It seems more like Christmas this year than usual. Due to the economic slowdown, there isn’t so much of a commercial festival taking place at the same time as Christmas this year.
But still the commercial element can have a detrimental effect.
It is easy to throw the baby out with the bath water. The water can be filled with tinsel , cards, wrapping paper, presents, food, drink, social events and spending money to the point where the baby gets lost amongst all the stuff.
We can lose the baby and then not want to look for him again. The scribes and priests knew where the baby was likely to be but none of them went to see him. Some pagans from a far awy country went to see him first.
Then some shepherds went to see him because an Angel told them. The angel told them because it was a shepherds business to know when a lamb is to be born.
Jesus is the lamb that takes away the sins off the world.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Sunday, 7 December 2008
John Chrysostom Compline
O God who is one,
O God who is true,
O God who is first,
O God who is one substance,
O God only mighty, in three Persons, truly merciful, forgive.
* O Lord, You will keep us safeand protect us forever.
* O Lord, deprive me not of your heavenly blessings.
*O Lord, deliver me from eternal torment.
*O Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word deed, forgive me.
*O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;
*O Lord, deliver me from every temptation;
*O Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desire
God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto you; and does promise, that when two or three are gathered together in your Name you will grant their requests : Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most fitting for them ; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Amen.
*O Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings.
*O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love you with all my heart and soul, and that I may obey in all things your will;
*O Lord, shield me from evil persons and devils and passions and all other lawless matters;
In the name of The Father and of The son and of The Holy Spirit
Amen
O God who is true,
O God who is first,
O God who is one substance,
O God only mighty, in three Persons, truly merciful, forgive.
* O Lord, You will keep us safeand protect us forever.
* O Lord, deprive me not of your heavenly blessings.
*O Lord, deliver me from eternal torment.
*O Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word deed, forgive me.
*O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;
*O Lord, deliver me from every temptation;
*O Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desire
God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto you; and does promise, that when two or three are gathered together in your Name you will grant their requests : Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most fitting for them ; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Amen.
*O Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings.
*O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love you with all my heart and soul, and that I may obey in all things your will;
*O Lord, shield me from evil persons and devils and passions and all other lawless matters;
In the name of The Father and of The son and of The Holy Spirit
Amen
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Emergent Church
Wikipedia says some stuff about the Emergent Church but the term ‘Emergent Church’ seems to mean anything nowadays.
One definition for Emergent Church is an Evangelical Christian movement whose participants seek to live their faith in modern society by emulating Jesus Christ irrespective of Christian religious traditions. This can not be what it is. This would make JW’s and Mormons Emergent.
It is said that proponents of this movement call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature. This is correct in my understanding of the phrase Emergent Church but in reality a lot that is called emergent Church is in reality Church with a trendy name. Some so called Emergent Churches are as centralised as any other Church.
It is also said that its members may be disillusioned with the organized and institutional church and often support the deconstruction of modern Christian dogma. Who the hell likes dogmatism in the first place anyway?
Wikipedia also says that the movement often favours the use of simple story and narrative, occasionally incorporating mysticism. I know of a lot of things that are called emergent Church but I can’t say I have ever come across such a movement. A lot of it is repackaged tradition.
It also says that members of the emerging movement place high value on good works or social activism, sometimes including missional living or new monasticism; while Evangelicals may emphasize eternal salvation, many in the emerging movement emphasize the here and now and the need to create a kingdom of heaven on Earth.
When in fact the emphasis is on everything.
Apparently Emergent churches can be found throughout the globe, predominantly in North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Some attend local independent churches or house churches labelled "emergent" while others worship in traditional Christian denominations.
This is when the whole thing becomes a joke!
It is said that proponents of this movement call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature. If it has a decentralized nature it can’t be like a house church or part of a traditional denomination. Such fellowships are something different to the true Emergent Church.
The true Emergent church takes elements of worship from a wide variety of historic traditions, including Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, the Orthodox church, and Celtic Christianity. liturgy, prayer beads, icons, and the labyrinth.
The Taizé Community in France parallels the emergent experience in many ways. As does The Religious Society of Friends
I do not believe that the true Emergent Church can be a house group or a group of people that meet in a building at a certain time but an active community. I believe that the true Emergent Church has been around for the last 2000 years, hence it is right to draw on a variety of historic traditions.
Within the true Emergent Church the idolatry that is Denominationalism is non-existent. The heresy card is never played.
The true Emergent Church is not into going to meetings and conferences, so people who are holding Emergent Church conferences are not truly Emergent. The true Emergent Church encourages growing together in unity and not growing by going to meetings.
In the words of Saint Patrick,
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
One definition for Emergent Church is an Evangelical Christian movement whose participants seek to live their faith in modern society by emulating Jesus Christ irrespective of Christian religious traditions. This can not be what it is. This would make JW’s and Mormons Emergent.
It is said that proponents of this movement call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature. This is correct in my understanding of the phrase Emergent Church but in reality a lot that is called emergent Church is in reality Church with a trendy name. Some so called Emergent Churches are as centralised as any other Church.
It is also said that its members may be disillusioned with the organized and institutional church and often support the deconstruction of modern Christian dogma. Who the hell likes dogmatism in the first place anyway?
Wikipedia also says that the movement often favours the use of simple story and narrative, occasionally incorporating mysticism. I know of a lot of things that are called emergent Church but I can’t say I have ever come across such a movement. A lot of it is repackaged tradition.
