tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post3958448902313411855..comments2023-11-03T05:09:33.978-04:00Comments on Fragments of Grace: Hostility Toward FaithUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-54327342700632176552013-05-29T09:08:37.505-04:002013-05-29T09:08:37.505-04:00They need to comprehend and appreciate that not ev...They need to comprehend and appreciate that not every word that is uttered is written into a sentence in the Bible. God gave us speech so that we may articulate his meaning in our own style as the various scribes did in Scripture. They did not all write in the same style, some of the writing is actually humourous (for example the OT passage where it says something like woe is me life is doomed or to that effect, which is an indirect quote, folks). It is written to get the point across whether it be through metaphor or right-as-rain (I hate cliches) or any other form the author utilizes to drive their point across (another cliche).<br /><br />I am sure you did not say anything heretical and that if your words are not exactly as written in the Bible, so what! It says eye for eye and tooth for tooth, too but we already know that is not what is meant and besides they need to read the rest of the sentence. People can be so starched like they think they are still in the Victorian era or somewhere. Makes me mad. WriterLinda (Linda G). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-85122888515844009542013-05-28T12:41:35.855-04:002013-05-28T12:41:35.855-04:00Me (WriterLinda) again. Yes and God is here whethe...Me (WriterLinda) again. Yes and God is here whether we/they like it or not too, thank God. I think we worry too much about convincing people with words -- instead of with our living. Remember the guy who said, "A man convinced against his will / Is of the same opinion still" (author unknown to me)so really argumentation does absolutely nothing. Nothing at all. We have to live the way God wants us to and HE will fix the rest when the time comes. His timing of course.<br /><br />Robin I like the way your site and its postings show HOW religion works for the individual instead of just yakking about it. Obviously everyone has been reading/doing/following Richard Rohr's The Naked Now. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-86777920708074829152013-05-28T12:28:34.179-04:002013-05-28T12:28:34.179-04:00I asked my priest about this and he said, somewhat...I asked my priest about this and he said, somewhat like your response, to respond with have a nice day. Yes. Especially for this argumentive Italian. Challenge.<br /> WriterLinda (Linda G)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-29446635247264544862013-05-27T07:22:41.455-04:002013-05-27T07:22:41.455-04:00I have recently had the same experience with a rem...I have recently had the same experience with a remark I made about the Left Behind series being "unbiblical" -- an adjective that has meaning in my ministerial context -- resulting in expressions of astonishment. Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898073277524952683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-89357837271799039962013-05-27T02:12:22.384-04:002013-05-27T02:12:22.384-04:00I know it's the "wrathful, judgmental, na...I know it's the "wrathful, judgmental, narrow God" whom I have rejected...rather than Christians or Christianity, necessarily. The Almighty is so much more than most human religions either convey or believe...Lisa :-]https://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-27768695768590622002013-05-27T01:49:53.426-04:002013-05-27T01:49:53.426-04:00I am always extremely reluctant to disclose that I...I am always extremely reluctant to disclose that I'm a pastor when I travel. It's far easier to say I used to practice law and throw in that I worked for Habitat for Humanity. (It's a bit strange to be able to say one worked for an overtly Christian organization, but not the church.) We have let the crazies take over who we are. When I tell congregations that the sort of apocalyptic thinking in the left behind series has been declared a heresy (the only heresy) in the Presbyterian Church, they are dumbfounded. And it was the southern church that made the declaration sometime before reunion. <br /><br />Peace to you.Maggie Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-85325581644599560992013-05-26T21:24:47.058-04:002013-05-26T21:24:47.058-04:00It's very helpful to hear your experience, Ter...It's very helpful to hear your experience, Terri.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898073277524952683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-3478319902931896612013-05-26T18:38:50.927-04:002013-05-26T18:38:50.927-04:00Robin, When I was in my twenties I was terrified o...Robin, When I was in my twenties I was terrified of Christianity and Christians. My terror was somewhat superstitious, a response to having lived in a very dominant religion that pounded its narrow theology into its members. As a result I had an instant reaction to just the word "Pastor" or worse, "Christian" and became certain what that meant, saw a subtext into words like you wrote, that was not actually there - but it's what I saw and heard. I think Christians have done a terrible job of expressing God's radical love for all, even those who reject God and for whom God surely waits and waits. Instead Christians have done a great job of conveying a wrathful, judgmental, narrow God who cares more about obeying rules than about loving people. sigh. So, I suspect such people as you are encountering are just reacting from their own place of fear and hurt, which runs so deep they can't really hear what you are saying. Because yes, your life does indeed speak right into the reality of the resurrection.Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15667178624061122421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-29759421697354509542013-05-26T15:40:43.271-04:002013-05-26T15:40:43.271-04:00Robin, as Fran says, people hear what they want to...Robin, as Fran says, people hear what they want to hear. Having said that, we also take to heart the negative comments when, in fact, many people don't comment when they feel positive about something. This is human nature. You wrote a gentle and sensitive article and now please know that God will use it in whatever way God chooses. <br /><br />I agree totally with your ending. My God embraces everyone yet waits patiently and gently for them to choose.Lyndahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06336536082191736636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-46493766753463789272013-05-26T15:00:03.705-04:002013-05-26T15:00:03.705-04:00Thanks, Fran.
My daughter says there are just so ...Thanks, Fran.<br /><br />My daughter says there are just so many people in the world with nothing but negative energy to exude . . . Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898073277524952683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-69905209485263353112013-05-26T12:57:14.143-04:002013-05-26T12:57:14.143-04:00Oh Robin, you exhibit courage, humility, vulnerabi...Oh Robin, you exhibit courage, humility, vulnerability and grace with your pieces, and yet they seem to get those comments. *sigh* I do think that people are pre-loaded to hear what they want to hear and believe. <br /><br />What a pity.<br /><br />I love what you say at the end of this post, about not believing in that God either. Amen and amen and amen. <br /><br />Thank you. Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181529277715646835noreply@blogger.com