soteriology- the theological doctrine of salvation as effected by Jesus
humanism- a variety of ethical theory and practice that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and often rejects the importance of belief in God.
theism- the belief in one God as the creator and ruler of the universe, without rejection of revelation
theodicy- the branch of theology that defends God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil
you can only imagine what my next entry will be like with a groundwork like this...
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Baptism & Other Images
This morning at church was the baptism service. The pastor said that people who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus and accept him as lord and savior of their lives follow in believer's baptism. Anoter pastor than told me as I touch the water that it was a renewal of my baptism.
But then I was left questioning the images of faith of both my past and my present. What if my view of Jesus is different than lord and savior? Does that totally invalidate any Christian images in my life, or can I find new meaning in beautiful traditions?
Water gives life. It renews. It refreshes. Baptism gives us hope for new beginnings and growth.
Communion brings people together. Jesus ate with his friends. He befriended the outcasts and ate with them. When we join in communion, we join in a celebration of community.
I refuse to give up everything that I hold dear. But my ideas are constantly changing.
But then I was left questioning the images of faith of both my past and my present. What if my view of Jesus is different than lord and savior? Does that totally invalidate any Christian images in my life, or can I find new meaning in beautiful traditions?
Water gives life. It renews. It refreshes. Baptism gives us hope for new beginnings and growth.
Communion brings people together. Jesus ate with his friends. He befriended the outcasts and ate with them. When we join in communion, we join in a celebration of community.
I refuse to give up everything that I hold dear. But my ideas are constantly changing.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Christian Fundamentals
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN."
Can I still find hope if I don't believe in these things that lay the foundation of Christianity? Will my uncertainty about the Bible and the divinity of Jesus change the way I live? How does this effect my perception of my eternal future?
I believe in a God of love. A God who still loves as I question and struggle.
But do not be close-minded; this is not a matter of me questioning and then "coming to my senses" and believing again everything I once thought was true. Please do not pray for my spiritual healing in the sense of a return to the "right way of thinking." I only pray that I have company on my way.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN."
Can I still find hope if I don't believe in these things that lay the foundation of Christianity? Will my uncertainty about the Bible and the divinity of Jesus change the way I live? How does this effect my perception of my eternal future?
I believe in a God of love. A God who still loves as I question and struggle.
But do not be close-minded; this is not a matter of me questioning and then "coming to my senses" and believing again everything I once thought was true. Please do not pray for my spiritual healing in the sense of a return to the "right way of thinking." I only pray that I have company on my way.
Jesus the Nazarene
Are we missing something when we worship Jesus as God? Is that what he asked for? Have we assigned more to him than was orginally intended?
Are we not called by the prophets to be the sons and daughters of God and to show the world love?
Jesus was a great teacher who discussed and challenged his fellow teachers, the Pharisees. (What I wouldn't give to observe one of those theological discussions!) He spoke of love, and he showed it in his actions. He touched the untouchable. He encouraged the downtrodden. He had an intimate relationship with his creator.
He was killed in a Roman practice of killing a Jew during their religious celebration to show power.
He appeared to his dear friends post burial, but they did not recognize him as the human he was. Could this have been a spiritual resurrection of sorts?
Are we not called by the prophets to be the sons and daughters of God and to show the world love?
Jesus was a great teacher who discussed and challenged his fellow teachers, the Pharisees. (What I wouldn't give to observe one of those theological discussions!) He spoke of love, and he showed it in his actions. He touched the untouchable. He encouraged the downtrodden. He had an intimate relationship with his creator.
He was killed in a Roman practice of killing a Jew during their religious celebration to show power.
He appeared to his dear friends post burial, but they did not recognize him as the human he was. Could this have been a spiritual resurrection of sorts?
Perameters & the Authority of Scripture
Every idea is based on a belief. Any theological statement made is founded on a set of beliefs (perameters.) Sometimes this is intentional, and sometimes it is not.
A problem I have faced as I have sorted through ideas about God, Jesus, Christianity, Religon, etc. is my uncertainty about the authority of scripture. As I discuss ideas with my peers, the Bible seems to consistently be one of those given beliefs, given perameters.
But I often wonder if we have assigned too much authority to the Bible. Are we reading too much into the Bible as individual verses, passages, chapters, and books? Many will agree that individual stories in the Hebrew Scriptures are included to teach lessons. It can be argued that the story of Creation is not included to report history, but instead to tell that this is a created world, (amongst other lessons.) So then I ask, why do we limit that to the Hebrew Scriptures? Could there be so much to learn from the life of Jesus without focusing and "betting on" the historical reality of his crucifixion and physical resurrection? Could the purpose of the Bible be to present one universal message? Could the Hebrew Scriptures speak of a God of love; could the Gospels speak of a man who showed us how to love; could the letters speak reminders and of applications of the love we were showed by God?
A problem I have faced as I have sorted through ideas about God, Jesus, Christianity, Religon, etc. is my uncertainty about the authority of scripture. As I discuss ideas with my peers, the Bible seems to consistently be one of those given beliefs, given perameters.
But I often wonder if we have assigned too much authority to the Bible. Are we reading too much into the Bible as individual verses, passages, chapters, and books? Many will agree that individual stories in the Hebrew Scriptures are included to teach lessons. It can be argued that the story of Creation is not included to report history, but instead to tell that this is a created world, (amongst other lessons.) So then I ask, why do we limit that to the Hebrew Scriptures? Could there be so much to learn from the life of Jesus without focusing and "betting on" the historical reality of his crucifixion and physical resurrection? Could the purpose of the Bible be to present one universal message? Could the Hebrew Scriptures speak of a God of love; could the Gospels speak of a man who showed us how to love; could the letters speak reminders and of applications of the love we were showed by God?
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