zoobie Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I also don't remember Jesus as He walked this earth being concerned about offending every other person ... of course he made some people angry... no one really wants to hear the truth. It is more enjoyable to go around in your own little happy world where everything is permissible. You remember Jesus from when he walked the earth? That's a pretty cool famous person sighting. I flew on an airplane with Peyton Manning once. Not *with* him but on the same plane. I think he's probably the most famous. I also saw Kareem Abdul Jabbar at Jason's Deli. Good times. ETA: DH reminded me that it was Julius Irving. D'oh! Some J basketball player... 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 There was a preacher man who stood on the Free Speech Podium and yelled at people at my university. He liked to call all us women whores for getting an education and wearing pants. I don't think he was very effective either. There was a guy near my college who yelled at everyone passing by, saying that the Bible was the Lord's book, and all the other books were the Devil's books (so we should not read them). It's an interesting perspective, and I can see where he was coming from. But it was not a particularly effective message when you're carrying a bunch of expensive textbooks for subjects that aren't fully covered in the Bible. (No steam tables in the Bible, for example - needed the thermodynamics text for that.) Oh, and he was wearing pajamas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'm going to jump into the fray here and go out on a limb. I agree 100% with this tract. I also want to say that all you commenting on how this sounds like a college paper are wrong. I actually personally know the author of this tract. We lived in close Christian community with him and his family. He has never been to college. In his teens he was a rich, pot smoking, surfer. He repented of this and went to a YWAM. Next he became a Calvary Chapel pastor but then grew convicted about his own lifestyle and started to preach that we ought to strive for righteousness. He now lives in community with several other families in OR. Our family would love to move there and join them but can't because of immigration issues. The tract is found through this site: www.walklikechrist.com . I personally know the man that made this site and some of the tracts and sermons on the site are produced by my own husband. I can assure you that you won't get a virus from any of the downloads. Editted to add: Scott Schones (the author) is the most joyful person that I know. I told my dc that some of you thought that Scot that sounded joyless and they laughed and laughed. He is always singing and happy. Moody or joylessness is NOT Scott's weakness. I suppose he must have had some college-like exposure, either through YWAM training, Cavalry chapel ministry prep, or mentoring. He knows how to do a basic level of academic writing. That's why his paper sounds like the work of a a Bible college student. I'm sad to hear that he isn't pursuing further education to enhance his ability to use his teaching gift. He is really stuck in some bad patterns of interpretation, and his joy (or even a pleasant demeanor) isn't coming through in his writing style. I hope he isn't going to plateau at this level. It will really limit his effectiveness. As you can see, *this* work isn't fulfilling its desired function. It's offending his audience. That's not the fault of the audience. His talents are underdeveloped. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Editted to add: Scott Schones (the author) is the most joyful person that I know. I told my dc that some of you thought that Scott that sounded joyless and they laughed and laughed. He is always singing and happy. Moody or joylessness is NOT Scott's weakness. I am not sure it was your mate Scott people were talking about. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Rich = needs repenting of surfer = needs repenting of pot-smoking = needs repenting of (this includes those that are legally smoking it for medical reasons right?) ETA: David Bercot is listed on that site. Yep, that tells me all I need to know. Bercot's scholarship on Church History and various theological positions is known to be horrid and full of errors. Yes, I've read two of his most popular books and can back that up. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermama Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'm going to jump into the fray here and go out on a limb. I agree 100% with this tract. I also want to say that all you commenting on how this sounds like a college paper are wrong. I actually personally know the author of this tract. We lived in close Christian community with him and his family. He has never been to college. In his teens he was a rich, pot smoking, surfer. He repented of this and went to a YWAM. Next he became a Calvary Chapel pastor but then grew convicted about his own lifestyle and started to preach that we ought to strive for righteousness. He now lives in community with several other families in OR. Our family would love to move there and join them but can't because of immigration issues. The tract is found through this site: www.walklikechrist.com . I personally know the man that made this site and some of the tracts and sermons on the site are produced by my own husband. I can assure you that you won't get a virus from any of the downloads. Editted to add: Scott Schones (the author) is the most joyful person that I know. I told my dc that some of you thought that Scot that sounded joyless and they laughed and laughed. He is always singing and happy. Moody or joylessness is NOT Scott's weakness. Kind of a weird side note, but do you know that the avatar you're using is the seal of a Christian church that would disagree strongly with the views in that tract? I don't mean to pick on you - but it's a bit jarring to someone who grew up in that church to see something so anti-ecumenism next to it! