I am not talking about the Nicole Kidman film but rather the concept of the others. This is related to my last post about Rob Bell and Love Wins. When discussing anything of a contentious nature within the Christian faith "The others" crop up; rarely are they referred to as the others and none of us are quite sure who they are we quite often give them vague titles as "the unchurched" "the under 18's" "the new to the faith". Our worry for "the others" would at first seem commendable but actually I think it might be disingenuous.
How big is our God? Pretty Big? Very Big? Awesomely Big? Unfathomably Big? Yet it is our concern for the others that is going to save them, if we can only discredit The Shack or Rob Bell or that Bill Johnson character then the others will be safe? Sounds kind of silly when you say it that way doesn't it? Or maybe a little arrogant, that we are so Godly that we have the absolute inside track on what is right and wrong and "the other" idiots may get fooled. I am pretty sure somewhere it says that only the Holy Spirit can keep us from deception. Perhaps if we are so worried for the others we should be teaching the beauty of a communicative relationship with the Holy Spirit.
I believe that "the others" is a tool we use to allow us to disagree with a theological stand point yet remain in relationship with someone - now that is a worthwhile aim. It says I think you are OK and I think you are probably a spirit inspired man but I am fearful of this gap you have opened between us but to keep us close I will transfer this gap to "the others". The problem with this strategy is that it doesn't build up the person the gap has occurred with; it breaks them down, it discredits them. It is time to find a positive way of staying in relationship with people we disagree with, not sidelining them or excluding them or feeling that their text, existence or whatever negates us as people. Let's concentrate on our walk with God in community and relationship and leave "the others" to retire and live in peace and be guided guarded and protected by God.
Showing posts with label Atheism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atheism. Show all posts
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Thursday, 26 March 2009
On The Buses
"I 'ate you Butler", who can forget Blakey miserable old mac wearing bus inspector from the series On the Buses. Everyone loved Reg Varney's Butler and no one who saw his sister Olive could ever call their daughter Olive just too many associations. But this is not the comedy that I am talking about.
The comedy I am talking about is the war of words erupting between atheists and christians on the buses of London, Manchester and probably half a dozen other metropolitan centres.
"There probably is no God, so stop worrying about it and enjoy yourself" - sponsored I believe by the human society.
"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." " wades in the Trinitarian Bible Society - in a direct if literal and some might say out of context quote from Psalm 14.
It makes me laugh that we are carrying out the theology for a generation mixed amongst Tampax and Diesel clothing adverts on the sides of buses. I find it strange that Atheists employ so much time try to convince us that God doesn't exist. I don't believe in Santa but don't feel it necessary to prove to anyone else that he isn't real and the "Peter Pan probably didn't exist don't think happy thoughts and try to fly" bus is sorely missing.
For the sake of an even critique I have to say I have seen better sales pitches than the Trinitarian - YOU FOOL - you don't believe!!!!
I fully endorse any discussion which brings anyone, just one, to a greater understanding of who they are and why they are here. SO good on the Human Society, The trinitarians, Alpha International ....and the list goes on.
I think the question is there a God is a strange one to ask straight up. We have a concept of God and that is true as we are all arguing about it on the buses - surely the question we are actually asking is do we care? Judging by the amount of advertising on buses I would say we do - even the atheists!
If we then we do care if there is a God perhaps we should look for who, not whether, God is. I mean in looking for a life partner do we look for whether they exist or who they are? We might doubt from time to time that they exist when we are at a low ebb but we continue to seek out who they are. Believe me even when you get married you continue the voyage of looking for who your life partner is - my thought is that if we started applying this to God we'd all be a lot closer to knowing who God is and not worried about whether he is.
Apologies to all devotees of the wonderful British Comedy on the Buses, I loved it too!! Try Nick Nack Blog Attack for on the Buses Triv!!
The comedy I am talking about is the war of words erupting between atheists and christians on the buses of London, Manchester and probably half a dozen other metropolitan centres.
"There probably is no God, so stop worrying about it and enjoy yourself" - sponsored I believe by the human society.
"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." " wades in the Trinitarian Bible Society - in a direct if literal and some might say out of context quote from Psalm 14.
It makes me laugh that we are carrying out the theology for a generation mixed amongst Tampax and Diesel clothing adverts on the sides of buses. I find it strange that Atheists employ so much time try to convince us that God doesn't exist. I don't believe in Santa but don't feel it necessary to prove to anyone else that he isn't real and the "Peter Pan probably didn't exist don't think happy thoughts and try to fly" bus is sorely missing.
For the sake of an even critique I have to say I have seen better sales pitches than the Trinitarian - YOU FOOL - you don't believe!!!!
I fully endorse any discussion which brings anyone, just one, to a greater understanding of who they are and why they are here. SO good on the Human Society, The trinitarians, Alpha International ....and the list goes on.
I think the question is there a God is a strange one to ask straight up. We have a concept of God and that is true as we are all arguing about it on the buses - surely the question we are actually asking is do we care? Judging by the amount of advertising on buses I would say we do - even the atheists!
If we then we do care if there is a God perhaps we should look for who, not whether, God is. I mean in looking for a life partner do we look for whether they exist or who they are? We might doubt from time to time that they exist when we are at a low ebb but we continue to seek out who they are. Believe me even when you get married you continue the voyage of looking for who your life partner is - my thought is that if we started applying this to God we'd all be a lot closer to knowing who God is and not worried about whether he is.
Apologies to all devotees of the wonderful British Comedy on the Buses, I loved it too!! Try Nick Nack Blog Attack for on the Buses Triv!!
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