Emergent Christians

Comment

Comment by Kaki on July 7, 2012 at 7:11am

Thank you for creating this group.

I was wondering if anyone has read the book "The Hour we least Expected"  I just finished it and it was very thought provoking.

Comment by Rynalee on June 29, 2012 at 8:16pm

Sorry about the typos. On my iPad. Heart of LOVE.... I don't think Candice.... I'm sure there are more typos too. Sorry.

Comment by Rynalee on June 29, 2012 at 8:15pm

BetteAnne, I say this with love. I'm sure you've come here with a heart of live, but it also seems you've come here with an agenda to convince others of your views.mindon't think Candice set this group up as a place to debate this issue with those who believe so strongly against the beliefs of "emergent" Christianity. I applaud your enthusiasm, but I don't think this is the place for it. You have already voiced your thoughts passionately on the unschooling Christians group, and Candice clearly started this group because of that debate.mi honestly don't think it needs to continue here. We are all saved by grace, and we are all told to love one another. And I think love and disagreements can coexist. But I think it would be kind of you to stop pushing your beliefs in this group. It wasn't set up to debate the issue with those who disagree.

In love,
Karen

Comment by BetteAnne on June 29, 2012 at 6:43pm

Now about Rob Bell's book. He takes Scriptures out of context as you will see below.~
The Good 
I applaud Rob for taking a risk and writing about this extremely important, touchy, weighty, and often not talked about topic. It is a topic upon which Evangelicals are underdeveloped in their thinking. In writing about this topic publicly Rob gives us permission to talk more freely with each other about it. 
The more thinking and study of this topic the more we will be careful in our sometimes overly simplistic views or verbal slams against others. 

Bell writes, "I've written this book because the kind of faith Jesus invites us into doesn't skirt the big questions." Amen. Completely agree. 

The Great 
The book is favulous, compelling writing. Bell paints pictures, turns a phrase ("It's as if we're currently trying to play the piano with oven mitts"), illustrates, and illuminates the biblical text in a way few others can. 

He clearly sets the gospel in its cosmic framework, not just its human salvation framework. Jesus came not only to save sinners, but to redeem the world--every atom. He articulates a gospel that transforms trees as well as people. This is a good thing and should stretch Evangelicals to understand what Colossians is getting at when it says, "This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven" (Colossians 1.23). "A gospel that leaves out its cosmic scope will always feel small." (p. 135) Agreed. 

The Bad 
"At the center of the Christian tradition since the first church have been a number who insist that history is not tragic, hell is not forever, and love, in the end, wins and all will be reconciled to God." (p. 109) Well, if universalism has been at the "center" of Christianity since the very "first church" I guess it's strange that there's such controversy around this book! Come on Robby, this isn't intellectually honest writing. The whole reason this book is swirling in controversy is because universalism has not been at the center, it has not been a belief from the beginning, and the first Christians did not think hell was temporary. It's one thing to present different views and theologies, it is another to do so with revisionist history. 

 

Comment by BetteAnne on June 29, 2012 at 10:11am

There is NO box where GOD is concerned ~HE IS SPIRIT and LIFE~...but HE does tell us to NOT go Beyond what is Written~ 1 Corinthians 4:6 :o)

Comment by Lorraine Stephanyshyn on June 29, 2012 at 9:59am

I'll join in :) 

Comment by Rynalee on June 29, 2012 at 8:49am

Just the two of us :)