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If we're honest, we all have questions. As pastors, we hear them all the time - both from people faithfully in our pews every Sunday and those who would never darken our door. And if we're honest, we have some questions too.
So for our fall series of podcasts, through the end of November 2013, we'd like to use these podcasts to start a discussions. On the questions of faith, maybe the questions you were never allowed or were too scary to ask.
Submit those to us - as a comment on this page (can be anonymous), through email, drop us a note, tell us in person.
But even more importantly, share these discussions. Use them as family conversation starters - or send the link to a friend who may share in some of these questions.
This week, to start us off, we're discussing -
thanks be to God(?)
What does it mean when we say this? How does this challenge us?
How/why are we so quick to say this when things are going well. . .
. . . but what does that mean about times when we get bad news?
We want to hear your thoughts - start conversations - give resources for people with questions. This series may challenge you. It may be tough. We'll be honest - and we may sometimes disagree. But in Christ, all of it will be held together.
Stay tuned - we're planning for this series to also have a LIVE component - where we gather out in the community - welcoming anyone with questions - members and friends and strangers - and have open discussions.
It's part of our vision for ministry here at Muhlenberg - a wellspring of God's grace - open + authentic + relational + serving. And for us, being open & authentic means - no pat answers.
peace+
First off, thanks be to God! Thank God for your willingness to accepting the challenge of opening up an honest dialogue about these taboo questions. It's quite refreshing and I think fits in with Muhlenberg's mission quite well. So, yes, thanks be to God! Personally, I've always struggled with the whole one, true religion thing and how basically by birth people are either brought to Christianity or not. Their parents may educate them in the Jewish or Muslim faith. Faithful--just of the wrong religion--people. Others may not be educated in any faith. Simply because of who they are born to. Or because of where they're born. Countries with no or limited exposure to Christianity. Good people doomed to hell just because of the situation of their birth. Furthermore, we Christians are flawed people and can often turn others away by our own actions--sometimes in the name of Christianity. Those bumper stickers that say something like, "Jesus, I like your Christianity, I just don't like your Christians" come to mind. I understand that it isn't by works that we are saved. So it isn't that being a generally good person would save you. I guess ultimately what I'm getting at is that in my mind there is a difference between those that *knowingly* reject Christ vs. those that simply haven't been presented the opportunity to *really know* Christ. I wonder does God accept this difference too or is it really so simply black and white?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your question, and getting the conversation started. This is exactly the kind of question we want to open up - so we'll try to tackle it - and wrestle with it... Thanks be to God - for hard questions!
ReplyDeleteOn the road . . . from Indianapolis; grace & peace to you both and especially to those who will be touched by this new venture!
ReplyDeleteI am greatly appreciative of the course that has been charted with this first podcast. You can be sure I'll stay tuned-in where ever I may be. I also have specific people who I think may benefit from not only hearing these, but also may benefit by entering into the dialogue.
As a Christian, I know I don't have the answers. Though if I work a seeking Him with all heart, soul and mind, work at loving my neighbor, then maybe I may more readily pronounce "Thanks be to God" in every situation.
For the challenging questions we all have, though may not normally ask, what a great way to bring our community to closer understanding of what faithfulness means.
As Stephen Curtis Chapman proclaims in on one of my favorite cd's: "BRING IT ON!"
I also appreciate a forum to consider the complex questions of faith. Regarding the "one true faith", I have similar thoughts and won't repeat them since they have already been thoughtfully addressed. I have no answers, just a few thoughts and some questions. When humans try to draw boundaries regarding "who's in" and "who's out", we are excluding others and elevating ourselves. It's human nature. Jesus didn't exclude anyone in his sacrifice. I'm wondering if it's best to leave the "judging" of others' ultimate fate to God. Perhaps our perceptions of others are best based on their actions rather than their beliefs. Is this too simplistic?
ReplyDeleteThanks for any thoughts others may have, and thanks to the one who generated the conversation.