It also says that members of the emerging movement place high value on good works or social activism, sometimes including missional living or new monasticism; while Evangelicals may emphasize eternal salvation, many in the emerging movement emphasize the here and now and the need to create a kingdom of heaven on Earth.
When in fact the emphasis is on everything.
Apparently Emergent churches can be found throughout the globe, predominantly in North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Some attend local independent churches or house churches labelled "emergent" while others worship in traditional Christian denominations.
This is when the whole thing becomes a joke!
It is said that proponents of this movement call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature. If it has a decentralized nature it can’t be like a house church or part of a traditional denomination. Such fellowships are something different to the true Emergent Church.
The true Emergent church takes elements of worship from a wide variety of historic traditions, including Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, the Orthodox church, and Celtic Christianity. liturgy, prayer beads, icons, and the labyrinth.
The Taizé Community in France parallels the emergent experience in many ways. As does The Religious Society of Friends
I do not believe that the true Emergent Church can be a house group or a group of people that meet in a building at a certain time but an active community. I believe that the true Emergent Church has been around for the last 2000 years, hence it is right to draw on a variety of historic traditions.
Within the true Emergent Church the idolatry that is Denominationalism is non-existent. The heresy card is never played.
The true Emergent Church is not into going to meetings and conferences, so people who are holding Emergent Church conferences are not truly Emergent. The true Emergent Church encourages growing together in unity and not growing by going to meetings.
In the words of Saint Patrick,
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
Liturgy Composed For Advent Communion Service
Pres
Cong
and the fullness thereof;
the world,
and they that dwell therein.
Cong
We are gathered in the name of Jesus.
He is within our midst.
The peace of The lord be with you
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
{The Peace}
and the fullness thereof;
the world,
and they that dwell therein.
Much loved in Christ, Let us therefore examine ourselves and repent of our sins.
Have mercy on us, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin.
For we know our transgressions, and our sin is always before us.
Restore to us the joy of our salvation and grant us a willing spirit, to sustain us.
God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins who is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness those who repent, give you pardon and peace, from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to The lord
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD
And to sing praises unto the name of the most high.
Amen, therefore with angels and archangel’s and with all the company of Heaven we praise his name saying,
Holy, holy, holy lord God of power and might
Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
And as we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim his death until he comes.
Lord we pray that you mercifully to accept our praise and thanksgiving
and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,
to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts of bread and wine;
that we and all who share in the + body and blood of your Son
may be filled with Heavenly peace and joy
and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,
may be + sanctified in soul and body,
and have our portion with all your saints
Amen
{Distribution}
The grace of our lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of The Holy Spirit be with you.
Amen
Go in peace to love and serve The lord
In the name of Christ we will.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Advent Liturgy
Give thanks to the LORD for he is good.
His mercy endures forever
The earth is the LORD's,
and the fullness thereof;
the world,
and they that dwell therein.
Christ has died
Christ has risen
Christ will come again.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that has clean hands, and a pure heart;
Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Glory to the son died, risen and ascended, who shall return in glory.
Blessed be God forever
Amen.
His mercy endures forever
The earth is the LORD's,
and the fullness thereof;
the world,
and they that dwell therein.
Christ has died
Christ has risen
Christ will come again.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that has clean hands, and a pure heart;
Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Glory to the son died, risen and ascended, who shall return in glory.
Blessed be God forever
Amen.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Seraphim Rose Compline
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship and fall down before the King, our God.Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God.Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King, our God.
God give us the strength to pursue the path of crucifixion
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit
Kyrie, eleison.
You bring pardon and peace to the sinner
Christe, eleison.
You bring light to those in darkness.
Kyrie, eleison.
Out of his glorious riches he may strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins
to enable us to be like Jesus.
being rooted and established in love, grasping how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ
There is no other way to be a Christian.
To be obedient to death— even death on a cross!
God give us the strength to pursue the path of crucifixion; there is no other way to be a Christian.
In the name of the Father, The son and The Holy Spirit.
Amen
Come, let us worship and fall down before the King, our God.Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God.Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King, our God.
God give us the strength to pursue the path of crucifixion
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit
Kyrie, eleison.
You bring pardon and peace to the sinner
Christe, eleison.
You bring light to those in darkness.
Kyrie, eleison.
Out of his glorious riches he may strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins
to enable us to be like Jesus.
being rooted and established in love, grasping how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ
There is no other way to be a Christian.
To be obedient to death— even death on a cross!
God give us the strength to pursue the path of crucifixion; there is no other way to be a Christian.
In the name of the Father, The son and The Holy Spirit.
Amen
Martin Luther Compline
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
The Lord's name be praised.
Amen.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
The Lord's name be praised.
Amen.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Thomas A Kempis Compline
* O Lord, You will keep us safe and protect us forever.
I am placing my soul and my body in your safe keeping this night, O God, in your safe keeping, O Jesus Christ, in your safe keeping, O Spirit of perfect truth.The Three who would defend my cause be keeping me this night from harm.
I do not fear to take up the cross when through it I can win a kingdom
In the cross is salvation,
in the cross is life,
in the cross is protection from enemies,
in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness,
in the cross is strength of mind,
in the cross is joy of spirit,
in the cross is highest virtue,
in the cross is perfect holiness.
There is no salvation of soul nor hope of everlasting life but in the cross.
* I come before your throne of grace; I come before your cross.
* Show the wonder of Your great love,You who save by Your right hand
* Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
By the royal way of the holy cross
* Christ with me sleeping,Christ with me waking,Christ with me watching, each day and each night.
