Then there is Matthew 7:15-16. "Watch out for false prophets.. "
There are Christians who are really good Jesus followers and there are people who call themselves Christians and disregard what Jesus said was most important. The former group of people are busy being Christians. The latter group shout louder that they are Christians, but they are not.
By and large, we Christians are all about enforcing our moralities-- putative or genuine-- on others--, on measuring them up, on demanding that we deserve. We object to grace. And these days we manage to look at a set of texts that are all about making holy and gracious community and read it and coffee-mug it in terms of Individual Responsibility. :( The role of grace? Just to free us from any concern about acts! :(
If fear and trembling isn't relevant for one's own sake, it surely ought to be in daring to interfere with others working out their salvations! (Kierkegaard references, for those who may be getting out their concordances.)
I also suspect that living with and in the divine may simply not be the same for every person. A given human's relationships are different with every individual they're in substantial contact with-- how much more that seems likely with such a huge and multifarious entity as a divine worth its salt!
Amen, indeed! Even a lapsed Lutheran such as myself is not only capable of understanding this basic Christian principle; he can still practice it (or at least try)!
Amen! Amen! AMEN!
Then there is Matthew 7:15-16. "Watch out for false prophets.. "
There are Christians who are really good Jesus followers and there are people who call themselves Christians and disregard what Jesus said was most important. The former group of people are busy being Christians. The latter group shout louder that they are Christians, but they are not.
Bonus points for quoting scriptures.
Ha! I could always use a few bonus points!
Consider them applied in the Book of Life.
By and large, we Christians are all about enforcing our moralities-- putative or genuine-- on others--, on measuring them up, on demanding that we deserve. We object to grace. And these days we manage to look at a set of texts that are all about making holy and gracious community and read it and coffee-mug it in terms of Individual Responsibility. :( The role of grace? Just to free us from any concern about acts! :(
I’m all for letting everyone work out their own salvation. If my example isn’t good enough, why would my haranguing be at all effective?
If fear and trembling isn't relevant for one's own sake, it surely ought to be in daring to interfere with others working out their salvations! (Kierkegaard references, for those who may be getting out their concordances.)
I also suspect that living with and in the divine may simply not be the same for every person. A given human's relationships are different with every individual they're in substantial contact with-- how much more that seems likely with such a huge and multifarious entity as a divine worth its salt!
"For those who may be getting out of their concordances." Loved that. Stealing it.
:)
I still see bible thumpers wearing tees with “God, Guns and Trump”……they could never live by the concept of WWJD!
Sad, isn’t it?
I hated all-employee meetings even before there was a pandemic.
"Pray and keep moving forward" didn't work against smallpox, polio, and a host of other diseases, but it's gonna work this time?
Why is Dave Ramsey still alive? I bet he's vaccinated and boosted.
And he’s really cavalier about his employees, isn’t he? What a travesty he is.
Mark 12:30-31 it is. And thrown baseballs move a lot faster than people.
Amen, indeed! Even a lapsed Lutheran such as myself is not only capable of understanding this basic Christian principle; he can still practice it (or at least try)!
It is super easy and super hard at the same time.