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Rich = needs repenting of surfer = needs repenting of pot-smoking = needs repenting of (this includes those that are legally smoking it for medical reasons right?) I surf. Uh oh. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Kind of a weird side note, but do you know that the avatar you're using is the seal of a Christian church that would disagree strongly with the views in that tract? I don't mean to pick on you - but it's a bit jarring to someone who grew up in that church to see something so anti-ecumenism next to it! Hmmm... I didn't know that it represented a particular denomination. I just really appreciate the image of Jesus as the victorious lamb. I think that I'll find a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 There was a preacher man who stood on the Free Speech Podium and yelled at people at my university. He liked to call all us women whores for getting an education and wearing pants. I don't think he was very effective either. Did we go to the same university? I remember getting called a whore for wearing a sweatshirt and jeans (oh, and the sweatshirt has sorority letters on it.) He stepped down off his soap box to follow me to make sure I heard him until some nice gentlemen escorted him back to his box. That certainly didn't make me want to abandon my church for his "true church" (whatever that was.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Hmmm... I didn't know that it represented a particular denomination. I just really appreciate the image of Jesus as the victorious lamb. I think that I'll find a new one. You were recently informed of this on another thread. You even responded back about it. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Kind of a weird side note, but do you know that the avatar you're using is the seal of a Christian church that would disagree strongly with the views in that tract? I don't mean to pick on you - but it's a bit jarring to someone who grew up in that church to see something so anti-ecumenism next to it! yes, I agree. her avatar always throws me off because she doesn't seem to follow the teaching of that particular tradition. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 One of the many things I deeply appreciate about C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity was that he kept to the basics without being shallow and he ran it past four clergymen (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic) to avoid getting too denominational. I think that was really important and we should all keep it in mind. Anyone else have any recommendations for books that cover Christianity from a very general point of view? Any others that respectfully compare and contrast denominations without bashing and misrepresenting? 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 You were recently informed of this on another thread. You even responded back about it. I'm having trouble remembering that. I did know that other groups use that symbol but I don't recall learning that it exclusively denotes one denomination. That bothers me. Had I really understood what I was being told I'm pretty sure that I would have changed it earlier. Give me a day and I'll pick a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Hmmm... I didn't know that it represented a particular denomination. I just really appreciate the image of Jesus as the victorious lamb. I think that I'll find a new one. & your new one is from the Moravian Church - I know this because my dad is a Jan Hus mega-fan. It's motto is "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love". 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Anyone else have any recommendations for books that cover Christianity from a very general point of view? Any others that respectfully compare and contrast denominations without bashing and misrepresenting? Y'know, the Dummies books are usually pretty good. I haven't read the Christianity one, but have read the Judaism and Islam ones. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albeto. Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'm not looking for a reaction. I am seriously concerned about the people in the world in general who think they are a Christian and yet know nothing about the Bible or what it truly says... Surely you remembered at some point... This isn't a christian forum. Proselytizing, besides being against the board rules, is obnoxious and ridiculous. But it did remind me of another xian proselytizing message that is awfully enjoyable, so for that, thank you. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I am frustrated and saddened almost every day at what Christians do to other Christians. I often feel we are our own worst enemy. Yes, OP, I am really a Christian. Agreeing or disagreeing with your link doesn't have anything to do with it. In the beginning of your link there was something about true wisdom means always being teachable. I think often that we draw a line in the sand and it hurts us and others. I'm so thankful that God gave me a teachable heart and that some of my feelings and ideas have changed through the years. Being teachable means I was able to love, support, and accept my lesbian dd. I am beyond blessed that He allowed me to have her as my dd and I thank Him daily for putting her in my life. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Do we really need a yearly repeat of debating who is and isn't a Christian? No, Evangelical Protestants and Fundamentalists are not the ONLY Christians. No, we aren't going for the "I know a bunch of Catholics and I know some of them became real Christians while in the Catholic Church, unlike most Catholics." No, we don't need a run down list of reasons of why the LDS, the JWs, the Orthodox, the Charismatics, the Catholics, the Episcopalians, etc aren't "real" Christians. This is repeated every, freaking, year. EVERY. FREAKING. YEAR. Liking this wasn't enough. I surf. Uh oh. REPENT SINNER! ;) I'm a not rich, don't smoke pot, or surf, so I'm probably good. ;) Luanne, do you feel you are doing the Kingdom of God any good by approaching people in this way? