Comments on: Sunday Morning Coffee Break: Who Defines Christianity?

By: itchy left palm

itchy left palm — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:57:01 +0000

You couldnt be more on the level…

By: the uppity negro

the uppity negro — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:23:29 +0000

@Nikki Mo

I would contend that many believe that Christianity may be more than that, or less than what you defined it as. The problem comes when you have two different people with differing opinions who come together trying to mke sense of it all.

By: Nikki Mo in FL

Nikki Mo in FL — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:03:55 +0000

I think the “definition” of Christianity is pretty irrelevant, especially since many, I would venture to say most, Americans profess Christianity, and to them that means they “believe in God.” Regarding having a personal relationship with God, where one has invited Christ to be personal Lord and Savior, been forgiven of sin and justified by faith…that pretty much sums it up. Religion/Christianity is killing itself with all the drama, folklore and traditions that have been created entirely by man, without inspiration from God. The missing link seems to be the Holy Spirit, which Scripture promises will “guide us into all truth” or reveal the true meaning and interpretation of God’s Word, be that in the Bible or the words He continues to speak in our hearts. Scripture has been twisted and misconstrued by those who have no revelation of God’s Word and are trying to use their intellect/emotion/what they’ve heard to understand.

Well, that was about as clear as mud so I’ll just shut up now.

By: dowl

dowl — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:59:29 +0000

Makes me think of the ‘back in the day’ gospel song, ‘Father, Open Our Eyes’ by Milton Brunson–I’d add the music but I don’t know how.

Verse:
Father, open our eyes
that we may see to follow Thee, Lord.
Grant us us Thy loving peace
and let all dissension cease.
And let our faith each day increase,
and Master, Lord, please open our eyes,
(oh, oh, open our eyes).

Bridge:
Oh, He has given us (hills and mountains),
He has given us (level plains).
He has given us (food and clothing),
Given us shelter (from the storm and rain).

Oh and with all He’s provided,
always hurting one another;
just can’t, can’t be content,
always fighting one another.

(You promised to look upon us with compassion),
(You promised to hear us when we cry);
(smile down on Your helpless children),
(oh Master, come on and open our eyes).

Vamp:
Oh, oh.

Ending:
Oh, oh, open our eyes.

Staying ever uppity…

By: COGII

COGII — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:19:22 +0000

LOL!! You sound like me in my first year of seminary. I was very skeptical of Christianity regarding the inerrancy of Scripture, the terrible past of Church History, the political posturing.

Then I became reengaged in urban church ministry in NYC. Urban ministry brought me back to deep an abiding belief in the revelation of Scripture(not taking anything a way from the inspiration of MLK’s words) and hope in the midst of tragedy.

It’s all about the journey

By: talentedtenth

talentedtenth — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:40:40 +0000

@ uppity
this one sentence wrapped up the whole post for me

“I’m quite under the realisation that God is much bigger than how our own contexts usually confine God.”

that right there said it all in the very opening. some church folk just don’t get that…they might say it, but they don’t act like it. i was born and raised in the PAW and my family has quite a few ministers (one of my cousins is on your blog roll actually), so i have been around church for a minute. in the past 5 years or so, my perspective about church and Christianity in general has changed (drastically in some aspects). many of us in the pentecostal or apostolic tradition have been force fed things (read junk) that really isn’t true. i’m not trying to knock the church, but let’s be real…some of the things said across the pulpit are far from biblical. i think it is those falsehoods (among other things) that keep some people (church folk or not) away from God’s presence. ultimatley, one should never let another keep them away from God, but you know how it works in the church…

it’s a very sad state of affairs. i struggle with it every sunday…every church outing…every church activity. i look around and see the people and the ways in which they act…the way they profess their Christianity and holiness, and realize that they are far from those things. but because i don’t engage in those same behaviors, i’m viewed as a heathen. nah…i’m not a heathen (although i’m not perfect). my eyes are just open is all…

By: the uppity negro

the uppity negro — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:04:24 +0000

@all

I jus knew there was a problem because my one friend went to see Religulous and he said he couldn’t preach authentically at least for the rest of the year.

Something has got to change.

By: Kit (Keep It Trill)

Kit (Keep It Trill) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:18:33 +0000

Everything man touches becomes corrupt, and this would include the Holy Bible. God only knows what was taken out and put of the original scriptures before the political Church sent it to print, not to mention screw ups in translation.

By: Wilma

Wilma — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:57:53 +0000

I’m not a christian myself though I was raised to be. I would call myself an atheist. To me that means that I don’t believe in a deity. Believe being the keyword. I feel that people of different beliefs would get along much better if they started to emphasize the word believe a bit more. I don’t know if I’m right in my beliefs and it always makes me uncomfortable when people present their beliefs as facts whether they be atheist or religious. Nobody knows, we’re all just trying to make the best of it and most people are trying real hard to live a good life, to be a good person. The bible does provide us with good guidelines for that, but it’s not like the law of gravity.
I study medieval history. Like you I’m pretty aware of the way christianity and the bible developed. I have to try harder now not to judge people who believe the bible holds the absolute truth and was passed on to us directly by God. Sometimes I feel it’s all so hypocritical, but then I think of the Pennsylvania Dutch and how they truly practice everything that they preach. Who am I to judge?

I love your quote from scripture, that’s how my grandmother lived her life, it’s always nice to be reminded of her example.

By: katrina

katrina — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:42:37 +0000

AMEN. i do not think you are off your liberal rocker.I think you are awake and aware of what is REALLY going on. I too believe that particularly in Western civilization always confine the idea and concept of “God” to some bearded man in the sky who has superpowers. We have constructed texts ie the Bible and churches and religion to try to explain , understand and make the most of God, when in reality, these constructions hinder our understanding and just act as a comfort zone for our true uncertainty of what God is. God is so much more than what Christianity makes “him” out to be. At the root of it, Christianity is a wonderful religion and provides suberb guidlines to live our lives by, but there is a certain naivete about it that is truly scary.