Comments on: The Law of Christ http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:10:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Scott http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68162 Scott Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:30:51 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68162 Troy, It would be nice if "Pop Culture" had a doctrine of open mindedness-- it does not. Pop culture is more cutthroat about what is cool or what is acceptable or what is newsworthy or what is valuable than the staunchest legalist ever thought of being. In actuality, I am choosing to sit beneath the "Tree of Life" rather than the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". Ever since that serpent convinced us that we needed to be like God by sitting in the seat of judgement rather than by sitting in the lap of love, we've been building our religions around "knowing and defining for everyone else the specifics of good and evil" instead of building them around Christ (who IS love). I'm swearing off of that fruit. God reserved that tree for himself and no one else. Troy,
It would be nice if “Pop Culture” had a doctrine of open mindedness– it does not. Pop culture is more cutthroat about what is cool or what is acceptable or what is newsworthy or what is valuable than the staunchest legalist ever thought of being. In actuality, I am choosing to sit beneath the “Tree of Life” rather than the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”.

Ever since that serpent convinced us that we needed to be like God by sitting in the seat of judgement rather than by sitting in the lap of love, we’ve been building our religions around “knowing and defining for everyone else the specifics of good and evil” instead of building them around Christ (who IS love).

I’m swearing off of that fruit. God reserved that tree for himself and no one else.

]]> By: eileen http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68094 eileen Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:34:20 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68094 What about electricity in the church service or at home? We have a whole church denomination built around the fact that we shouldn't have electricity, the Amish? I don't want to judge them, but just as an example of fighting about silly details of no pianos in the first century, where they didn't have electricity either. What about electricity in the church service or at home? We have a whole church denomination built around the fact that we shouldn’t have electricity, the Amish? I don’t want to judge them, but just as an example of fighting about silly details of no pianos in the first century, where they didn’t have electricity either.

]]> By: Ray B. http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68030 Ray B. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:39:46 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68030 TDT , I have answered you about the core gospel. The core is the death burial and resurrection of Christ.Jesus died to save us from our sins. The only way I know to answer you , is to say that we have a perfect revelation as to how God wants us to live and how to worship ,etc. Do we just accept the passages that teach about his death and them avoid all other teachings ? I have never preaced or taught someone the gospel and then said , unless they understood everything about Christian living , they could not be saved. But after they obeyed the gospel , then have tried to ground them , or other memebers have , in the whole will of God. Good discussion. TDT ,
I have answered you about the core gospel. The core is the death burial and resurrection of Christ.Jesus died to save us from our sins.
The only way I know to answer you , is to say that we have a perfect revelation as to how God wants us to live and how to worship ,etc. Do we just accept the passages that teach about his death and them avoid all other teachings ?
I have never preaced or taught someone the gospel and then said , unless they understood everything about Christian living , they could not be saved. But after they obeyed the gospel , then have tried to ground them , or other memebers have , in the whole will of God. Good discussion.

]]> By: The Depressing Truth http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68023 The Depressing Truth Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:07:47 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-68023 Ray, I'm not using it as a proof text. I'm just asking a simple question: In light of Rev. 5 does it appear that God is offended by instrumental praise? What is your answer? Yes or no? (Again, I don't like instrumental worship and avoid churches that have it. So I'm not advocating for it. Far from it. What I am concerned about is your equating a human opinion on this issue, even a well-informed opinion, with the core of the gospel.) Ray,
I’m not using it as a proof text. I’m just asking a simple question: In light of Rev. 5 does it appear that God is offended by instrumental praise? What is your answer? Yes or no?

(Again, I don’t like instrumental worship and avoid churches that have it. So I’m not advocating for it. Far from it. What I am concerned about is your equating a human opinion on this issue, even a well-informed opinion, with the core of the gospel.)

]]> By: Ray B. http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67979 Ray B. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:04:30 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67979 TDT , You know what I have written about the gospel being of first importance. Look at the context of Rev.5. The passage is not about the corporate worship of the church. You know that is true. It may be you want to use it as a proof text to incorporate the instrument into worship. Your choice. TDT ,
You know what I have written about the gospel being of first importance. Look at the context of Rev.5. The passage is not about the corporate worship of the church. You know that is true. It may be you want to use it as a proof text to incorporate the instrument into worship. Your choice.

