A Definition:
The attempt of a community of faith to discern how God wants them to live out the story of Jesus in the world.
Community: Not the work of an isolated individual
Live out: A way of life
Praxis (action) instead of abstract theory and speculation
What we really believe is made clear by our actions
Story of Jesus:
A model or standard: WWJD.
A “center” to help us prioritize. Some things are closer to the center than others.
When we become part of the story of Jesus, he lives in and through us.
World: Not just the church
A specific context
Attempt: Not absolute and infallible.
Discern: Involves our intellect and reason
Resources:
Prayer and the Holy Spirit
Specific teachings from scripture
Central principles identified in scripture
History
Experience
Consensus of the believing community
Wisdom of the world: Reason
Involvement in fellowship, service and witness
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Enlightened Spirituality & Skepticism
Music Lead In: “Celtic Tune 10.1”
Script:
Jane: “Hello and Welcome to London’s most acclaimed night show- The Frisky Fox. My name is Jane O’Riley - and I am overjoyed to welcome you into the studio tonight. We will be discussing the new frames of thought being pushed within our ever-enlightened society. First, we will talk with our handsome and intelligent group of new thinkers - who like to call themselves scientists and philosophers… Voltaire and Mr. Isaac Newton. Welcome gentlemen.
Voltaire and Newton: “So good to be here with you Jane.”
Jane: “Oh no, you both are too kind. Next, I want to welcome our feebler minded Londoner - Tomas Bunyan, who will be speaking on behalf of our ever-rising Baptist population. Welcome Sir.
Thomas: Pleased to be here Ma’am
Jane: I would also like to welcome Elijah Fox and his lovely wife Mary to the studio. They will be representing London’s Society of Friends.
Elijah & Mary: “Good to be here.”
Jane: Last but certainly never least, our Puritan comrade- Jacob Bates is joining us.
Bates: “May the Lord spare your souls.”
Jane: “Yes, well… Welcome all, we are overjoyed and very filled with anticipation for the coming discussion of progressive thought as well as London’s traditional views. And we will be back to the studio right after with friendly word from John Locke University.
Commercial Break 1 (background music – “Far From Home 30.1”):
Johnny: My life was changed when I was forced to come to this wonderful school. I was caught up in the ways of this world, and was headed towards damnation. At John Locke, we are whipped…literally… and are forced to accept the practices of the Lord. It was the best decision my parents made for me! Thanks mom and dad!
Announcer 1: There you go London; you heard it straight from the horses’ mouth. Come check out this god-fearing institution and your boy’s lives will never be the same!
Topic: Science vs. Deism
Jane: Sirs and ma’am would be so kind as to introduce yourselves to the general audience. Sir Isaac Newton, we will start with you.
Newton: Yes, ma’am. Honored to be here with you tonight. I am practicing physicist, a natural philosopher, a mathematician, an astronomer, and an alchemist (Isaac Newton).
Jane: Wow, well that is quite a mouthful! May I tell you that I am one of your most devout fans. Sir Newton, it has come to my attention that you have been working hard on your scientific discoveries… would you care to elaborate?
Newton: I have been examining something I like to call Universal gravitation, as well as the three laws of motion (Isaac Newton).
Jane: Fascinating!
Newton: Thank you. I have also been looking at the principles of conservation, the reflection of telescopes, and developing a mathematic technique which I think I will name Calculus (Isaac Newton).
Jane: I have heard talk of your GREAT vision. What exactly is this?
Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants” (Isaac Newton Quotes).
Jane: I assume you are speaking about Descartes and Galileo?
Newton: Indeed, I am. I worry that people will exploit Galileo’s discovery that the Earth is not the center of the universe, as well as my laws of motion and gravity, which states that the universe is a mere machine, kind of like a clock, instead of a work of God (Isaac Newton). “This beautiful system could only proceed from the dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being” (Isaac Newton Quotes).
Jane: But, You, yourself have said that you reject the Church’s doctrine of the trinity…
Newton: Indeed, I have…but you should notice that I have written more texts on religion than on science. Most people see me as a mere scientist, but I do consider myself as a man of God (Isaac Newton). “God is the master creator whose face could not be denied in the face of the grandeur of all creation” (Isaac Newton Quotes).
Jane: I do not understand how you can have so much duality in your beliefs… Do you not think your discoveries on gravity could demystify what we know of religion?
Newton: “Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is and can be done” (Isaac Newton Quotes).
Jane: Voltaire, you have been quite in this discussion. Would you care to shed some light on the issues at hand? Sir Newton and I are in much discourse about religion and science. What do you think?
Voltaire: “What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. it is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason”(Voltaire Quotes, The).
Jane: This is your definition of God?
Voltaire: “God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh” (Voltaire Quotes, Brainy).
Newton: (agitated) “He is the God of order and not of confusion!” (Isaac Newton Quotes). I am sure of this!
Voltaire: (arrogant) “All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God. If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him” (Voltaire Quotes, Brainy).
Newton: (aggravated) “God is truth! Truth is to be found in simplicity, not in the multiplicity and confusion of things” (Isaac Newton Quotes).
Voltaire: (smug) “I am very fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom” (Voltaire Quotes, The).
Newton: (smug) “Oh, Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest what mischief thou hast done!” (Isaac Newton Quotes).
Voltaire: Sir Newton, “A witty saying proves nothing” (Voltaire Quotes, Brainy).
Jane: “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit” (William). Are you an atheist?
Voltaire: PSHAW! No! I am a deist.
Jane: Is there a difference?
Voltaire: “The universe is based only on reason” (Voltaire Quotes, The), Sir Newton has proven it.
Newton: A pox on you!
Voltaire: “The Bible is an outdated legal and moral reference…a metaphor, but still teaches good lessons…and a work of MAN, not a divine gift” (Voltaire).
Newton: PSHAW!
(door slams)
Voltaire: God exists!!! The world is accessible to facilitate human reason and laws that govern behavior. He does not interfere with human life and the laws of the universe. He is the watchmaker and the watch keeper. God wants us to behave morally (Voltaire).
Jane: But you reject the Bible. In the Bible, God has set down the morals and the rules that he wants us to live by.
Voltaire: The Bible denies us pleasure. Pleasure is morality and morality is pleasure. Is not a virtuous man a moral man? If so, a moral man may experience pleasure. “God will reward moral behavior and punish immoral behavior” (Voltaire).
Jane: Intriguing thoughts Voltaire- we are now going to hear a word from our sponsors. Thank you for joining us here in the studio.
Commercial Break 2 (background music – “On the Way to Ireland 30.1”):
Tindal: “God designed all Mankind should at all time know, what he wills them to know, believe, profess, and practice; and has given them no other means for this, but the use of reason” (Deism).
Announcer 2: (fast) applications will be accepted at Lincoln College, Oxford… limited space available… so get your tickets now… restrictions may apply
Commercial Break 3 (background music – “Until the End of Time 30.1”):
Jane: We are back in the studio with our traditionalists. Thank you all for joining us. Lets get started. Thomas Bunyan, would you be so kind as to relay who you are to our dear Londoners listening tonight?
Thomas Bunyan: Ah yes ma’am I who you speak of. I am honored to represent my common man, the Baptists. I am the grandson of John Bunyan, the devout follower of Jesus, who preached unashamedly to the souls of our great country. You may be familiar with the fact that he was imprisonment for preaching because he lacked a preaching license. Grandfather wrote about the wonderful workings of the Grace of God in his book, which has become quite famous - The Pilgrims Progress.
Jane: Thank you Thomas. Now on to Elijah and his beautiful wife Mary. I am happy to have you here with us.
Elijah Fox & his wife Mary: Yes, don’t go anywhere without my wife, she’s like the oil that keeps me ticking. We do everything together.”
Jane: Elijah is the great grandson of George Fox, the man credited to starting the Religious Society of Friends or the “Quaker” movement, as you in the audience are probably more familiar with.
Elijah: “Pleased to be here ma’am.”
Mary: “Aye, that we are!”
Jane: Lastly, Mr. Bates, would you please make your introduction to the audience??
Mr. Bates: Why yes, Ms. O’Reily. I am Thomas Bates a humble servant of the Lord, and by His sovereignty I am here with you tonight. As Jane stated, I am a Puritan and ascribe to worship and doctrine that has been purified from worldly thought. The Lord Almighty and the Bible is our chief- not the church of England. I am happy to represent our ever growing Puritan population, by the grace of God.
Topic: Gender roles within society and the church
Elijah: “Well, I have always believed that the Lord created all people to be equals. This means that women, men, slaves, and masters are all on the same plane in the Lord’s eyes. That is how our community of Quakers sees the issue. My wife is here today with me because I believe that what she says is weighted just as much as my own opinion. What would you say Mary?”
Mary: That is right, we Quakers ascribe to 4 founding principles, and those are: the promotion of peace, Equality among people, Integrity, and simplicity. Women are seen as equals to all men. The Lord did not create us to be silent!!
Thomas: Just a bunch of crazy pacifists!
