LINKS!

Xenia says:

I was also going to post a link on *The Wrong Kind of Christian* and I am glad Michael linked to it. The author would not be considered by most of us to be “our kind” of Christian. She is an ordained Episcopal priest who probably holds many ideas that many of us here would consider too liberal. Yet this mild form of Christianity was still too Christian for those who wish to see Christianity exterminated. She thought her form of Christianity was a reasonable faith that would offend no one but her university thought otherwise. This should be a wake up call for those who think only zealots are harassed. Just believing in the literal Resurrection of Christ is too much for some.

In a way, Christians are being hoisted on their own petards. We (rightly) advocate love and tolerance but in the hands of unbelievers, this charitable Christian doctrine can be used for great evil.

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

Xenia – Michael,
That was a good article, but I don’t see the issue. The Inter Varsity group wants acceptance and to be able to blend in culturally – along with the benefits as a registered group.

But hey, what about the cultural differences – why smooth them over. If nothing else, we should be surprised that we have not been kicked off every campus.

Who would put up with people declaring their doctrinal statement “I believe that a man who was once dead is now alive and rules the universe.”

Try that the next time someone asks you what you believe – I have been using that line for a couple of years, makes for some great facial expressions and sometimes even a conversation.

Steve Wright says:

Ehrman and Crossley will reject explanations of the miracle stories that involve them having actually happened. Gathercole and Wright will reject explanations that involve them not having actually happened.
———————————————————————-
Great point from the inerrancy article. Which is why it is important to have at least a general idea of the person’s “starting point” that we choose to study.

Babylon's Dread says:

How can anyone think the 10s of millions of dollar ice bucket challenge was a bad thing… I just said no that’s all. NO.

Um NO! Said Dread

Babylon's Dread says:

Should we refer to Mr Driscoll as “Marked” from now on?

Cain Dread

JoelG says:

ISIS: Is it possible to love your enemy and hope they get wiped off the face of the earth?

Jim says:

The unveiled build up for war from our leaders and the press disgusts me. We will never, ever learn from our mistakes until we are unable to defend our own nation.

Xenia says:

MLD wrote that “The Inter Varsity group wants acceptance and to be able to blend in culturally – along with the benefits as a registered group.”

Yeah, you’re right, Christians should not expect the world’s institutions to cater to our needs. But for a long time here in America, they did and now they don’t. I think the interesting point of the Vanderbilt article is the author had believed that her moderate Episcopal / InterVarsity Fellowship brand of Christianity was so reasonable and tolerant that no reasonable and tolerant person would object to it. But she believes in the Resurrection of Christ and that was crazy talk to the leaders of her university. Increasingly, belief in the supernatural is considered crazy talk.

And Vanderbilt University in located in the Bible Belt.

Xenia says:

So this cushion formed by the “mushy middle” that Tim Keller wrote about is disappearing. This means that as the culture more and more rejects Christianity and us- that is, no longer even pretends to be respectful and tells us that not only do they not agree with us but they are not even going to do us the courtesy of respecting our opinions- it is going to be more uncomfortable to be a Christian. We can’t assume that many of the little perks and pleasantries that we used to receive from the culture at large will continue. We should be prepared for just the opposite. I think this will be good for our souls in the long run.

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

Xenia,
“But she believes in the Resurrection of Christ and that was crazy talk to the leaders of her university. Increasingly, belief in the supernatural is considered crazy talk. ”

I find it funny that you never see Jewish groups being banned from anything like this. Why? because the don’t believe anything. Although many Christian groups like to think that Jews read / believe their bibles and with just an extra ounce of knowledge they would jump at following jesus – this just is not true.

Most Jews deny what the religion teaches – hence, no grief from the universities.

Xenia says:

I wonder if Vanderbilt had a vegan or vegetarian club and some scoffers (big meat eaters who laugh at vegetarianism) joined the club in numbers that out-weighed the veg-heads and got elected to the leadership and started serving pork chops at all the club meetings.

EricL says:

The ironic part of the Vanderbilt U story is that they have a divinity school that “seeks to fulfill the following objectives: to engage in theological inquiry; to help persons prepare for the practice of Christian ministry and public leadership; to encourage personal and spiritual formation; to prepare agents of social justice; and to educate future scholars and teachers, locally and globally.”

They are a private institution that can set their own parameters, but I wish they would leave out the claim to “Christian ministry”.

Jean says:

“The Wrong Kind of Christian…”

It’s regrettable that among the University faculty who are Christian and the Divinity School, where one would assume the vast majority of the faculty are Christians, that large numbers (if any numbers) of faculty didn’t organize against the administration rule. It appears from the article that most were more interested in protecting their reputation or position than standing up for their faith.

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

I don’t know what the big deal is about the ice bucket challenge.
Lutherans have been pouring water on people even before it was cool … and we include everyone. 😉

Steve Wright says:

I thought Ice was on our pre-tribber team, not the Lutherans 🙂

Erik says:

The only problem here is that—unknowingly for most—this very “ice bucket” challenge is contributing to the ongoing destruction of human life—intentionally.

The ALS association is actively funding embryonic stem-cell research and admitting that they likely will continue to do so in the future. The funding of embryonic stem-cell research means that little babies are created and at their earliest stages of life they are destroyed so that the stem cells (from usually the base of the brain) can be harvested to perform tests.

Martin Luther's Disciple says:

Back to the Ice Bucket challenge – picked this up from some Lutheran FB friends

the ‪#‎icebucketchallenge‬ in a way looks like some kind of post-modern baptism without g–d:
1. it’s done publicly
2. it’s a commitment for the good
3. it’s done in connection with a deadly disease, so it is in a way about salvation from death
4. one can not simply do it by oneselve but one must be nominated by someone, or chosen
5. one becomes part of a global community
6. it includes a commitment to a changed life
7. It is missionary and calls others also to perform on this „baptism“
8. it has a contingent of people who say that it doesn’t really do anything
9. it can be viewed as an outward symbol of something that was already decided on (donating to als)

To which someone added;
8) it has a contingent of people who say that it doesn’t really do anything
9) it can be viewed as an outward symbol of something that was already decided on (donating to ALS)

Added again –
If that’s the case, then: 10) many people will complain that a majority of ice bucket challenges are not valid because they didn’t do it right.

and one more
“One cannot simply dump ice water on ones head to be saved, one must do x) and y) and z) also in order to be accepted into the fold.”

We are a playful bunch 😉

Nonnie says:

ALS is a horrible disease and with the ice bucket challenge going around, why not do it and give some money to any charity of your choice that serves the ALS community, rather than be viewed (once again) as judgmental, stick in the mud Christians. We have chosen to give money to a family that is walking through the valley of ALS. Come on, people! Love God and love your neighbours….to me this is a win win. No one is making us give to an organisation that is using aborted babies for research. Step out of the box and get creative, people.

Steve B says:

Let’s see, the ice bucket challenge, where to begin:

1) I have no interest in 2-minutes of fame.
2) Dousing oneself with water does not increase one’s awareness of an illness, try a medical journal.
3) Wasting water in a severe drought is selfish.
4) Dumping water on one’s person so you can “get out of” paying a larger sum of money to a charity you feel is a worthy cause seems counter intuitive.
5) I’m not sure ‘letting my light shine before men’ includes water saturation & reduced charity payments.