+ in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
I am placing my soul and my body in your safe keeping this night, O God, in your safe keeping, O Jesus Christ, in your safe keeping, O Spirit of perfect truth.The Three who would defend my cause be keeping me this night from harm.
I do not fear to take up the cross when through it I can win a kingdom
In the cross is salvation,
in the cross is life,
in the cross is protection from enemies,
in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness,
in the cross is strength of mind,
in the cross is joy of spirit,
in the cross is highest virtue,
in the cross is perfect holiness.
There is no salvation of soul nor hope of everlasting life but in the cross.
* I come before your throne of grace; I come before your cross.
* Show the wonder of Your great love,You who save by Your right hand
* Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
By the royal way of the holy cross
* Christ with me sleeping,Christ with me waking,Christ with me watching, each day and each night.
+ in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Charles Wesley Compline
Thanks be to God.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who hath made heaven and earth. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Earth rejoice The lord is king
Jesus the Messiah reigns!
Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.
Let all the tumult within me cease.Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace.
Father, bless the work that is done,and the work that is to be.
Though the sons of night blaspheme
More there are with us than them
God with us, we can not fear
Fear ye fiends for Christ is here!
We shall rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
In the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
who hath made heaven and earth. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Earth rejoice The lord is king
Jesus the Messiah reigns!
Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.
Let all the tumult within me cease.Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace.
Father, bless the work that is done,and the work that is to be.
Though the sons of night blaspheme
More there are with us than them
God with us, we can not fear
Fear ye fiends for Christ is here!
We shall rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
In the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Banks Are of Babylon
Every financial recession proceeds a moral recession. If you look into every recession there has ever been it is the case. The present recession came after a recession in morality. It’s easy to see the moral recession that came before this one. The banks got greedy.
First of all banks go against what God has said.
This is what the Bible says about banks.
Exodus 22:25
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.
Deuteronomy 23:19
Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.
Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
Ezekiel 18:8
He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between man and man.
Ezekiel 18:13
He lends at usury and takes excessive interest. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head.to live among you.
But this current recession was caused by practices beyond that. They were actually charging interest on money that they were lending each other that they didn’t have. Eventually they all owed each other money that did not exist.
Furthermore, they have been ripping off the public with extortionate charges on top of the interest.
Also, the banks have come begging to us for help, this is after charging extortionate interest and charging us over the hilt in other ways.
The system that banks work by is Babylonian.
Revelation 18
The Fall of Babylon the Great
1 After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendour. 2 He cried in a mighty voice:
It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen!
She has become a dwelling for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
and a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath.
The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury.
Excessive wealth is what banks are in business for. After they have wrecked the global economy the fat cats have kept their bonuses and no heads have rolled.
They still charge as much interest as they think they can get away with and add as many administration charges as they think they can get away with. They are thieves stealing peoples money and always covetous for more.
The quickest way to get out of this recession is for the banks to repent.
Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
First of all banks go against what God has said.
This is what the Bible says about banks.
Exodus 22:25
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.
Deuteronomy 23:19
Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.
Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
Ezekiel 18:8
He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between man and man.
Ezekiel 18:13
He lends at usury and takes excessive interest. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head.to live among you.
But this current recession was caused by practices beyond that. They were actually charging interest on money that they were lending each other that they didn’t have. Eventually they all owed each other money that did not exist.
Furthermore, they have been ripping off the public with extortionate charges on top of the interest.
Also, the banks have come begging to us for help, this is after charging extortionate interest and charging us over the hilt in other ways.
The system that banks work by is Babylonian.
Revelation 18
The Fall of Babylon the Great
1 After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendour. 2 He cried in a mighty voice:
It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen!
She has become a dwelling for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
and a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath.
The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury.
Excessive wealth is what banks are in business for. After they have wrecked the global economy the fat cats have kept their bonuses and no heads have rolled.
They still charge as much interest as they think they can get away with and add as many administration charges as they think they can get away with. They are thieves stealing peoples money and always covetous for more.
The quickest way to get out of this recession is for the banks to repent.
Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Fundamentalism the Enemy of Grace
Grace: from Greek CHARIS meaning favour, grace, thanks
We are saved by grace (Eph.2.8-10) We are saved by Gods unconditional favour (grace)
We are saved by grace and no longer of works; otherwise grace would not be grace
As we have been shown grace we are called to also show grace.
God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble. This is the first reason why fundamentalism is an enemy of grace.
Somebody is not a fundamentalist because of what they believe. Fundamentalism is not a belief system or a type of belief system but a state of mind. The fundamentalist state of mind is that ones opinion is the correct opinion and everyone else is wrong. Furthermore no other view matters. Not all fundamentalists would be called religious. Some would insist that they are not. For example Atheist fundamentalists.
The state of mind leads to an arrogant point of view and pride can quickly follow. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
The Greek word Charis also means ’thanks’ therefore thanking God for what he has done for us is also an act of grace. Therefore God has given grace to us by which we are saved and we give grace to God in the form of thanks.
Forgiveness is also an act of grace. As God by has forgiven us, by grace we forgive each other. Without the initial grace of God forgiving others would sometimes be impossible.
We are saved by grace through faith. Fundamentalism replaces grace with legalism. This is the main reason fundamentalism is the enemy of grace.
The fundamentalist mindset leads to a systematic belief system that means that the only way to God is through what it has created. Therefore fundamentalism itself replaces grace.
