The other day, I was listening to 1 Corinthians on CD while I was driving. It struck me afresh, what a complicated response Paul gave to the issue of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul treatment of marriage in 1 Corinthians is similarly complex.
Since that time, I have wanted to write a post about this matter. My intent would be to call attention to Paul's inability to give a simple black-white answer. Instead, his response is more like, "Well my fellow Corinthians, it depends."
I just don't think we do ourselves any favors when we try to over-simplify the complex matters of the Christian walk. This is not a "how many angels can dance on a needle point" effort. Rather it is more like, to use the old Kasey Kasem sign-off, "Keep your feet on the ground while you're reaching for the stars."
Lucky me, Richard Beck has taken up this very matter on his blog, Experimental Theology. He explores this matter far better than could I. Here's the link. I hope you'll find time to read his post--> The "Yes... But" Church.
Monday, March 05, 2007
A link for consideration
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7 comments:
It doesnt do any good to over analyze it either! This blog should be uplifting. It should be about facts, not what ifs. If I were to come to this site to find out more about the Church of Christ, I would be very confused on where this church stands on many matters.
If someone were wanting to go to a place to learn more about the church of Christ, this is where they need to go.....
http://www.sunshine-church.org
I hope this helps.
Jennifer
To anonymous,
I do not mean any disrespect. Perhaps you are not getting the concept of blogging. This is a forum of ideas, an invitation for dialog. If one is seeking information about the CofC, or specifically Sunshine CofC, they need to go to a site constructed to meet that need. Jennifer has referenced a wonderful site designed for that purpose.
Every post is nothing more or less than an expression of the author. Blog posts and their respective comment threads are nothing more than conversations that happen over an electronic medium allowing the possibility of broad participation.
It betrays one's ideological fragility when the mere presence of a divergent point of view generates such an effort to immediately stop the conversation.
I welcome participation in conversation. I find extremely difficult to respect ones who only offering is, "STOP TALKING!"
If the content of this blog makes a person panic, What will happen if that person catches a glimpse of what's happening outside the hills of southern Ohio?
You may think that the larger Christian community is in complete disarray. Therefore, the best thing we can do is retreat to the bunkers and hope to avoid contamination. I, for one, cannot accept that. I believe God is at work both within us and without us! I want to embrace as much as I can.
Remember, the primary issue is love in this chapter: and Paul is going to show that love is really the key to everything, that if you're going to decide about a gray area matter, you must consider how it will affect another Christian; and whatever will be loving toward him, thats precisely what you do.
I have visited the sunshine-church website that you directed me to. The first thing on the list is the Sunshine Blog. The rest of it is just times for worship and announcements. So I disagree with you on finding information there about the Church. Are you not the voices of this Church and are you Jason not a Deacon? If this is the way you treat outsiders.... well i for one will not be back!!
Timothy T Matix
On sunshine-church.org you will find out about our particular congregation and why we do what we do, etc. In order to find this information, you will need to click on the button "FAQ".
This should be helpful to you if you are looking for answers about Sunshine Church of Christ.
I'm sorry that I didn't make myself clearer before. I hope this helps, Timothy.
Have a great day!
Jennifer
Jennifer makes a good point to reference the FAQ. However, I worry that some daring readers of this blog may not be familiar with that particular abbreviation.
F requently
A sked
Q uestions
Too often we forget that some readers may not be accustomed to our "jargon," for example an older reader or someone with English as a second language.
Perhaps FAQ should be spelled out or simply renamed "Church Information." Also, Timothy makes a good point, maybe the blog link should be the last on the list. Having the blog link first is sort of like a business posting prominent signs to the employee break room.
Timothy, on a personal note: Where, or even if, you attend church is your business. You had some good points to make but you missed the chance. Never the less, the conversations here and especially Sunshine will forever be open to you. I wish you the best and I hope you find what you are looking for.
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