Jacob: That is a very interesting point Mary. I beg to differ, but the Bible specifically addresses the issue of Men and Women’s roles. Women are to take care of the home and children exclusively. They are to support their husbands and obey them in all things. Since they are sinful and decedents of Eve as seen in Genesis 3- their voice within society and specifically the Church should be much lower than that of a man’s. We men have to weigh their insights up to the Lord’s Word and Truth. The Bible backs up this claim exclusively. Do you dare go against the Word of God?!
Mary: I do not go against the Word of God, because that same word states gives honor and authority to women. Ester, Ruth, Mary Magdalene are just a several examples of women who were strong.
Jane: This brings up a very interesting point. What are your views lady and gentlemen about the sovereignty of the Bible?
Elijah: I do not dismiss the fact that the Bible was passed down from God to humans. But I believe that the Word of God is Christ, not the Bible.
Jacob: That is blasphemy!!
Elijah: Christ’s voice is stronger than any other authority.
Mary: We Quakers put precedence on listening and obeying the Spirit when He speaks. Our worship, our lives, our actions are dictated by “this Inner Light.” The inner Light creates personal insight. We do not have to have the Bible interpreted by a pastor or religious authority. Instead, God’s spirit resides within us and talks to each of us individually.
Elijah: My grandfather stated, “Christ has come to teach His people Himself” (George).
Jane: Thomas, do you agree?
Thomas: There is no doubt that the Bible is the Word of God, saying otherwise is blasphemy. I do agree with the Fox’s that one can interpret that Bible for himself - it does not have to be through a religious authority, like those crazy Catholics believe.
Jacob: May God spare their souls from the pits of hell!
Thomas: We Baptists encourage personal reflection and study of the Bible daily.
Jacob: We puritans also require fervent study of God’s word, on a personal basis as well as within the community. The Bible is central and is the supreme authority over humanity. This shows us that God is in utter control. The plight of Christians is to ascribe holistically to the Word of God, which is the Bible. We will never be able to do this fully because we are finite specks of dirt- in the Lord’s eyes. We will never measure up to his holiness.
Jane: Ok, moving on… let us talk now about the issue of authority. Do you believe in hierarchy of the church? Where does the power of the Church lie? Thomas, we will start with you.
Thomas: We Baptists like to avoid hierarchy within the church. There are no bishops or popes found within our church walls!! But, we do have a pastor and deacons. In terms of a central governing authority - we don’t have one!
Jane: What do you think of government’s role in relation to the church?
Thomas: I do not that outside authority should be telling my church what to do. The government should not have a say in what we do within our walls. Church and state should be separate!!
Jacob: I completely agree with you Thomas. The only Head of the Church is Christ. Government should not have a say in our affairs. I would ask you- where is the authority in your church - in the form of human accountability?? It seems very weak in my opinion. Puritans pride themselves in their strong central government. This group of godly men brings the Light of God into our lives through discipline. May the Lord be praised!!
Elijah: The Quakers have long since had dealing with the government. Our Lord said that we will be persecuted for His name! We rejoice in this. Our dear brothers and sisters have been put to death for their Quaker values.
Mary: We do not condone a hierarchy within our community. All men are created equal. In the eyes of the Lord, the monarch and my daughter are seen as equals. People are people. The government can give us regulations - but we follow the voice of Christ.
Jane: Thank you Mary. Folks, this has been a very invigorating discussion. Thank you for you insights! Unfortunately, we are about out of time. Stay tuned for tomorrow night’s continuation of this discussion.
Closing Music: “Celtic Tune 30.1”
Bibliography
Ellyatt, Lauren. "Enlightenment Explained." Helium, Where Knowledge Rules. 6 Sep 2007. Helium, Inc. <http://www.helium.com/tm/496460/understand-enlightenment-beneficial-influence>.
“Enlightenment, The.” Washington State University 6 Sep 2007. <http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/hum_303/enlightenment.htm>.
"Far From Home 30.1." Free Play Music. 26 Sep 2007. Freeplaymusic.com 2007 <http://freeplaymusic.com/>.
“Isaac Newton Quotes.” Michael Moncur. The Quotations Page. 16 Sep 2007. QuotationsPage.com. 2007 <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Isaac_Newton/>.
"On the Way to Ireland 30.1." Free Play Music. 26 Sep 2007. Freeplaymusic.com 2007 <http://freeplaymusic.com/>.
“William Shakespeare Quotes.” Michael Moncur. The Quotations Page. 16 Sep 2007. QuotationsPage.com. 2007 <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/William_Shakespeare/>.
"Until the End of Time 30.1." Free Play Music. 26 Sep 2007. Freeplaymusic.com 2007 <http://freeplaymusic.com/>.
“Voltaire Quotes.” Brainy Quotes. 16 Sep 2007. BrainyMedia.com. 2007 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/v/voltaire.html>.
“Voltaire Quotes.” Michael Moncur. The Quotations Page. 16 Sep 2007. QuotationsPage.com. 2007 <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Voltaire>.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Closet Christian
I can never understand "Christian-based" hate groups. It's very oxymoronic. Isn't it? How can you be Christian and hate your brother, when Christ has called you to to love all your brothers, especially those marginalized, and even your enemies? I'll give them one thing though, they are right about the country changing as far as being taken over. But, I argue that it has NOTHING to do with sexual preferences, race, religious views, or ethnicity. It has to do with ignorance, misinformation, misconceptions, and backwards ideology perpetrated by media. We are not one another's enemies. We are all people trying to make it in the world, people, just people.
My thoughts and ideas make me a very isolated and unpopular person in this backward town. Unfortunately in this primarily Christian town, my Christianity is frowned upon and unacceptable.
"I do not believe in the death penalty, because Christ tells me I should forgive my brethren." I live in a prison town, and I have lost my guard friends because of that statement. I also believe that God has told us not to take a life. He, and only He, is to avenge. I also believe the death penalty allows some victim's families to live with guilt because they fought for the death penalty. Often it creeps in slowly as they realized that these are people. They become at odds with Christ. I also believe the death penalty allows the criminal to get off easy. They never have to live with the guilt of their crimes. The taking of a loved one is a life sentence for the victim's family and a travesty for all involved. It should be life sentence for the perpetrator, as well.
"Although I support the use of guns and bows for hunting for food, I believe that assault rifles should be outlawed, and hunting should only be done for food not for sport." Again, I have lost many "Christian" friends from this statement. New Oxford American Dictionary defines assault as, "make a physical attack on," and assault rifle as, "a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use." There is no reason for an individual to have an assault rifle other than to kill mass numbers of people. It is not logical to use an assault rifle as a hunting rifle. Once we start saying it is okay for the general public to have public access to military weapons, our problems grow and even more mass numbers of people begin to die. We would not want our neighbor to have a bomb designed to kill mass numbers of people, we would not allow our neighbors to have a rocket launcher, would not allow our neighbors to carry hand grenades, so why do we allow assault rifles? I agree that each person has the right to own a handgun, rifle, shot gun, bow, and crossbow, but assault rifles I will never get behind. For a matter of fact, my home has weapons, but they are not weapons of mass destruction. A gun used wisely does not kill a man, and just because we have been given dominion over the animals of Earth, we have been warned to care for it and its lifeforms.
My thoughts and ideas make me a very isolated and unpopular person in this backward town. Unfortunately in this primarily Christian town, my Christianity is frowned upon and unacceptable.
"I do not believe in the death penalty, because Christ tells me I should forgive my brethren." I live in a prison town, and I have lost my guard friends because of that statement. I also believe that God has told us not to take a life. He, and only He, is to avenge. I also believe the death penalty allows some victim's families to live with guilt because they fought for the death penalty. Often it creeps in slowly as they realized that these are people. They become at odds with Christ. I also believe the death penalty allows the criminal to get off easy. They never have to live with the guilt of their crimes. The taking of a loved one is a life sentence for the victim's family and a travesty for all involved. It should be life sentence for the perpetrator, as well.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
~ Romans 12:17-21
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
~ Matthew 6:14-15
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
~ Mark 11:25
"Although I support the use of guns and bows for hunting for food, I believe that assault rifles should be outlawed, and hunting should only be done for food not for sport." Again, I have lost many "Christian" friends from this statement. New Oxford American Dictionary defines assault as, "make a physical attack on," and assault rifle as, "a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use." There is no reason for an individual to have an assault rifle other than to kill mass numbers of people. It is not logical to use an assault rifle as a hunting rifle. Once we start saying it is okay for the general public to have public access to military weapons, our problems grow and even more mass numbers of people begin to die. We would not want our neighbor to have a bomb designed to kill mass numbers of people, we would not allow our neighbors to have a rocket launcher, would not allow our neighbors to carry hand grenades, so why do we allow assault rifles? I agree that each person has the right to own a handgun, rifle, shot gun, bow, and crossbow, but assault rifles I will never get behind. For a matter of fact, my home has weapons, but they are not weapons of mass destruction. A gun used wisely does not kill a man, and just because we have been given dominion over the animals of Earth, we have been warned to care for it and its lifeforms.
"Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
~ NIV Genesis 1:26-30
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Remember, love one another. I do. ♥~ NIV Genesis 2:15
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
~ 1 John 3:11-16
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
~ John 13:34-35
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Chapter 13: Creating: The Truth of Beauty
There are two main views of art in the Christian world. People either feel that art is dangerous because it “distracts us from our primary love for God” (157). Or, they feel that art is here for us to enjoy, and it is separate from the church. Others views agree that art and imagination can be “used and abused,” but serve “a distinct spiritual purpose in individuals’ lives and in the church” (158). It is important for us to remember that art and beauty comes from God, and God is the very essence of beauty (Psalms 27:4). Furthermore, according to Ephesians 2:10 we are all “God’s handiwork or compositions” (159). Tippens also reminds us that Jesus was an artist (carpenter) that saw beauty in everything around him. Also Tippens tells us that art can lead others to faith, and most art comes from the artists’ search for something beyond the physical world.
I agree that the ability to create art through film, books, music, singing, acting, drawing, and painting are all gifts from God. Like Tippens, I feel that the temptation to misuse these abilities can be dangerous. In American society, it is common for artists to move away from their original intention, transcendentalism, and toward art for the sake of money. This is why I agree with Tippens that the church should not shun the artists in the congregation. They should welcome the artists with opened arms just as they welcome everyone else. With much of the media in the world it is hard to see the beauty in everything. However, artists have the ability to imagine what the rest of us cannot. This makes them an invaluable asset to their congregation. We must be careful, though, to positively spark the creativity and imagination of our artists of tomorrow. After all, “the Bible itself is a majestic work of art” (165).
I agree that the ability to create art through film, books, music, singing, acting, drawing, and painting are all gifts from God. Like Tippens, I feel that the temptation to misuse these abilities can be dangerous. In American society, it is common for artists to move away from their original intention, transcendentalism, and toward art for the sake of money. This is why I agree with Tippens that the church should not shun the artists in the congregation. They should welcome the artists with opened arms just as they welcome everyone else. With much of the media in the world it is hard to see the beauty in everything. However, artists have the ability to imagine what the rest of us cannot. This makes them an invaluable asset to their congregation. We must be careful, though, to positively spark the creativity and imagination of our artists of tomorrow. After all, “the Bible itself is a majestic work of art” (165).
Saturday, January 12, 2013
A Testimony to Church and Community
The life led by Eberhard Arnold was truly an inspiration to many. In the first section of A Testimony to Church Community we are taught who Eberhard Arnold was and of the life that he led. Eberhard was dedicated to benefiting the poor and oppressed from a young age. At the age of sixteen, Eberhard fully made his commitment to doing the Lord’s work. He married in 1909. Shortly after, he had to move his family due to an illness of the lungs and larynx. This is when Eberhard began writing. His sister-in-law moved in with the family and became Eberhard’s secretary as well as the first member of their community. Though Eberhard was drafted and served a few weeks of service, he had a strong anti-war view fueled by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount particularly inspired Eberhard. He strongly believed that it is not possible to be both a Christian and a soldier. A short time later, Eberhard Arnold’s community began to grow. They were dedicated to educating underprivileged children. The community also educated others in the surrounding area from their many publications. The group’s efforts to live a peaceful, communal life were suddenly halted by invading Nazis. The community uprooted (children and youth first) and moved to Switzerland. While on a quest for a more permanent home for the community, Eberhard passed away as he underwent surgery on his broken leg. Before his passing, Eberhard left his community with inspirational words on his hopes for the future and continuation of the church.
I found the dedication of Eberhard Arnold to God very inspirational. He strove to find solutions to many problems facing his community. I believe that Eberhard took the teachings of Jesus very seriously. This is quite evident when he stated, “We must obey God rather than men.” Eberhard, like Jesus, strove to reach out to those who were marginalized. I like that Eberhard reached out to the youth in particular. His community’s dedication to educating underprivileged children is above all inspiring to me. After reading how willing Eberhard was to keep his community going no matter the obstacles that came their way, I was truly moved. I have learned from this short passage how dedication and determination in life through Jesus can touch and change many other lives.
In the second section of A Testimony to Church and Community, we get more insight to Eberhard Arnold’s views of God’s purpose. To Arnold, God’s main purpose is togetherness or unity. Arnold told us that we cannot achieve God’s purpose without knowing love. Only love prevails and God’s love is eternal. Love is kindness and fulfills the needs of others. Love is unconditional and warrants no return. This love sees through the sins of man, and still loves and protects. Arnold felt that God’s purpose is for us to realize that the creator, God, is not in nature. Nature is not a way to God, because he is greater than all of nature. In class, we have learned that God is creating again. He is creating togetherness. Arnold tells us that whoever walks the path of God shall be granted an eternal reward. Arnold warns us of the evils of material goods. To him, material goods must benefit God’s purpose. Arnold feels that man must rise above temptations in order to win God’s kingdom back; then, and only then, God will return to rule. Arnold also reminded us that God exists beyond man-made boundaries. He reaches the farthest expanses of the universe. We must become worthy of God. Arnold proposes unity as God’s purpose. Just as we have been learning inn class, Arnold sees the oneness of God and the oneness of man as this purpose. He tells us when we are in isolation, living the way we do today, we are unable to truly live. We will truly be alive once broken free from the shackles of our own existence, our own isolationism. When we accept God, we become free from struggle. The Kingdom of God is within us, no matter where we reside. This reminds me of Acts 2:5 where Luke tells us of the diversity of the followers of Christ. Next, Arnold understood that we all have sin, “the beast in us,” and it fights us every step of the way. He felt that we must turn our thoughts into actions and we must keep our thoughts beyond the flesh. We need to be less self-centered to find true freedom. This freedom will lead us to Christ. I feel Arnold was speaking of us finding our oneness with God. To Arnold, Christianity has lost a lot of the true meaning by making it for one person. He felt Christianity is not for the benefit of just one man, but for the benefit of all men. Arnold felt there would be no justice until those who do God’s will inherit the earth. Getting rid of weapons will not bring about peace. Only ending animosity toward one another will bring peace. Peace is found in unity with both Christ and man. We must remember that it is not right to kill a murderer, because this will make us as “impure” as the murderer. This entire section is like a guidebook to finding unity with God through unity with man. If Arnold is correct, then our wait has just begun. This is where our faith has to step in, because chaos consumes our world. We have segregated ourselves from one another for the purpose of self-preservation.
This section of Arnold’s A Testimony to Church and Community covers a variety of topics that all relate to the success of Church Community. These topics include: private property, true understanding, diversity, and social problems. The first thing that Arnold wants man to remember is that private property isolates man. It is the root of most of man’s evils. Capitalism is evil. A capitalist world does not fall because too many people are driven by greed. War is driven by love of the flesh, love of property, and love of self-preservation. Therefore, private property is inherently evil. The sun, the air, the water, and the earth are what keep us living. God gave it all to us. The sun belongs to all man, because it is beyond man’s grasp. However, the air, the water, and the earth are being privatized. The earth should belong to all men, but it is parceled among the many few. Prophets such as Jesus are pro-man therefore they must be anti-private property. Man should follow Jesus’ example and give up all their worldly possessions. Anything possessed by man is his curse. To receive full freedom from all rights and all privileges, man must not collect possessions. Unity is the key to life. It is a part of life. True unity comes from a communal way of life. This section of Arnold’s book reminds me of Acts 4:32-5:11. I think that the point that Arnold is trying to get across is that we all must put our trust into God. We must trust that God will take care of all of our needs. We must remember that if we are in unity with God, then we will be provided for. For a true community to work effectively, man must sacrifice everything including himself. This is what it means to love. This reminds me of Acts 15:1-35 where we learned that every man in God’s community must sacrifice many things that makes him an individual. They must sacrifice their culture and their ideals in order for the community to work.
Next Arnold shares with us that true understanding comes from “the spirit of Church Community” (Arnold, 30). Community begins with agreement on emotion, will, and thought. If the bond between a group raises the group to higher ground, then they will be able to see more. They will find fulfillment, and they will find something beyond humanity. What they will find is the Holy Spirit, which creates a new perception of reality. Each person in a community is just as important as the next. The Church is more than brick and stone. It is the people who dwell within its walls. Take the walls down; the Church should still thrive. While reading this, I am reminded of Peter’s vision where he learns that anything that God has made is not impure or unclean. He applied this lesson to people as well. He learned that every man was an equal to himself. Arnold then adds that the Church should be diverse. This section reminds me of the picture painted in Acts 2:5: “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” It should reach beyond all nations under heaven and beyond worldly bounds. The Church should reach beyond time and space. It should be the power of God to reconcile all things. God has given the world diversity and his goal is to bring the diversity together as a working unit.
Also, Christ’s Community should alleviate all social problems. The New Kingdom must be free from common sin in order to find success. The laws of Christ must stand before the laws of man. All men must follow Christ’s law to bring forth community or The New Kingdom. All men must remember there is only one leader of any Church; that leader is God. No man can govern another. The purpose of the Church is not only to spread the word, but also to live by the word. I think if everyone were able to follow the advice of Arnold, our world would be a much brighter, safer world. However, since man is unable to let go of everything that makes him an individual, we are not able to find peace and alleviate all social problems. There are many of us within the community in the “waiting” process trying to live by the laws of God. Hopefully, one day, we can all come together and not have to wait any longer.
