Our first Theology on Tap gathering for this winter/spring is this coming Sunday, February 21st at 7:00 PM at the Appalachian Brewing Company on Cameron Street.
We'll be looking at an article by Craig Barnes, a professor at PittsburghTheological Seminary. You'll find it here in the Christian Century.
A few questions to ponder:
- What do you think of his assumption about our "self" focused society? Is that true? Why or why not?
- Do you agree that it is not about making our faith relevant?
- What does this say about services like our alternative worship service?
- Do you agree with his answer to the young seminarian and church member? Why or why not?
Wow, I might have to rescind my comment about the Christian Century not publishing anything edifying. It’s not likely but still this is thought provoking.
1) I fully agree mankind, not just society is self focused. Gen 3:6 is proof. See even when our relationship with the most high God was based on a singular command, mankind put self ahead of obedience to that command. That is a solemn thought.
2) You don’t need to make faith relevant. Faith is faith. Faith does not rest on logical proof. Relevancy is having bearing on the matter at hand. Relationship is what needs to be made relevant. Preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s relevant. Paul didn’t change the message when he traveled to Ephesus, or Thessalonica, or Athens or Berea. He did use their language, but the message is the same. All have sinned and are in desperate need of a Savior. God’s Christ is come in the man Jesus of Nazareth. That man did not sin, He became sin on the cross. That man died for the sins of all mankind, to buy us back, to redeem our souls to God. The author did point out an extremely valid point on the value of relationships. Mary anointed the Lord Jesus with the oil that would have cost a years wages. She valued Him that much that what was a years salary was easily spent on the one she loved. He valued her valuation of Him so much in two of the gospels Matt 26 & Mark 14 He tells the disciples this event will be a memorial. Not to her rather to her valuation of Him. Do you value the Lord Jesus? HE wants a relationship with you.
3) While I have not been to your alternative worship, the descriptions you have given here and in email are not in keeping with the patterns laid out by Paul in the Epistles. Specifically 1st & 2nd Corinthians. At the same time the liturgy is the very same sin that Eve and the Galatians committed. To quote Paul in 1 cor 12:31 “…yet show unto you a more excellent way”, or as the Darby translation reads: “…yet shew I unto you a way of more surpassing excellence.” Which is followed by the famous “love” chapter. When the “church” gathers together in the name of the Lord Jesus it is to remember Him as He commanded the disciples in the upper room the night He was betrayed. Christ is the head, the Spirit is the worship leader, not any man or man made device including music. The liturgy and from what you have said about the alternative worship both neglect the truth of 1 Peter 2:5 & 9. The former quenches the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) Being a priest requires two parts, and offering and a sacrifice, Hebrews 13:15. Christ Jesus is the only offering pleasing to God. The sacrifice is the fruit of our lips, allowing the Spirit of God to move the collected Saints in harmonious worship of Christ Jesus.
4) This question cannot be answered from the article as we have no evidence of the author’s actual answer to the student.
....If however you are referring to the “we believe” statements then I would encourage the professor to tell the seminary student to take up accounting or kinesiology, as I would question the lad’s devotion to the Lord.
Posted by: Drew | March 04, 2010 at 02:20 AM