From: Jim Armstrong (jarmstro@qwest.net)
Date: Wed Mar 19 2003 - 15:24:33 EST
Good counsel I think, and I've in fact done that. However, that in
itself does nothing to provide any countercurrent that directly
addresses the problems outlined and their unfortunate consequences. That
requires a different of "investment", and in one matter where I agree
with Rich, it is not in the rather pointless engagement between
stongly-held fundamentally disparate worldviews. I'm persuaded that
there are better places to put one's energy, and I'm even working on a
couple though the terrain is relatively unmapped. Thanks Jan. Jim
Armstrong
Jan de Koning wrote:
> At 08:06 PM 18/03/2003 -0700, Jim Armstrong wrote:
>
>> I'm sorry, but I have a bit of a problem with this response. I'll
>> state at the outset that what follows is my perspective, and it's
>> under construction in this area.
>>
>> I know some of these folks. My sense is that people abandon
>> Christianity for one of two reasons: it has just somehow become
>> irrelevant to them, or it has become aversive to them (something bad
>> happened, or the expression of Christianity they are associated with
>> no longer reflects their sense of what Jesus was/is and did/does).
>>
>> With respect to the latter, there are in our time undeniably strident
>> Christian voices whose very public utterings are uninformed in some
>> respects (e.g., science) and/or whose speech and actions are
>> inconsistent with emulation of the one whose name their bear. Sadly,
>> these voices contribute materially to the definition of a stereotype
>> of Christianity that is unattractive, and in the worst case aversive
>> to many - Christian and non-Christian alike. They also unfortunately
>> also define to some extent what is off-limits to discuss freely in
>> the church environment, and even what can be spoken from the pulpit.
>> When people find themselves feeling that the Christ they know in
>> their hearts and the freedoms he brings are reflected with
>> insufficient fidelity in their particular church, some folks just
>> express their discontent with their feet.
>
>
> True enough. However, even when preachers are untrue to God's Word in
> creation, that in itself does not give a loss of faith. Also,
> personally I would look for another community of faith where I could
> state my belief freely without being subjected to constant criticism
> and even discipline. Of course, after stating my own faith, for
> example in a creation in which God used evolution, and still uses
> evolution.
>
>
>
>> The life and teachings of Jesus were certainly in part to move our
>> frame of reference from law to principal, modeled for us (to help us
>> "get it"!) in the life and actions of Jesus. We find a lot of things
>> to do in the cause of Christ, but I am reminded of a New Testament
>> passage that reads, "And the King shall answer and say unto them,
>> Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
>> least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." In the Old
>> Testament, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth
>> the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to
>> walk humbly with thy God?" Alas we seem to put a lot of energy into
>> other stuff - with the best of intentions - but achieving a less than
>> optimal expression of Christ's residual presence - and mission - on
>> this small planet.
>>
>
>
> True. However, scientists of all kinds are God's creatures as well.
> Many of them know God's creation better than many preachers.
> Consequently, I would go to where I could worship and confess my faith
> in Christ's death for me, without being constantly harassed about how
> I see God speaking in nature, (usually done by people who have no idea
> where they are talking about.)
>
> Jan de Koning
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Wed Mar 19 2003 - 15:24:50 EST