Christian fundamentalism declares that your group is right and the other Christians up the road are not really Christians but just a bunch of religious people. Such a belief is completely opposed to grace.
The fundamentalist mindset also leads to anger. Forgiveness is something that isn’t that important. Fundamentalism is not the way of Christ but the way of the Pharisees. If you are reading this thinking “Thank God I’m not like those fundamentalists” it maybe because you’re a fundamentalist.
As fundamentalism removes grace from the gospel fundamentalists do not preach the gospel at all.
Fundamentalism leads to a preaching of worthless mind numbing theology.
Fundamentalism can also be opposed to grace in the form of spiritual gifts too. Some fundamentalist will tell you that they are no longer in existance. Or they may insist that the gifts are used according to a legalistic framework that they have created.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
We are saved by grace (Eph.2.8-10) We are saved by Gods unconditional favour (grace)
We are saved by grace and no longer of works; otherwise grace would not be grace
As we have been shown grace we are called to also show grace.
God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble. This is the first reason why fundamentalism is an enemy of grace.
Somebody is not a fundamentalist because of what they believe. Fundamentalism is not a belief system or a type of belief system but a state of mind. The fundamentalist state of mind is that ones opinion is the correct opinion and everyone else is wrong. Furthermore no other view matters. Not all fundamentalists would be called religious. Some would insist that they are not. For example Atheist fundamentalists.
The state of mind leads to an arrogant point of view and pride can quickly follow. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
The Greek word Charis also means ’thanks’ therefore thanking God for what he has done for us is also an act of grace. Therefore God has given grace to us by which we are saved and we give grace to God in the form of thanks.
Forgiveness is also an act of grace. As God by has forgiven us, by grace we forgive each other. Without the initial grace of God forgiving others would sometimes be impossible.
We are saved by grace through faith. Fundamentalism replaces grace with legalism. This is the main reason fundamentalism is the enemy of grace.
The fundamentalist mindset leads to a systematic belief system that means that the only way to God is through what it has created. Therefore fundamentalism itself replaces grace.
Christian fundamentalism declares that your group is right and the other Christians up the road are not really Christians but just a bunch of religious people. Such a belief is completely opposed to grace.
The fundamentalist mindset also leads to anger. Forgiveness is something that isn’t that important. Fundamentalism is not the way of Christ but the way of the Pharisees. If you are reading this thinking “Thank God I’m not like those fundamentalists” it maybe because you’re a fundamentalist.
As fundamentalism removes grace from the gospel fundamentalists do not preach the gospel at all.
Fundamentalism leads to a preaching of worthless mind numbing theology.
Fundamentalism can also be opposed to grace in the form of spiritual gifts too. Some fundamentalist will tell you that they are no longer in existance. Or they may insist that the gifts are used according to a legalistic framework that they have created.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Fast Food Is Anti-Covenant
In ancient times those who had made covenant celebrated a shared a ceremonial meal, usually of bread and wine. It was another way of uniting them since to this day middle-Easterners believe that sharing from the same loaf of bread or the same flask of wine binds the participants together. Melchizedek and Abraham shared such a meal.
Jesus shared a covenant meal with us and asked that we do this with each other as a memorial to Him. It is also bread and wine. Though we are many we are one body because we all share in one bread.
In Psalm 23 David said that The Lord prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies. The lord has prepared a covenant meal for us in the presence of our enemies. When Jesus say “I stand at the door and knock. Whoever opens I will eat with him and him with me.” He is saying that whoever wants to be under the New Covenant can be.
What’s this got to do with fast food?
First of all the objective of eating together is to build covenant relationship. This is why Daniel refused to eat with Nebachanezzer. Because to eat with Nebachanezzer was to make covenant with him and his gods.
The objective of eating in a fast food joint is to satisfy ones stomach.
Secondly the true happy meal isn’t a Burger, a thick shake and fries but it is the celebratory, joyful, feast of Eucharist.
At the end of a traditional Eucharist those who have partook of the bread and wine thank God for the meal and ask for permission to feed others. The dismissal is when we go out with Gods blessing to feed the world.
The Church is an eat in/take away establishment.
Fast food is for self and then at the end one leaves the establishment to do nothing for anybody.
There is another reason why fast food is anti-covenant.
Within a covenant meal the food has to be of a certain quality. Whenever we buy things we buy into something bigger. Many of us when buying clothes have bought into child labour without knowing it.
When we buy fast food we buy into other things also.
The meat:
The meat is often mass produced and for an increased amount of yield the animals are usually pumped full of hormones to make them grow bigger. The animals are the brought from the farmers at prices so low the farmers can’t make a profit. The animals are then taken to an abattoir that is often run by the cheapest labour available. The cheapest labour available is often illegal labour. As illegal workers they have no rights and no notion of what their rights should be. It is quite common for labourers to lose fingers etc.
The Thick Shake:
Fancy making a thick shake at home?