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I don't have time to read the whole article now, but I'll try to get to it later. Hope the thread won't be locked up by the time I get back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'd like to point out that Jesus was only harsh with the Pharisees, who were filled with spiritual pride. Not only did he say they laid burdens on men without lifting a finger to help, he called them "white washed tombs full of dead men's bones." While he did call regular people to stop sinning, he never spoke to them like that. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 If you believe you will die and be judged for your actions, don't you also agree that you'll be judged for the way you affected people? In both a good and bad way? If your words and actions offend others and turn them away from Christ, won't God himself find you offensive? If you are loving towards others and tolerant, won't God himself be more loving and tolerant toward you? I don't know what scripture fits them, I'm sure there one somewhere. I do know there is something about sowing and reaping and, honestly, I've seen it play out in real life this week in a really big way for someone in my life. Not in a good way either. They thought they had the right message, their method of delivery proved to be less than effective or helpful. They are paying a big price for it now. As to the original question, probably not by that definition (didn't read it). Do I identify as one? I don't know anymore. If it means I have to shred apart another human being in judgment, I'm not sure I want to go that route anymore. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planner Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Do we really need a yearly repeat of debating who is and isn't a Christian? No, Evangelical Protestants and Fundamentalists are not the ONLY Christians. No, we aren't going for the "I know a bunch of Catholics and I know some of them became real Christians while in the Catholic Church, unlike most Catholics." No, we don't need a run down list of reasons of why the LDS, the JWs, the Orthodox, the Charismatics, the Catholics, the Episcopalians, etc aren't "real" Christians. This is repeated every, freaking, year. EVERY. FREAKING. YEAR. I'm going to take a position of support to ALL people who identity as being Christian. Who am I to judge their relationship with Christ? If you tell me you're a Christian, I'm going to believe you. So, to all of you Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Orthodox, Charismatics, Episcopalians, and others who are judged to be "not real Christians," I will defend your right to define your belief system. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 It begins with a nice description of hell including "writing bodies" being "eternally tormented". I always felt like if this is how you have to begin, then you must not think there's much appealing about your faith. If you need to scare people into your faith, then there must not be much there to draw people in without the fires of hell lapping at their heels. I haven't even gotten past that part. I don't find very much compelling about hellish imagery. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 One of the many things I deeply appreciate about C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity was that he kept to the basics without being shallow and he ran it past four clergymen (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic) to avoid getting too denominational. I think that was really important and we should all keep it in mind. Anyone else have any recommendations for books that cover Christianity from a very general point of view? Any others that respectfully compare and contrast denominations without bashing and misrepresenting? I think pretty much anything written by NT Wright is very trustworthy. He's also Anglican, but a very respected church historian by both Eastern and Western Christians. Another writer is Jarislav Pelikan. He comes from a long, long line of Lutherans, but converted to EO in his retirement. He hasn't written anything that covers all different types of Christian traditions, but he does have some very good books about Jesus and the Creed. He also has a definitive series on Church History. One of these may be helpful. Finally, Henry Chadwick (another Anglican) is also a Church historian respected in both the Christian East and West. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Kind of a weird side note, but do you know that the avatar you're using is the seal of a Christian church that would disagree strongly with the views in that tract? I don't mean to pick on you - but it's a bit jarring to someone who grew up in that church to see something so anti-ecumenism next to it! You were recently informed of this on another thread. You even responded back about it. I don't want to hijack this thread too much but you please tell me if all images of the victorious lamb/agnes dei would give this impression or is it the particular one that I chose? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I don't want to hijack this thread too much but you please tell me if all images of the victorious lamb/agnes dei would give this impression or is it the particular one that I chose? Thanks. From what I can gather of your beliefs (based on who is listed on that site), yes, I believe they would all be problematic. It's is very Catholic...accepted by generally or historically liturgical churches. The one you used was specifically connected to a church. The rest are connected specifically to Catholicism and carried on into the Liturgical churches. The Lamb of God title is widely used in Christian prayers, and the Agnus Dei is used as a standard part of the Catholic Mass, as well as the classical Western Liturgies of the Anglican and Lutheran Churches. It also is used in liturgy and as a form of contemplative prayer.