A Difficult Admission
Ξ April 21st, 2008 | → 9 Comments | ∇ Life |
I think that sooner or later those of us who were Christians at one time or still answer to that appellation, are going to have to admit that it is a skewed Christianity at best that we are presented with today. The more I study the NT and OT, the more I can see how today’s interpretation of what both have to say may be hopelessly flawed at best, and at worst, very detrimental to the teachings Jesus gave us, to the interpretations of Paul, and to the very character of the Source of everything, God. Am I the only one who thinks that today’s Christianity is obsessed with "end times" prophecy when the NT seems to clearly state that the END has already come. The END being the "end of the age", 70 CE and immediately after. Why must Christianity today try stretch a generation into 2000 years. This is only one example of the skewed theology of the traditional Christian church. There are many others……….
Stumble it!
on April 21st, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Agreed. Jesus made it pretty clear that he was talking about his generation seeing the fulfillment of whatever they were waiting for.
When some kind of physical apocalypse (or even the military reign of the Jews) didn’t happen, we changed the definition of what Jesus “really meant”.
And that changed everything. Because most Christians are still waiting for something instead of cherishing the time we have right now.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Yes, Don, the realization of realized eschatology was my entrance into this wonderful world of bold grace, and yes, the Christian worldview we have been taught here in evangelical America is skewed deeply with these flawed conclusions. It leaves me with a problem, are all those in the church deluded and in need of rescuing from this false matrix, or are they willing participants in another grand enthronment of human merit and thinly disquised hatred of others. Right now I am still in the organization trying in my own small way to turn the ship, using the language of love as the recognizable touchstone. I may be naive but there seems to be a shift taking place everywhere, a willingness to ask again the question, who is God and what is the Gospel?
I still have people who will not speak to me since I showed them the doctrine of past fullfillment in scripture, there is real comfort in the rapture removal, Gods going to get you teaching.
Don
on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Bless you for your courage to work from the inside. I was there for over 50 years. Son of a deacon and a deacon myself for 21+ years. When I began this journey, I eventually felt angry. Felt that I had been deluded, lied to (at least not told the truth). I am past the anger. It serves no purpose for me. But, I still believe the leadership is deluding the sheep. They cannot admit that they may be wrong about so much. It is to the leader’s benefit to keep the status quo. What a shame that is!! I commend you for your stance. Blessings!
on April 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 AM
In your example, I’ve seen a heck of a lot of folks obsessed with “end times”. I deal with it everytime I get around my mother-in-law (but that’s another subject). I hate to see her consumed, worried, sleepless, frantic, and in general, miserable about “God’s plan for the end of the sinful world”. TBN is killing her! And I used to be there. I used to actually teach the whole concept of “Left Behind” in Bible studies! I’ve known lots of folks like her and like I used to be. It’s sad.
But I agree with the possible naive notion Don H. said that there is a noticeable shift away from all that. Like him, I’m still “in the organization” and I like to plant seeds and spur folks in their study and thinking. I know a few people who already “got there” before I did in my little country church. Others I talk to are surprisingly open to the greater gospel of grace and all things fulfilled. Still others think it’s baloney, but the seed is still planted. The rest of the “believers” could care less about all those unperceivable doctrines. It’s just about the social aspect to them. Then again, the care less crowd is much happier than the “Left Behind” crowd, which is what Lefty was posing about the cherishing what we have now.
All said and done, there will always be factions and quarrels among people. At least until we all see Him face to face. People will always have differences of opinion, but I think it’s a blast to dialogue about them if it can be kept civil. The shift we are talking about here always starts with that dialogue. It’s a beautiful thing.
Thanks for this forum, Don.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Thanks for your contribution to the dialogue, Jared. I agree with the naivete of a large number of congregants. The social aspects ARE the most important to them.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 3:46 PM
I made that admission a long time ago, Don. Mainstream Christianity has skewed the teachings of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament and Jesus almost beyond recognition. I continue to be hopeful a remnant will “get it right”. But, the last several hundred years of church history is a lot of baggage to get rid of.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:14 PM
I just wanted to let you know that I am not offended by anything you said. I don’t agree with some of your theology but that doesn’t mean we can’t dialog, right? Also I am not on a new journey. I have been a Christian since the age of 10. I didn’t grow up in a Christian household so I have the advantage of not having my parents “theology.” I study, read, and study some more. I believe in a hell. I believe that Jesus has saved me from that place. It is not a place meant for us. It is meant for Satan and his followers (fallen angels). Humans who find themselves there are there by their own admission. They decided they didn’t want to follow God through Christ. Jesus said that He is the only way to the Father. I do agree with you in the fact that God loves us very much. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. I know this but there has to be more. I am ready to live as Jesus lived. I am ready to advance His kingdom here on earth. My wife and I are going to Germany so that we may have the chance to lead others to Jesus Christ and to show them a better way of life. If I believed that there was no hell I wouldn’t waist my time going. Grace and peace.
Because of Jesus,
David Knapp
on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Hi David-Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment. You’re right, we can dialogue. It is very important that we can. It’s OK if we don’t agree on everything. With over 30,000 different groups claiming to be followers of Jesus, that’s no surprise! All I ask is never quit asking questions. Never take anything for granted. I hope you find fulfillment on your trip to Germany.
Blessings to you.
on May 6th, 2008 at 6:31 AM
I wonder what people would think if, instead of telling them that they need to be saved by Jesus, we tell them that they have been saved by Jesus?
That was definately a “WOW” moment for my life! Sure, I didn’t buy it for a while. I subscribed to traditional Christianity who told me that salvation was up to me, and whether or not I went to heaven or hell was MY responsibility. Wait a minute, if it’s up to ME, doesn’t that make me “GOD”?
When I finally quit playing “God” and let God be God, everything else fell nicely into place.
Love y’all!