hmmm

[aarondarling]

Most people are sheep....and they never even know it. I wonder if I am

Comments

[cytrus]

I think that in an ideal world, parents should teach their children how to INDEPENDENTLY: be more like Christ, learn more, make decisions, and seek wisdom... and (using your example:) not to conform to a mindless mold of "sheep-like" traditionalism of whatever Christian culture (or any culture!) that one was brought up in... the world is a changing place, therefore, applications of Christ-like behavior will also change... but the Root of it all (Jesus) is timeless... seeing past appearances of those sheep not following the herd to see the Root is the important part for an on-looker to do. Jesus himself was completely controversial to the "traditional" teachers of the law while he walked on earth... Jesus' application of love was totally outside of the prescribed religious mold... if anything, he gives an example to, "go against the flow", of religiosity and traditionalism. I think that disregarding these things altogether is ridiculous though, because with prayerful balance we can apply spiritual disciplines (ie prayer)and symbolic

[faithbookqueen]

You mean "teach them these things when you walk by the way, sit at the table, lay down to sleep," etc, etc like it says to in the Bible? What a concept, eh? *big grin*

[aarondarling]

Some of it is passing on a love for life long learning, life long thinking, and responsability.

We live in an age when everyone has issues and claims they are always someone elses or something elses fault.

We live in an age when people dont think, dont analyze, and dont learn well. They want a pod cast to tell them everything. Or a 2 page website to explain it all. They are unwilling to dig into a pile of books or audio to learn things.

I think what bugs me about all this is that people often have strong opinions, very little knowledge, and very little care about getting any. But they think your wrong no matter what your knowledge level is...because what you believe is different than what someone they trust told them.

[aarondarling]

You should read my post for today.

[cupakathy]

My theology is becoming simpler and simpler. Love God, love your neighbor.

A certain lawyer asked, "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan.

Jesus' instructions:

1) have compassion
2) show it (he bandaged his wounds)
3) use your own possessions (his own animal)
4) use your own money
5) use your own time (he followed up)

Jesus said, "Go and do likewise".

Seems to me if we are doing anything less we deceive ourselves.

[aarondarling]

Pray for me...I am looking for a job in California. More than anything I need God to lead me.

[jennafish]

I agree, and could go on and on about other issues of the same nature.

[aarondarling]

I would love to hear some of them.

[veddersbetter00]

There's a great book called "A Generous Orthodoxy" by Brian McLaren on this very topic. He makes the excellent point that orthodox Christianity is founded on generosity; that is, without being generous, we're not being orthodox (although generosity is usually the first thing to go when we attempt to define what is and is not orthodox). The book convinced me, a very cynical ex-Christian, to give Jesus another look.

[aarondarling]

Have you read anything else by Mclaren and what are your thoughts concerning him and do you recomend any of his books specifically to me? I have become very post modern and I have heard that he is a father of the current christian postmodern movement...any truth to that?