Monday, June 04, 2007
This is for the two folks kind enough to read my ramblings of late.
Obviously there is a bit of confusion on my part as per my last entry, which for the record isn't really for anyone else but myself, because, as my friend Cleo would say, blogging is just another form of masturbation.
Be that as it may and if you happen to tune in again, maybe this will help.
We live in what I hear a lot of conservative Christians say is a society founded on "Christian Principles".
But we do not as a social entity, project these Christian principles forward to the rest of the world. I suppose the genesis of this started the other day when I argued the point (with the television of all things, certainly someone in the administration) that we as a society will absolutely have violent acts pointed at us, because we as a society project violence outward.
We kill each other randomly, without remorse. We sacrifice those that kill, using the banner of justice. We tailor our judicial system to suit our fears (the horrendous treatment of the prisoner in "Gitmo"). We defame those that don't govern like us, and even those that do, because they speak another language or follow another belief system.
We fail to forgive. We fail to love inspite of what evil someone may do to us. In short we fail to do the very things Christ asked of us.
Therefore, in my mind we have failed Christ and Christianity. I don't know if there is an arguement or not. All I know is that I have six more years until my son goes to college and unless our country changes direction completely and truly begins to follow Christian Principles, Montreal is looking mighty nice.
As for the rapture, I will argue the point relentlessly that it is made up "hocus pocus". Those that resort to that sort of faux belief system need to read Jurgen Moltman, or Barbra Rossing. I had the good fortune to meet both as part of a project for Trinity Church in NYC. They are enlightened souls who are fightingthe good fight against medicine show religion.
Peace,
RW
Obviously there is a bit of confusion on my part as per my last entry, which for the record isn't really for anyone else but myself, because, as my friend Cleo would say, blogging is just another form of masturbation.
Be that as it may and if you happen to tune in again, maybe this will help.
We live in what I hear a lot of conservative Christians say is a society founded on "Christian Principles".
But we do not as a social entity, project these Christian principles forward to the rest of the world. I suppose the genesis of this started the other day when I argued the point (with the television of all things, certainly someone in the administration) that we as a society will absolutely have violent acts pointed at us, because we as a society project violence outward.
We kill each other randomly, without remorse. We sacrifice those that kill, using the banner of justice. We tailor our judicial system to suit our fears (the horrendous treatment of the prisoner in "Gitmo"). We defame those that don't govern like us, and even those that do, because they speak another language or follow another belief system.
We fail to forgive. We fail to love inspite of what evil someone may do to us. In short we fail to do the very things Christ asked of us.
Therefore, in my mind we have failed Christ and Christianity. I don't know if there is an arguement or not. All I know is that I have six more years until my son goes to college and unless our country changes direction completely and truly begins to follow Christian Principles, Montreal is looking mighty nice.
As for the rapture, I will argue the point relentlessly that it is made up "hocus pocus". Those that resort to that sort of faux belief system need to read Jurgen Moltman, or Barbra Rossing. I had the good fortune to meet both as part of a project for Trinity Church in NYC. They are enlightened souls who are fightingthe good fight against medicine show religion.
Peace,
RW
# posted by Unknown @ 7:08 PM 
Comments:
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First things first: as for your friend, Cleo, and her belief that blogging "is just another form of masturbation." For the most part, I disagree. Besides easier clean-up, blogging often encourages a constructive, free exchange of ideas. Further, I appreciate your willingness to clarify and thereby help along that process; and so quickly. Bravo. Okay, on to the show. I'm with you, cetainly, in spirit anyway, that we have "failed Christ" and the example He put forth while here on earth. However, we will always fail Him -- and that's why we need His help. I believe that only God can direct and empower us to do His work. Otherwise, we won't even remotely resemble Him. What's more, we don't stand a chance of being constant and consistent in our love for our fellow man without Him. Last night, I heard someone say that Jesus talks about the plight of the poor in the New Testament some 3,000 times! Jesus commands us to take care of those less fortunate. Well, RW, I believe you would agree: we're not doing such a hot job. Thus, let me circle back to my first point. I'll even speak personally. I cannot please Christ without accepting Him into my life, asking His forgiveness, then trusting Him to mold me into His image so that I can be the person He created me to be and thus, hopefully, someday have Him say to me when I stand before Him, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:23 (I know you're not big on the gospels but what can I say? I believe the entire Bible is God-breathed.) All this brings me to your final point about the rapture. I'm not sure what you believe about this (though Christ many times in the New Testament talks about literally, physically, coming back for His "bride", the "church" of believers) and would be interested to know your convictions -- not those of Jurgen Moltman or Barbra Rossing (after all, Rossing cites the "Left Behind" book series in her argument for disbelief in the rapture). I encourage you to go to the source when it comes to the rapture, primarily The Book of Revelation, The Book of Daniel, The Book of Isaiah. They'll give you a start anyway. God bless and thanks for the thoughtful discourse.
# posted by 
: 2:52 PM
: 2:52 PM
Rossing? Oh, man, don't listen to her!! She talks about Christ coming back as a lamb. (He came as the lamb and was sacrificed for each and every one of us.) Jesus comes back as the lion of Judah.
# posted by : 2:56 PM
: 2:56 PM
It's spelled Barbara Rossing and in her book (only book?) she is attacking fundamentalist theology. I agree with the previous post: look at the Bible for yourself. Don't take her (or anyone else's) word for it.
# posted by : 3:02 PM
: 3:02 PM
And don't take Tim LaHaye's and/or Jerry Jenkins's word on the rapture, either. Get yourself a Bible and a good commentary, if necessary.
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# posted by : 3:11 PM
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