Comments for Ends & Means

Comment on Practice Resurrection: Ephesians 1 & the Prophetic Imagination by Mary Wallace

Mary Wallace — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:11:49 +0000

Wonderful post…thanks I needed to hear that. You are spot on!!!! Love u!

Sent from my iPhone

Comment on Stirring Up Anger, Producing Chaos: Why American Christians Should Shut Up & Learn How to Suffer by Kel

Kel — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:11:10 +0000

I can see your point and do feel convicted. Still tho, there is this gun grab happening on top of all the rest of the lies from the left, deceiving the nation at large. John spoke up to Herod about his affair with his brother’s wife and paid dearly for it but Jesus said there was no better person. We are told to speak the truth in love. The truth is that all these shootings are not because of guns they are because as this nation has turned it’s back on God. They teach our children to forget God. They teach them they are no more than a high functioning animal. I find it difficult to just shut up when I see the injustice and the lies being used against the truth. Against everything this country used to believe in. We didn’t have these kinds of issues before the late 80′s as I recall. Our kids are being taught it is okay to kill babies and to shirk their responsibility whenever possible. What’s life to these kids? Nothing. Is it any wonder? Again I find it most disturbing and frightening to just say nothing. Yes there is a time for silence I know this. But the forces of evil are not silent nor do they take a break. I probably will be quiet now tho. As I have been attacked too many times for trying to speak the truth in love and having no one come to my rescue even among my believing brothers and sisters in Jesus. God help us. I hope he comes back soon.

Comment on My Simplest, Strongest & Most Logical Argument for Christian Hope by joejames

joejames — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 18:00:10 +0000

If I understand you correctly, I would want to add to what you said, that Saint Paul thinks that some things about our future have been revealed, and to whatever degree we can know about those revealed things, they are hugely important. I agree that the particular and unknown details are not to become the center of theological or biblical reflection, but for Saint Paul, we know that Jesus was raised from the dead, in the flesh, and that is THE center of Paul’s theology, not least in I Corinthians. Two chapters within that letter make it explicitly clear that what we believe about our future hope directly affects how we live today.

Paul, in his next letter to the Corinthians, will not discourage them from reflecting on what lies ahead. Rather, he will strongly exhort them to think long and hard about what their future hope is:

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen…”

I am not sure exactly what you mean by “Frankly, the method of resurrection is not important to me…” But if by that you mean that it doesn’t matter whether it is on earth, or somewhere removed from earth, or that it doesn’t matter whether it is a bodily resurrection or a disembodied one, I would take huge exception with those two. It matters, and has long been orthodoxy, that the Christian future hope held out in the gospels is bodily resurrection upon the renewed earth.

But if by your comment you mean that the “how” of “how will the particular details of these things come to be”, I would agree they are largely insignificant so long as we can agree it will be the climactic work of God to redeem, renew and restore all things, which is the clear New Testament teaching.

Comment on My Simplest, Strongest & Most Logical Argument for Christian Hope by tVM

tVM — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:34:41 +0000

I will take no exception to your logical argument for Christian hope, nor with anyone else’s. As human beings, we are at great disadvantage when speaking and reasoning about Godly things. Frankly, the method of resurrection is not important to me; the fact that — in human terms — I will become one with by Creator is important. I know I will, and I know how I will. Like you, I pass on bits and pieces of my personal beliefs and the beliefs of those in whom I place my trust. God doesn’t help those who help themselves… God helps those who trust in God. I do. He will. Blessings to you and your work.

Comment on Thoughts on Evil: Part 9, Prince of Lies by joejames

joejames — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:47:33 +0000

Yes, It is not so much between even Kosmos and Aionion. A helpful book along these lines is N.T. Wright’s Resurrection & the Son of God. It is that in scripture there are a couple of “senses” in which Kosmos is used. In those passages where Saint Paul, and others, urge us not to “love the world” or to “not be conformed to the likeness of the world”, he does not mean that God does not love the Kosmos, or that the Kosmos is inherently evil at its core. Rather, he means something more like “do not love the world in it’s fallen state.” Aion or Aeon means age. The New Testament bears witness to the future hope that in the age to come or the new age (sometimes translated “eternal life” which is misleading), God will restore the kosmos. A helpful couple of bible passages where this is basically the assumption (everybody knows this right?!) – Acts 3:19-21 and Matthew 19:28-30. Ellul, makes use of both sense of the word Kosmos. As those who believe in the goodness of creation, and in the future hope of God re-making creation (Behold, I am making all things new!) we cannot stand to see the Kosmos “as it currently is” but look forward to God “Restoring all things.” Is that helpful?

Comment on Thoughts on Evil: Part 9, Prince of Lies by Gareth

Gareth — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:59:07 +0000

Hi – After reading Ellul I’ve recently been thinking about “the world” – I’ve not worked it out yet but am moving to the idea that there is a difference between the world that God created and the world that we live in (the socially cosntruct). So in John 12:25 there is a difference between Kosmo – (system/ world, Ellul – technologies?) and Aionion (eternal age?).

Comment on The 4 & The One by Cruciformity: The Kingdom & The Cross | Ends & Means

Cruciformity: The Kingdom & The Cross | Ends & Means — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:28:24 +0000

[...] (To learn more about these 4 “ways” or “options” read my post “The 4 and the One” [...]

Comment on Legalism in List Form (You Know… For Legalists) by tVM

tVM — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:43:51 +0000

I know that we are all Jesus….
I am inclined to agree with Richard Rohr: if you see God operating at a lesser level than the best person you know, then that text is not authentic revelation. “God is love”
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Meditation–God-Is-Never-Less-Loving-Than-the-Most-Loving-Person-You-Know—-Foundation—-March-4–2013.html?soid=1103098668616&aid=tnw6_ojTXqA

Comment on Adventures In Missing the Point: “Baptism For the Dead” by If I Were Mope [2013 Edition] | Beggar's Bread

If I Were Mope [2013 Edition] | Beggar's Bread — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:55:46 +0000

[...] * Declare Baptism for the Dead to be unBiblical and a colossal waste of time because it’s based on a corrupt interpretation of Paul’s tongue-in cheek parenthetical clause contained in I Corinthians 15:29. [...]

Comment on Richard Rohr: Is God Coercive? by joejames

joejames — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:51:34 +0000

Yes, Rohr is heady. I have only read “Everything Belongs” So I cannot comment on the breadth of his literary work. What i loved about this particular video is Rohr bringing into the sharp focus the seriousness of the claim in Colossians that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. However, I agree with you that most mystics find clearer and simpler forms of communication than he seems to in his written works. Thanks for the comment!