IMHO, Why they term 'awful' is perhaps of an addition of another 'ism' to the Bebbington model - 'insistism'. Today, It is not only conversion and activism, but insisting (to) even the uninterested and other-believers. That's why everyone sort of go 'oh no!..'
ted kelly.. thanks for posting this article. I found it interesting and enlightening since I now attend a First Free Evangelical church. I grew up Nazarene and they are strict and I felt, impersonal and did not allow for societal problems like addiction and alcoholism, domestic violence etc. So I quit. I came back to my faith three years ago. I had a crisis and cried out to God and he answered me. Now I want to honor that which honored me. I feel that one thing the article didnt really say anything about was a personal relationship with God. I feel that is whats important rather than all this who believes what and how do they believe it, etc. There are a lot of weird parts in the bible, stuff I think is very close to the times of when it was written. I feel God wants us to use our brains and not be silent about what we learn..lol.. I know, what a concept.. anyway going forward into the future, we as any kind of "Christian" need to strive for love, no matter what!! Right?
Connie Hollenden - amen... George Harrison once said something along the lines of, "It doesn't matter so much what you call Him, as it does that you call Him".
Lol.. and one more last thing ted kelly.. I do not believe there is only one way to God.. of course my church believes otherwise.. I do not put up with intolerance towards other belief systems.. and that makes me different in my own community... but I really dont care.. God talks to me..and I'm not crazy..lol.. I believe everybody needs to find a way to God and if you pay attention, you'll find it..ok now I'm done.. :-)
IMHO, Why they term 'awful' is perhaps of an addition of another 'ism' to the Bebbington model - 'insistism'. Today, It is not only conversion and activism, but insisting (to) even the uninterested and other-believers. That's why everyone sort of go 'oh no!..'
ReplyDeletehmm have bookmarked this and will look into a response later,
ReplyDeleteted kelly.. thanks for posting this article. I found it interesting and enlightening since I now attend a First Free Evangelical church. I grew up Nazarene and they are strict and I felt, impersonal and did not allow for societal problems like addiction and alcoholism, domestic violence etc. So I quit. I came back to my faith three years ago. I had a crisis and cried out to God and he answered me. Now I want to honor that which honored me. I feel that one thing the article didnt really say anything about was a personal relationship with God. I feel that is whats important rather than all this who believes what and how do they believe it, etc. There are a lot of weird parts in the bible, stuff I think is very close to the times of when it was written. I feel God wants us to use our brains and not be silent about what we learn..lol.. I know, what a concept.. anyway going forward into the future, we as any kind of "Christian" need to strive for love, no matter what!! Right?
ReplyDeleteConnie Hollenden - amen... George Harrison once said something along the lines of, "It doesn't matter so much what you call Him, as it does that you call Him".
ReplyDeletemad madrasi - you're preaching to the choir, brother. Tho to be honest, it's nothing new. Also keep in mind - the devil made us do it... lol
ReplyDeleteLol.. and one more last thing ted kelly.. I do not believe there is only one way to God.. of course my church believes otherwise.. I do not put up with intolerance towards other belief systems.. and that makes me different in my own community... but I really dont care.. God talks to me..and I'm not crazy..lol.. I believe everybody needs to find a way to God and if you pay attention, you'll find it..ok now I'm done.. :-)
ReplyDeleteTrue dat!! ted kelly!
ReplyDeleteI'm saddened but not surprised that my Facebook friends didn't have any reaction to this.
ReplyDelete