Comments on: Read it again…and don’t skip the hard parts

By: Johan

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

Excellent!! I will read the words in red again and again

By: Rose Mawhorter

Rose Mawhorter — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN AND AMEN!

You’ve said exactly what I’ve been thinking for quite awhile but in so much better a way then I ever could. I think that a verse that really convicts me of this calling is “seek first the kingdom of God…”. I think that the fact that a lot of churches emphasize the “and all these things will be added to you” illustrates your point. I’ve come to realize that if I’m interested in what “all these things” are then I’m not seeking his kingdom. Seeking first his kingdom is such a difficult calling. Thank God for his grace and mercy. It’s nice to hear that there are others out there that realize what the call is. Thanks

By: Brian

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

Put this one in the IMonk Hall of Fame. One of your best yet, Michael.
Puts both Jesus and Osteen in their proper place.

By: Eric

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

Amen! A very lucid piece on a topic that is CRITICAL for American Christians today. I’m fortunate enough to attend a church where we are getting a lot of preaching along these lines (Episcopal).

It drives me to liberalism when I’m among supposed Bible-believing Christians who turn themselves into pretzels trying to get out of the hard teachings of Jesus Christ. I don’t want to become a liberal, but I don’t really want to shut up in the face of this weak husk of Christianity that we are so proud of. The cheap grace doctrine is an insult to our savior who showed us the way.

You are sounding pretty anabaptist here, Michael–the idea that the kingdom of God is now for the believer. (I like!)

I’m interested in your thinking about miracles. You start discussing those, but I’m missing what your conclusion is about them. What is their significance?

By: iMonk

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

Eric:

>You are sounding pretty anabaptist here, Michael

Eric, I appreciate the compliment, but I wonder if we can ever get to the point that we walk away our commitment to our “teams” when we read the gospels, because Jesus is really calling us away from “religious teams.”

Miracles:

I think the Synoptics make it very clear that the miracles are signs of the presence of the Kingdom. Eschatological reality arrives with Jesus. They show what Yahweh is doing now, and how The Son is the co-worker of the Father. SO look for 1) the nature of the Kingdom, and 2) the identity and meaning of Jesus.

Lots more to say, but I’m out of time.

By: Philologus

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

Michael,

I just discovered your site a while back and have really enjoyed your posts. I think we have a LOT in common.

I thought I’d chime in a with a hearty AMEN to what you posted. When I was younger I was part of the Joel Osteen type of gospel thinking. My main influences at the time were Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin but Joel’s father, John Osteen, was also in the mix. Thankfully I didn’t spend long mixed up with that bunch as the Lord had mercy and grace upon me and gave me some eyesalve so I could see.

This type of gospel appeals to the spiritually immature and also to those who are carnal and fleshly. In fact most of the American expression of Christianity is nothing but glorified religous flesh. I think God tolerates this behavior to some degree because He sees us as babies. The problem is that we are adult babies who should have grown up long ago.

The modern materialistic gospel has done great harm to the cause of Christ. Not only here in America but all over the world. The world is not blind! They see us for what we are. A nation of self-worshipping gluttons who use God’s name in vain to achieve our own personal goals and objectives. And we wonder why the Muslims hate us! sheesh!

This is really the result of a crossless Christianity and Kingdom subjugation (morally). You are right in pointing out that the cross comes “before” discipleship. We cannot become true disciples until we first learn the meaning and the depth of the cross.The cross eradicates the old man so that the new can come forth fashioned after Christ our master.

If you keep posting such radical ideas you’re likely to get crucified yourself Michael! Keep it up!

Your brother in Christ,

Kevin Pearson
aka Philologus

By: Milton Stanley

Milton Stanley — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Outstanding work, Monk. I wrote about you at my blog. Peace.

By: Matt

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

Excellent work, as always. Responding blog post coming soon. One question, and I’ll get into this more later: Are the people who swallow Osteen’s bit yuppies or are they middle-class folks who have issues? I’m willing to believe either one, but in my own experience, the Osteen crowd is, frankly, not as wealthy or yuppie. Hence the reason to buy into his lame message.

By: iMonk

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

I think Daddy’s crowd was less yuppie, but I think Osteen will increasingly appeal to Yuppies. Of course, the word-faith movement, and Pentecostalism in general, has always been more of a lower- to lower-middle religious expression, so I think you will always see that. Some of the most gullible people in these movements are people who are in a mess and want to hallelujah their way out.

And I really need to make it clearer- Thousands of seeker sensitive pastors push the same garbage. The Life Management Jesus who gets you a raise, a promotion and a new car.

By: Eric

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

Michael, well, I’m glad you don’t see sounding anabaptist as an insult!

As for teams, I still cross a lot of lines–Catholic, evangelical, anabaptist, episcopal. I’m not impressed by any group so much, but the individuals who have impressed me are going in the same direction.

As for the groups, I am impressed by pretty much all of the denominational founders–all speak to very real problems of their time and place. I do think anabaptism provides a lot of what is needed at this time–a conservatism that is humble and servant oriented–but it is hardly the only way to get back to the gospels.

I’m not too happy among any group of Christians that affirm me (and my possessions!) as I am without challenging me to something more.