Comments for Aletheia Forum

Comment on Events by David

David — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:12:43 +0000

Lets get together sometime for lunch. Perhaps we can find a way to attract some more FBC folks or others.

Comment on Obsolete Christianity and Revitalized Faith: Sanctorum Communio, the Communion of Saints by murrayo

murrayo — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:02:10 +0000

Hey David,

Yes, I’ve listened to Dr. Keller before. He’s a very clear thinker. He’s familiar with Peter Berger work and quotes it, so you may have heard it there.

It was an interesting message that Bruce gave this past Sunday. On church growth issues, it sounds like he’s read the same material.

Best! Murray.

Comment on Obsolete Christianity and Revitalized Faith: Sanctorum Communio, the Communion of Saints by David

David — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:20:35 +0000

Enjoyed this article, especially regarding Bonhoeffer’s analysis of the church of his time. I have read similiar things in Francis Schaeffer biographies. Apparently the poor fellow had a crisis of faith later in life mostly because of all the divisions and lack of community he observed in the church.

When you cited Peter Berger, I kept trying to remember where I had recently read something about him. You may be interested in checking out Timothy Keller’s book “The Reason For God.” For a taste of it, here is Tim Keller lecturing at Google:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxup3OS5ZhQ

Cheers!
David

Comment on Biblical Narative Discussions by Jopd

Jopd — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:32:25 +0000

well done, guy

Comment on Pride versus Poverty of Spirt by David

David — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 05:18:21 +0000

Philippians 2:
5Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross

Have this mind among yourselves (v1)! What does that look like? I would like to see a church really spend time fleshing out the implications of this. Of course they already did, and its recorded in the book of Acts, but in our day the narcissistic culture is blinding Christians from seeing the clear and simple things the Bible presents as being key to the Christian walk. Just a thought…. Great post!

Comment on Evil: The Dark Night of the Soul by Murray O

Murray O — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:05:36 +0000

Good question. This space is too short to fill the answer. However, the linke below is a good discussion on it. It is by Greg Jesson on UC Santa Cruz on Why a Good God Allows Suffering. Check it out.

http://www.veritas.org/media/talks/515

Comment on Evil: The Dark Night of the Soul by David

David — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:08:18 +0000

I would go backwards and start with the why. Whatever reality I create must correspond with my nature.

The reality of b) would not allow for the display of mercy, grace, or justice.

Guess a) makes it possible for me to have a world where I can both display my justice and grace simultaneously…which would bring me more glory as creator because it more closely resembled my nature.

But that brings the question to mind:

Does God’s mercy entail the creation of evil, or does the creation of evil entail mercy?

Comment on Evil: The Dark Night of the Soul by murrayo

murrayo — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:58:47 +0000

Here’s a question, If you were God would you: (a) create this world were men are free and the laws of nature behavied as they do or (b) create a world were men and nature always did what is good and right. Why?

Comment on Questions about Economics and Christian Culture by murrayo

murrayo — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:52:35 +0000

Are the values of the Sermon on the Mount applicable to our understanding of economics and our day to day dealings? At any point in time, can we suspend those values? If so, for what kind of situation?

Comment on Questions about Economics and Christian Culture by David

David — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:54:42 +0000

I have always understood the “invisible hand” of economics to basically be: People will always choose what benefits them the most. I will define good as that which benefits another party.

I think when the Golden Rule that Jesus (and others) have put forth is often misunderstood as “Do unto other as you would have them do unto you…because then you can expect the same behavior from them and thus we can live in peace as a society.”

In other words, we only do good things for others because it works both ways and is a logical necessity for business and trade. Jesus certainly did not mean that. In fact, I think he meant something radically different: doing something for others when you KNOW they wouldn’t do the same thing for you.

Of course I think Christians should be savvy financially and obviously make good decisions about spending money. My only point is that we should beware of letting that kind of thinking pervade our dealings with people.

People are not goods to be weighed and measured, and are ALWAYS worth our time regardless of the benefit they provide. The Bible says all men/women are created in God’s image and therefore have value.