You need amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate, anethol,anisyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl isobutyrate, butyric acid,cinnamyl isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognac essential oil,diacetyl, dipropyl ketone, ethyl acetate, ethyl amyl ketone, ethylbutyrate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl heptylate, ethyllactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate, ethyl nitrate, ethylpropionate, ethyl valerate, heliotropin, hydroxyphenyl-2-butanone (10percent solution in alcohol), a-ionone, isobutyl anthranilate,isobutyl butyrate, lemon essential oil, maltol, 4-methylacetophenone,methyl anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methylheptine carbonate, methyl naphthyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mintessential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, neryl isobutyrate,orris butter, phenethyl alcohol, rose, rum ether, g-undecalactone,vanillin, solvent and a laboratory
The fries:
The fries are from potatoes that are massed produced making area devoid of all plants except potato’s this is not conserving the environment. In the beginning man was given authority to tend and steward the earth and certain farming methods are examples of bad stewardship. Some of the potatoes are grown in countries where fertilizers and pesticides are used that are illegal in Western countries. These chemicals are detrimental to people health. Also the potatoes are often picked, peeled, chopped etc. by the cheapest labour available.
Don’t have it your way. Have it Gods way.
Jesus shared a covenant meal with us and asked that we do this with each other as a memorial to Him. It is also bread and wine. Though we are many we are one body because we all share in one bread.
In Psalm 23 David said that The Lord prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies. The lord has prepared a covenant meal for us in the presence of our enemies. When Jesus say “I stand at the door and knock. Whoever opens I will eat with him and him with me.” He is saying that whoever wants to be under the New Covenant can be.
What’s this got to do with fast food?
First of all the objective of eating together is to build covenant relationship. This is why Daniel refused to eat with Nebachanezzer. Because to eat with Nebachanezzer was to make covenant with him and his gods.
The objective of eating in a fast food joint is to satisfy ones stomach.
Secondly the true happy meal isn’t a Burger, a thick shake and fries but it is the celebratory, joyful, feast of Eucharist.
At the end of a traditional Eucharist those who have partook of the bread and wine thank God for the meal and ask for permission to feed others. The dismissal is when we go out with Gods blessing to feed the world.
The Church is an eat in/take away establishment.
Fast food is for self and then at the end one leaves the establishment to do nothing for anybody.
There is another reason why fast food is anti-covenant.
Within a covenant meal the food has to be of a certain quality. Whenever we buy things we buy into something bigger. Many of us when buying clothes have bought into child labour without knowing it.
When we buy fast food we buy into other things also.
The meat:
The meat is often mass produced and for an increased amount of yield the animals are usually pumped full of hormones to make them grow bigger. The animals are the brought from the farmers at prices so low the farmers can’t make a profit. The animals are then taken to an abattoir that is often run by the cheapest labour available. The cheapest labour available is often illegal labour. As illegal workers they have no rights and no notion of what their rights should be. It is quite common for labourers to lose fingers etc.
The Thick Shake:
Fancy making a thick shake at home?
You need amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate, anethol,anisyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl isobutyrate, butyric acid,cinnamyl isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognac essential oil,diacetyl, dipropyl ketone, ethyl acetate, ethyl amyl ketone, ethylbutyrate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl heptylate, ethyllactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate, ethyl nitrate, ethylpropionate, ethyl valerate, heliotropin, hydroxyphenyl-2-butanone (10percent solution in alcohol), a-ionone, isobutyl anthranilate,isobutyl butyrate, lemon essential oil, maltol, 4-methylacetophenone,methyl anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methylheptine carbonate, methyl naphthyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mintessential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, neryl isobutyrate,orris butter, phenethyl alcohol, rose, rum ether, g-undecalactone,vanillin, solvent and a laboratory
The fries:
The fries are from potatoes that are massed produced making area devoid of all plants except potato’s this is not conserving the environment. In the beginning man was given authority to tend and steward the earth and certain farming methods are examples of bad stewardship. Some of the potatoes are grown in countries where fertilizers and pesticides are used that are illegal in Western countries. These chemicals are detrimental to people health. Also the potatoes are often picked, peeled, chopped etc. by the cheapest labour available.
Don’t have it your way. Have it Gods way.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Donatus Was Right
Circa 313, North Africa: A schism originated in the Church of Carthage. There were two bishops and two congregations. From the capital it spread through the whole province. A majority of the country people, and a considerable number of bishops, declared in favour of Bishop Donatus. Outside of Africa, however, Bishop Cæcilianus was generally recognized as the legitimate bishop;
In an edict of 313 Constantine promised the Church of Africa his protection; but the Donatists were expressly excluded from the imperial favour. They immediately addressed themselves to the emperor, and begged him to examine their complaints against Cæcilianus. He consented, and appointed a committee of five bishops from Gaul, with Melchiades, Bishop of Rome, at its head. The committee summoned, Cæcilianus, and ten African bishops of each party, to its presence. Donatus of Casæ Nigræ was the spokesman of the Donatists; but, in spite of all his exertions, Cæcilianus was acquitted, and Donatus was de posed.
The other Donatist bishops were allowed to retain their office and dignity, on the condition that they returned to the Roman Church.
But many did not want to return to the church of Rome. The reason for this was that to them the Roman Church was an imperialist system of the like Christ came to destroy.
The Donatists were right.
In 317 the Donatists were attacked by Constantine. This was exactly what the Donatists were expecting. North Africans regarded the Roman church as guided by Satan, Constantine was believed to be guided by Satan also Constantine the first Christian ruler set an example that many Christian kings and rulers have followed since of persecuting Christians.
The reason was the Roman church’s system of governance. It was less than 100 years since the dogma of Apostolic Succession had been invented. (A worthless piece of false theology solely invented by men whose ambition was to control The Church.) It was due to the invention of Apostolic Succession that such unloving terms as ‘heretic’ and’ false Christ’ came into use.
Donatists hated imperial government and rich Land Lords. This lead the Donatists to be involved in social protest.