Throughout the poems of Eberhard Arnold, we find continuing ideas. These ideas include: community, unity, and oneness; love; peace; work; giving; waiting; and trusting. All but one poem fully paints a bright picture, until the end anyway. I will discuss that poem as you read on. I will tackle the more prominent idea in Arnold’s poetry, community. As I go on, you will see how community ties everything else together. I have learned from earlier readings that Arnold feels strongly about the idea of unity and community. Throughout his poems this idea, his message, comes up a total of eighteen times.
Arnold’s message is clear. We must remember that God is one, and through his word we envision the community. God is with us, and His Kingdom is near. His mission is to help us find fulfillment through community. If we become one, God will work through us. Because he works through us, we will be able to work together through community. Our work is to teach others to love each other. We must teach them that Christ is the love that fills hearts, and God is uplifting. As we work, we wait; and when we wait, we learn to trust God and to work as one. God is the trinity working together, so we too must work together. Through working together, new members will join together and complete our circle; then we will be a complete community because we will not only have a physical community, but also have a spiritual community. Only through a spiritual community will we be able to find peace. Peace will help us to be free from temptation; then and only then, God will reclaim the earth.
This message ties more closely to Acts than Revelation thus far. Again, I can see the story of Ananias and Sapphira in this message. We must learn to trust in God to help others find peace and community. However, in Revelation, we are told that God is one. So through this, again, you get the sense of unity. In the letters of John to the seven churches he has told them that they have lost their way. From losing their way, they have lost their sense of unity and community. I feel of all the poems the second poem is more closely tied to Revelation than the others. This poem actually reminds me of the letters. He tells the reader, you have lost hope. There is war and destruction because you are bound more to your country than you are to God. This has helped Satan to get a foothold among us. Temptation has overtaken the world which has given men great burdens. Men are not united to God and each other; they are united to their country and their possessions. However, there is a light among us; this light is God. He works through us to bring us together, and through this we will be united. Then God will be able to reclaim his Kingdom, Earth. Like John, Arnold is telling people, to wake up, to endure. He reminds them that they are forsaking Jesus, and they should not take the middle road. Arnold is trying to get people to know they are being seduced; and though they feel they are good Christians, they are more loyal to other ideas than to God and Christ. Arnold’s message has been very clear; the answer to God’s purpose is community. It is not only a physical community; it is also a community through spirit. If we wake up and accept this way of life, if we trust in God; we will find unity, love, and peace. Then, everything else will work itself out, and God will take his reign among us.
I found the dedication of Eberhard Arnold to God very inspirational. He strove to find solutions to many problems facing his community. I believe that Eberhard took the teachings of Jesus very seriously. This is quite evident when he stated, “We must obey God rather than men.” Eberhard, like Jesus, strove to reach out to those who were marginalized. I like that Eberhard reached out to the youth in particular. His community’s dedication to educating underprivileged children is above all inspiring to me. After reading how willing Eberhard was to keep his community going no matter the obstacles that came their way, I was truly moved. I have learned from this short passage how dedication and determination in life through Jesus can touch and change many other lives.
In the second section of A Testimony to Church and Community, we get more insight to Eberhard Arnold’s views of God’s purpose. To Arnold, God’s main purpose is togetherness or unity. Arnold told us that we cannot achieve God’s purpose without knowing love. Only love prevails and God’s love is eternal. Love is kindness and fulfills the needs of others. Love is unconditional and warrants no return. This love sees through the sins of man, and still loves and protects. Arnold felt that God’s purpose is for us to realize that the creator, God, is not in nature. Nature is not a way to God, because he is greater than all of nature. In class, we have learned that God is creating again. He is creating togetherness. Arnold tells us that whoever walks the path of God shall be granted an eternal reward. Arnold warns us of the evils of material goods. To him, material goods must benefit God’s purpose. Arnold feels that man must rise above temptations in order to win God’s kingdom back; then, and only then, God will return to rule. Arnold also reminded us that God exists beyond man-made boundaries. He reaches the farthest expanses of the universe. We must become worthy of God. Arnold proposes unity as God’s purpose. Just as we have been learning inn class, Arnold sees the oneness of God and the oneness of man as this purpose. He tells us when we are in isolation, living the way we do today, we are unable to truly live. We will truly be alive once broken free from the shackles of our own existence, our own isolationism. When we accept God, we become free from struggle. The Kingdom of God is within us, no matter where we reside. This reminds me of Acts 2:5 where Luke tells us of the diversity of the followers of Christ. Next, Arnold understood that we all have sin, “the beast in us,” and it fights us every step of the way. He felt that we must turn our thoughts into actions and we must keep our thoughts beyond the flesh. We need to be less self-centered to find true freedom. This freedom will lead us to Christ. I feel Arnold was speaking of us finding our oneness with God. To Arnold, Christianity has lost a lot of the true meaning by making it for one person. He felt Christianity is not for the benefit of just one man, but for the benefit of all men. Arnold felt there would be no justice until those who do God’s will inherit the earth. Getting rid of weapons will not bring about peace. Only ending animosity toward one another will bring peace. Peace is found in unity with both Christ and man. We must remember that it is not right to kill a murderer, because this will make us as “impure” as the murderer. This entire section is like a guidebook to finding unity with God through unity with man. If Arnold is correct, then our wait has just begun. This is where our faith has to step in, because chaos consumes our world. We have segregated ourselves from one another for the purpose of self-preservation.
This section of Arnold’s A Testimony to Church and Community covers a variety of topics that all relate to the success of Church Community. These topics include: private property, true understanding, diversity, and social problems. The first thing that Arnold wants man to remember is that private property isolates man. It is the root of most of man’s evils. Capitalism is evil. A capitalist world does not fall because too many people are driven by greed. War is driven by love of the flesh, love of property, and love of self-preservation. Therefore, private property is inherently evil. The sun, the air, the water, and the earth are what keep us living. God gave it all to us. The sun belongs to all man, because it is beyond man’s grasp. However, the air, the water, and the earth are being privatized. The earth should belong to all men, but it is parceled among the many few. Prophets such as Jesus are pro-man therefore they must be anti-private property. Man should follow Jesus’ example and give up all their worldly possessions. Anything possessed by man is his curse. To receive full freedom from all rights and all privileges, man must not collect possessions. Unity is the key to life. It is a part of life. True unity comes from a communal way of life. This section of Arnold’s book reminds me of Acts 4:32-5:11. I think that the point that Arnold is trying to get across is that we all must put our trust into God. We must trust that God will take care of all of our needs. We must remember that if we are in unity with God, then we will be provided for. For a true community to work effectively, man must sacrifice everything including himself. This is what it means to love. This reminds me of Acts 15:1-35 where we learned that every man in God’s community must sacrifice many things that makes him an individual. They must sacrifice their culture and their ideals in order for the community to work.
Next Arnold shares with us that true understanding comes from “the spirit of Church Community” (Arnold, 30). Community begins with agreement on emotion, will, and thought. If the bond between a group raises the group to higher ground, then they will be able to see more. They will find fulfillment, and they will find something beyond humanity. What they will find is the Holy Spirit, which creates a new perception of reality. Each person in a community is just as important as the next. The Church is more than brick and stone. It is the people who dwell within its walls. Take the walls down; the Church should still thrive. While reading this, I am reminded of Peter’s vision where he learns that anything that God has made is not impure or unclean. He applied this lesson to people as well. He learned that every man was an equal to himself. Arnold then adds that the Church should be diverse. This section reminds me of the picture painted in Acts 2:5: “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” It should reach beyond all nations under heaven and beyond worldly bounds. The Church should reach beyond time and space. It should be the power of God to reconcile all things. God has given the world diversity and his goal is to bring the diversity together as a working unit.
Also, Christ’s Community should alleviate all social problems. The New Kingdom must be free from common sin in order to find success. The laws of Christ must stand before the laws of man. All men must follow Christ’s law to bring forth community or The New Kingdom. All men must remember there is only one leader of any Church; that leader is God. No man can govern another. The purpose of the Church is not only to spread the word, but also to live by the word. I think if everyone were able to follow the advice of Arnold, our world would be a much brighter, safer world. However, since man is unable to let go of everything that makes him an individual, we are not able to find peace and alleviate all social problems. There are many of us within the community in the “waiting” process trying to live by the laws of God. Hopefully, one day, we can all come together and not have to wait any longer.
Throughout the poems of Eberhard Arnold, we find continuing ideas. These ideas include: community, unity, and oneness; love; peace; work; giving; waiting; and trusting. All but one poem fully paints a bright picture, until the end anyway. I will discuss that poem as you read on. I will tackle the more prominent idea in Arnold’s poetry, community. As I go on, you will see how community ties everything else together. I have learned from earlier readings that Arnold feels strongly about the idea of unity and community. Throughout his poems this idea, his message, comes up a total of eighteen times.
Arnold’s message is clear. We must remember that God is one, and through his word we envision the community. God is with us, and His Kingdom is near. His mission is to help us find fulfillment through community. If we become one, God will work through us. Because he works through us, we will be able to work together through community. Our work is to teach others to love each other. We must teach them that Christ is the love that fills hearts, and God is uplifting. As we work, we wait; and when we wait, we learn to trust God and to work as one. God is the trinity working together, so we too must work together. Through working together, new members will join together and complete our circle; then we will be a complete community because we will not only have a physical community, but also have a spiritual community. Only through a spiritual community will we be able to find peace. Peace will help us to be free from temptation; then and only then, God will reclaim the earth.
