tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post6705490386017199029..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: Working ClothesPhil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-76813918047982302712009-12-17T14:02:06.248-08:002009-12-17T14:02:06.248-08:00I agree, Dan.... what EM wrote is a hoot! Now, I a...I agree, Dan.... what EM wrote is a hoot! Now, I am wishing that someone would top it off by writing a parody suggesting that Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris are real people who actually exist! Now THAT would be rich! <br /><br />Of course, I know that those two don't exist because if they did, why wouldn't they have revealed themselves to me? And why have they allowed evil to continue to exist in the world?Nash Equilibriumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06528684112014026512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-39435180149362507972009-12-17T13:35:59.464-08:002009-12-17T13:35:59.464-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Ephemeral Mortalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192318495950849715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-24907546109679700032009-12-17T13:29:52.162-08:002009-12-17T13:29:52.162-08:00LOL. Excellent parody, EM.
And to think there are...LOL. Excellent parody, EM.<br /><br />And to think there are people so cut off, clueless and full of themselves that they actually talk that way — and mean it!<br /><br />Score.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-14572647725814798912009-12-17T13:21:30.127-08:002009-12-17T13:21:30.127-08:00"I’m think of the one who, though he was in t...<b>"I’m think of the one who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."</b><br /><br />Yeah, very nice...except it's all a fantasy written decades, if not centuries after the fact. Unless you can provide evidence to the contrary.Ephemeral Mortalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192318495950849715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-48022802075389095582009-12-17T11:02:26.232-08:002009-12-17T11:02:26.232-08:00One of the first tasks in philosophy is typically ...One of the first tasks in philosophy is typically to define ones terms. Sloppy vocabulary is one of the principal tools of anarchy - that's what going on with the "be the church" movement. While not all are emergent, they use the strategy of obfuscation to achieve their goals and avoid accountability.<br /><br />They've infiltrated our leadership, corrupted the preaching of the Word, denuded our worship, and set aside the command to make disciples.<br /><br />They are clouds without rain, they know not Christ (or so it seems), and the spare not the sheep.<br /><br />Leadership needs to be called out on these issues. There is a lot of slick (slippery?) material out there urging pastors and leaders to buy into this "be the church" hooey. Pity the fool who just wants to be "successful" and leans on the industry rags for who to "do ministry". Have lunch with your pastor and ask him about these things.Dave ....https://www.blogger.com/profile/06340206720526412975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-4134726081856395312009-12-17T10:34:18.583-08:002009-12-17T10:34:18.583-08:00I think the whole issue got summed up in the focus...I think the whole issue got summed up in the focus for Sunday: it was to "reflect on all we accomplished during the week". Not to reflect on what Christ accomplished on the cross. <br /><br />And I had my name removed from the MD when I read Chuck Colson's words advising that it is a "sort of a catechism for the foundational truths of the faith". That right there answered the question of whether it compromised the Gospel. When one of a document's writers puts social action as a more foundational truth than what Paul called the thing of "First Importance", then it does sound very much like he is proclaiming another gospel. I can be active in the good works which Christ preparaed beforehand for me to walk in, as one who is now His workmanship (Eph. 2:10), but I cannot join hands with those who celebrate creature-worship over the worship of the Creator, who is blessed forever, amen.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604068110452745043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-60192645389132541502009-12-17T10:19:23.551-08:002009-12-17T10:19:23.551-08:00Because it doesn't stop murder Christians ough...<i>Because it doesn't stop murder Christians ought not to feed the homeless? Next</i>.<br /><br />Because it doesn't feed the homeless, we should do as the UMC video suggests and stop preaching the Gospel? Next.Nash Equilibriumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06528684112014026512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-51997490022115504702009-12-17T09:14:44.314-08:002009-12-17T09:14:44.314-08:00Well, we Methodists take the whole sheep and goats...Well, we Methodists take the whole sheep and goats thing literally. <br /><br />To think that Christianity isn't about what we do, only what we believe, is to miss the point of being a part of the Body of Christ. <br /><br />Because it doesn't stop murder Christians ought not to feed the homeless? Next.adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12496150157568656547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1579905530531903032009-12-17T09:02:50.685-08:002009-12-17T09:02:50.685-08:00philness said, "Whats wrong with one member o...philness said, "Whats wrong with one member of the body of Christ buying someone a sandwich and another member of the body of Christ sharing the gospel? Are not both incorporated?"<br /><br />I don't have problem with buying someone a sandwich, but when that becomes our first and sometimes only concern then we've wasted our resources on what God has commanded us to do in the first place.<br /><br />philness said, "When we can stop pretending the MD is replacing the gospel and apply the gospel to..."<br /><br />Oh boy, stop pretending the MD is replacing the gospel? You have not heard one word of what these guys have been saying on this blog have you? Ugh!Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907254174794098010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-26972509308197259362009-12-17T02:52:37.699-08:002009-12-17T02:52:37.699-08:00Balance I think is the key. On one side you have t...Balance I think is the key. On one side you have the "seeker sensitive" and on the other side you have the "fleshly sensitive".<br /><br />Whats wrong with one member of the body of Christ buying someone a sandwich and another member of the body of Christ sharing the gospel? Are not both incorporated? <br /><br />If I ask my foot to process where to take me I'll never get anywhere.<br /><br />And if I spend valuable time grumbling to my foot of its inability to process information- then I'm a fool running in circles.<br /><br />There are many laborers used in the field during all its seasons before the harvesting. <br /><br />Who are we to place ourselves more important in His field. Its easy and self fulfilling to always use the gospel card on those whom we have profiled as unbalanced. When we can stop pretending the MD is replacing the gospel and apply the gospel to our own flesh daily we might start tearing down this fortress we've built for ourselves and all get more work done in His field. And besides, there's a certain number of fullness to His harvest and the sooner the better, Amen?philnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04393311811604119321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-89247680685036934732009-12-17T00:54:33.736-08:002009-12-17T00:54:33.736-08:00Profound Frank.