Roman Christians could not hate imperial government and rich Land Lords because the Roman Churches system of governance was based on those very things with a bit of pharaseism put in for theological support.
The Donatists wanted to unmask the false values of imperialist government by joyfully excepting martyrdom.
Also to the Donatists the very notion of a Christian state was a contradiction until Christ returns.
The Church is not to be part of the state, but to speak against its injustices.
What destroyed Donatism was The feudal Lord Gildo and Augustine of Hippo.
As I said earlier Roman Christians could not hate imperial government and rich Land Lords because the Roman Churches system of governance was based on those very things with a bit of pharaseism put in for theological support. From the Roman system of ecclesial governance came the medieval feudal system.
The feudal system’s strength was that to act against it was to act against The Church.
This enabled peasants across Europe to be exploited and kept down.
Donatus on the matter of governance was in agreement with Jesus.
Jesus said “Do not lord it over each other.”
The ecclesiastical governmental system in wider society was destroyed by the black death. (Amazing how God works for the good in all things for those who love him)
Due to the dismantling of the feudal system the renaissance took place. This was a time of great works of music, art and literature in praise of Christ.
Still the system remained
Due to the renaissance reformers started speaking out against abuses of the ecclesiastical establishment. Many poor people in England were blessed by Wycliffe and his peasants priests as they spoke of Gods grace and against the superstitions the ecclesiastical establishment used to control the people.
Still the system remained.
Then the printing press was invented and Martin Luther’s 95 thesis were all over Europe in a matter of days. This lead to the reformation.
Still the system remained.
Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists all have a form of the system.
Every reformation has lead to the system be incorporated into that which has come after. It may alter slightly but it is still there.
Most of us in the Church of England don’t take the system seriously and I am a Disestablishmentarian. But the system is still there. Even if we don’t believe it and all the people wearing dog collars don’t believe it the world does.
The system can be found in Evangelical Churches that are not officially denominational. The pastor is like the local emperor. Some churches if the pastor, minister, priest or whatever you want to call him or her can say anything and because they are who they are it must be taken as the absolute truth. Some protestants adhere to a more extreme version of Papal Infallibility than any Roman Catholic would.
For the Church to be seen for what it is (The spotless, radiant bride of Christ, The Joy of The Whole World and pillar and Foundation of Truth) Christians must stop lording it over each other.
In an edict of 313 Constantine promised the Church of Africa his protection; but the Donatists were expressly excluded from the imperial favour. They immediately addressed themselves to the emperor, and begged him to examine their complaints against Cæcilianus. He consented, and appointed a committee of five bishops from Gaul, with Melchiades, Bishop of Rome, at its head. The committee summoned, Cæcilianus, and ten African bishops of each party, to its presence. Donatus of Casæ Nigræ was the spokesman of the Donatists; but, in spite of all his exertions, Cæcilianus was acquitted, and Donatus was de posed.
The other Donatist bishops were allowed to retain their office and dignity, on the condition that they returned to the Roman Church.
But many did not want to return to the church of Rome. The reason for this was that to them the Roman Church was an imperialist system of the like Christ came to destroy.
The Donatists were right.
In 317 the Donatists were attacked by Constantine. This was exactly what the Donatists were expecting. North Africans regarded the Roman church as guided by Satan, Constantine was believed to be guided by Satan also Constantine the first Christian ruler set an example that many Christian kings and rulers have followed since of persecuting Christians.
The reason was the Roman church’s system of governance. It was less than 100 years since the dogma of Apostolic Succession had been invented. (A worthless piece of false theology solely invented by men whose ambition was to control The Church.) It was due to the invention of Apostolic Succession that such unloving terms as ‘heretic’ and’ false Christ’ came into use.
Donatists hated imperial government and rich Land Lords. This lead the Donatists to be involved in social protest.
Roman Christians could not hate imperial government and rich Land Lords because the Roman Churches system of governance was based on those very things with a bit of pharaseism put in for theological support.
The Donatists wanted to unmask the false values of imperialist government by joyfully excepting martyrdom.
Also to the Donatists the very notion of a Christian state was a contradiction until Christ returns.
The Church is not to be part of the state, but to speak against its injustices.
What destroyed Donatism was The feudal Lord Gildo and Augustine of Hippo.
As I said earlier Roman Christians could not hate imperial government and rich Land Lords because the Roman Churches system of governance was based on those very things with a bit of pharaseism put in for theological support. From the Roman system of ecclesial governance came the medieval feudal system.
The feudal system’s strength was that to act against it was to act against The Church.
This enabled peasants across Europe to be exploited and kept down.
Donatus on the matter of governance was in agreement with Jesus.
Jesus said “Do not lord it over each other.”
The ecclesiastical governmental system in wider society was destroyed by the black death. (Amazing how God works for the good in all things for those who love him)
Due to the dismantling of the feudal system the renaissance took place. This was a time of great works of music, art and literature in praise of Christ.
Still the system remained
Due to the renaissance reformers started speaking out against abuses of the ecclesiastical establishment. Many poor people in England were blessed by Wycliffe and his peasants priests as they spoke of Gods grace and against the superstitions the ecclesiastical establishment used to control the people.
Still the system remained.
Then the printing press was invented and Martin Luther’s 95 thesis were all over Europe in a matter of days. This lead to the reformation.
Still the system remained.
Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists all have a form of the system.
Every reformation has lead to the system be incorporated into that which has come after. It may alter slightly but it is still there.