This message ties more closely to Acts than Revelation thus far. Again, I can see the story of Ananias and Sapphira in this message. We must learn to trust in God to help others find peace and community. However, in Revelation, we are told that God is one. So through this, again, you get the sense of unity. In the letters of John to the seven churches he has told them that they have lost their way. From losing their way, they have lost their sense of unity and community. I feel of all the poems the second poem is more closely tied to Revelation than the others. This poem actually reminds me of the letters. He tells the reader, you have lost hope. There is war and destruction because you are bound more to your country than you are to God. This has helped Satan to get a foothold among us. Temptation has overtaken the world which has given men great burdens. Men are not united to God and each other; they are united to their country and their possessions. However, there is a light among us; this light is God. He works through us to bring us together, and through this we will be united. Then God will be able to reclaim his Kingdom, Earth. Like John, Arnold is telling people, to wake up, to endure. He reminds them that they are forsaking Jesus, and they should not take the middle road. Arnold is trying to get people to know they are being seduced; and though they feel they are good Christians, they are more loyal to other ideas than to God and Christ. Arnold’s message has been very clear; the answer to God’s purpose is community. It is not only a physical community; it is also a community through spirit. If we wake up and accept this way of life, if we trust in God; we will find unity, love, and peace. Then, everything else will work itself out, and God will take his reign among us.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Am I American or Christian?
It was interesting to read The ABCs of American Culture. I had never before realized how American notions are ingrained in our culture. Three of The Ten Commandments of American Culture stood out to me more than others: You Can’t Argue With Success, Live and Let Live, and God Helps Those Who Help Themselves. In order to think more as a Christian I need to work on these areas.
First, I am American in my thinking when it comes to success. I always strive to be the best at everything I do. I want to be the best mother, wife, friend, and daughter. I fail in some areas of my life in order to be a success in others. I understand it is not possible to be successful at everything. That is why I continue to remain stressed. I am not satisfied with something, so I push for better. I am at odds with my Christianity; because I spend so much time trying to be successful in my physical life, I ignore my spiritual life too often. Like the ant, I reap my rewards for my diligent attention to being the best I can be at everything I work toward; but like the sluggard, my spiritual life yields little reward. This American notion of success makes it difficult for me to be serious about my discipleship. I stay so consumed with being a success; I have very little time for discipleship.
The American commandment Live and Let Live is also difficult for my discipleship. By American law, I am to be accepting to all types of people, even if I feel their views and lifestyles are sinful and hurtful to the world. I recognize that I live in a political correct society. However, as a Christian, I know certain lifestyles are sinful and full of shameful desires. I know we are called to reach out to those who sin, but many of them are not willing to accept the hand that grants them grace. When I talk to others about their lifestyles, I am often met with a great deal of resistance. I tell them they know my feelings and should be respectful enough to refrain from their behavior in the presence of my children and myself. When they wrong me, I forgive. It would be easy to throw my arms up and walk away. I have often thought of doing so. However, I begin to think of the story of Hosea and Gomer. Afterwards, I forgive and persist in my efforts to teach them the love of God. My choice to forgive is very difficult for many to understand, especially since I have a problem with the sinfulness of those who wrong me. My persistence has me labeled as a fool, but I continue in my efforts.
It was through the efforts of Christians that I have changed my view on the commandment God Only Helps Those Who Helps Themselves. I have heard this phrase uttered time and time again. At one point in my life, I did believe this. Now, I know it is not true. My family and I have been down and out in the past. It was amazing to witness how God helped us through such a difficult time in our lives. Though we were financially destitute, we were spiritually blessed and gained Christian faith. I know that Jesus reached out to many who could not help themselves. In his blessings and woes Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). I know it was through the grace of God and efforts of my Christian brethren that my family and I were able to get back on our feet. I know, now, that God helps those who need Him regardless of whether they can or cannot help themselves. I feel it is important for Christians to remember that many people are incapable of helping themselves, not only financially, but also physically or mentally. God is there for them. Though I feel that my Christian mentality has overridden my American mentality in this area, I falter here occasionally. I may think, “Well if you would do something....” I usually catch myself, therefore feel it is a work in progress.
As long as I strive to progressively work on these areas of my life, it will be easier for me to be successful in my efforts as a disciple. The one thing that I try to remember to help me persevere in my efforts is our God is not a God of punishment, but is a God of love and compassion. Hopefully, through my efforts and understanding I can become less American and more Christian.
First, I am American in my thinking when it comes to success. I always strive to be the best at everything I do. I want to be the best mother, wife, friend, and daughter. I fail in some areas of my life in order to be a success in others. I understand it is not possible to be successful at everything. That is why I continue to remain stressed. I am not satisfied with something, so I push for better. I am at odds with my Christianity; because I spend so much time trying to be successful in my physical life, I ignore my spiritual life too often. Like the ant, I reap my rewards for my diligent attention to being the best I can be at everything I work toward; but like the sluggard, my spiritual life yields little reward. This American notion of success makes it difficult for me to be serious about my discipleship. I stay so consumed with being a success; I have very little time for discipleship.
The American commandment Live and Let Live is also difficult for my discipleship. By American law, I am to be accepting to all types of people, even if I feel their views and lifestyles are sinful and hurtful to the world. I recognize that I live in a political correct society. However, as a Christian, I know certain lifestyles are sinful and full of shameful desires. I know we are called to reach out to those who sin, but many of them are not willing to accept the hand that grants them grace. When I talk to others about their lifestyles, I am often met with a great deal of resistance. I tell them they know my feelings and should be respectful enough to refrain from their behavior in the presence of my children and myself. When they wrong me, I forgive. It would be easy to throw my arms up and walk away. I have often thought of doing so. However, I begin to think of the story of Hosea and Gomer. Afterwards, I forgive and persist in my efforts to teach them the love of God. My choice to forgive is very difficult for many to understand, especially since I have a problem with the sinfulness of those who wrong me. My persistence has me labeled as a fool, but I continue in my efforts.
It was through the efforts of Christians that I have changed my view on the commandment God Only Helps Those Who Helps Themselves. I have heard this phrase uttered time and time again. At one point in my life, I did believe this. Now, I know it is not true. My family and I have been down and out in the past. It was amazing to witness how God helped us through such a difficult time in our lives. Though we were financially destitute, we were spiritually blessed and gained Christian faith. I know that Jesus reached out to many who could not help themselves. In his blessings and woes Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). I know it was through the grace of God and efforts of my Christian brethren that my family and I were able to get back on our feet. I know, now, that God helps those who need Him regardless of whether they can or cannot help themselves. I feel it is important for Christians to remember that many people are incapable of helping themselves, not only financially, but also physically or mentally. God is there for them. Though I feel that my Christian mentality has overridden my American mentality in this area, I falter here occasionally. I may think, “Well if you would do something....” I usually catch myself, therefore feel it is a work in progress.
As long as I strive to progressively work on these areas of my life, it will be easier for me to be successful in my efforts as a disciple. The one thing that I try to remember to help me persevere in my efforts is our God is not a God of punishment, but is a God of love and compassion. Hopefully, through my efforts and understanding I can become less American and more Christian.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
C O M M U N I T Y
What 3 reasons do we speak of community?
Response to God’s call
Reflection of God’s nature
Representing God’s work
Creation story in Genesis 1 tells ups about what?
World – chaos disorder
God – creates by his word, spirit, desires all things to be together
Human beings – created to be together with God and one another
Sin – the end of God’s togetherness, not just against God, but other people
God’s dream is for the togetherness of his creation
Story of old testament in God’s pursuit of this dream
God makes himself vulnerable to the world to pursue this dream
Chooses to pursue this dream through a people
Jesus represents most fully God’s embodiment of this dream
Jesus represents to us how we can participate in God’s dream (death and resurrection)
Response to God’s call
Reflection of God’s nature
Representing God’s work
Creation story in Genesis 1 tells ups about what?
World – chaos disorder
God – creates by his word, spirit, desires all things to be together
Human beings – created to be together with God and one another
Sin – the end of God’s togetherness, not just against God, but other people
God’s dream is for the togetherness of his creation
Story of old testament in God’s pursuit of this dream
God makes himself vulnerable to the world to pursue this dream
Chooses to pursue this dream through a people
Jesus represents most fully God’s embodiment of this dream
Jesus represents to us how we can participate in God’s dream (death and resurrection)
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Teaching Through Christ and In The Classroom
I am going into teaching high school language arts. It has always been my dream to teach, especially to those who face many disadvantages. This is very important to me because of the disadvantages that I have faced in my lifetime. It was a teacher that gave me the self-confidence to make it through the teenage years. It was a teacher that helped me to believe that I am worth something in this world. It was a teacher that gave me the strength to get through an abusive relationship, the loss of a child, and my other hardships. It is that same teacher that carries me when I am too weak to find my way.