Merry Christmas to y'all in t...Profound Frank.<br /><br />Merry Christmas to y'all in the USA. from the not so free world here in the RSA.<br /><br />The manhattan declaration? mmm... I thoug of dropping Al Mohler a mail.. but he would probably not read it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-54729211088795086232009-12-16T23:20:03.358-08:002009-12-16T23:20:03.358-08:00Frank,
You said, "Might as well do that with...Frank,<br /><br />You said, "Might as well do that with "Gospel", "pastor", and "Jesus". Same story. Unless, of course, they are essential for the central narrative of our faith."<br /><br />That was my, "Sadly, yes." We need to define and defend the faith in biblical terms. Especially within the "church". What the world understands is of little matter.<br /><br />The key differentiator IN CHRIST (I'm going to go all Pauline on you) is that works are the fruit of salvation, works are NOT the pursuit of salvation. (Alliteration intentional.)<br /><br />This whole "do church" vs. "be the church" is a sad attempt to substitute participation for discipleship. The Willow Creek Reveal (spring of 2007?) should have made that clear. But it just led to a new round of vapid videos. Makes me believe that the real church won't be revealed except in persecution. Stand by for that. Maranatha!<br /><br />In ashes,<br />Dave ....Dave ....https://www.blogger.com/profile/06340206720526412975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-30345037379522842072009-12-16T20:03:27.876-08:002009-12-16T20:03:27.876-08:00Another thought on that commercial. If what they a...Another thought on that commercial. If what they are saying is true then the Hollywood elite have and will always beat us. Just look at how many humanitarian causes they support. They have the money and the media to push their "actions, not words" on the world. Christians will never have those types of influence or resources. So, once again, what is our mandate and how will we accomplish it with the resources that God has allotted to us?Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907254174794098010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-68560831508429225792009-12-16T19:51:07.625-08:002009-12-16T19:51:07.625-08:00You said something nice about the WHI... I like li...You said something nice about the WHI... I like little Mikey.<br /><br />You're right to tie this kinda thing to the MD. There is a common thread, and that's the diminution of the Gospel, reducing it to secondary status, putting it on the back burner as a former SBC Pastor of mine once said, doing good and if necessary preaching the Gospel.<br /><br />For a skeptical world? How can they see by good deeds, Jesus born into the world to free sinners? The world has seen its fill of good deeds and it hasn't changed a thing. That kind of info takes words, words, words. There are many good deeds gospels out there whose good doers die and live no more, but only one Word who became flesh and truly dwells among us for evermore.<br /><br />The end of the video pretty well sums up the reason for it... your best life now... guilt assuaged... if you only do things.. you can win the fundraiser prize... and even have your picture taken with Obama.<br /><br />You read that back into the depravity of the murder story, (it makes a father's heart hurt, Cent) or Uganda, Dafur, the Sudan or any one of a billion other acts of man's sin, and hand digging a well just doesn't seem to make the "world a better place, for you, for me." Love ain't all you need, building new schools ain't all you need, neither. They're good, but if those things are not knit together with the enunciation of the curse so people know why bad things continue to happen to good people, and the right understanding that things might not get any better no matter how much free stuff is given away, if doing good is not first founded upon the real reason for doing so, then the real answer isn't given. There's no Gospel in that kinda work, just a lot of sweat.<br /><br />In fact, the Gospel becomes an inconvenient Truth that interferes with the objectives of workers of social reform.Strong Towerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834108238546908018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-56339925814181555832009-12-16T19:37:19.153-08:002009-12-16T19:37:19.153-08:00@Tim,
I agree with these sentiments:
But for me,...@Tim,<br /><br />I agree with these sentiments:<br /><br /><i>But for me, changing this stuff around (e.g. church being a verb) actually weakens my thinking about my Christian life. I end up skipping becoming equipped to go and jump right to the go. If church (assembling) becomes equated with the Christian life (living out love) they both lose something.</i>Rick Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12525495561013100331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-24337974767627048442009-12-16T19:35:21.846-08:002009-12-16T19:35:21.846-08:00My thoughts, and maybe skewed at this particular m...My thoughts, and maybe skewed at this particular moment to things going on around me, but how can sanctification trump justification. This is what I "read between the lines" in this video. Use your right living (third use of the law)to daily (6 days, if you will) live out your testimony to a lost and dying world? To do what? Since when will that living example save? Change "Church"? Quit preaching the true gospel message and somehow bring people to salvation by an example of living a sanctified life? I don't know...maybe I'm too obtuse to "get it"!Rick Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12525495561013100331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-69422329675355968982009-12-16T19:31:49.535-08:002009-12-16T19:31:49.535-08:00I remember seeing part of this add sometime back o...I remember seeing part of this add sometime back on a major TV channel. With a few changed words you could have this ad work for any of the humanitarian organizations. Sad indeed.