Jesus was a little bit peeved when he turned the money lenders out of the Temple.

I think Jesus (and God’s) way of looking at economics doesn’t really fit any of our economic philosophies. What would we call it–share-ology mixed with it is the Owners Good Pleasure in paying the 1 hour worker as much as the 10 hour worker?

“Love your neighbor as yourself” is still so radical, I think most people, church going or not, don’t want to hear it!

Keep your hands off my property vs. love your neighbor–I think anyone who hears the word of God with compassion probably wonders why so many people don’t hear or listen.

Everyone looks to Google or Microsoft for stories of geeks made good and help humanity. I think humanity (or even just a few of us, William Wilberforce style!) could hear the words of Jesus, and life would change so drastically for the better on earth (but Heaven would still be ultra-magnificient in comparison!)

God is neither Democrat or Republican, but simply a Supreme Being who has allowed us to hear magnificent messages from Jesus that ring true, now and always!

I am not looking for a doctrine or anything. I am just struck by how BIG the words of Jesus are, and how MOST people do the opposite of what he says!

Economically, I think a lot of people would be better off, there would be fewer poor people, fewer hungry people, more love, everyone would sharing love more readily. The poor you will always have with you is a parable, some people will be “poor” for friendship, love, acceptance, good health, food, other things.

it’s not just a Beverly Hills concept, I think Jesus is trying to teach us what REALITY IS, on earth as well as heaven.

Alex

Since gas prices peaked and are starting to inch down, these “Pray at the Pump” types have surfaced again. (Including the “Prophesy to the Pump” types who rebuke the pump — not the gas station clerk, the actual gas pumps — with Prophetic Words of Spiritual Warfare.)

Now they’re claiming the prices are inching down BECAUSE of their Direct Line to God and their “Name-it-and-Claim-It” Spiritual Warfare on gas prices. They’re going to be insufferable for the foreseeable future.

Your arrogance obviously knows no bounds.

From your initial knee jerk reaction, this was never a discussion.

Your mistaken assumption regarding my denominational affiliation and then rationalizing it as something done “for the sake of argument” proves my point in two obvious ways – you were only interested in arguing and you were intending it as some sort of put down.

As with everything else you said, you failed miserably on both points and then chose to rationalize rather than apologize.

Take your anger somewhere else and leave the heavy lifting to those more qualified.

Taking off the gloves? Once again, you prove my point.

Now, keep your word, and let this be the end of it.

If I were a betting man …….

You still have failed to prove your point. You made blanket statements that were unwarranted. If I was mistaken about being accused in your first post, you have certainly falsly accused me in your latest post. Desire for modicum of doctrinal agreement and worship that does not ape our culture’s entertainment venues hardly strikes me as a “consumeristic orientation.” You still didn’t answer my question. (Nice dodge, by the way.) I had “assumed” denominational affiliation for the sake of argument. I’d like to see you “bear with the infirmities of the weak”( this phrase used in this context smacks of a stuck up attitude) and visit my congregation before you go off pronouncing your judgements.

This is as far as I’m going to go with this discussion. It has ceased to become profitable and will I probably give offense to the brethren if I take off the gloves and pursue it any further

>…So now you insinuate that people searching for a church and willing to drive to get there are driven by a “deeply rooted xenophobia”

Yes, I will make that assumption, in most cases. Because in most cases people want to be entertained, not discipled.

>…Furthermore, you have no idea of the ethnic make up of the community I attend church in, or wether it is in an urban or suburban location.You have no idea what kind of Missions we support, or where they are. Dude, take your judgementalism and shove it.

When did this become about you? As I stated at the beginning of my previous post – “Whatever our local predicaments may be, God knows your heart and mine.” I guess the idea that God knows your heart sort of rubbed you the wrong way.

>…Yes, finding a church that “really preaches the gospel” is that hard. This blog and others are a testament to the lack of real Gospel being preached in Evangelicalism. If you are willing to settle for Purpose Driven, or generic Gen X/baby boomer contempo worship, heavy on “biblical principles” and all the stuff we need to be doing, then I can just go down the street. If I desire anything deeper I just may be out of luck unless I drive, sometimes a long way.

