Comments for theology for real life

Comment on You will never regret honest dialogue with God by mikeraburn

mikeraburn — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:12:36 +0000

Danielle,
Faith is required, but whose faith? And what does it mean to have faith? The context of the Mark 9 passage is Jesus’ disciples were unable to heal the boy while Jesus, Peter, James, and John were off experiencing the Transfiguration. It is the lack of faith on the disciples part that gets the most attention in this passage. The dad shows both faith and honesty about the limits of his faith. Faith is not self-delusion or pretending you believe beyond what you do (those are characteristics of religion, which God hates). Faith is trusting God even with your doubt. That’s what the dad did. Then Jesus healed the boy, which serves to affirm the dad’s faith and honesty.

Comment on You will never regret honest dialogue with God by Danielle H

Danielle H — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:53:33 +0000

I simply can’t look at this passage (and several others, for that matter) and see where Jesus tells us it’s his mood that determines whether we’re healed. He plainly states it’s our faith.

Comment on You will never regret honest dialogue with God by Brian

Brian — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:58:12 +0000

Good stuff, Mike. You’re right on! Waaay to much energy spent in the world (especially the church) on being uptight and feeling guilty instead of being real with God.

Comment on About by Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:12:57 +0000

This is Hannah Bevills, Editor for Christian.com which is a social network made specifically for Christians, by Christians, to directly fulfill Christian’s needs. We embarked on this endeavor to offer the ENTIRE christian community an outlet to join together as one (no matter denomination) and better spread the good word of Christianity. Christian.com has many great features aside from the obvious like christian TV, prayer request or even find a church/receive advice. We have emailed you because we have interest in collaborating with you and your blog to help us spread the good word. I look forward to an email regarding the matter, Thanks!

God Bless
|Hannah Bevills|Christian.com|
hannah.bevills@gmail.com

Comment on Why have you forsaken me? by John Baptist Ralph

John Baptist Ralph — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:18:16 +0000

Very reassuring. I just needed just that.

Comment on Why have you forsaken me? by John Baptist Ralph

John Baptist Ralph — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:17:13 +0000

It is refreshing and reassuring.I just needed that.

Comment on When I say nothing at all by G. Zinda

G. Zinda — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:47:35 +0000

Sharing your theological struggle in these events took great courage and I thank you for doing so. In a practical sense, you made the right choice (although opting for the drive through may have been even safer) – the gentleman in question may have been quite unpredictable and caused you and others great harm. Yet, the sense of Christian responsibility looms in the darkness, weighing heavily on your sensibilities.

Although we do not know each other, I suspect your concern is born from a belief of Christian moral responsibility. The situation of abuse “arose”, yet you “froze” (as they say). Various sociological and psychological studies have been done on this very human phenomenon. But as Christians, are we not to do “something”?

I recently engaged in a study of theodicy that worked to define “evil” in context. Although we generally failed as a group, one fascinating point was decided. Evil tends to mesmerize us, often moving us boldly into inaction. I call this the “stun factor”. Your reflection of the atrocities in Germany, Rowanda and Darfur are perfect examples of this mesmerization.

Perhaps in time, our theological colleagues called to such research will make inroads to defining evil and find a means to develop a defense against. In the meantime, keep praying, remain faithful and offer comfort to the suffering who fall victim to evil in the world. That gift can do such good that no evil will prevail.

Blessings and keep looking up!

Comment on Can a woman be an apostle? (Besides Junia?) by Paul Peffly

Paul Peffly — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:46:28 +0000

Mike,
I am sorry that I troubled you about women working in the church. I did not mean to imply that they are not called to the positions that they are in. To do the work that needs to be done requires the call and the Spirit’s help to fufill that call. I am saying that there a lot of men that will not heed to the call of God to do His work.
If Junia (Junias(a womans name)) is a woman and an apostle would that mean that Paul contrdicts himself when he said “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. The New King James Version. 1982 (1 Co 14:34-35). ” Hmmm Puzzeling…..
This is what Matthew Henry says “Concerning Andronicus and Junia, v. 7. Some take them for a man and his wife, and the original will well enough bear it; and, considering the name of the latter, this is more probable than that they should be two men, as others think, and brethren. If Junia was the wife of Andronicus would’nt Paul then be addressing them using the mans position of reference to the couple?
He also believes that they were cousins…..
We do not know when Adronicus and Junia were fellow prisoners with Paul. We cannot be sure whether the word countrymen means that they were close relatives of the apostle or simply fellow Jews. Again, we do not know whether the expression of note among the apostles means that they were respected by the apostles or that they themselves were outstanding apostles. All we can know for certain is that they became Christians before Paul.
MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary
Of note among the apostles as a phrase can mean either that they were well known to the apostles, or that they were distinguished as apostles. It is probable that they were known to the apostles because there is no mention of them in the Gospels or Acts.
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson study Bible : New King James Version.
I can not say with any certainty that Junia was an apostle or not. I do not see any evidence that supports that assertion. Yes Junia (Junias) is a womans name but so is Toni (Tony).
Let me say in conclusion. I love what the women of God bring to our church. We are so fortunate to have such wonderfully spirit filled women fufilling the call of God in their lives.

Comment on Can a woman be an apostle? (Besides Junia?) by mikeraburn

mikeraburn — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:03:18 +0000

Paul,
I will do a post in the near future explaining in full about the Junia issue, but to answer your question directly Junia is a woman’s name and the KJV (not that it is the final authority) does not call her a man. It renders Rom. 16.7 thus: “Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” The word ‘kinsmen’ there does not imply gender; it was the early 17th century English word for ethnicity. Andronicus and Junia were of Jewish descent like Paul.

This is one of the reasons the KJV is not the best translation to use: we don’t understand it most of the time because it is nowhere close to modern English. It was a great translation in its day, but now we need a translation of it, except that we are better off to go back to the original languages, in this case Greek. In the Greek it is clear that Junia is a woman and that Paul regards her as an apostle.

Your ‘no’ response and your rationale trouble me Paul. Women don’t do a lot of work in the church because men don’t step up. Women do a lot of work in the church because the Holy Spirit calls and empowers them to do that work.

The Holy Spirit calls and empowers as the Spirit wills, regardless of gender. At the same time, there is no work, function, or office of the church that lies outside the Holy Spirit’s purview to call and equip for. Therefore, there is no work, function, or office of the church that is open to one gender but closed to the other gender.

When the Spirit calls and equips a woman to lead, teach, prophesy, and pastor the body of Christ, we need to be obedient to the Spirit and receive the gift the Spirit is giving to the church in the person of that woman (see Eph. 4 for people given as spiritual gifts to the church). Too often we let our doctrines and prejudices get in the way of the work of the Spirit in the church. Being wise and doing the will of God means following the leaders God gives us – women and men alike.

Comment on Pillars of cloud and fire by messenger

messenger — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:20:18 +0000

i am just so overwhelmed with how present God really was in those times to his people- through this story Im just happy to imagine that I have my own pillar of cloud and fire. I am inspired to know that they didnt move when the cloud didnt move- I shall try to do the same in my life- what got me was they sometimes stayed camped out for over a year if the cloud didnt move for over a year. At the same token if the cloud moved at night they would also moved, they could be moving all day and all night and as long as the cloud didnt stop they would keep moving. I also love the part that, during that time that they had crossed the red sea and were being chased by the egyptians the cloud went behind them as a protection agains the egyptians- there was darkness on the egyptians side and light on the israelites side. How awesome is that- I can see Gods protection on my own life and now I know that indeed I have my own pillar of cloud