]]> By: Troy http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67945 Troy Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:54:22 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67945 *, You're the one handing out grades on open-mindedness. Which is, in fact, the one and only conviction of popular culture. The reality is that being open-minded simply means agreeing with you. Let me get this straight. I referred you to I Cor. 14:34 and now I'm guilty of idolatry. Give me a break! I think that the chip on your shoulder has caused you to read more into Mike's post than is actually there. The last word is yours. *,

You’re the one handing out grades on open-mindedness. Which is, in fact, the one and only conviction of popular culture. The reality is that being open-minded simply means agreeing with you.

Let me get this straight. I referred you to I Cor. 14:34 and now I’m guilty of idolatry. Give me a break! I think that the chip on your shoulder has caused you to read more into Mike’s post than is actually there.

The last word is yours.

]]> By: The Depressing Truth http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67911 The Depressing Truth Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:25:11 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67911 Troy, You've lost your marbles. Seriously. I'm judging your ideas not because I've sold out to, what, "pop culture." "Pop culture"? What are you talking about? The issue before the blog is simply this: Will you equate the cross of Jesus with the 1950s ecclesial blueprint of the CoC? You, apparently, do. And I've said that to do this is trading in Jesus for ashes. That's not pop culture talking. That is Jesus talking to the Pharisees. Jesus was a bit too "open minded" for them as well. Ironic, huh? What is spooky about you is that you've erected your doctrine as an idol and worship it, calling it "God." And, in a correlated move, consider others who disagree with YOU to be disagreeing with GOD. See the idolatry there? You = God? Now, what I would hope you would do is to admit that the CoC is a work of man, full of God, but subject to error and growth. That God was not bottled up in the 50s and stuffed into a tract (to mix a metaphor). That your god may be too small. That God, today in fact, might surprise you. Kind of like he surprised the Pharisees. Tootles! Troy,
You’ve lost your marbles. Seriously. I’m judging your ideas not because I’ve sold out to, what, “pop culture.” “Pop culture”? What are you talking about?

The issue before the blog is simply this: Will you equate the cross of Jesus with the 1950s ecclesial blueprint of the CoC?

You, apparently, do. And I’ve said that to do this is trading in Jesus for ashes. That’s not pop culture talking. That is Jesus talking to the Pharisees. Jesus was a bit too “open minded” for them as well. Ironic, huh?

What is spooky about you is that you’ve erected your doctrine as an idol and worship it, calling it “God.” And, in a correlated move, consider others who disagree with YOU to be disagreeing with GOD. See the idolatry there? You = God?

Now, what I would hope you would do is to admit that the CoC is a work of man, full of God, but subject to error and growth. That God was not bottled up in the 50s and stuffed into a tract (to mix a metaphor). That your god may be too small. That God, today in fact, might surprise you.

Kind of like he surprised the Pharisees.

Tootles!

]]> By: The Depressing Truth http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67910 The Depressing Truth Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:06:19 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67910 Hey Ray, I still want to know what you think about the instruments in heaven. Do you believe the bible or not? Hey Ray,
I still want to know what you think about the instruments in heaven. Do you believe the bible or not?

]]> By: Troy http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67909 Troy Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:53:40 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67909 * & Scott, It appears that you've exchanged your doctrine of open-mindedness, inspired by pop culture, for that which is inspired by God. If you insist on judging us according to your own doctrine, we can never agree. * & Scott,

It appears that you’ve exchanged your doctrine of open-mindedness, inspired by pop culture, for that which is inspired by God. If you insist on judging us according to your own doctrine, we can never agree.

]]> By: Ray B. http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67908 Ray B. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:17:36 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67908 Praise God for the gospel which is of first importance. Praise God that He has given us perfect guidance for how to live in such a way as to please Him. Praise God for the gospel which is of first importance. Praise God that He has given us perfect guidance for how to live in such a way as to please Him.

]]> By: The Depressing Truth http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67907 The Depressing Truth Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:03:48 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67907 One more thing Ray, just out of curiosity. God is okay with instruments in the Old Testament, correct? And the bible says God will be worshiped with instruments in heaven (Rev. 5:8), correct? And yet you’ll insist that this issue is central to the gospel? One more thing Ray, just out of curiosity.

