Thomas on Why I blog

Two verses (from the Gospel of Thomas). Both back to back make me think of why I blog, and also a concern with blogging.


Gospel of Thomas vs. 33 reminds me of my motivation to make my journey public:

Jesus said, "What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear proclaim from your rooftops.
After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lampstand so that all who come and go will see its light."

Gospel of Thomas vs 34 reminds me of a potential danger of following a blogger (or following anyone for that matter):

Jesus said, "If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them will fall into a hole."

http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html

Thomas on the Kingdom

I'm not sure if I agree with all gnosticism, or if the Gospel of Thomas should be viewed as an equal to the other gospels. However I am pleased to discover that verse 3 of the Gospel of Thomas lines up very well with a theme I see in the other gospels:

• the good news of the kingdom of God or kingdom of Heaven
• that we must be born again - a new spiritual birth
• that we are children of God
• that God is our Father
• that God wants to be our Lord/King

Gospel of Thomas vs. 3

Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you.
When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html

So do you know who you are? Do you live it?

When I recognize I am a child of God, I should consider his wishes since I am 'living under his roof' so to speak.

If I think I'm just a child of my earthly parents, now living on my own, my own selfish desires will rule.


Related Posts:

• Good News
  
• Kingdom of God
• A child in the kingdom
  
• Dr Dwight Pryor on-Kingdom Of God - Part 1
• Dr Dwight Pryor on-Kingdom Of God - Part 2
• My 95 Thesis point 2 Gospel
  

My 95 Thesis - Point 11 - Sermon Centered

Here's my 11th Point in My 95 Theses.

Why has our gatherings become centered around a sermon? Why does the body of Christ, the royal priesthood, sit passively listening to the same person speak week after week?

There is nothing wrong with a good sermon. But are we missing out on something better?

The way I read the New Testament, most of the preaching was done outside the gathering - directed at non-believers. Yes, when the believers gathered they did teach each other, but:

• I don't think a 30 minute monologue was the main part of the gathering
• I don't think it was done primarily by one person
• I don't believe the listeners were passive, I believe they would have responded with discernment
• There are many ways to teach. Some of the best teaching is done in one on one conversations and/or modeling a life.
  

1 Corinthians 14:26 (New International Version)

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New International Version)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 Timothy 4:13 (New International Version)

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Ephesians 5:18-21 (New International Version)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (New International Version)

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Romans 12:6-8 (New International Version)

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Are we doing church by the book on this one? And if not, should we?

Have we made the sermon the main part of our gathering? Why? Does it need to be? What are the pros & cons? Is the body missing out on something with this focus on the sermon?

I think these are valid questions to discuss.

Related Posts:

• Learning Triangle
• Asleep in the pews
• History of speaking up in church
• Community I desire
• My 95 Thesis
  

Playdough Scripture John 4:19-24

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you can choose one of many worship centers to go to and worship each week (just make sure you pick a good brand) you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

John 4:19-24 (Playdough Version)


A few thoughts...

Jesus says the Samaritans were worshiping a God they did not know. I find that interesting. How/why would they worship a God they did not know? If they didn't know Him, why would they worship Him. Just out of religious duty? Is it possible I've done the same? Is it possible to go to a place of worship, and do whatever worship stuff everyone else is doing, yet not personally know the one we worship?

My other thought is around the location of worship. Throughout history people seem to gravitate to certain places to worship. In ancient Canaan the place of worship was often on top of a hill. On top of the hill it was common to build a tall pole or column, and sometimes buildings. I guess the idea was the taller the structure, the closer to God. Now I know many churches are not built on hill-tops, but I wonder if the common church steeple is linked to this history. Instead of going to a hill-top where there is a tall pole, we go to a building with a tall pointed top.

Does Jesus' words to this Samaritan woman say anything to our perception that worshiping God is most frequently done at certain locations?

Good News of Adoption

We have some close friends who are excited about adopting a child from Ethiopia. This analogy came to mine that may help express my thoughts around our modern evangelical gospel message.

Here are two good news messages my friends could share with their child when they meet her (or when she is old enough and has learned enough English).

Good news message #1:

• We are a good family.
• You were stuck in a bad situation.
• Do you want to understand the legal transactions that allowed us to get you from where you were to our good home?
• Do you want to know what price we paid to free you and give you a new life?

Good news message #2:

• We love you and want to give you guidance in a good new life.

Both good news messages are valid, however:
Option #1 could get a bit complex for a young child to understand.
Option #2 could possibly be demonstrated through non-verbal hugs, kisses, and a general loving household.


Option #1 is similar to the standard modern gospel which requires proof texting to attempt to answer the question "How can a Holy God make things right and be in a relationship with sinners?". There are some good things to discuss and complex issues to grapple with, but are we sure this is the most important starting place?

I think option #2 fits with the good news of the kingdom of God that Jesus frequently preached about. That He, the King, wants to adopt each of us as His children, so he can love us and guide us in His kingdom. Yes there will be further discussions as the child grows up, but I think this is a great place to start.

Related Posts:

• My 95 Thesis point 2 Gospel
• What is the Gospel? - lists verses related to gospel in 'the gospels'
  
• Gospel in other NT verses
• Gospel of Kingdom in Romans
  
• What Gospel does you neighbor need to hear?
  
• Dr Dwight Pryor on-Kingdom Of God - Part 1
• Dr Dwight Pryor on-Kingdom Of God - Part 2
• Jesus sends out the 12

What I believe 2010.9

Jesus Is Lord and Savior!

Or Jesus is King, Jesus is the Messiah, or Jesus Reigns... however you want to put it.

If you really believe this, you are my brothers and sisters..

God is love. He wants to be in a loving relationship with us. The challenge for each of us is to live it, allow Jesus to rule in our lives and save us from our selfish ways that lead to destruction.

I trust most Christ followers will agree with this basic belief.

Jesus frequently preached the good news of the kingdom of God. I believe his main point was that He was King, Messiah (Christ), Lord and Savior. Some simple keyword Bible searches will show that the acknowledgment that Jesus was Lord, Savior, and Christ was at the core of the beliefs of the early believers, and that Jesus loved to speak on the topic of His kingdom.

See Good News for more on this topic.

(This is my 3rd version of this... previous 2 versions are still available here and here.)