I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…

With regard to “the flurry of responses”….ahhh, yes. Frequent comment “ded” has made the same comment to me when I try to entice him to blog! It took me about 18 months to get to this kind of traffic, however, so you get to kind of ramp up to it in most cases. But yeah, it’s a bit of a time commitment on occasion.

You can opt to write only on safe topics, however Or, you can just not respond to comments. I know some bloggers who do that (just don’t respond), but it takes the fun out of the conversation, I think!

Be blessed, my friend. And may the peace of our risen Lord fill your heart and mind through these “family issues”.

Also, dealing with a few family issues right now, would appreciate prayer.

May the Lord bless you (all). In Him,
-marty

PS: He is risen!

Well said! Excellent comment.

It sounds like we’re all pretty much in agreement on this topic. Thank you all for your contributions.

Another line of approach I sometimes use, when it can be applied, is to go back to the sayings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. He gave His own interpretations of some of the commandments in His teaching. And I think any interpretation of passages on leadership and authority in the church would have to fit with what He said about leadership in the Kingdom. He didn’t talk about everything–or the Gospels didn’t record it if He did–but it can help at times.

Anyway, humility demands that we keep track of the distinction mentioned above, and remember, when we get into arguments over interpretations among ouselves–if God turns out noot to agree with either of us, we’re both in trouble.

Phil Hawkins

Your comment is very well-put. “…we want predictable control over our security” effectively removes the relationship with our Father, no? How many are trusting in their own ability to stand rather than the One “who is able to keep [us] from falling”?

Just two comments on this conversation:

Craig, RE your Hamlet/math analogy: I believe we get drawn into inappropriate conclusions for precisely your insight “…because we want our theology to have the same kind of certainty that we admire in mathematics…; we want predictable control over our security. It is the antithesis of faith and is born out of fear we will be deceived. This logically equates with we are swayed by our awareness of our own darkness; thus uncertain of the faithfulness of God to hold us. This draws into focus our not understanding life in the Spirit of God. We reduce the Christian faith to a war between good and evil and introduce the question of “How can I be sure I am winning?” The gospel of faith is the way of life in the Father separate from the rebellion against Him, and He has already won all that needs to be won!

Steve, the afore-thought illuminates the crying need of the humility you describe. A community of believers in which humilty drives the mutual listening for the “steering” of the ship from God.

yes — what you said “I think maybe what you mean is that you are reading the Gospels as if you don’t already know what they say and what they mean. This is a commendable exercise–and very difficult. is what I should have said … thanks for showing me that

And yes, it is difficult!

Blessings!

~Heather

You said:

I am currently in the process of reading through the gospels and trying as best I can to not read them with any preconceived notions.

That really isn’t possible, you know. It’s impossible to process anything without a framework of assumptions. You can try to read the Gospels with different assumptions. You can try to read them without certain very specific assumptions. But you can’t read them without any assumptions at all.

I think maybe what you mean is that you are reading the Gospels as if you don’t already know what they say and what they mean. This is a commendable exercise–and very difficult.

Most of us read the Bible simply to reinforce what we already think and believe.

God Bless,

Rod

I’m sure it does, my friend. hehehe

Y’all have a blessed Resurrection Sunday. Tell your family hello for me.