Comments on: Stupid Things Christians Fight About #1

By: Peter Freund

Peter Freund — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:14:58 +0000

Well put. I might have put the point a little differently, although we both agree on the meat. I would probably say that it isn’t that both are equally important. The thief on the cross did not have the chance to behave, but only to believe. But, he was no worse off than those who believe and have the chance to behave. I would say that belief has priority over behaving because behaving naturally flows from believing, but not the other way around. Probably too, there are times in which Christians behave in certain ways because they “have to” not because they want to or really care. So, there are times in which you have both sides, believing and behaving, but it isn’t enough. There is a third thing lurking in the background: our behavior should flow for our believing.

John 7:38: “”He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

By: Cyndi Williams

Cyndi Williams — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:45:37 +0000

I look forward to he Greatest Regrets series, i’s always easier to read or hear some else’s regrets and hink “oh, yeah…hat’s a good one.” insead of hinking abou our own!

By: Scott fagaly

Scott fagaly — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:44:35 +0000

Good stuff. Its a balancing act man…. take the verse that says “Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is lord….” that phrase right there shows the balance to be had in all of this. the Believe with your heart is where the “conservatives” corner comes from and the confess with your mouth is the call to action that the “socially active” corner is saying…. THEY ARE BOTH PRESENT…. belief and accepting the call to action are both necessary.

Great Article… keep it coming

By: Sammy Grimes

Sammy Grimes — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:36:05 +0000

I still content with the whole idea that your fundamental human “sinful nature” is changed and maybe “flesh” is better than that NIVism. Nothing changes about who you are because it is to me simply a fresh start in the eyes of God.

As for social activism, if the Churches had never gotten into Civil Rights, where would it have ended up? As for liberalism, I have read Bruce Bawer’s “Stealing Jesus” and I have a hard time disagreeing with him even in my most fundamental phase, but then Shelby Spong’s “Christianity Must Change Or Die” or rather “Christianity Must Turn Into Hinduism Without The Polytheism And It Has To Look Like A High Church On The Surface Because I Want It To” made me want to toss the book in the trash after the first chapter. And as for Meditation and Concerts, really what is wrong with that, whether you have genuine straight from the Psalms Meditation on the Bible or Zen Buddhist Meditation on Mantras and Koans both have the same effect on the brain (according to MRI studies) and I have never supported “If it ain’t Gospel, it’s wrong” given that Gospel music descends from drinking songs from 18th and 19th century British Pubs.

We don’t have an example of genuine 1st century Christianity in any church, anywhere in the world. Most protestant churches have practices that date back 200 years or so, Apostolic churches (Catholic and Orthodox) have practices that date back to Roman times, but the bulk is from Medieval and Age of Reason times.

By: Aaron Reddin

Aaron Reddin — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:29:00 +0000

Yo dude. This BY FAR the best blog post you’ve written. By far. Thanks for writting it.

By: Ann P.

Ann P. — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:01:15 +0000

RE: Sammy Grimes

Good points, and food for thought on the topics you presented.

My family and I have been bullied by “pastors”. These were not the church, but self-serving ego maniacs under the guise of shepherds. The way I have responded has not always been the best choice, given.

A couple of counter-points:
“just being a light and having people naturally follow them” NO ONE naturally follows Christ. The Bible says as much, in several verses. Ever since the Fall, man “naturally” wants his own way. That’s Sin. As the Church and as believers, we can point to and show the way, but only God can really call a person to change.

“the whole way that Christians are adapting to the next century just isn’t working” You are right about that, as more and more “churches” are adopting social activism as their gospel, liberalism as their philosophy, and new age meditation and self-serving concerts as their worship.

By: Heidi M

Heidi M — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:10:32 +0000

As someone who was there for 4 of those years…

Amen! Right on! Thank you for putting it into words. There are many times I wish I could go back and do things differently during those 4 years specifically.

By: Sammy Grimes

Sammy Grimes — Thu, 06 May 2010 15:11:15 +0000

Suggestions, I have tons: Role-playing games, non-Christian music, gay marriage and gay rights in general, evolution, legalism (Matt Fries gave me an apology on that one), condoms, abortion, the whole culture war, Catholics, etc. I’m not saying that all of these have an element that people are going to find that is wrong or that you can’t find biblical principals against, but the whole way that Christians are adapting to the next century just isn’t working. Churches are perceived to be bullying people into following their light instead of just being a light and having people naturally follow them and even if you don’t they still think you are a bully. I know, dealing with all this stuff is why I am a church burnout.