I plan to work either in a Title I school, a school on a reservation, an adult education program, or in a school for children with special needs. I have many reasons why I have chosen to focus future on these types of schools. First, Title I schools are those where the highest percentage of students live below the poverty line. I come from a long line of generational poverty and know that these kids need someone to believe in them. Second, a school on a reservation will be a wonderful place for me to work. My family is of the Creek Nation. I can relate to these children and many of the hardships that they face. Third, an adult education program is a field that has drawn my attention. Neither of my parents graduated high school, nor did my husband or my siblings. For a matter of fact, I am the only person in my family who has graduated from high school. It was the adult education programs that my family members attended that gave them the chance for a successful future. Last but certainly not least, I would like to teach at a school for children who have special needs because my son and my uncle both have benefited from such programs. Furthermore, I know that an education is the only thing that cannot be taken from you, but is the one thing that all people should receive and need.
As Matthew 18:10 states, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." It is in my power to show compassion for all of God's children, even the big ones. I feel that educating a person is the key to helping them out of poverty and providing them a successful future. Through education, I can reach out to children who are marginalized and give them the opportunity to be viewed as equals of all mankind, the way that Jesus does us. Unfortunately, it is important to remember, though I cannot mention Christ in the classroom; I can be a good role model by living the life of Christ. In order to deal with the challenges of working as a Christian in the public school system, I must be sure to reach out, not only to the kid that is active in the classroom, but also to those who sit in the corner with their heads down. All of God's children need at least one person on Earth who believes in them. I should strive to become a reflection of Jesus, the great teacher who has reached out to all of us. As a future teacher, it will also be important for me to remember to see the good in each child, and let him know I believe in him. I am an extension of Christ. I am his hands and feet in this world, and I am also a student, who is still learning each and every day.
I plan to work either in a Title I school, a school on a reservation, an adult education program, or in a school for children with special needs. I have many reasons why I have chosen to focus future on these types of schools. First, Title I schools are those where the highest percentage of students live below the poverty line. I come from a long line of generational poverty and know that these kids need someone to believe in them. Second, a school on a reservation will be a wonderful place for me to work. My family is of the Creek Nation. I can relate to these children and many of the hardships that they face. Third, an adult education program is a field that has drawn my attention. Neither of my parents graduated high school, nor did my husband or my siblings. For a matter of fact, I am the only person in my family who has graduated from high school. It was the adult education programs that my family members attended that gave them the chance for a successful future. Last but certainly not least, I would like to teach at a school for children who have special needs because my son and my uncle both have benefited from such programs. Furthermore, I know that an education is the only thing that cannot be taken from you, but is the one thing that all people should receive and need.
As Matthew 18:10 states, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." It is in my power to show compassion for all of God's children, even the big ones. I feel that educating a person is the key to helping them out of poverty and providing them a successful future. Through education, I can reach out to children who are marginalized and give them the opportunity to be viewed as equals of all mankind, the way that Jesus does us. Unfortunately, it is important to remember, though I cannot mention Christ in the classroom; I can be a good role model by living the life of Christ. In order to deal with the challenges of working as a Christian in the public school system, I must be sure to reach out, not only to the kid that is active in the classroom, but also to those who sit in the corner with their heads down. All of God's children need at least one person on Earth who believes in them. I should strive to become a reflection of Jesus, the great teacher who has reached out to all of us. As a future teacher, it will also be important for me to remember to see the good in each child, and let him know I believe in him. I am an extension of Christ. I am his hands and feet in this world, and I am also a student, who is still learning each and every day.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Christ In the Classroom
It is in my power to show compassion for all of God's children, even the big ones. It is important to remember though we cannot mention Christ in the classroom; we can be a good role model by living the life of Christ. We must be sure to reach out, not only to the kid that is active in the classroom, but also to those who sit in the corner with their heads down. All of God's children need at least one person on Earth who believes in them. As future teachers, it will be important for us to remember to see the good in each child, and let them know we believe in them. We are an extension of Christ. We are his hands and feet in this world, and we are also students still learning each and every day.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Compassion
I must be kind and compassionate. I must follow the path that Jesus has put us on. I should give to our brothers and sisters that are in great need. I need to right all of the injustices that occur in this world, even today. I need to help those who have been wronged, accept those who are different, equal the playing field, let go of the past, and remember who God is and what his will for us is. I personally have been changed by the lectures that I have attended.
First, I have learned how important it is for me to report any sexual abuse that students in my classroom may be experiencing. As a Christian it is important for me to remember that this sort of behavior is not acceptable within the church. In the past, people who participated in such indecent behaviors were removed from the church, not the victims. I should never treat a child poorly because they have been sexually abused.
Next, being a mother of a special needs child, I know how it feels to be unwanted, to be turned away, or glared at because my son with autism behaves as he does. I often have people respond to me in the following ways: “Isn’t he too old to act like that?, Why is your son so immature?, Don’t you think it is about time that he learned better?” etc. I do not and have never treated those who are different in the manner that my family and I have been treated. I guess this is due to being raised with an uncle with mental retardation. When I was listening to the families of children with disabilities, I broke down and cried. It was as if I Iwere speaking. Every quote put on the screen was something that my husband, sons, and I have said. For my family, it is difficult to shop, go out to eat, go to a movie, let alone go to church. I have told my children about King David’s Kids, and they are anxious to participate.
After the lecture on children with disabilities, I felt as if I had been on an emotional rollercoaster and was unsure if I would be able to focus on Fred Asare’s speech. However, he is such a powerful speaker that his message reached my ears. I have always known that even though I live the poverty line, I am more fortunate than other people. I know I am not poor, because I know how going to bed hungry feels, which was the case when I was young. I was still fortunate because I had access to clean water. I had clothing that my mother had made, I attended school, and I did without very little. I want to help those that are half a world away. I have been looking for ways that I can cut corners to give. My heart aches for the children of Africa, and I will find away to show them God’s love.
I also learned how to forgive those that have wronged me. I have struggled in this area more than any other. Forgiveness has never come easy to me; but now that I know what forgiveness does and does not mean, it should come much easier. Before I always thought that forgiving a person meant that you Were fine with everything. Now I know it does not. Since attending this lecture, I have started talking to my sister again. I may never trust her, but talking to her is a start.
Finally, I learned that I am in a time of waiting for justice and righteousness. In the mean time, I all must live as God’s child. I should not forget my brothers and sisters. I should never forget what being a Christian truly means.
First, I have learned how important it is for me to report any sexual abuse that students in my classroom may be experiencing. As a Christian it is important for me to remember that this sort of behavior is not acceptable within the church. In the past, people who participated in such indecent behaviors were removed from the church, not the victims. I should never treat a child poorly because they have been sexually abused.
Next, being a mother of a special needs child, I know how it feels to be unwanted, to be turned away, or glared at because my son with autism behaves as he does. I often have people respond to me in the following ways: “Isn’t he too old to act like that?, Why is your son so immature?, Don’t you think it is about time that he learned better?” etc. I do not and have never treated those who are different in the manner that my family and I have been treated. I guess this is due to being raised with an uncle with mental retardation. When I was listening to the families of children with disabilities, I broke down and cried. It was as if I Iwere speaking. Every quote put on the screen was something that my husband, sons, and I have said. For my family, it is difficult to shop, go out to eat, go to a movie, let alone go to church. I have told my children about King David’s Kids, and they are anxious to participate.
After the lecture on children with disabilities, I felt as if I had been on an emotional rollercoaster and was unsure if I would be able to focus on Fred Asare’s speech. However, he is such a powerful speaker that his message reached my ears. I have always known that even though I live the poverty line, I am more fortunate than other people. I know I am not poor, because I know how going to bed hungry feels, which was the case when I was young. I was still fortunate because I had access to clean water. I had clothing that my mother had made, I attended school, and I did without very little. I want to help those that are half a world away. I have been looking for ways that I can cut corners to give. My heart aches for the children of Africa, and I will find away to show them God’s love.
I also learned how to forgive those that have wronged me. I have struggled in this area more than any other. Forgiveness has never come easy to me; but now that I know what forgiveness does and does not mean, it should come much easier. Before I always thought that forgiving a person meant that you Were fine with everything. Now I know it does not. Since attending this lecture, I have started talking to my sister again. I may never trust her, but talking to her is a start.
Finally, I learned that I am in a time of waiting for justice and righteousness. In the mean time, I all must live as God’s child. I should not forget my brothers and sisters. I should never forget what being a Christian truly means.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
I Will Wait for the God of My Salvation
Prophets are people who have to bring things from all parts of the world and weave them together. The worst things that can happen to us, happens in our families; and we wait. God is the creator; he created us. His people immigrated, and they were enslaved. Through Moses, they were freed. His people were forgiven, healed, and followed his leadership. God brought us Jesus, and he was crucified and resurrected. Jesus loves the poor, hungry, and children who buried their parents. He loves the starving people, homeless, and those who have babies born in stables. With God, all things are possible. God forgives all people, even the worst of us. We must be humble and be the best Christians that we can be. For now, though, we wait for justice and righteousness.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Many Races On the Same Road
Langston Hughes’ use of imagery is significant in his short story “On the Road.” The use of snow gave the story a feel of the Great Depression era in which it was set. It gave a sense of the harshness of the time. As nothing grows in the winter, I got the sense of hunger throughout the land. Though this harshness is felt by many, Sargeant doesn’t notice the snow due to his need to fulfill his most basic needs, hunger, shelter, and freedom from harm. During the Great Depression era, segregation was still prominent throughout the country. This reminds me of many stories that my grandmother told me about the Great Depression. She told me of the mundane meals that she and her family had to dine on when they were like Sargeant, fortunate enough to have something to consume. They too had only their physiological needs to satisfy in this cold, harsh land.