God is okay with instruments in the Old Testament, correct? And the bible says God will be worshiped with instruments in heaven (Rev. 5:8), correct?

And yet you’ll insist that this issue is central to the gospel?

]]> By: The Depressing Truth http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67906 The Depressing Truth Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:31:57 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67906 Ray B, If you continue to equate instrumental music with the cross of Jesus you will remain the camp of the religious nutters. I mean, I can just imagine Jesus coming to your church: You: “Jesus, look! We don’t use pianos! Aren’t you pleased?” Jesus: “Huh?” You: “Further, we’ve split churches over this issue! That’s how important we thought this was to you. Instituting non-instrumental music, we figured, was a big part of why you came to earth to die on the cross. So, we knew that the World would flock to our churches because they saw how strong we fought for No Pianos! We are a city set on a hill!” Jesus: “Where did you get the idea I didn’t like a piano?" The End Back to the nutters... Ray B,
If you continue to equate instrumental music with the cross of Jesus you will remain the camp of the religious nutters.

I mean, I can just imagine Jesus coming to your church:

You: “Jesus, look! We don’t use pianos! Aren’t you pleased?”

Jesus: “Huh?”

You: “Further, we’ve split churches over this issue! That’s how important we thought this was to you. Instituting non-instrumental music, we figured, was a big part of why you came to earth to die on the cross. So, we knew that the World would flock to our churches because they saw how strong we fought for No Pianos! We are a city set on a hill!”

Jesus: “Where did you get the idea I didn’t like a piano?”

The End

Back to the nutters…

]]> By: The Depressing Truth http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67905 The Depressing Truth Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:14:05 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67905 Troy, You are depressing me. There is such a great and grand vision of God witnessed to in Christ and you are trading it in for ashes. Ashes. Ashes. Ashes. Troy,
You are depressing me. There is such a great and grand vision of God witnessed to in Christ and you are trading it in for ashes.

Ashes.

Ashes.

Ashes.

]]> By: Ray B. http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67902 Ray B. Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:30:38 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67902 There is the preaching of the cross. It will always be offensive to some. But so will all the rest of the word of God. God gave us His perfect will. The Bible tells us about Jesus and Him crucified for us. The holy scriptures also give us instructions on how to worship, who should lead , moral purity , marriage and home , etc. Everything we teach and how we live should be in the spirit of love. Teaching the love of Chist , the atonement , all doctrines , the practical nature of Christian living and all of His will is to be taught in love. Doctrine does not cause people to be offended just because it is doctrine. There is the preaching of the cross. It will always be offensive to some. But so will all the rest of the word of God. God gave us His perfect will. The Bible tells us about Jesus and Him crucified for us. The holy scriptures also give us instructions on how to worship, who should lead , moral purity , marriage and home , etc. Everything we teach and how we live should be in the spirit of love. Teaching the love of Chist , the atonement , all doctrines , the practical nature of Christian living and all of His will is to be taught in love. Doctrine does not cause people to be offended just because it is doctrine.

]]> By: Scott http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67901 Scott Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:52:48 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/09/27/the-law-of-christ#comment-67901 Troy... I would never want to sugarcoat the gospel, but making the Gospel offensive for all my own reasons is not only offensive to the World, but also to God. If the true offense of the gospel is to be seen and responded to by the world, it will be in the context of love. That's not sugar coating, that's contextualizing Jesus' work of redemption. Also, remember... "While we were YET SINNERS Christ died for the ungodly..." Counting the cost of Christ's sacrifice and then shouldering the cross I must bear has more to do with my transformation as a disciple than with my "getting in". I was forgiven while "yet a sinner" but I conform to that cross as I grow and am transformed by God. Troy… I would never want to sugarcoat the gospel, but making the Gospel offensive for all my own reasons is not only offensive to the World, but also to God. If the true offense of the gospel is to be seen and responded to by the world, it will be in the context of love. That’s not sugar coating, that’s contextualizing Jesus’ work of redemption.

Also, remember… “While we were YET SINNERS Christ died for the ungodly…” Counting the cost of Christ’s sacrifice and then shouldering the cross I must bear has more to do with my transformation as a disciple than with my “getting in”. I was forgiven while “yet a sinner” but I conform to that cross as I grow and am transformed by God.

]]>