack of reading, "UnChristian" by Dave Kinnaman. Christianity has, in a sense, 'changed'. Though its message hasn't, what is being lived by Christians has 'changed'. I submit to you further, that when we repaint Christianity, we repaint how we are living the revealed Scriptures. The big 'C' Church needs to change. (Big 'C' church refers to the body of Christ as a whole, little 'c' church refers to the local congregation) There are some churches across the nation that are recognizing the fact that this "postmodern" culture is more "post-Christian" then anything else.
Christianity is not as prominent as it once was. I am not calling for a Constantinople, 'Christianity is law' deal goin on, but I am calling for the Church to meet the needs of the people around them. Jesus said to love God and then to love people. Has that message been lost? Repaint the Christian faith.
Click here to reply to this post
|
Sola Scriptura
| Posted On: 02/15/08 06:12:51 PM |
Age 22, CA |
... ... here it goes again... The Tradations of Men have made the word of God void...
Click here to reply to this post
|
Creative Theology
| Posted On: 02/01/08 04:06:16 PM |
Age 61, MO |
There are many ways a person can exercise creative thinking. The Holy Scriptures is not one of them. Rob Bell and his emergent cohorts do nothing for the glorification of God...and God will not be mocked. Those guys need to find honest employment. George Cancilla
Click here to reply to this post
|
JESUS SAYS - "FOLLOW ME"
| Posted On: 02/01/08 03:55:15 PM |
Age 64, OH |
It seems Rob Bell should have spent a little more time in plane geometry class and learned the science of valid reasoning. His arguments are full of holes. It is not the "velvet" Jesus that I follow but the real Lord Jesus Christ. If One follows doctrines or the rules of men then one can argue like Bell. But I do not follow a Book or doctrines or the rules of any man; I follow the real Person that wrote the Holy Scriptures. Jesus is not some abstract concept but is alive, real, and involved in the lives of those who will trust in Him and nothing else. Luther did not rethink faith; but went back to the original faith of Abraham that was lost by the PROGRESSIVE thinking of the popes. Luther read what Paul had written about the salvation of Abraham and wrote that he was "saved by faith". What Rob bell writes is anti-Christ and not "Christian" at all.- But you say, "I believe that inspired, authoritative revelation was given once for all and is contained in the Scriptures. And this implies that revelation is not an ongoing process". - this statement is against the Holy Scriptures also. God Almighty started to REVEAL Himself in the creation, for the creation REVEALS the glory of God. The scriptures did not yet exist, so this alone disproves your statement. God sent the prophets to REVEAL himself to Israel and us. What the prophets spoke was not from scripture but became scripture. Jesus came to REVEAL God to all who would listen and seek for Him. That is why the pharisees could not see Christ as God for they followed the scriptures instead of God. But THE REVELATION of The Lord Jesus Christ is still in the future or don't you believe that Jesus is coming back. Jesus is coming back to REVEAL Himself to the universe ONCE AND FOR ALL. Revelation 2:17 I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.- Has your new name been revealed to you yet Bob, it is to be revealed-- Revelation 3:12 Jesus says," and I will also write on him my new name".- We can see here Jesus will reveal a New Name for Himself in the future. --Ro 8:19 "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed".- The sons of God have not been revealed as yet and all of creation awaits that revelation.-- The Book itself tells us not to look to the Book but follow God Himself only. The Book says "the sons of God are those who walk in the Spirit". You can follow your doctrine or believe what the scriptures say. Lou
Click here to reply to this post
|
|
|
|
