Comments for different and better http://differentandbetter.com may we never stop believing in a better world Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:04:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on New Community :: One by chriswilliamsde http://differentandbetter.com/2010/03/15/new-community-one-3/#comment-60 chriswilliamsde Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:04:29 +0000 http://differentandbetter.com/?p=296#comment-60 @Evan I think that you raise some good questions here. I have often heard Christians say "Love the sinner and hate the sin." While this sounds like a good strategy, in practicality it doesn't work, because the statement itself is taken very personally by the sinner. I have wondered recently if a social justice calls the church to fight for the rights of those we deem as "sinners," especially the homosexual community. What would it look like for the Church to stand up and say that we do not think that homosexuality is God's plan for humanity, but we think that all people should be treated fairly and should be protected from discrimination regardless of whether or not they are sinners. I'll admit that I am not sure that this is practical either, but it seems that the Church hasn't made the ground level at the cross. We have made it easier to come to Christ if you struggle with certain sins, but if your struggles fall into a big categories (i.e. homosexuality) then the hurdles to jump over are much higher. Ethics/morality and faith are a part of the faith journey. I am not suggesting an immoral or loose living Christianity. However, I think that the order of those two things is important. Faith and relationship with Christ comes first; morality and ethics comes second. When you reverse the order, the church becomes morality police and we forget that people will not (cannot?) change their morality without Jesus. Thanks again for your thoughts. Love to hear your feedback on what I've said here. @Evan I think that you raise some good questions here. I have often heard Christians say “Love the sinner and hate the sin.” While this sounds like a good strategy, in practicality it doesn’t work, because the statement itself is taken very personally by the sinner. I have wondered recently if a social justice calls the church to fight for the rights of those we deem as “sinners,” especially the homosexual community. What would it look like for the Church to stand up and say that we do not think that homosexuality is God’s plan for humanity, but we think that all people should be treated fairly and should be protected from discrimination regardless of whether or not they are sinners. I’ll admit that I am not sure that this is practical either, but it seems that the Church hasn’t made the ground level at the cross. We have made it easier to come to Christ if you struggle with certain sins, but if your struggles fall into a big categories (i.e. homosexuality) then the hurdles to jump over are much higher. Ethics/morality and faith are a part of the faith journey. I am not suggesting an immoral or loose living Christianity. However, I think that the order of those two things is important. Faith and relationship with Christ comes first; morality and ethics comes second. When you reverse the order, the church becomes morality police and we forget that people will not (cannot?) change their morality without Jesus. Thanks again for your thoughts. Love to hear your feedback on what I’ve said here.

]]> Comment on Executive Book Summary: Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service by chriswilliamsde http://differentandbetter.com/2010/03/09/executive-book-summary-ministry-in-the-image-of-god-the-trinitarian-shape-of-christian-service/#comment-58 chriswilliamsde Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:08:53 +0000 http://differentandbetter.com/?p=280#comment-58 @josh it is a school assignment, but I figure everybody should benefit...at least the 8 people who check out this blog. :) School is going well. I am enjoying the reading and writing. It is good to really think again and to be stretched in my thinking! @josh it is a school assignment, but I figure everybody should benefit…at least the 8 people who check out this blog. :)

School is going well. I am enjoying the reading and writing. It is good to really think again and to be stretched in my thinking!

]]> Comment on Executive Book Summary: Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service by josh http://differentandbetter.com/2010/03/09/executive-book-summary-ministry-in-the-image-of-god-the-trinitarian-shape-of-christian-service/#comment-57 josh Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:43:24 +0000 http://differentandbetter.com/?p=280#comment-57 looks like a school assignment! hope it is going well. the bibliography looks good. i've always wanted to read Volf. looks like a school assignment! hope it is going well.

the bibliography looks good. i’ve always wanted to read Volf.

]]> Comment on New Community :: One by Evan http://differentandbetter.com/2010/03/15/new-community-one-3/#comment-56 Evan Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:54:23 +0000 http://differentandbetter.com/?p=296#comment-56 I wonder how this might apply in regards to how we erect barriers of sin. For instance, the barriers that would prevent homosexuals (Insert alchoholic, fornicator, whatever your pet sin crusade is int he blank it really makes no difference what sin it is)from being a part of our community? If the ground is level at the foot of the cross, can we love them in ways where they feel accepted and loved within the church community so that the Holy Spirit might change their hearts through His love? How does Colossians 3:11-14 apply to this thought? We might say that it says "in Christ" and so sinners are not included as "in Christ". So which sinners are included and which are not? I tell white lies, but I don't cheat on my taxes? I gossip and don't like hispanics, but I don't sleep with opther men? Can we be unified with other sinners, realizing that it is Jesus who changes and saves us all? Or do we build the barriers that leave them in their sinful lifestyles? I wonder how this might apply in regards to how we erect barriers of sin. For instance, the barriers that would prevent homosexuals (Insert alchoholic, fornicator, whatever your pet sin crusade is int he blank it really makes no difference what sin it is)from being a part of our community?

If the ground is level at the foot of the cross, can we love them in ways where they feel accepted and loved within the church community so that the Holy Spirit might change their hearts through His love?

How does Colossians 3:11-14 apply to this thought?
We might say that it says “in Christ” and so sinners are not included as “in Christ”. So which sinners are included and which are not? I tell white lies, but I don’t cheat on my taxes? I gossip and don’t like hispanics, but I don’t sleep with opther men?

Can we be unified with other sinners, realizing that it is Jesus who changes and saves us all? Or do we build the barriers that leave them in their sinful lifestyles?

]]> Comment on Executive Book Summary: Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service by chriswilliamsde http://differentandbetter.com/2010/03/09/executive-book-summary-ministry-in-the-image-of-god-the-trinitarian-shape-of-christian-service/#comment-54 chriswilliamsde Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:32:31 +0000 http://differentandbetter.com/?p=280#comment-54 I haven't looked to see how much of Barth is available on Kindle. All of the quotes mentioned in this post came from Ministry in the Image of God which I have on my Kindle. I haven’t looked to see how much of Barth is available on Kindle. All of the quotes mentioned in this post came from Ministry in the Image of God which I have on my Kindle.

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