I also found the Reverend significant to the story. The one person that should be willing to help any man closes his door on Sargeant. The Reverend is a symbol for the unfortunate repression of blacks, as well as any other non-white race. This kind of repression was also felt by my grandmother and her family. One difference between them and Sargeant, however, is that they were fortunate to have a light enough skin tone that they could pass for white. Because of the rampant racism that consumed the United States during this time, my great-grandmother had to make a conscious choice to have “white” put on all of her children’s birth certificates. They were forced to leave their culture behind so that they could fit in. This culture has been long since forgotten and never taught to the generations before me. In essence, like many Afro-Americans a piece of all of us has been lost due to the hatred one man may feel for another. Had my grandmother walked up to the Reverend with her head held high and in a loud, proud voice had said, “I am Creek Indian;” she too would have been turned away by him.
While continuing his quest to fulfill his basic needs, Sargeant happens upon a church. Its great high arched doors and strong features represent hope and warmth for the tired, cold black man. Raised by religious parents, my grandmother often speaks of the need for the church during the Great Depression era. It was the only place that would give them food when they were hungry. It was the only place that they could sleep when their home burned to the ground. It was the only place that they could go to get out of the cold when their feet were frozen. It is not until a probable solution to his most basic need is surely to be met that Sargeant even notices the snow. However, this church with its two broad, strong doors is not for him. The demonstration of abuse Sargeant endures at the hands of the church’s patrons is a reflection of their close mindedness. Their doors too were closed to any person unlike them. This kind of treatment of mankind is why my great-grandmother chose to leave her history and culture behind her. This is not the treatment that she wanted her children to have to suffer. This is not the kind of pain that she wanted them to feel. This was her quest to fulfill her children’s need for survival. In his quest to fulfill his need for survival, the battle between Sargeant and the patrons brought down the church.
All along, Sargeant had Christ with him and the abusers were without Christ. They were hypocrites. Christ told Sargeant, “they have kept me on a cross for nearly two-thousand years,” as a protest for the actions of the church patrons (116). True Christians they could not be and Christ was not with them. Christ too was persecuted for being different. He was persecuted for being a Jew. He had died for all men’s sins, regardless of race. However, his believers in this particular church did not look at man regardless of race. Racism is what got Sargeant beat down. It is what kept him cold, hungry, and tired. It is what kept my grandmother’s family poor and living on the side of the railroad tracks in a tarpaper tent. It is what kept the church patrons’ doors closed. Doors are symbols for barriers. Racism is a barrier. It is a door that a person chooses to keep closed or to open. Although the patrons felt they were Christian, they kept Christ outside, and left him there while they communed behind their tightly shut doors, just as they kept the doors to their hearts closed to people of color. My grandmother has no doors. Sargeant had no doors. He only had the clothes on his back, his body, and his soul. He now knew his place. His place was with the poor, the homeless, the wretched, and the down trodden. They too had no doors. They too had a quest to fulfill their basic needs. They too had that quest for survival.
I believe that Mr. Hughes did a good job relating the harshness of the era to the story. There is a great deal of racial inequality in the story; however, there is also a great deal of spiritual equality in the story. Because the story is about racism, I was prompted to take a Sociological Approach while writing this paper. Also, because Mr. Hughes’ story reflected the time in which it was set, I decided to incorporate a New Historicism Approach into the paper. Many stories written during the Great Depression are significant to the history of the United States. I have learned throughout my life that you can learn more about a specific historical era from the literature written during that era than from any history book. Finally, to all of us, the basic need for survival and the basic need of spirituality are prominent parts of our existence. These needs are essential components of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. For this reason, I chose to add a Psychoanalytical Approach to my criticism. Furthermore, Langston Hughes used a great deal of symbolism in the story. From the use of doors to the snow, this use of imagery gave me a feeling of what the story was truly about.
Want to read "On the Road" by Langston Hughes? Buy the book here.
I also found the Reverend significant to the story. The one person that should be willing to help any man closes his door on Sargeant. The Reverend is a symbol for the unfortunate repression of blacks, as well as any other non-white race. This kind of repression was also felt by my grandmother and her family. One difference between them and Sargeant, however, is that they were fortunate to have a light enough skin tone that they could pass for white. Because of the rampant racism that consumed the United States during this time, my great-grandmother had to make a conscious choice to have “white” put on all of her children’s birth certificates. They were forced to leave their culture behind so that they could fit in. This culture has been long since forgotten and never taught to the generations before me. In essence, like many Afro-Americans a piece of all of us has been lost due to the hatred one man may feel for another. Had my grandmother walked up to the Reverend with her head held high and in a loud, proud voice had said, “I am Creek Indian;” she too would have been turned away by him.
While continuing his quest to fulfill his basic needs, Sargeant happens upon a church. Its great high arched doors and strong features represent hope and warmth for the tired, cold black man. Raised by religious parents, my grandmother often speaks of the need for the church during the Great Depression era. It was the only place that would give them food when they were hungry. It was the only place that they could sleep when their home burned to the ground. It was the only place that they could go to get out of the cold when their feet were frozen. It is not until a probable solution to his most basic need is surely to be met that Sargeant even notices the snow. However, this church with its two broad, strong doors is not for him. The demonstration of abuse Sargeant endures at the hands of the church’s patrons is a reflection of their close mindedness. Their doors too were closed to any person unlike them. This kind of treatment of mankind is why my great-grandmother chose to leave her history and culture behind her. This is not the treatment that she wanted her children to have to suffer. This is not the kind of pain that she wanted them to feel. This was her quest to fulfill her children’s need for survival. In his quest to fulfill his need for survival, the battle between Sargeant and the patrons brought down the church.
All along, Sargeant had Christ with him and the abusers were without Christ. They were hypocrites. Christ told Sargeant, “they have kept me on a cross for nearly two-thousand years,” as a protest for the actions of the church patrons (116). True Christians they could not be and Christ was not with them. Christ too was persecuted for being different. He was persecuted for being a Jew. He had died for all men’s sins, regardless of race. However, his believers in this particular church did not look at man regardless of race. Racism is what got Sargeant beat down. It is what kept him cold, hungry, and tired. It is what kept my grandmother’s family poor and living on the side of the railroad tracks in a tarpaper tent. It is what kept the church patrons’ doors closed. Doors are symbols for barriers. Racism is a barrier. It is a door that a person chooses to keep closed or to open. Although the patrons felt they were Christian, they kept Christ outside, and left him there while they communed behind their tightly shut doors, just as they kept the doors to their hearts closed to people of color. My grandmother has no doors. Sargeant had no doors. He only had the clothes on his back, his body, and his soul. He now knew his place. His place was with the poor, the homeless, the wretched, and the down trodden. They too had no doors. They too had a quest to fulfill their basic needs. They too had that quest for survival.
I believe that Mr. Hughes did a good job relating the harshness of the era to the story. There is a great deal of racial inequality in the story; however, there is also a great deal of spiritual equality in the story. Because the story is about racism, I was prompted to take a Sociological Approach while writing this paper. Also, because Mr. Hughes’ story reflected the time in which it was set, I decided to incorporate a New Historicism Approach into the paper. Many stories written during the Great Depression are significant to the history of the United States. I have learned throughout my life that you can learn more about a specific historical era from the literature written during that era than from any history book. Finally, to all of us, the basic need for survival and the basic need of spirituality are prominent parts of our existence. These needs are essential components of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. For this reason, I chose to add a Psychoanalytical Approach to my criticism. Furthermore, Langston Hughes used a great deal of symbolism in the story. From the use of doors to the snow, this use of imagery gave me a feeling of what the story was truly about.
Want to read "On the Road" by Langston Hughes? Buy the book here.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience
To begin with, I was shocked when I read, “…the polling data point to widespread, blatant disobedience of clear biblical moral demands on the part of people who allegedly are evangelical, born again Christians” (Sider, 17). However, the further I got in the chapter, my astonishment subsided due to the familiarity of the statements and statistics I read. For instance, I am acquainted with just as many Christians who have been divorced as non-Christians. I feel that this is closely related to all of the other sub-points that Sider has throughout the chapter. The fact that more women of the evangelical denomination are abused than other areas of the population could contribute to higher divorce rates. Many women I know that are divorce have done so due to physical abuse. Similarly, the percentages of evangelicals, both traditional and non-traditional, that think adultery is fine could contribute to the higher divorce rate. Also, almost as many Christian males engage in some sort of pornographic activity than their counter parts. Other divorced friends I know have complained that their exes have either cheated on them, or were more interested in internet porn than in them. I also feel that adultery, pornography, and other sexual indiscretions in parents may lead to sexual indiscretions of children. Because of this, I was not surprised to read “…evangelical youth are only about 10 percent less likely to engage in premarital sex then non-evangelicals” (Sider, 23). After all, most people model what they deem to be appropriate behavior. Children look to their parents for appropriate behavior; likewise, evangelicals look to their leaders for appropriate behavior. Therefore, evangelical communities are often lead astray by their leaders. If their leaders model greed, then they model greed. If the leaders were to live more simply, perhaps they would live more simply. If their leaders are racist, they tend to be racist. Why so many non-Christians have such a negative view of Christianity makes much more sense to me after reading the chapter.
