And w/o throwing rocks at any given theological group, I don’t see any emphasis at studying supernatural thinking. In the Synoptic gospels ( Matthew, Mark & Luke) we get Jesus the man, Jesus the Prophet with The Kingdom being the constant theme. In the gospel of John we get a Jesus that announces himself in his major proclamations... He is the Christ, the cosmic creation. Also there is no birth or infancy narrative.
Alternative Evangelism
Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by Earth Wind and Fire, Jul 5, 2018.
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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RighteousnessTemperance& Well-Known Member
The article does not even come close to presenting an alternate but equal demonstration of God’s love. Don’t forget not only John 15:13 (dying for friends), but also Romans 5:10 (dying for enemies). Again, to say that sin is the focus is to entirely miss the Good News; it’s more like Bad News. Declaring God’s love is not alternative evangelism to the Gospel; it’s at the heart of it. -
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth, Wind, and Fire,
Your point about Augustine derives support from the insight that the story of Adam and Eve is not primarily about original sin, but rather about the birth of conscience through discernment of the psychodynamics of evil. I will defend this claim in my next planned post. -
RighteousnessTemperance& Well-Known Member
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The preaching of John and Jesus and of the Apostles was to "flee the wrath to come," and here is the Way.
That's the message. Anything that mitigates the certainty and finality and fearfulness of that day is diabolical. -
Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It's all His work, and He first loved us.
But that's just for those who shall be heirs of salvation.
The earth and the people will not be saved because we have fellowship with God or one another, and even if the Gospel fills the whole earth, it will not delay the day of wrath and nor abate the fiery indignation of God.
Some will respond to compassion. Others to fear. Either way, it's right. Jude 1:22-23. -
But, sin reigns in the earth, and all men are sinners. There is no one in the earth with whom God will walk and talk because of that one's goodness. It's always and anon because of God's response to sin.
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The Reign of God my friend is the foundation for our hope and our optimism, but it is also the source of our deepest alienation for the world as it is. It will leave you a stranger and a nomad on this earth... see Hebrews 11:13. It is the task of Christians to learn how to live in both worlds until they become one world—at least in us.
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If Adam and Eve had not succumbed to the Serpent's temptation,
(1) they would not have become godlike
(2) and they would not know how to discern the difference between good and evil:
"Then the Lord God said, "See, now the man has become like one of us, knowing good from evil (3:22)."
(3) But God created us "in our image (1:26)" or "in the image of God (1:28)" and there always wanted us to become godlike; and surely God always wanted us to develop moral discernment, so that we could be morally responsible. Therefore, a key point implicit in the of Adam and Eve story is that it was God's will all along for humanity to eat the forbidden fruit. Paul recognizes this point in Romans 11:32:
"For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that He might be merciful to all."
Here humanity has no viable choice but to "fall" because they don't "imprison" themselves, but rather ut is God imprisons them. Why? So that our relationship with God will be based on His grace and mercy rather than on our merit.
In my view, (1)-(3) imply that Genesis 2-3 is primarily the story of the birth of conscience rather than of original sin. With this in mind, consider Adam's "curse," his need to work to survive (3:19). Surely it was God's plan from the beginning that humanity be would serve as custodians of the earth (so 1:28) and would therefore devote themselves to creative work to survive. The alternative is an eternal life of indolent leisure.
And why does God set up such a grueling earth testing system in which humanity is vulnerable to the subtle principles of evil? The value of our worship and service to God is a function of our free capacity with God's help to choose to overcome contrary inclinations that displease God. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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