TGIF
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17–20 ESV)
Every week I teach a bible study.
In preparation for that teaching I study a passage, live with a passage , then deliver that passage to the best of my ability.
The next week I do it all over again with a new passage.
Above is last weeks passage…it won’t let me go.
It seems that we have one job description and one message.
We’re ambassadors for Christ pleading with people to be reconciled to God.
Reconciled.
We’re supposed to model this thing that God is doing through the love we have for each other and demonstrating reconciliation in our own lives and relationships.
Right.
Read any “Christian” blog you choose and see how well we’re doing on that count.
In the entirety of all the coverage devoted to the same sex marriage controversy I’ve yet to see “reconciliation with God” listed as one of our motivations.
We’ve been “entrusted” with this message by God.
That means He did all the heavy lifting and has given us the responsibility to spread the word through our words and our lives.
God must be developing trust issues at this point…
We demonstrate reconciliation when it’s easy, when the cost is amenable to what we want to pay.
The rest of the time we practice the ministry of scorn, the ministry of separation, or the ministry of silence…and that’s inside the church and out.
We would only reconcile with some folks if God Himself demanded it.
Uh oh…never mind…
Make your own application…
Happy 5th Michael!
“not counting their trespasses against them”
Does that include dispensing with the tired old loophole, “love the sinner, hate the sin…”?
Again, happy 5th, one shot at a time 😉
The GOOD NEWS is not the law, but the One who came to reconcile us to God, full of mercy and grace. He spoke the truth, but it was spoken in love and His words met the needs of each individual. He came and dwelt among sinners. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.
If we tell each person “there is a God, His name is Jesus, and He wants you to know and follow Him”, therein begins the opporportunity for reconciliation and mutual relationship.
Nonnie nailed it.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
Michael,
(knowing this will never be seen by anyone but you or your ‘chosen few’ moderators because.. oh yeah, I’ve been blocked and not reconciled with)
you have a heart for reconciliation? how about ‘reconciling’ those you have blocked/banned/moderated because they have dared to disagree with you or you have disagreed with or have called you on your caustic manner with those who have?
you say you never were a CC pastor, but you sure know ‘the moves’ well enough. you belong with them.
-mike
Mike,
A couple of months ago, Michael did lift the moderation ban on everyone. Some however could restrain themselves and got back into the same mess that got them moderated in the first place.
Even I know when I get on Michael’s bad side and know to slow down and back off. It’s his blog and his living room…
No one has ever been banned from here because they disagreed with me.
Anyone with any integrity reading this blog will see people disagree with me all the time.
You were banned for choosing to be “caustic” on the prayer thread after being told that was inappropriate.
You have been adversarial here from day one…from what I can discern it has to do with the fact that I’m a Calvinist more than anything.
This isn’t public property…I’m under no obligation to let anyone post anything.
I try to the best of my ability to allow a broad spectrum of opinion.
I simply won’t allow people to be constantly disrespectful and abusive to others here, or to me.
Why people demand to participate on a blog where they despise the person who runs it is beyond me.
What total crap you write Michael…
Then why do you read here, Doug?
You were finally banned for attacking someone grossly and unfairly…someone who simply has done nothing to deserve anyones wrath.
There is no godly reason to engage in attack after attack on people…and that’s what you would have this blog deteriorate into.
According to you this is a small, insignificant blog with a few people…just leave us alone to dwell in it.
MTM writes What total crap you write Michael…
I rest my case that some of those who Michael did reconcile with cannot restrain themselves.
Very sad to say the least….
I was not aware that reading, studying and meditating on scripture, then being convicted by said scripture, was considered crap. Wow, I need to crawl out of my hole once in a while.
MTM,
Just so you are aware, I have been blocked on the other blog and not really sure why. Michael has allowed me to post here so all I can say is what ever the blog owner thinks is best is their call. But I honestly don’t know why I was blocked on the other blog other than someone didn’t like me for what ever reason even though I supported the cause 100% of the other blog. Once it became a crusade about “selective fundamentalism” and not just abuse at that point others with differing theological view points seemed to have been blocked. At least that was my experience. Just saying…
I don’t need or want any conflict with the “other blog”…or any other blog.
There’s a place for everyone online and while some may enjoy the fellowship here, others may prefer CCA or one of the thousands of other online venues.
What happens in other places isn’t going to be a topic here, nor are the people who write on other blogs.
It’s just unnecessary strife and leads to nothing but more division and sin.
We can and should be about better things…
What does that translate into here Michael?
There are always detractors for those who dare shine the light into darkness.
Those who dwell in darkness will scream at the intrusion of light, or they scurry like cockroaches running for cover.
There are also those who are not content if the light isn’t to their liking. The wattage is too low or too high. Or they wanted an old school incandescent bulb rather than a softer eco fluorescent.
I think a lot of people will be miserable as hell when they get to heaven. You might say, it will be hell for them, and along that vein, perhaps Rob Bell had a point. naaahh!