<br /><br />Being a young Calvinist myself, I always think in the back of my mind that things like this always have a root in Arminian doctrine. They think that if we just do something nice for them or talk like they talk, then they'll want to ask Jesus into their heart and we'll win! Ummm... no.<br /><br />Proclaim the Gospel, rejoice when God saves, and then help those in need. Most Christians like to do those in reverse order.<br /><br />If we had encountered the person responsible for killing that father and daughter before that heinous act, would it have been better to buy him a sandwich or share the Gospel with him? What in the end would be more likely to stop a person from committing a horrible act?Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907254174794098010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-13503473072423862762009-12-16T19:29:06.017-08:002009-12-16T19:29:06.017-08:00Might as well do that with "Dad" and &qu...Might as well do that with "Dad" and "Mom" as well...somedays around here it feels like the kids have redefined those pretty well.<br /><br />But...nahhh...I think I'd rather teach them what a Dad and a Mom are.<br /><br />Is that called "Doing Dad?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-56078908676379237422009-12-16T19:21:56.897-08:002009-12-16T19:21:56.897-08:00Dave --
Might as well do that with "Gospel&q...Dave --<br /><br />Might as well do that with "Gospel", "pastor", and "Jesus". Same story.<br /><br />Unless, of course, they are essential for the central narrative of our faith.FX Turkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16798420127955373559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-18287632561883083392009-12-16T17:46:36.285-08:002009-12-16T17:46:36.285-08:00I say dump the word "church" - it's ...I say dump the word "church" - it's been so bastardized that it's meaningless.<br /><br />Ecclesia: people saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross.<br /><br />Worship: what the ecclesia do when they gather on the Lord's Day specifically to commemorate Him in praise, song, Word, liturgy, and exhortation.<br /><br />Disciples: grown up ecclesia who live godly in this evil age and do their part to make up what is lacking in Christ's suffering.<br /><br />Tares: wannabe ecclesia.<br /><br />Yaddah, yaddah.<br /><br />Need I go on? Sadly, yes. "Church" has been rendered meaningless as a term of art within the Christian faith. Stop using it.<br /><br />Humbly,<br />DaveDave ....https://www.blogger.com/profile/06340206720526412975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-32524087788155440192009-12-16T17:00:03.883-08:002009-12-16T17:00:03.883-08:00"So today as I put on my working clothes – sp..."So today as I put on my working clothes – sport jacket, decent shirt, pressed jeans since it’s the week before vacation, shoes, socks, appropriate undergarments..."<br /><br />In that order?Paul Nevergallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358541335927749277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-25886523730015423742009-12-16T16:51:34.443-08:002009-12-16T16:51:34.443-08:00Oh and Frank, lest you think I missed your point i...Oh and Frank, lest you think I missed your point in the post and just went off on the video and the UMC - here's your most salient point, which I affirm with you:<br /><br /><i>It seems rather obvious to me that the way this video frames it up, there’s no solution in that activity to the problem in the news story about the burned up bodies.</i><br /><br />Exactly. Feliz navidad, mi hermano.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-12826072867197010152009-12-16T16:46:26.859-08:002009-12-16T16:46:26.859-08:00So I went back and watched the video (couldn't...So I went back and watched the video (couldn't earlier at work, it was blocked.) Even worse than I expected. Use of the term "Church" over and over, some vague references to spirituality and faith and "what we believe" but nothing - whatsoever - establishing what those things are. I have some friends in the local UMC who are lost as can be (including the local UMC minister), and they are all about this kind of stuff. And have no idea what the gospel is.<br /><br />If this is what the world thinks the church is, then we have nothing to say to them that the Red Cross, UN, any number of relief organizations don't say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-77679088832138120782009-12-16T13:52:21.402-08:002009-12-16T13:52:21.402-08:00stratagem,
I serve at Target Dayton. Gospel mess...stratagem,<br /><br /> I serve at Target Dayton. Gospel message every day, not just a meal. Let me know if/when you may want to pay a visit.Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11890195596371455350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-17100283408529041432009-12-16T13:25:56.465-08:002009-12-16T13:25:56.465-08:00No, but I just looked at their website. They are a...No, but I just looked at their website. They are a bit south of me (maybe 30 miles).Nash Equilibriumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06528684112014026512noreply@blogger.com