Thanks Kyle for the update and info on our denominational position. Obviously, I spoke before I should have. My bad. I’m on board as far as climate change and our human responsibility. I’m not so sure that this is an issue that the church should be directly involved in. I can better understand our colleges, such as Calvin, Dordt, and Trinity getting involved with this issue, where their science departments have some expertise in this area. In my mind its hard to grasp that this is the arena that the church should be directly involved in. It would seem to open the door for a host of other issues for the church to get involved in that is outside of the church’s field of expertise. It doesn’t make sense to me for theologians to attempt to speak with authority on the issues of nuclear science. Nor does it make sense to me for an expert biologist to speak with authority in the field of theology. I don’t expect a computer programmer to also be an expert in the field of medical science. It would make more sense (to me) to call on members in our churches who are experts in this field to take part in such a conference, rather than trying to educate (with bias) members who are not experts.
I suppose this is part of the new directions that our denomination seems to be going. So I guess, if seems to be part of new movements and directions for us, I can only wish you well.
Thanks Harriette for your post on doubts that some Christians may have on their faith journey. It’s my guess that this questioning pastor, who relayed the story of the street preacher and the heckler, didn’t have serious doubts about his faith but was only looking for something (anything) to confirm his already grounded faith. If he was serious about his doubts he would look beyond this one example of this heckler who got what he prayed for to the thousands who didn’t receive what they prayer for. Thousands pray for the healing of a husband, wife, or child, thousands pray for the just outcome of a war, thousands have prayed for the healing of a broken marriage, and on and on, without receiving what they have sincerely prayed for. And yet Jesus teaches that we can pray for whatever we want and we will receive it. Does this one example really exemplify a loving God answering what we pray for? This pastor really wasn’t very objective in pitting the one example of answered prayer against the thousands of examples of unanswered prayer. And that is even if this one example is even verifiable or just a good story. Your post is suggesting that Christians should be more gullible when grabbing for straws. Thanks, anyway, for a good attempt.
Posted in: Let’s Partner Toward COP 21
Thanks Kyle for the update and info on our denominational position. Obviously, I spoke before I should have. My bad. I’m on board as far as climate change and our human responsibility. I’m not so sure that this is an issue that the church should be directly involved in. I can better understand our colleges, such as Calvin, Dordt, and Trinity getting involved with this issue, where their science departments have some expertise in this area. In my mind its hard to grasp that this is the arena that the church should be directly involved in. It would seem to open the door for a host of other issues for the church to get involved in that is outside of the church’s field of expertise. It doesn’t make sense to me for theologians to attempt to speak with authority on the issues of nuclear science. Nor does it make sense to me for an expert biologist to speak with authority in the field of theology. I don’t expect a computer programmer to also be an expert in the field of medical science. It would make more sense (to me) to call on members in our churches who are experts in this field to take part in such a conference, rather than trying to educate (with bias) members who are not experts.
I suppose this is part of the new directions that our denomination seems to be going. So I guess, if seems to be part of new movements and directions for us, I can only wish you well.
Posted in: Where to Go With Doubt
Thanks Harriette for your post on doubts that some Christians may have on their faith journey. It’s my guess that this questioning pastor, who relayed the story of the street preacher and the heckler, didn’t have serious doubts about his faith but was only looking for something (anything) to confirm his already grounded faith. If he was serious about his doubts he would look beyond this one example of this heckler who got what he prayed for to the thousands who didn’t receive what they prayer for. Thousands pray for the healing of a husband, wife, or child, thousands pray for the just outcome of a war, thousands have prayed for the healing of a broken marriage, and on and on, without receiving what they have sincerely prayed for. And yet Jesus teaches that we can pray for whatever we want and we will receive it. Does this one example really exemplify a loving God answering what we pray for? This pastor really wasn’t very objective in pitting the one example of answered prayer against the thousands of examples of unanswered prayer. And that is even if this one example is even verifiable or just a good story. Your post is suggesting that Christians should be more gullible when grabbing for straws. Thanks, anyway, for a good attempt.