Erunner,
It’s obvious that there are many on CCA who have very negative feelings about me and this blog.
I will be the first to admit that it’s painful and it bothers me greatly.
I can’t fix that.
I’m not going to participate in a shouting match, nor am I going to enable such by having a constant back and forth between the two blogs.
That’s childish and pointless and fruitless.
I truly desire peace with all…but I also understand that isn’t always possible.
In that case you separate and hope that God gives occasion for reconciliation.
There are lots of other things to talk about and explore, lots of other things that will build up and not tear down.
I hope it works out Michael. I’m sure many others do as well. God bless.
I’ve been feeling convicted by the top verse all day and I wasn’t sure I could post anything of value cuz I certainly don’t feel qualified to speak on the verse. I mean I don’t measure up.
I’ve been trying to reconcile with my CC brother for years. I’ve forgiven him a thousand times but I don’t know if I really do forgive him. How would I know that?
I have reconciled with some people over the years but I admit there are people I don’t want to have anything to do with. Bummer.
Gary,
None of us are qualified.
We all are simply holding on to the grace of God and extending the grace we’ve received to the best of our abilities.
There are some people who we will will never be able to fully reconcile with in this life.
That doesn’t mean we have to hold them as enemies or desire anything but the best for them.
It means that in some cases the damage done won’t be fully healed until we get home.
“We all are simply holding on to the grace of God and extending the grace we’ve received to the best of our abilities.
There are some people who we will will never be able to fully reconcile with in this life.
That doesn’t mean we have to hold them as enemies or desire anything but the best for them.
It means that in some cases the damage done won’t be fully healed until we get home.”
Amen
Thanks for the Post!! So long from the Golden State!
Sol,
You’re leaving CA?
Gary,
No just a sign off, I love Cali! I have lived in NYC, Miami Beach, San Antonio and Missouri but none of them can compare to beautiful Southern California in my view
I banned one person. He has no reason to post here as he started a blog in direct opposition to this blog. He even named it similarly to drive home the point. His blog has long since been closed to the public. There are a few old timers here who remember that mess.
That was probably over two years ago that I banned him. I dont think even he is banned from this version of PhxP. I leave it up to Michael how he wants to run his blog. He graciously allows me to post here.
Mike, I have no problem saying it, you are a troll looking for fights. If it were my blog, you would never be allowed to post here again.
You can have So Cal. I left in 1975 for greener pastors.
If Mike is a troll where does that place Doug/mtm??
CCA vs. Phoenix Preacher tale of the tape
Snarkiness-PP Has the edge
Passion-CCA on this one
Interesting topics-PP easily, only so many times u can beat a dead horse.
Blog Design-PP, would like to see CCA get a little color on their blog.
Posters-gotta take the wuss way out on this one, I go even, longer rants on CCA but PP Posters get to the point, both have merits.
Doctrine-CCA, I tend to agree more with the posters over there on doctrine.
Host-This one is a draw. I like Alex a lot but his greatest strength is also his greatest weakness which is his stubbornness. Michael no likey when people disagree with his pet topics but he allows dissent which is admirable.
If I could live anywhere I’d live on the CA coast anywhere between Trinidad and Crescent City. I love it up there.
Sol Rod, Everyone is gonna fall in different areas if we compare the two blogs. Each has every right to do what they do and people are going to post where their passion and convictions lie. The goal is to seek to co-exist without outright blog wars breaking out which helps nobody and certainly doesn’t glorify God which should be the goal of all of us, not withstanding expected skirmishes along the way which is to be expected but should be able to take place in a civilized manner.
A long time ago in a fallacy far far away…
BLOG WARS
Episode TGIF
It is a period of
civil warts. Revelling
Newbies, striking from -baah-
a storefront church, have won
their first victory against the evil
orthodox religion’s liturgical edifice.
During the innocuous chanting, Rebel
spies managed to steal secret plans to
orthodoxy’s ultimate weapon; The Creeds,
an ancient text with enough power to destroy
an entire revival, wiping out whole flocks o’ sheep.
Pursued by orthodoxy’s sinister agents, the pastor’s wife
races to the mall aboard her minivan, custodian of the stolen
first century beliefs that can save her self-centered doctrine and
restore freedom of self determination, and Kool Aid to the storefront….
erunner,
It was supposed to be a lighthearted comparison.
Gary,
So Cal is a whole different world than even the 90s, especially here in LALA Land.
Is Doug the very same mrtundraman I almost got into it with over the Old Testament penal codes and how they should be applied or not applied today?
The one and only…
Sometimes it’s better if people agree to distance between them. There are just combinations of people that shouldn’t be hanging out or communicating because its just too difficult and painful even when both parties are trying.
And no…this has nothing to do with any blog wars…just some folks I’m thinking about from offline.
I have to do that with some people, London. The ‘blog wars’ was just poking some fun at both sides. Pretty harmless. At least that was my intention.