Faith versus reason

If you have time, read the e-debate between Conservative Soul author (and Rethynk blogroller) Andrew Sullivan and atheist Sam Hill about faith and reason. If you saw Bill Maher’s film Religulous (I did not), you will appreciate the topic. *Spoiler*: God wins.

The dabate was hosted by Beliefnet HERE.

The danger of dispensationalism

Once again, I have to redirect you to Rundio’s blog. He has a brilliant post about dispensationalism and how it has laid the framework for injustice and dangerous theology. Dispensationalism is the 100 year old way of interpereting biblical eschatology (end times). It is the most popular way of thinking in modern American Christianity and its exploits include the Left Behind series, pre/mid/post tribulation debating, a literal millenium, and other silly things.

Read what Matt has to say and then come on back and tell me what you think!

My thoughts exactly

Thanks to my buddy Matt for posting something I have neither the time nor desire to defend at his blog. End times and Revelation. His post summarizes, with scripture references and notation, my thoughts on this sometimes touchy subject. Basically, that final book of the New Testament isn’t what you probably have been taught.

If you are curious and have time, check it out!

Sermon on the Mount thoughts

Lately, I’ve been teaching on and studying the famous Sermon on the Mount this last month or so for our Jesus series in student ministries… along with the Jesus for President in bigchurch. I have never wrestled with, struggled over, and learned as much from this part of the New Testament ever before. I want to share with you my bullet thoughts:

• -All things considered, Jesus is easily the most political figure ever.
• -At times, Jesus teaches with a mathematical pentameter… Five, six, seven, eight, “You have heard it said BLANK but I tell you BLANK.” Its soothing… like a lullabye.
• -The type of holiness Jesus is calling listeners to is impossible for man to achieve (never think hateful thought, don’t lust) which just reaffirms that He was actually talking about much more than rules.
• -To truly think about the better way of living that Jesus is talking about is a thing of beauty. What would that look like for MY life?
• -He loves us. His ministry on earth, His words, His actions, show His insane love for us.
• -He was truly a candidate of change… to the point that the true change He was speaking of was ONLY made possible with His death and resurrection. Try that on for size, Obama and McPalin.
• -Finally and thanks to my buddy Matt… what rules/box/restrictions have I put on my faith? In living with other humans, the question should NOT be “Are you saved?” but instead, “Are you loved by God?” The answer for every human is, “YES!” God loves everyone. Matt posed me this question, “You love your boys, right?… is there ANYTHING they could EVER do to make you want them to spend the rest of their lives in torment and away from you?” No.

If you haven’t in a while, you should read the sermon that was delivered on a mountainside 2,000 years ago.

What if…

…you were FORCED to choose a book of the Bible to be removed from the Holy Canon, which one would you pick and why?

My answer: Revelation.

I love Revelation for its imagery and overall message of Christ’s eternal reign. But unfortunately, it is easily the most misunderstood book in the Bible.

Thats my vote, whats yours?

No human is “illegal”

… because God says we are created in His image, and the Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal. So then why, in this “God-fearing” nation is THIS allowed to happen?

As Christians, why is it so easy for us to ignore volumes of Scripture about caring for aliens?

As Christians, why do we selectively choose which US laws are okay for us to break and which ones aren’t?

The man is awake now…

New arrival!

Eat your heart our Mark Driscoll…

What to do with Mugabe?

This is probably the most over-blogged topic in the world of Emerging Christian Trendy Bloggerdom and I haven’t chimed in yet, but now I am. I am confused as to what my response to this should be and I need your help. Part of me would not mind it at all if he “accidentally” trips and falls on a bullet thanks to the CIA, but I have issues with a system that has humans deciding which other humans get to live and die. The other part of me thinks there is nothing left to do but hope and pray, that is the easy response from my perch atop my glass tower in the sterile USA but I’m sure it doesn’t work for those who are forced to call this man “president.”

I guess there is always the other option I am used to… turn the news off and pretend it isn’t happening.

What do you think?

Blogthruabook: The Challenge of Jesus

Today I am launching a new feature on Rethynk and I am calling it Blogthruabook (pronouced, “blog THROUGH a book”). Over the next few weeks I will be reading a book I have been meaning to for a long time and posting on each chapter my thoughts. The first installment of this feature is N.T. Wright’s, The Challenge of Jesus. This book comes highly recommended by friends and after a season of reading secular, social-justice books, I am looking forward to some soul food. I invite you to join with me in this read.

I picked up Challenge of Jesus (CoJ from now on) a few months back and knew right away I wasn’t ready for it. I was busy, as I always am, and felt I couldn’t give this book the time and thought it needed. But today, I am ready. After reading the preface and chapter one, I can already tell CoJ comes at a great time for me. Wright declares in the initial pages that he wants to refocus Christian thought on the “quest for the historical Jesus and that by asking the questions, “Who was Jesus?” and “What did He accomplish?” we are participating in basic Christian discipleship. I can get with that. Read more

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