Comments on: Ink Blot Church

By: Mike Morrell

Mike Morrell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Amen, my friend. This despair at the limitation of knowing can be a good place, a humble one, to begin. In many ways, the epistemelogical question “how can we know?” is what drives the “emerging church conversation” that I try so hard to document (See my attempts at http://www.zoecarnate.com)

On the other hand, I really do think there is a Transcendant, and Absolute–Christ Himself is our ultimate Reality Hermenutic, and He really can be touched in the life of the local church, where we have the mind of Christ.

At least, that’s been our experience in my church these last several years (see our attempts at http://www.atlantasaints.com). The quest is worthwhile.

By: Thomas Dunbar

Thomas Dunbar — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, and it is interesting that commmunities which aim to be diverse are often very homogeneous. And small. In reality, the most diverse communities are, inevitably I guess, the largest. In my opinion, the only real choices, in the US at least, are either Baptist or Catholic (or, maybe, generically charismatic but that is too nebulous to be called a “church”) and even then any particular congregation/community is often too narrow to really suggest the Body of Christ.

By: Matthew Bowman

Matthew Bowman — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

This post resonates with me because I have realized recently that I have an extraordinary need to make my own voice and views heard. Even my protest against “those who need to be right” is birthed out of the fact that I am one of them.

It is so much easier for me to discuss theology and ideas than it is for me to love my neighbor. We Western Christians in particular are much better at concentrating on knowing than being.

Ultimately, I need to remember how easily I deceive myself and to live more aware of my humanity, more aware of my lack of self-awareness, giving grace freely because it is daily so freely given to me.

By: Brian Pendell

Brian Pendell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

*Applause*

Well spoken, sir.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

By: MMM

MMM — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

uh huh.

well spoken.

i will borrow this quote for my blog, if i may.

By: Big Fat John

Big Fat John — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I think that’s what I needed to hear. Too often I crticize the likes of Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, the TBN bunch, and frankly anyone who I consider to be presenting a watered down theology, from hostile motive. I must realize, as one who believes in progressive sanctification, that we are all at different stages in our walk with God. We are given different talents, ablilities and even the degree of faith in which we believe. We are all one body and must strive at unity as Paul states in 1 Cor.12-14, but the epistles later warn us against false teachers and doctrine. Here’s where I get into trouble. Charles Spurgeon said well:
“I cannot endure false doctrine, however neatly it may be put before me. Would you have me eat poisoned meat because the dish is of the choicest ware? It makes me indignant when I hear another gospel put before the people with enticing words by man who would fair make merchandise of souls; and I marvel at those who have soft words for such deceivers.”
At one time I would have been ready to verbally kill the individuals Spurgeon is refferring to becuase it ignites this crazy angered passion inside when people put God in a box and dumb Him down for the masses to this type of “Hallmark card Theology”.
However, some of these men truly believe they are doing God’s work and would probably exercise more hospitable behavior to us than we would to them. They are products of their spiritual environment and could very well have psychological issues beyond our comrehension. I fear I haven’t touched precisely on the issue at hand here, perhaps partially, but I will attribute it to the fact that even the mighty BFJ(as I’m affectionately known as in the ‘hood) am also psychologically challenged at times.
Bottom line is the point at which one must decide to humbly disagree with silent compassion or boldy speak against incorrect theology, for whatever reason it stems, is very difficult to discern. Forever I will struggle with this…as well as forming coherent responses pertaining to the posts in which I reply.

By: Chris Rucker

Chris Rucker — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Beautiful words and insight. Thank you times a million for your openness and honesty with yourself and with your readers once again. My favorite line …”Those who speak the loudest often live the least like Christ.” Conviction spreads through me like wildfire. It reminds of the verse, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thess. 4:11.
Peace be the journey.
Chris

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

This is one of those essays that hits home, and hurts. As something of a philosopher (and a recovering arugmentative theologizer), I cringe when I read this. My reaction is, “If there is a God, and He has revealed Himself to us, then His word should be understandable! And if it is understandable, all His people should understand it, and agree on it! And those who are wrong are really not listening to Him, somehow! After all, if we can’t be sure we know the Truth, how can we really know we know God!?!”

That’s how I *want* to think things should work. Thankfully, they don’t. I have to stop often and remind myself of several things.

First, that our fallenness carries over even to our thinking about God. Nobody can get it all right. That’s why we need to listen to others not from our own traditions, as their blind spots are different from ours. And to think we *don’t* have our own theological blind spots is simply another form of Pride.

Second, that salvation is by God’s *grace*, through *faith* in Christ. 100% doctrinal purity is not required. In fact, may not one big test of our faith be loving our brothers and sisters who do *not* agree with us 100%? And as some high profile cases have proven (I’m thinking of Brimsmead here in particular), stated doctrinal correctness even in the essentials is no guarantee against apostasy. Only God’s mercy is.

Third, since the subject (God) is Transcendent and Infinite, theology is (or ought to be) full of mysteries. That’s a toughie for me. Someone once said, “As nature hates a vacuum, theologians hate mysteries.” Learing to live with mysteries has helped take a lot of wind out of my fighting sails.

This essay is strong medicine, and may be tough to read for those who need it most. But taken as it was intended, a good correction to theological arrogance.

Thanks, Doc.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

This is certainly a challenging topic and it does hit close to home with me. I am currently going through 1 John with a group of men. John does not hesitate to say that if we don’t show love to our brothers (in this case I believe he means believers) that God’s love is not in us. These are hard words to swallow. John also goes on to make the amazing that God’s love is perfected (or completed, fulfilled-depending on your translation) in us WHEN we love our brothers.

So it is with all God’s wonderful gifts-they always demand a reaction. God pours out His redeeming effectual love on us so that we will turn and love others. God, through His Holy Spirit, teaches us from His word so that the truth in His word changes our lives and affects the way we live with others.

It is absolutely essential that we study His word and refine our theology so that it is His theology. But the reason for believing right things is so that we practice right things. John Owen was right when he said the “will cannot choose what the mind cannot comprehend”. Paul prayed that the Philippians would have all knowledge so that they could approve what was excellent. So our prayer MUST be that the Holy Spirit will use the things we learn to radically change our lives and the way we love others. All the while we must remember that we are fallen and that means our intellect is fallen also. We must be humble enough to say that if we see we are wrong according to the Word and wise counsel of brothers, we will admit it and move on.

No one has attained perfection yet, but we do press on to lay hold of it.

By: Carol M.

Carol M. — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Beautiful.

One of the Christian mystics (Ekhardt?) spoke of needing to approach God through a ‘cloud of unknowing’. We can’t come closer to God until we recognize and are willing to let go of our often false assumption about Him.

btw, reading this reminded me a favorite childhood carol, “Some Children See Him”, about how children from different races and aprts of the world envision Jesus as looking like them. But it doesn’t matter what He looked like, it only matters that He came to us.