Of this and that
Just a few comments on some contentious issues I heard today... Seems like today is quite contentious?
1) "If you have Faith you can do anything (good)"
Probably quite a familiar idea to us. The implications being that if the thing you are praying about (eg: Healing of the sick) does not happen, that is because we do not have enough / perfect / right faith. Sounds better than the idea that God might not want to heal the person.
But we are told explicitly that there were those who died in their faith and did not receive what they set out to get (like Abraham?).
There is a third alternative to this riddle. Perhaps its not faith that is not sufficient, perhaps its not God who does not do what is the best for us - perhaps its our perception of Good and not Good that is faulty. For through the eyes of faith, you also see that in ALL things, God works for the good of those who love Him - even in things that seem not good.
2) Once saved always saved
Key among verses to do with this is Christ saying that the Father is greater than all and no one will be snatched from His hands.
Some try to go around this question by denying that those who turn around were ever actually saved even if they seem saved.
I have no easy answer - who can know for sure? How would anyone know? Yet, both positions will result in the same actions. None will deny the need to follow after Christ closely. With one, the implications is losing your salvation, with the other, the implications is never having salvation in the first place.
3) Mega churches and controversial healing evangelists
Do some names come to mind? Cough *CHC* cough. Controversial within and without Christian circles. Especially when dealing with money issues.
Actually, after seeing some of the arguments against them (and some defending them), I find them to be a little out of point, and sometimes, even not true. They put comparisons, but the comparisons are not opposites of each other. (For instance, though this is not one of the arguments, the tension between Faith and Reason, or Faith and Works. These are false opposites; both can and do accomodate each other)
But more importantly... Some people preach the gospel for Christ, some for their own benefit, but whatever it is, people are coming to Christ, and for that I give thanks. And ask myself why more people are not coming to Christ through myself.
-------
Nope, these are not arguments, these are comments and light thoughts =p
But really seems like quite a lot of controversies today =p
PS: Actually, in the Megachurch controversy, good did come out of it. People who had backslided or sideslided felt passionate enough to take part in the discussion and quite a few Christians (even from opposing sides) gently asked questions, gave some advice and things like that, even while stating forth arguments against other people. Perhaps its for their sake that this controversy was made alive =p
1) "If you have Faith you can do anything (good)"
Probably quite a familiar idea to us. The implications being that if the thing you are praying about (eg: Healing of the sick) does not happen, that is because we do not have enough / perfect / right faith. Sounds better than the idea that God might not want to heal the person.
But we are told explicitly that there were those who died in their faith and did not receive what they set out to get (like Abraham?).
There is a third alternative to this riddle. Perhaps its not faith that is not sufficient, perhaps its not God who does not do what is the best for us - perhaps its our perception of Good and not Good that is faulty. For through the eyes of faith, you also see that in ALL things, God works for the good of those who love Him - even in things that seem not good.
2) Once saved always saved
Key among verses to do with this is Christ saying that the Father is greater than all and no one will be snatched from His hands.
Some try to go around this question by denying that those who turn around were ever actually saved even if they seem saved.
I have no easy answer - who can know for sure? How would anyone know? Yet, both positions will result in the same actions. None will deny the need to follow after Christ closely. With one, the implications is losing your salvation, with the other, the implications is never having salvation in the first place.
3) Mega churches and controversial healing evangelists
Do some names come to mind? Cough *CHC* cough. Controversial within and without Christian circles. Especially when dealing with money issues.
Actually, after seeing some of the arguments against them (and some defending them), I find them to be a little out of point, and sometimes, even not true. They put comparisons, but the comparisons are not opposites of each other. (For instance, though this is not one of the arguments, the tension between Faith and Reason, or Faith and Works. These are false opposites; both can and do accomodate each other)
But more importantly... Some people preach the gospel for Christ, some for their own benefit, but whatever it is, people are coming to Christ, and for that I give thanks. And ask myself why more people are not coming to Christ through myself.
-------
Nope, these are not arguments, these are comments and light thoughts =p
But really seems like quite a lot of controversies today =p
PS: Actually, in the Megachurch controversy, good did come out of it. People who had backslided or sideslided felt passionate enough to take part in the discussion and quite a few Christians (even from opposing sides) gently asked questions, gave some advice and things like that, even while stating forth arguments against other people. Perhaps its for their sake that this controversy was made alive =p
posted by P{ZM} at
8:25 PM
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