tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post5468403972284316714..comments2023-08-16T07:10:46.456-07:00Comments on The Quiet Protest: What Will You Do While Your Straw Man Burns?Ken Piercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161121731160400592noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-84565357874999427422009-12-07T14:45:39.821-08:002009-12-07T14:45:39.821-08:00Ken, As usual, you are thought provoking. We, as C...Ken, As usual, you are thought provoking. We, as Christians, must be Christ to non-believers. It is difficult to be Christlike within our homes with people we love and far more difficult to display love to those we disagree with and often find unlovable.<br /><br />Mr. Keller...thank you for 'The Reason for God'...our SS class is studying it right now with much discussion.Michael Van Velkinburghhttp://www.thechristmasvillage.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-13071082579161464662009-11-20T15:11:15.630-08:002009-11-20T15:11:15.630-08:00Still thinking about how we are to both love and d...Still thinking about how we are to both love and disagree with people inside the church.<br /><br />I was struck by 2 Timothy 2. In verses 14-17 we are told to warn people against 'gangrenous' false doctrine (strong words!) and yet in v.24-26 we are told that ministers are to never be quarrelsome and angry, but rather we are to be gentle with opponents, seeking not merely to denounce them but to win them personally. <br /><br />I don't see much of this balance out there at all in our church. We either never refute and warn, or else we do it without any effort to win the heart of the opponent. <br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />Tim KellerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-40706170327872016752009-11-13T12:33:43.756-08:002009-11-13T12:33:43.756-08:00Thanks. And I agree--it's worth another post!
...Thanks. And I agree--it's worth another post!<br /><br />Tim KellerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-90281153462970019872009-11-13T05:11:48.766-08:002009-11-13T05:11:48.766-08:00Tim,
Thanks!
And ouch :-)
Probably worth anothe...Tim,<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />And ouch :-)<br /><br />Probably worth another post. But, it's generally true in humanity --we squabble with those we love the most, and sometimes because we love them the most. And, hopefully, because they love us, they put up with the squabbling.<br /><br />But also, I think we rightly hold each other to a higher standard, as recipients of the new nature, truth, etc.<br /><br />Somehow we need to separate arguments from people, in two ways. First, when our own positions are under scrutiny or criticism, we need to see it as not an attack on our worth, etc. And, second, when we are the ones giving scrutiny, we need to understand it doesn't mean our opponent is the bad guy.<br /><br />Years ago, during the height of the Bahnsen era, my late church history prof. Al Freundt preached a sermon that RTS published entitled "Who Is My Enemy?" on just this very thing.<br /><br />And, I confess, I fail at this all the time. I think vigorous debate is healthy, but there has to be a coming back together at the end, in love.KPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-10671742084054345972009-11-12T20:24:48.104-08:002009-11-12T20:24:48.104-08:00Really excellent post, Ken. Is it possible that wh...Really excellent post, Ken. Is it possible that what you call for is easier to give to an atheist than to give to someone in your own denomination who differs from you?<br /><br />Tim KellerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-36303757110010011082009-11-11T17:05:18.090-08:002009-11-11T17:05:18.090-08:00Hmmmm. I think often what happens is that the mos...Hmmmm. I think often what happens is that the most opinionated and loud people on both sides of all arguments find the platforms -- whether it's liberal vs. conservative, Christian vs. atheist, pro-abortion vs. pro-life, etc. Then, whatever side I'm on, I notice how brash and abrasive the representative of the other side is and am further turned off. That person is just a representative but still to me, they represent all of the others they speak for, and in my mind, I form an inaccurate picture of what everyone on the "other side" is like. What has happened to me as of late, though, is that I notice many who represent "my side" are just as brash and abrasive as those on the other side and they do not represent me well. While I may share some core beliefs in right and wrong, I don't share the thoughts of hatred toward those who disagree. So, the other side must think badly of me as well. The only way around these things is for me (really for those of us who aren't on the platforms) to be loving in my relationships and encounters with those who differ. I'll admit, I'm not the best at this. But I do bear in mind the memory of my uncle who was a homosexual and died of AIDS when I was 15. It was the only encounter with an AIDS patient I've had, up close and personal. But I think the man knew how to show compassion better than many I know who think the homosexual lifestyle is THE unforgivable sin (I do not think it's unforgivable -- just referring to how polarized it tends to be). He was funny and loving, not out to change others to his lifestyle, not out to pervert children -- just out to live what I believe was a sinfully entrapped lifestyle that could never make him happy. How anyone could have ever looked down their nose, I'll never know, and yet I find in myself the ability to look down my nose at other things I haven't so closely encountered. That is the part where the Holy Spirit has to work in me to change. And I know He can and will -- He's done it in so many other things.KTElltthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01407878783882226996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-29718202001750811442009-11-11T09:10:53.873-08:002009-11-11T09:10:53.873-08:00Actually, the new documentary "Collision"...Actually, the new documentary "Collision" is great for this. You come away from it actually liking Christopher Hitchins a lot.<br /><br />He isn't the typical nasty atheist. Especially poignant is the last scene, where he says if he could convince the last Christian in the world that he was wrong, and change his mind he wouldn't do it. Dawkins took him to task. He said he didn't know why, but added it wasn't because there wouldn't be anyone left with whom to argue.<br /><br />He's bumping up against God. He's not so angry as he is chafing at the bit of human autonomy. He keeps saying for a child to grow up, he needs his dad out of the way. A strange argument, that.KPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543571234839860076.post-16876173565925438722009-11-10T09:01:22.273-08:002009-11-10T09:01:22.273-08:00I agree with every word so, of course, I think it&...I agree with every word so, of course, I think it's brilliant!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16204580827582012409noreply@blogger.com