On the other hand, there is a segment that certainly demands Christian privilege — stamping on money, demanding that cashiers say “Merry Christmas,” etc.. Whether they get it might depend on where they are.

In other places, though, you’re surely right about atheist privilege. There are places where we’re treated like fruit loops for believing.

Madman?

Dangerous agitator?

Just as he has had his other addictions. Beck isn’t even serving himself well, much less anyone else.

You’re right, that was totally uncalled for.

He trade one drug, the narcotic, for another one, the destruction of the United States of America. He sold everything he had for the first one, and is selling everything we have for the second one. The first one burned out his soul, so the second one comes really easy.

Seriously … trash-talking?

Is Beck actually a 16-year-old punk?

HA! Classic!

I wrote a blog post on “Postmodernity” some months back..(irishanglican.wordpress.com). I am very aware of the many ideas afoot with modernism, postmodern, deconstruction, etc. Also true theological study is a real discipline & work, and not something done lightly. Like the G. Orthodox teach, there are sadly few real “theologians” in the Church. It is something the whole Church should recognize, a true “ecumenical” reality.

And there is a biblical and historical aspect to “Tradition”. Even the Protestant Reformers knew this. As the Ecumenical Councils, etc. Indeed a real “ecumenical” spirit and search is rare in the Church today. But it must be done within the historical life of the Church also.

Best,
Fr. R.

I am no spring chicken…I am in my late 40s. But I look at life a little differently. Firstly, modernism and postmodernism can be tricky words. The form critics were modernists and they made a lot of presuppositions as to the Gospel, so I would contend that modernism is not necessarily as enlightened or accurate as once believed. The use of the word postmodernism is tricky than, especially for those who do not study philosophy or theology.

In the US, postmodern “subjectivism” is what I view as problematic, but I hardly feel defeated by it. It is a non-intellectual movement that I feel is a fad…a retro-return to the “it’s all good”, “happiness is a state of mind” shallow thinking of the 70s. Trite, happy “truisms” that one would usually associate with a sales pep talk or a motivational diet technique has been elevated as if possessed some metaphysical properties and the “truisms” are taken literally!

I am a positive person, but it’s “not all good”. Happiness is an emotion, and it’s not healthy to feel that life is about one emotion…particularly one’s own happiness. It’s the same stuff from the 70s, regurgitated by people on Facebook or followers of any word that comes out of Oprah Winfrey’s mouth.

As I alluded to previously, many that fall for this are not satisfied with it when faced with more serious issues, the realities of the world. Many are unaware of what Jesus actually said, and they are just turned off by the dogmatic “we are right everyone else is wrong” attitude that has unfortunately been incorrectly expressed by too many Christians.

Since God’s love is of a world-view, I find it important that churches express more of a common ground. We live now in a society where no one wants to hear Jesus quoted, but they will listen to pop-culture celebrities and ’spiritual gurus” that literally steal many of the Bible’s teachings and simply change a few words.

But I don’t feel defeated about it all, since I know that God is in control. Our job is not to tire, but to continue to preach the Gospel. I hold that faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings are primary.

I would suspect we have greatly different views concerning creation, the role of women (a scriptural debate is not the purpose of this particular post, although I could present one), and other matters.

My point, that I will reiterate is that a basic ecumenism between the churches seems mandatory in my view.
To that end, I try to accomplish something with regards to Christian ecumenism everyday.

We are not saved by passing a theological test. Theologians have their purpose and their weaknesses.

So to bring end to this point, I would reiterate that ecumenism…finding common ground through prayer and faith in Jesus Christ is very important to our Christian callings.

I may not subscribe to Calvin’s theories of predestination, I may not agree with a Creationist, or someone who views the Bible as “inerrant”. But I do believe that we are called to teach the Gospel of Christ.

It seems to me that many churches get lost in the same type of dogmatic legalism of the Sadducees or the loftiness of the Pharisees.

I live in a world where it is important just to share a quote from Jesus, because so many haven’t heard much of what He said. Either their parents never taught them, or they have heard quotes from elsewhere in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament.

So I read these posts and I come across someone like Susan, who seems to “get” the point of ecumenism, without lessoning the tradition of her own faith. It’s the short, “oh, I think this sounds clever witty” flippant comments that bother me. Flippant comments are generally made by flippant people. As the quote from Romans points out, it is better to think soberly on these matters.

So I end with where I began, thinking much the way Luther did…we are beggars for the mercy and wisdom of God.
If i only have a certain amount of time, it is best that I use it for those who have not heard the Gospel presented in any complete form. Theology is is interesting to me, but it’s not for everyone, in terms of deep study.

Many need more than theological arguments and certainly they need more than “the power of positive thinking”.
One need only read the trite quotes posted on Oprah Winfrey’s page (I only know because someone Facebooked them to me)and then look at the people in Haiti or Africa or Asia, or even in my own country and see how this empty, neo-new age thought falls far short of what people truly need.

I am saying denominationalism is really a good thing, since people will inevitably disagree on interpretations. However, if we stand united as Christians in love, than we are One, though we are many.

God Bless Everyone!

David

Sometimes the use of a powerful literary word is needed in such matters, and “stupidity” hits the nail on the head for me as I have seen the madness of the CoE, and just Anglicans in general. And since I am older, I have seen how the English speaking world has fallen from a Judeo-Christian world-view. It is most obvious, that the Church of God on earth is in a time of declination, and certainly a moral and spiritual downgrade. If one cannot see this? Then one is in deep trouble! Yes, postmodernism is the rule today, in Church and culture. The Church can no longer really affect the culture, at least in any major way. Yes, good and evil go down together until the end. But as our Lord said, shall He find faith on the earth when He returns? (Lk. 18:8)

Richard Bauckham is a good man, but he certainly has some weak biblical presuppositions in certain areas theologically. The issue of woman in the Church is both creational and theological in the biblical reality! (1 Tim.2:13-15 / Eph.5: 22-33).

Since I am a “churchman” and theolog type, we perhaps don’t share the same view of the Church in the ecumenical sense. Though I can really appreciate the reality of the incarnate Body of Christ on earth. The real Church is the Body regenerate, but only God “knows” His own people. (2 Tim.2:19) The Church will be a “mixed” Body on earth till the Eschaton. And I am “Calvinist” in the aspect of grace & glory!

Got to run..

Best,
Fr. Robert