You seem to think that the most important thing to look for in a church is what it can do for you. While you judge the “Purpose Driven Gen X/baby boomer contempo worship” you demonstrate your own consumeristic orientation by how “deep” a church needs to be to meet your “needs.” We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

>…Would you be willing to settle for for a Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox Parish because you would have to drive a long way to a Baptist or Wesleyan church?(I am assuming you are some form of protestant Evangelical.) I mean join it and become an integral part of their ministry, not just attend and slip out the door when the service was over.

And there you have it. Based on the few sentences of my previous post, you’ve been able to determine my denominational affiliation, or so you think. My family and I attend an Orthodox Anglican Church, as if that matters, which it doesn’t. The main reason we attend there is that they’re looking for ways to develop a ministry to a low income apartment complex they own, which is the kind of outreach my ministry specializes in. And they have a great Confirmation program, which is good for my kids.

Your theological posturing may or may not be based on a deeply rooted xenophobia, but there do appear to some other issues in play.

>…So now you insinuate that people searching for a church and willing to drive to get there are driven by a “deeply rooted xenophobia”

Yes, I will make that assumption, in most cases. Because in most cases people want to be entertained, not discipled.

>…Furthermore, you have no idea of the ethnic make up of the community I attend church in, or wether it is in an urban or suburban location.You have no idea what kind of Missions we support, or where they are. Dude, take your judgementalism and shove it.

When did this become about you? As I stated at the beginning of my previous post – “Whatever our local predicaments may be, God knows your heart and mine.” I guess the idea that God knows your heart sort of rubbed you the wrong way.

>…Yes, finding a church that “really preaches the gospel” is that hard. This blog and others are a testament to the lack of real Gospel being preached in Evangelicalism. If you are willing to settle for Purpose Driven, or generic Gen X/baby boomer contempo worship, heavy on “biblical principles” and all the stuff we need to be doing, then I can just go down the street. If I desire anything deeper I just may be out of luck unless I drive, sometimes a long way.

You seem to think that the most important thing to look for in a church is what it can do for you. While you judge the “Purpose Driven Gen X/baby boomer contempo worship” you demonstrate your own consumeristic orientation by how “deep” a church needs to be to meet your “needs.” We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

>…Would you be willing to settle for for a Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox Parish because you would have to drive a long way to a Baptist or Wesleyan church?(I am assuming you are some form of protestant Evangelical.) I mean join it and become an integral part of their ministry, not just attend and slip out the door when the service was over.

And there you have it. Based on the few sentences of my previous post, you’ve been able to determine my denominational affiliation, or so you think. My family and I attend an Orthodox Anglican Church, as if that matters, which it doesn’t. The main reason we attend there is that they’re looking for ways to develop a ministry to a low income apartment complex they own, which is the kind of outreach my ministry specializes in. And they have a great Confirmation program, which is good for my kids.

Finding a church that both meets your needs as a Christian believer, encourages you to become more like Christ, and allows you a place to serve, can be very hard.

I remember, when I lived in Southern California, that I spent at least 6 months trying, and when after from shortly before Christmas to Easter that wasn’t working out, I took a seminary course to provide some spiritual continuity while I resumed my search.

If you are wondering why the mega-churches tend to be more white, I suspect that it is more cultural. I would not be comfortable with black style worship, with the shouting etc. during the sermon, and the musical style. Therefore, I don’t expect the reverse either.

So now you insinuate that people searching for a church and willing to drive to get there are driven by a “deeply rooted xenophobia” Furthermore, you have no idea of the ethnic make up of the community I attend church in, or wether it is in an urban or suburban location.You have no idea what kind of Missions we support, or where they are. Dude, take your judgementalism and shove it.

Yes, finding a church that “really preaches the gospel” is that hard. This blog and others are a testament to the lack of real Gospel being preached in Evangelicalism. If you are willing to settle for Purpose Driven, or generic Gen X/baby boomer contempo worship, heavy on “biblical principles” and all the stuff we need to be doing, then I can just go down the street. If I desire anything deeper I just may be out of luck unless I drive, sometimes a long way. Would you be willing to settle for for a Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox Parish because you would have to drive a long way to a Baptist or Wesleyan church?(I am assuming you are some form of protestant Evangelical.) I mean join it and become an integral part of their ministry, not just attend and slip out the door when the service was over.

Michael,
Thanks for the clarification. I din’t think your comments had anything to do with Justification.