I know, it has been a week since I last wrote on the blog, I have thought about it each day this week, but now have sat down to write. Does that mean that I don't want to chronicle my thoughts, or stay in touch with a whole load of people, NO, but it does mean that the energy it takes to write after one's mind is tired is more than I have had for the most part over this last week. Been doing a bunch of reading about heaven/hell, to be honest most of the reading has been on hell, there is a seminar tomorrow that I am chairing. I thought it would be good to have some background on the topic, I already understand some, but having a deeper Biblical basis is wise, especially when dealing with a topic that could get dicey. I have mostly settled in my mind what I think about heaven/hell, but many people that are reading, searching a digging in have questions, I'm sure that they will come out tomorrow. This week the focus was upon John's gospel, it is one of believing, salvation, eternal life and feeling as though you were right there with Jesus as He shared with the disciples. I totally appreciate the gospel of John but also appreciate the other gospels as well, I think that they get the short end of the stick sometimes as we tend to focus upon eternal life and salvation, not how then shall we live. This might sound a bit controversial, I'm not saying to stop preaching salvation, I am saying the Kingdom of God is so much more, and when a person has entered that Kingdom they are then to move forward with God, not just stay complacent. This is one of the main ideas that I have been dealing with this term, it all continues to become clearer and clearer as I study, listen, read and talk with others about the Kingdom. I think that it is the forgotten message of Jesus, here in the UK there is a popular book called the Lost Message of Christ, and I think that the Kingdom is the forgotten message of Jesus. It has not been lost, we (the church) seemingly have forgotten to preach and consequently live the Kingdom out. I trust that my thinking is continuing to line up with the Word and with Christ, and that my life is lining up with the Word and with being in Christ. Please comment if you would like to, I would like to hear what others have to say about these thoughts, by the way the next entry is going to be incredibly light so be aware:)
earl
posted by earl or rebecca @ 11:04 AM
2 Comments:
Hi Ya Earl.
Just wanted to send a quick response to your most recent blog. (Even though posting makes me a little nervous...) For one, I'd like to ring my agreement chime in the what-we-do-here-matters category. The part of your blog I find a little more controversial is the speaking for the entire church part. When you say "we the church..." that is talking about a mighty big group of people. One could argue that there are weak areas in Christianity and the entire church (I have done so myself), but here I'm not sure it is the case. (I do realize that prophets speak this way, and I'm sure you have prophetic blood in your veins...so maybe that is what you need to do.) I just know that(many)Mennonite churches have been known to err on the side of how we live now more than we talk about the afterlife and salvation. Personally, it is a leaning I prefer. (Not that we work our way to acceptance, but that's another discussion...)All that to say...for me, I do not find what you're saying (about the Reign of God) disputatious, but rather the way you are saying it. I welcome your rebut/refute/or anything in between! If there is anything that is foggy or unclear in this comment, I would like to blame it on being 6:45 on a Monday morning! On a lighter tone...enjoy your week and carpe diem! (Which means "eat fish" in pig latin.)
Jill,
I accept your gentle slap on the hand for the "whole church" statement. I think that when I am thinking I probably do put the whole of American churches in play, I do realize that by no stretch of the imagination do they think, act or look the same. Making blanket statements can get one into trouble, thanks for reigning me in, sometimes we all need that.
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