Most of us in the Church of England don’t take the system seriously and I am a Disestablishmentarian. But the system is still there. Even if we don’t believe it and all the people wearing dog collars don’t believe it the world does.
The system can be found in Evangelical Churches that are not officially denominational. The pastor is like the local emperor. Some churches if the pastor, minister, priest or whatever you want to call him or her can say anything and because they are who they are it must be taken as the absolute truth. Some protestants adhere to a more extreme version of Papal Infallibility than any Roman Catholic would.
For the Church to be seen for what it is (The spotless, radiant bride of Christ, The Joy of The Whole World and pillar and Foundation of Truth) Christians must stop lording it over each other.
The Gospel According to The Apostles.
Peter
Acts 2:23-24
23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Acts 3:13-15
13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
Acts 4:10
10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Acts 10:39-40
39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
Peter and Others
Acts 5:29-31
29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Acts 5:42
42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.[a]
Stephen
Acts 7:52
52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—
Acts 7:55-56
55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Paul
Acts 9:20
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
Acts 13:28-30
28Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead,
Acts 17:30-31
30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
Acts 18:28
28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 26:8
8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:23
23that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
The gospel the Apostles preached was that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and he is Lord: He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
On the third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
This is the gospel I believe
Acts 2:23-24
23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Acts 3:13-15
13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
Acts 4:10
10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Acts 10:39-40
39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
Peter and Others
Acts 5:29-31
29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Acts 5:42
42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.[a]
Stephen
Acts 7:52
52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—
Acts 7:55-56
55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Paul
Acts 9:20
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
Acts 13:28-30
28Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead,
Acts 17:30-31
30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
Acts 18:28
28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 26:8
8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:23
23that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
The gospel the Apostles preached was that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and he is Lord: He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
On the third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
This is the gospel I believe
Charles Finney
This stuff is good.
http://www.theologywebsite.com/etext/finney/00preface.shtml
I like the first line.
“To a great extent, the truths of the blessed gospel have been hidden under a false philosophy.”
What an opening line!
That's nearly as good as 'Blessed are the poor in spirit for there’s is the Kingdom of Heaven.' or ' The spirit of The Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.'
He then says “. In my early inquiries on the subject of religion, I found myself wholly unable to understand either the oral or written instructions of uninspired religious teachers.”
I believe that these teachers were inspired but were inspired by the wrong thing. They were into a ‘theology’ based on knowledge rather than a relationship with Christ.
He also says “. I was struck with the fact that they so seldom defined, even to themselves, their own positions. Among the words of most frequent use, I could find scarcely a single term intelligibly defined. I inquired in what sense the terms "regeneration," "faith," "repentance," "love," etc., were used, but could obtain no answer, at which it did not appear to me that both reason and revelation revolted. The doctrines of a nature, sinful per se, of a necessitated will, of inability, and of physical regeneration, and physical Divine influence in regeneration, with their kindred and resulting dogmas, embarrassed and even confounded me at every step. I often said to myself, "If these things are really taught in the Bible, I must be an infidel." But the more I read my Bible, the more clearly I saw that these things were not found there upon any fair principles of interpretation, such as would be admitted in a court of justice.”
What I like about this is the fact that Finney is using both scripture and reason. What he is saying is clear and easy to understand.
I have come too hate dogmatism. Jesus was never a dogmatist. When Christ spoke it was clear and undogmatic. The gospel that Christ spoke is easy to understand. Why have people made it so complicated?
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. Jesus is the son of God and he died on a cross for everybody so that whoever believes in him has eternal life and then three days later he rose from the dead and he is alive today.
http://www.theologywebsite.com/etext/finney/00preface.shtml
I like the first line.
“To a great extent, the truths of the blessed gospel have been hidden under a false philosophy.”
What an opening line!
That's nearly as good as 'Blessed are the poor in spirit for there’s is the Kingdom of Heaven.' or ' The spirit of The Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.'
He then says “. In my early inquiries on the subject of religion, I found myself wholly unable to understand either the oral or written instructions of uninspired religious teachers.”
I believe that these teachers were inspired but were inspired by the wrong thing. They were into a ‘theology’ based on knowledge rather than a relationship with Christ.
He also says “. I was struck with the fact that they so seldom defined, even to themselves, their own positions. Among the words of most frequent use, I could find scarcely a single term intelligibly defined. I inquired in what sense the terms "regeneration," "faith," "repentance," "love," etc., were used, but could obtain no answer, at which it did not appear to me that both reason and revelation revolted. The doctrines of a nature, sinful per se, of a necessitated will, of inability, and of physical regeneration, and physical Divine influence in regeneration, with their kindred and resulting dogmas, embarrassed and even confounded me at every step. I often said to myself, "If these things are really taught in the Bible, I must be an infidel." But the more I read my Bible, the more clearly I saw that these things were not found there upon any fair principles of interpretation, such as would be admitted in a court of justice.”
What I like about this is the fact that Finney is using both scripture and reason. What he is saying is clear and easy to understand.
I have come too hate dogmatism. Jesus was never a dogmatist. When Christ spoke it was clear and undogmatic. The gospel that Christ spoke is easy to understand. Why have people made it so complicated?
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. Jesus is the son of God and he died on a cross for everybody so that whoever believes in him has eternal life and then three days later he rose from the dead and he is alive today.