[8][9] The Agnus Dei also forms a part of the musical setting for the Mass.As a visual motif the lamb has been most often represented since the Middle Ages as a standing haloed lamb with a foreleg cocked "holding" a pennant with a red cross on a white ground, though many other ways of representing it have been used. wiki 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 So, OP, the author says "this paper is written to modern day evangelical Christians". When you are suggesting an article to a group like ours, it's customary to give some context, rather than just giving the link. Since this is a very diverse group, with many types of Christians, as well as those of other religions and those of no religion, it might have been wise to explain in the original post that the paper was directed at evangelical Christians, so that those who aren't evangelical Christians would understand that the paper wasn't addressing them. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Exactly. Why would I listen to a stranger who seems perpetually put out and angry? This brand of Christianity seems utterly joyless. This. 100% this. I am not a Christian, and the most vocal Christians seem put out and angry and do nothing to convince me that they are the way. It makes me sad for them and I hope they are able to get quality mental health services, preferably secular. With that said, many of my dearest friends are Christian and live their faith and it shows in their deeds, but they are not the image that comes to mind when I think of Christians. Back to lurking with my popcorn until the summer of insanity mellows out. Thanks for the entertainment! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 It begins with a nice description of hell including "writing bodies" being "eternally tormented". I always felt like if this is how you have to begin, then you must not think there's much appealing about your faith. If you need to scare people into your faith, then there must not be much there to draw people in without the fires of hell lapping at their heels. I haven't even gotten past that part. I don't find very much compelling about hellish imagery. is that like gary Larson's far side cartoon about hell's library? ;) book of story problems, big book of story problems, another book of story problems, etc. I agree with the imagery thing. My brother (with whatever his latest "oh this sounds good" belief is) did that to my mother. pushed this hell imagery at her to try and make her believe what he was pursing at that moment (I don't think he knows what he believes.) he tried to push it on me (he's never been interested in what I have espoused for 35 years. except what his friend told him I believed that left me :blink: :rofl: :smilielol5: because it was so whackadoodle. ) while we were doing a death bed vigil in her hospital room - I shut him down because it was SO not the time for that. and that was *before* I learned how crappy it was. I was LIVID :cursing: when I went to start cleaning out her apartment and came across what he'd shoved at her. I was even more angry :mad: when it became apparent she'd been reading the carp. it was horrible. actually, :cursing: livid is inadequate. it did explain why the last time we spoke, she asked me about my beliefs and said it was because my brother had been telling her what he believed. I think she wanted an antidote to my brother. I miss my mom - but knowing that our last conversation (I had NO idea it would be our last conversation) I was able to share my beliefs about a loving God, :Angel_anim: how much I believed God loved her :001_wub: and wanted her to be happy, and how much I loved her - gives me great satisfaction it was a very positive conversation. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 is that like gary Larson's far side cartoon about hell's library? book of story problems, big book of story problems, another book of story problems, etc. I agree with the imagery thing. My brother (with whatever his latest "oh this sounds good" belief is) did that to my mother. pushed this hell imagery at her to try and make her believe what he was pursing at that moment (I don't think he knows what he believes.) he tried to push it on me (he's never been interested in what I have espoused for 35 years. except what his friend told him I believed that left me :blink: :rofl: :smilielol5:because it was so whackadoodle. ) while we were doing a death bed vigil in her hospital room - I shut him down because it was SO not the time for that. and that was *before* I learned how crappy it was. I was LIVID :cursing: when I went to start cleaning out her apartment and came across what he'd shoved at her. I was even more angry :mad: when it became apparent she'd been reading the carp. it was horrible. actually, :cursing: livid is inadequate. it did explain why the last time we spoke, she asked me about my beliefs and said it was because my brother had been telling her what he believed. I think she wanted an antidote to my brother. I miss my mom - but knowing that our last conversation (I had NO idea it would be our last conversation) I was able to share my beliefs about a loving God, :Angel_anim: how much I believed God loved her :001_wub: and wanted her to be happy, and how much I loved her - gives me great satisfaction it was a very positive conversation. Sorry, typo. Writhing bodies. :) Of course. That makes me SO sad for your mother. :( I'm so sorry your brother did that to her and I'm glad you got to counter his message with a more loving one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 From what I can gather of your beliefs (based on who is listed on that site), yes, I believe they would all be problematic. It's is very Catholic...accepted by generally or historically liturgical churches. The one you used was specifically connected to a church. The rest are connected specifically to Catholicism and carried on into the Liturgical churches. wiki Yes, that particular seal she has is the official seal of the Moravian church (I was originally wrong when I thought it was Lutheran) I don't think they're that Catholic.. Just thought I'd clarify. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 This. 100% this. I am not a Christian, and the most vocal Christians seem put out and angry and do nothing to convince me that they are the way. It makes me sad for them and I hope they are able to get quality mental health services, preferably secular. With that said, many of my dearest friends are Christian and live their faith and it shows in their deeds, but they are not the image that comes to mind when I think of Christians. Back to lurking with my popcorn until the summer of insanity mellows out. Thanks for the entertainment! they should be the kind you think of when you think of Christians. not the trumpeting types Jesus said "by their fruits ye shall know them." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaraby Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Good news! I read the pdf and it was right! I'm not a Christian. Whew! I thought perhaps my atheism had been subsumed by a stealth form of zombie Christianity that had reactivated in some way. Good times. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermama Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'm having trouble remembering that. I did know that other groups use that symbol but I don't recall learning that it exclusively denotes one denomination. That bothers me. Had I really understood what I was being told I'm pretty sure that I would have changed it earlier. Give me a day and I'll pick a new one. The Lamb of God itself is not, but with that particular motto, it is specifically the seal of the Moravian church. I think it's even the version used as the seal on the wikipedia page ;) To Moravians, the seal represents Christ's victory over death, sin, and the powers of evil through His death and resurrection, not through force or deception. Moravians are actually pretty famous as being some of the first Protestant missionaries, but the typical focus is on Christ's great love and victory through his death and resurrection rather than hellfire and brimstone. And to tie this all back in to homeschooling... The most well-known Moravian minister was John Comenius, who's often called the father of modern education. His work, and specifically his insistence on education being more play than work, influenced Maria Montessori. And, that concludes the early Protestant history lesson for the day :lol: 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 The Lamb of God itself is not, but with that particular motto, it is specifically the seal of the Moravian church. I think it's even the version used as the seal on the wikipedia page ;) To Moravians, the seal represents Christ's victory over death, sin, and the powers of evil through His death and resurrection, not through force or deception. Moravians are actually pretty famous as being some of the first Protestant missionaries, but the typical focus is on Christ's great love and victory through his death and resurrection rather than hellfire and brimstone. And to tie this all back in to homeschooling... The most well-known Moravian minister was John Comenius, who's often called the father of modern education. His work, and specifically his insistence on education being more play than work, influenced Maria Montessori. And, that concludes the early Protestant history lesson for the day :lol: That was very informative and interesting. Thank you :) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 The Lamb of God itself is not, but with that particular motto, it is specifically the seal of the Moravian church. I think it's even the version used as the seal on the wikipedia page ;) To Moravians, the seal represents Christ's victory over death, sin, and the powers of evil through His death and resurrection, not through force or deception. Moravians are actually pretty famous as being some of the first Protestant missionaries, but the typical focus is on Christ's great love and victory through his death and resurrection rather than hellfire and brimstone. And to tie this all back in to homeschooling... The most well-known Moravian minister was John Comenius, who's often called the father of modern education. His work, and specifically his insistence on education being more play than work, influenced Maria Montessori. And, that concludes the early Protestant history lesson for the day :lol: {Whiny voice} Dad!!!! Do we have to talk about this AGAIN? I already KNOw all this! Oh, sorry, for a second there I thought I was back home with my parents having dinner. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatechip Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Good grief. There's no way I'm reading a 25 page essay because someone felt like they had to ensure I know whether I fit their particular definition of Christian. I'm an Orthodox Christian. God knows that. What everyone else thinks really doesn't matter. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 they should be the kind you think of when you think of Christians. not the trumpeting types Jesus said "by their fruits ye shall know them." Probably. But when my son comes home sobbing because the Christians hate him because he is not (insert characteristic of choice) enough, well... Part of my disappearance has been dealing with the fall out that resulted from a "Christian" organization and what my son endured and the resulting hell. