Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Paul

, as in Paul’s vision, God will in the end be ‘all in all’ (1 Cor. 15:28), then nothing present and nothing past is excluded. We are told that in the fulfilment of the times all things will be united in Christ, things in heaven and things in earth’ (Eph. 1:10) and ‘all things reconciled to him, whether on earth or in heaven’ (Col. 1:20), because ‘all things were created through him’ (Col. 1:16); and if this is so, we have to talk about the universality of God’s grace. ‘Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (Phil. 2:11). Then ‘universal reconciliation’ can no longer be a heresy and a reproach. It is an expression of hope and of trust in God’s goodness. But the decision is God’s alone" Moltmann ☀

Jesus Anyone?

“Who was challenged by Jesus? Who did he come into conflict with? Who was willing to have him killed? We need to answer these questions to know whether or not we’re engaging our culture in a way that honors the Gospel. So if we’re truly like Jesus, who are going to be pissing off?" Is the Church Pissing Off the Right People? ☀

Sunday, October 4, 2015

The People's Pope

“The Pope welcomes everyone: people who are disfigured or sick, people who are young and old. Pope Francis is able to express joy and radiate compassion and empathy for others. This may be due to his experiences of pain and weariness. He rose quickly within the ranks of the Society of Jesus and this caused tensions which caused enough Jesuits to despise his leadership. As a result, when he was just 50 years old, his Jesuit community stripped him of all responsibility and he was exiled to Cordoba, Argentina. That experience was humiliating and also humbling. It eventually made him more merciful and kind as he experienced what is sometimes called a “dark night of the soul.” Because he knows deep pain and despair too well, Pope Francis is able to emulate and embody the compassion and love that Jesus showed. We are all broken and in need of compassion, understanding and love. This draws thousands to listen to and meet the Pope as he stands in solidarity with those who suffer and are in need of hope, mercy and grace." The People’s Pope: Our Attraction and Fascination with the Pope ☀

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Romans 1:26-7 - The Bible Says That Homosexuality Is A Sin?

"The bible says” is often the excuse employed by homophobic Christians who believe scripture requires a condemnation of homosexuality. The bible is a neutral object. It only “says” something when we act upon it. This is why we as actors must use this prop in a Shakespearean manner and not improv it as so many do today.


 In the last several decades, the use of classical rhetoric as a tool to examine the Pauline epistles has become something of an institution among New Testament scholars. Because of this, we are able to wield scripture more effectively. Equally so, there is push back from fundamentalists and conservatives who would read scripture as if they were the ones writing it, divorced from its first century Greco-Roman-Hellenistic context. It is because of this insistence we read scripture as a modern how-to guide that those who use it are likely to do so not only in error but to the harm of others as well.


 A case in point is the often (mis)used passage, Romans 1.18-32. It does not take long in a discussion on scripture and homosexuality for the more traditional defender to take this out of his or her arsenal, as if it is the “nuclear option.” Jesus may not have spoken directly about homosexuality, but Paul did, we are assured. However, and I relish this role as the bearer of bad news, this passage is not about condemning homosexuality, but about condemning those who condemn others."


 Romans 1:26-7 - The Bible Says That Homosexuality Is A Sin? Via azspot.net
 I strongly agree with this.