Comments on: On Christian Freedom http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/ Reflections on Mysticism and the East Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:57:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Zach http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-129 Zach Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:13:35 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-129 Yes Ted, I know what hermenteutics is. I'm not turning scripture on it's head. It's still standing, though I don't really know how many feet it has... I may be challenging the modern conservative protestant fundamentalist view on scripture, but that's not scripture, that's just a view, isn't it? Throughout history, those views have changed. We're people, we take things, interpret them and make our own meaning out of them. Do you want to visit my house, see the library of books I have on traditional and fundamentalist Christian thought? There's nothing in that area of thought that I haven't heard before. Really, I'm not kidding, I've heard it all. No, I wasn't just brought up in the church. I've done my homework. I'm still learning, but aren't we all? Yes Ted, I know what hermenteutics is. I’m not turning scripture on it’s head. It’s still standing, though I don’t really know how many feet it has… I may be challenging the modern conservative protestant fundamentalist view on scripture, but that’s not scripture, that’s just a view, isn’t it? Throughout history, those views have changed. We’re people, we take things, interpret them and make our own meaning out of them.

Do you want to visit my house, see the library of books I have on traditional and fundamentalist Christian thought? There’s nothing in that area of thought that I haven’t heard before. Really, I’m not kidding, I’ve heard it all. No, I wasn’t just brought up in the church. I’ve done my homework. I’m still learning, but aren’t we all?

]]> By: Ted http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-126 Ted Thu, 17 Aug 2006 14:06:52 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-126 her·me·neu·tics (hûrm-ntks, -ny-) KEY NOUN: (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural text. Zach, you are turning scripture on its head. I know you are reading all these mystic-based and gnostic books. Why not read the other side? Why not read "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" or "More Than a Carpenter". Heck, why not read scripture for its face value? No injecting any mysticism in the book. Just read it. Scripture is really very simple. Had you ever accepted Jesus as your Savior, Zach, or were you just brought up in the church? Scripture teaches us that we are, in fact, sinners(Romans 3, I John 1). But Jesus died for those sins because He loves us and wants to restore the fellowship we were supposed to have in the garden(I Corinthians 15:3, Romans 5:8). We, however, have to choose to follow Jesus(Romans 10:9,10, John 3:16,17). her·me·neu·tics (hûrm-ntks, -ny-) KEY
NOUN:
(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
The theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural text.

Zach, you are turning scripture on its head. I know you are reading all these mystic-based and gnostic books. Why not read the other side? Why not read “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” or “More Than a Carpenter”. Heck, why not read scripture for its face value? No injecting any mysticism in the book. Just read it.

Scripture is really very simple.
Had you ever accepted Jesus as your Savior, Zach, or were you just brought up in the church?

Scripture teaches us that we are, in fact, sinners(Romans 3, I John 1). But Jesus died for those sins because He loves us and wants to restore the fellowship we were supposed to have in the garden(I Corinthians 15:3, Romans 5:8). We, however, have to choose to follow Jesus(Romans 10:9,10, John 3:16,17).

]]> By: Zach http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-125 Zach Thu, 17 Aug 2006 12:59:19 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-125 Oh right, now I see where I wrote it. The comment I made above is still valid except for the first sentence. I did say there is no right and wrong, but you have to read that whole section in context! Otherwise, it will not make sense. Oh right, now I see where I wrote it. The comment I made above is still valid except for the first sentence. I did say there is no right and wrong, but you have to read that whole section in context! Otherwise, it will not make sense.

]]> By: Jon http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-124 Jon Thu, 17 Aug 2006 12:55:02 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-124 Wlell you were wrong when you said that you didn't say "there is no right or wrong," but you were right when you said "there is no right or wrong." (Pause for laughter.) Oh, man. As Rumi said, beyond 'right' and 'wrong' there is a field. meet me there. Wlell you were wrong when you said that you didn’t say “there is no right or wrong,” but you were right when you said “there is no right or wrong.”

(Pause for laughter.)

Oh, man. As Rumi said,

beyond ‘right’ and ‘wrong’
there is a field.
meet me there.

]]> By: Zach http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-123 Zach Wed, 16 Aug 2006 22:10:18 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-123 Ted, I don't think I ever said there is no right and wrong. I did say everyone had to find their own truth, which you may have misinterpreted. This doesn't mean people just make up things that are right or wrong based on whims. If God is in me, and I am united with him. When I search in myself for my own truth, what am I going to find? I am going to find God. Sort of like what you wrote a few days ago. Draw near to Jesus and he will draw near to you. Ted, I don’t think I ever said there is no right and wrong. I did say everyone had to find their own truth, which you may have misinterpreted. This doesn’t mean people just make up things that are right or wrong based on whims.

If God is in me, and I am united with him. When I search in myself for my own truth, what am I going to find? I am going to find God.

Sort of like what you wrote a few days ago. Draw near to Jesus and he will draw near to you.

]]> By: Ted http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-122 Ted Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:27:52 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-122 Zach, if what you say is true and there is no right and wrong, then why is scripture rife with passages that talk about right and wrong? Verses like Galatians 5:13-"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. " Galatians 5:16-"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Romans 6:1-"What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin. How can we live it any longer?" There is a right and there is a wrong. If you have chosen to reject the true Christ, Zach and Jon and anyone else who wants to follow false beliefs, you face what Hebrews talks about. Hebrews 10:26,27-"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." Zach, if what you say is true and there is no right and wrong, then why is scripture rife with passages that talk about right and wrong? Verses like Galatians 5:13-”You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. ”
Galatians 5:16-”So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Romans 6:1-”What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin. How can we live it any longer?”
There is a right and there is a wrong. If you have chosen to reject the true Christ, Zach and Jon and anyone else who wants to follow false beliefs, you face what Hebrews talks about.
Hebrews 10:26,27-”If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

]]> By: isaiah http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-121 isaiah Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:48:35 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-121 Jesus is just alright with me! Jesus is just alright with me!

]]> By: Jon http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-120 Jon Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:59:26 +0000 http://www.monakhos.com/2006/08/16/on-christian-freedom/#comment-120 Frimmin' at the jimjam, free Zach Christ! Frimmin’ at the jimjam, free Zach Christ!

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