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 One of the many things I deeply appreciate about C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity was that he kept to the basics without being shallow and he ran it past four clergymen (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic) to avoid getting too denominational. I think that was really important and we should all keep it in mind. Anyone else have any recommendations for books that cover Christianity from a very general point of view? Any others that respectfully compare and contrast denominations without bashing and misrepresenting? I love Christianity's Family Tree by Adam Hamilton. It doesn't have every detail of every denomination exactly perfect, but it is so complimentary at describing what a particular denomination does well that at the end of each chapter you'll likely consider joining that denomination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermama Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 {Whiny voice} Dad!!!! Do we have to talk about this AGAIN? I already KNOw all this! Oh, sorry, for a second there I thought I was back home with my parents having dinner. Awww, party pooper - part of my confirmation was one whole year of Moravian history! Do you know how often I get to trot that stuff out? It doesn't make good dinner party conversation. Trust me, I've tried :leaving: 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Awww, party pooper - part of my confirmation was one whole year of Moravian history! Do you know how often I get to trot that stuff out? It doesn't make good dinner party conversation. Trust me, I've tried :leaving: I know a young woman who would probably love chattering with you. . . but she's off to the university of Jerusalem to study history . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Save me a seat. I want some. :lurk5: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Awww, party pooper - part of my confirmation was one whole year of Moravian history! Do you know how often I get to trot that stuff out? It doesn't make good dinner party conversation. Trust me, I've tried :leaving: you can chat with us fellow church history nerds anytime! I love this stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Last hijack. I changed my avatar. Maybe Mommaduck will object still but I can't see how the Catholic church gets to own the pascal lamb symbol. It's even the emblem on Shane Clabourne's book, "Jesus for President." He's definitely not Catholic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I am often reminded that Jesus actually DREW people to him. Crowds and crowds of people. They followed him around, hanging on his every word. It was the religious of the day who hated him. Yes, there were also some political figures who hated him, but the truth is, Jesus loved and that made people follow. Posting a tract and accusing people you don't even know of possibly not even being real Christians is not ok. I am way too tired to even be coherent and will visit this thread again tomorrow. I also don't remember Jesus as He walked this earth being concerned about offending every other person ... of course he made some people angry... no one really wants to hear the truth. It is more enjoyable to go around in your own little happy world where everything is permissible. 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 That bit is true, at least. I started listening to the KJV in the car this weekend. I trust that it is Biblical. Hebrew and Greek are probably more Biblical, perhaps they would do you more good than a translation :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Hebrew and Greek are probably more Biblical, perhaps they would do you more good than a translation :) I think I would enjoy it more, yes. I can get a Quran cd where they alternate the English with Arabic, verse by verse. There was nothing in the Christian shop alternating English, Hebrew and Greek. Weird, huh? :p 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I think I would enjoy it more, yes. I can get a Quran cd where they alternate the English with Arabic, verse by verse. There was nothing in the Christian shop alternating English, Hebrew and Greek. Weird, huh? :p They do have parallel translation Bibles. So the Greek would all be in the New Testament. It's funny how the few non-Greek words are rendered into the English translations as their original form, like Abba for Daddy, maranatha, hallelujah, and a few others. Hebrew and IIRC Aramaic would be in the Old Testament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Last hijack. I changed my avatar. Maybe Mommaduck will object still but I can't see how the Catholic church gets to own the pascal lamb symbol. It's even the emblem on Shane Clabourne's book, "Jesus for President." He's definitely not Catholic. Wow, nice slam. You misread what I wrote though. It's not MY objection and I never said that the Catholic Church OWNED it (however, they did create it). Please go back and reread what I wrote. From what I can gather of your beliefs (based on who is listed on that site), yes, I believe they would all be problematic. It's is very Catholic...accepted by generally or historically liturgical churches. The one you used was specifically connected to a church. The rest are connected specifically to Catholicism and carried on into the Liturgical churches. Given that the people listed on the site are extremely anti-Catholic/anti-Liturgical and given that most people I know that push Bercot's books are very iconoclastic, I would be given to think that you would not want that connection. However, the decision is obviously yours. I was actually trying to be very kind in my post about it. No snark, no "you can't do this". I simply gave you the background. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I actually personally know the author of this tract. I think you should tell him he needs to find a beta. He's got a glaring usage error (bear for bare) in the first couple lines. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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