Eucharist
I open the stable door
I kneel before him
I adore him with the shepherds
I praise him with the angels
I bring gifts with those who have travelled far
I take in Christ
I worship the Christ child
I go out and tell of what I have seen.
Every Church is a Bethlehem.
(From something David Adam vicar of Lindisfarne said)
I kneel before him
I adore him with the shepherds
I praise him with the angels
I bring gifts with those who have travelled far
I take in Christ
I worship the Christ child
I go out and tell of what I have seen.
Every Church is a Bethlehem.
(From something David Adam vicar of Lindisfarne said)
Friday, 21 November 2008
Theological Brambles and Briers
Paul urged Timothy to stay in Ephesus so that he could command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.
There are so many myths and speculations that are in the guise of sound theology. They are like briers and brambles in ones path.
As for genealogies, some of those myths have genealogies. Each one is like an endless fruitless discussion that has evolved over millennia. They promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith.
There comes a point when speculation has to cease. I am a Christian and I call myself a Christian because I believe Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again in three days. I am convinced that
this is true therefore there is no use in speculating if it is true or not.
The goal of ending such fruitless nonsense is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
We are justified by faith and saved by grace through faith. It is by grace that we are. Grace makes us pure and without blemish while the many myths and speculations that are in the guise of sound theology, like briers and brambles in ones path scratch us to pieces.
Some have wandered into these brambles and briers. These brambles and briers are meaningless talk. Those that have wandered into them want to be teachers of Christianity, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. They can drift so far into the thickets that the simple things like faith, hope and love are choked by the brambles. Worse still they don’t want to know what they are talking about. They are convinced that going through the briers and brambles is the way to go.
They believe that it’s all about what you know rather than all about who you know.
It is so easy to wander into the brambles yourself where instead of being dazzled by the brilliance of the gospel and the riches and glory we have in Christ we end up being baffled by balderdash.
Follow the wandering preacher from Nazareth
Follow him and him alone
That wandering preacher from Nazareth
Is the one that leads us home.
There are so many myths and speculations that are in the guise of sound theology. They are like briers and brambles in ones path.
As for genealogies, some of those myths have genealogies. Each one is like an endless fruitless discussion that has evolved over millennia. They promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith.
There comes a point when speculation has to cease. I am a Christian and I call myself a Christian because I believe Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again in three days. I am convinced that
this is true therefore there is no use in speculating if it is true or not.
The goal of ending such fruitless nonsense is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
We are justified by faith and saved by grace through faith. It is by grace that we are. Grace makes us pure and without blemish while the many myths and speculations that are in the guise of sound theology, like briers and brambles in ones path scratch us to pieces.
Some have wandered into these brambles and briers. These brambles and briers are meaningless talk. Those that have wandered into them want to be teachers of Christianity, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. They can drift so far into the thickets that the simple things like faith, hope and love are choked by the brambles. Worse still they don’t want to know what they are talking about. They are convinced that going through the briers and brambles is the way to go.
They believe that it’s all about what you know rather than all about who you know.
It is so easy to wander into the brambles yourself where instead of being dazzled by the brilliance of the gospel and the riches and glory we have in Christ we end up being baffled by balderdash.
Follow the wandering preacher from Nazareth
Follow him and him alone
That wandering preacher from Nazareth
Is the one that leads us home.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Theology
How so called theology can be so uninteresting and so mind numbing.
Christianity is a relationship with God not a scientific analysis of God and/or Gods charachter.
Christianity is not aboput the interllect Jesus after being whiped and crucified and put in a tomb for three days, rose from the dead. What human interlect can except that?
Christianity is a relationship and not a set of rules and regulations.
There's no point in looking for God in theology because it's not where you find him. The meddling interlect gets in the way.
There's no point in debating such uninteresting things as the colour of the holy virgins eyes and how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
I was speaking to a friend of mine last night concerning 'theology' and he likened a lot of theological discussions to having a phd in music and not being able to play Smoke On the Water. Personally I'd have gone with not being able to play On Top of Old Smokey while having a phd in music.The point he was making which I agree with is that in theology the simple things that we as Christians are supposed to stand for are completely lost.
Theology From Greek Theos = God (Christ) and Greek Logos = Word (Christ)
True Theology is found in Christ because Christ is True theology.
True Theology is experiencing God and not philosophying about him.
At this point in my Pilgrimage I have to the conclusion that a lot of theology is worthless.
Jesus is so much more wonderful than any theology could explain
Christianity is a relationship with God not a scientific analysis of God and/or Gods charachter.
Christianity is not aboput the interllect Jesus after being whiped and crucified and put in a tomb for three days, rose from the dead. What human interlect can except that?
Christianity is a relationship and not a set of rules and regulations.
There's no point in looking for God in theology because it's not where you find him. The meddling interlect gets in the way.
There's no point in debating such uninteresting things as the colour of the holy virgins eyes and how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
I was speaking to a friend of mine last night concerning 'theology' and he likened a lot of theological discussions to having a phd in music and not being able to play Smoke On the Water. Personally I'd have gone with not being able to play On Top of Old Smokey while having a phd in music.The point he was making which I agree with is that in theology the simple things that we as Christians are supposed to stand for are completely lost.
Theology From Greek Theos = God (Christ) and Greek Logos = Word (Christ)
True Theology is found in Christ because Christ is True theology.
True Theology is experiencing God and not philosophying about him.
At this point in my Pilgrimage I have to the conclusion that a lot of theology is worthless.
Jesus is so much more wonderful than any theology could explain
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