I have seen many Christians turn away from those in poverty. My homeless experience humbled me as a Christian, but also opened my eyes to the church of which I was a member. There was a great deal of hypocrisy in this church. How can people claim to be Christian, but turn a blind eye to those in need? I can personally see why this would cause non-believers to despise Christians. The actions of this particular church caused me to loose faith in that church. Had it not been for one fellow, non-church going Christian, I may have lost faith in God. Their Christian act helped my family when we needed it most. With my eyes wide open, I looked at the world anew. I, myself, had been obsessed with material possessions just before we lost it all. I was at one time no different than the other members of my church. We hung out together and drank together just the night before we all attended service together. Many of my “friends” in the church were no different than Sider’s pagans. I know not all Christians are like that, and not all pastors lower the standards to accommodate the congregation. Unfortunately, this seems to be a trend across the United States. No longer are parishioners asked to leave for deviant behavior. The message, “God forgives,” is belted out on every church sign. However, many Christians forget that Jesus may have saved sinners, but he also said, “Go and sin no more.” Wow! That is a tough one. As Christians, we need to remember that our life after Christ is a time of transformation. We are not perfect and we all sin, but we should all model the life of Christ. We should abstain from sin, be compassionate to our brethren, and not repay evil for evil.
I completely agree with what Sider has to say about sin. There is both personal and social sin. You can live out your life and avoid all of the temptations that are put before you; but if you look at the social injustices and sit idly by without even trying to change them, then you are still sinful. Many people enjoy the freedoms and material possessions that they have without realizing what the actual costs. People look for the cheapest prices on clothing and do not think twice about where the clothing was made, who it was made by, or what the human cost of such clothing is. Almost everything that Americans enjoy today comes with great cost to humanity. I believe that social sin is when many benefit for the sacrifices of few. In inner city schools, teachers tend to be too “afraid” to teach, so those who are affected the most are the children that attend the schools. This is a social sin; it is bigotry, and I am not talking just about racism. In this country, many people equate poverty with sinfulness. That is not rightly true. This too is a social injustice. A very wealthy, dear friend of mine proclaims that she is a Christian, but she also has stated to me, “I do not see how you can stand being around all of those poor people. All poor people are criminals.” After getting to know her dad, I found that he feels the same way. This is socioeconomic injustice. If you look at the world around you and think, “I do not sin, so all is right with the world;” then you are absolutely jaded about the world around you.
I fear that some churches these days are moving further and further away from Sider’s six crucial points. I feel that each point is equally important than each. Several of them, it seemed Sider did not spend enough time, while I feel he went on and on with others.
Jesus is the center – In churches today, the happiness of the individual seems to be the core of everything that drives it. This point needed more clarification and supporting evidence.
The church is called to be Holy – Once an individual commits to the church, they should not revert to their former lifestyle. This is a point that seems to be looked over throughout today’s churches.
The church as a community – Because God is a community of three, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the church must also be a community in order to be successful.
A countercultural community – Today many churches seem to have conformed to mainstream society. It is acceptable to commit sin after sin from petty lying on to gross misconduct in today’s churches.
Mutual accountability and availability – This point seems to be ignored in today’s churches. According to Sider, we are to be economically and spiritually accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we commit a sin, we must be held accountable for that sin. If we see a brother and sister in need, we must surrender our possessions to end their suffering.
In the power of the spirit – I wish Sider would have expanded more on this point. As scripture states, “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10); therefore, it is important to remember that God’s grace is what we need in our time of weakness. Many Christians have forgotten that God is here for us and believe that we should work through our problems on our own.
Overall, I agree with the point that Sider made about starting in more personal, smaller groups, which are accountable to larger groups; it is important in bringing the church back to the way it was intended. Many churches today have gotten so large that the members have become disassociated with one another. They are not capable of knowing whether another member has a need or not.
I have seen many Christians turn away from those in poverty. My homeless experience humbled me as a Christian, but also opened my eyes to the church of which I was a member. There was a great deal of hypocrisy in this church. How can people claim to be Christian, but turn a blind eye to those in need? I can personally see why this would cause non-believers to despise Christians. The actions of this particular church caused me to loose faith in that church. Had it not been for one fellow, non-church going Christian, I may have lost faith in God. Their Christian act helped my family when we needed it most. With my eyes wide open, I looked at the world anew. I, myself, had been obsessed with material possessions just before we lost it all. I was at one time no different than the other members of my church. We hung out together and drank together just the night before we all attended service together. Many of my “friends” in the church were no different than Sider’s pagans. I know not all Christians are like that, and not all pastors lower the standards to accommodate the congregation. Unfortunately, this seems to be a trend across the United States. No longer are parishioners asked to leave for deviant behavior. The message, “God forgives,” is belted out on every church sign. However, many Christians forget that Jesus may have saved sinners, but he also said, “Go and sin no more.” Wow! That is a tough one. As Christians, we need to remember that our life after Christ is a time of transformation. We are not perfect and we all sin, but we should all model the life of Christ. We should abstain from sin, be compassionate to our brethren, and not repay evil for evil.
I completely agree with what Sider has to say about sin. There is both personal and social sin. You can live out your life and avoid all of the temptations that are put before you; but if you look at the social injustices and sit idly by without even trying to change them, then you are still sinful. Many people enjoy the freedoms and material possessions that they have without realizing what the actual costs. People look for the cheapest prices on clothing and do not think twice about where the clothing was made, who it was made by, or what the human cost of such clothing is. Almost everything that Americans enjoy today comes with great cost to humanity. I believe that social sin is when many benefit for the sacrifices of few. In inner city schools, teachers tend to be too “afraid” to teach, so those who are affected the most are the children that attend the schools. This is a social sin; it is bigotry, and I am not talking just about racism. In this country, many people equate poverty with sinfulness. That is not rightly true. This too is a social injustice. A very wealthy, dear friend of mine proclaims that she is a Christian, but she also has stated to me, “I do not see how you can stand being around all of those poor people. All poor people are criminals.” After getting to know her dad, I found that he feels the same way. This is socioeconomic injustice. If you look at the world around you and think, “I do not sin, so all is right with the world;” then you are absolutely jaded about the world around you.
I fear that some churches these days are moving further and further away from Sider’s six crucial points. I feel that each point is equally important than each. Several of them, it seemed Sider did not spend enough time, while I feel he went on and on with others.
Jesus is the center – In churches today, the happiness of the individual seems to be the core of everything that drives it. This point needed more clarification and supporting evidence.
The church is called to be Holy – Once an individual commits to the church, they should not revert to their former lifestyle. This is a point that seems to be looked over throughout today’s churches.
The church as a community – Because God is a community of three, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the church must also be a community in order to be successful.
A countercultural community – Today many churches seem to have conformed to mainstream society. It is acceptable to commit sin after sin from petty lying on to gross misconduct in today’s churches.
Mutual accountability and availability – This point seems to be ignored in today’s churches. According to Sider, we are to be economically and spiritually accountable to our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we commit a sin, we must be held accountable for that sin. If we see a brother and sister in need, we must surrender our possessions to end their suffering.
In the power of the spirit – I wish Sider would have expanded more on this point. As scripture states, “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10); therefore, it is important to remember that God’s grace is what we need in our time of weakness. Many Christians have forgotten that God is here for us and believe that we should work through our problems on our own.
Overall, I agree with the point that Sider made about starting in more personal, smaller groups, which are accountable to larger groups; it is important in bringing the church back to the way it was intended. Many churches today have gotten so large that the members have become disassociated with one another. They are not capable of knowing whether another member has a need or not.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Giving Up the Grudge
Forgiveness is a command of Christ. It is liberating, and freeing us from resentment and bitterness. It is not vengeance, justice, or a free pass. You may have to offer forgiveness over and over again. If you offer forgiveness to your enemies, you are “placing them on the path of repentance.” The worse the wrong, the harder it is to forgive and the longer it may take to forgive. We must want to let go, and we must recognize our own sins. In order to forgive some one, you do not have to support or accept the wrong behavior. It does not mean that the person does not have pay for their crimes. The person that you forgive does not have to ask you for forgiveness; you can forgive the dead. There is no such thing as “forgive and forget.” You can forgive, but you never will forget. Forgiveness does not mean that you automatically trust the person you have forgiven. Trust has to be earned. Similarly, you do not have to be close to the person you have forgiven; you should treat them with kindness and respect.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV Matthew 18:21-22)
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV Matthew 6:14-15)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (NIV 1 John 1:8-10)
In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. (NIV Numbers 14:19-20)
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