Marginal Christianity

I borrow the title “Life Together” for this section from Larry Hurtado who observes that it begins with the disciples arguing with each other (v.34) and closes with an admonition for them to be at peace thus bracketing this section as communal relations. 9:33-37 Jesus notices the disciples talking among each other on the way to Capernaum. They probably cast furtive glances in his direction from time to time. He knew something was up. “What were you all talking about on the road?” he asks. No response. But Jesus knew they were trying to one-up each for top-billing in this New Exodus movement. He kills that one with a shot right between the eyes: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all (v.35).” This shocking reversal of all cultural shibboleths and common-sense notions of appropriate behavior is too well-known and surrounded with rationalizations and reasons that Jesus can’t be taken seriously for us to feel its astonishing force. But it remains ...

Ch.5: Salvation is a Matter Between the Individual and God Two Models of Being Human           What does it mean to be human? Few more important questions than this one. How we see ourselves and others goes a long way to determining how we think and respond to others and the issues we face in life. The way the western world has taught us to see ourselves, and which America has adopted with a vengeance, is individualism. I call it the “billiard ball” view. Individualism sees each human being as complete, self-sufficient, and whole in themselves. They need nothing outside themselves to be fully human. That is simply a matter of actualizing their inherent potential and thus realizing themselves. Everything else is external to them. Relationships, opportunities, obstacles and the like are analogous to the billiard ball rolling around the table striking other balls and rails. These are no doubt important but ultimately adds nothing to ou...

The church, as we all know, is hopelessly divided an deadlocked on all manner of issues surrounding sexuality. Quite likely, there will be more and more separation and division among churches and Christians on account of it. I don't have any magic bullet or new answers to this issues. All I have is a modest proposal that will likely not satisfy anyone in the present volatile atmosphere. Yet, I, a hetero-sexual male, keeping pondering an praying over the all this, my feelings and reactions, and the seeming hopelessness of the church enduring no more division. Some are certain they know what they believe – on each end of the spectrum. They will have the most difficulty I'm afraid with my proposal. I know what I think, but I'm not a zealot for it. I'm more interested in discovering what the “in love” part of “speaking the truth in love” is all about. And it seems to me ironic that the vast majority of churches have found ways to live with deep divisions over war an...

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/leithart/2014/09/maturing-into-one by Peter J. Leithart 9 . 2 . 14 Jesus prays that His disciples “might be matured into one” ( osin teteleiomenoi eis hen , John 17:23). It’s a pregnant phrase. Unity requires maturity, the willingness to deal with those who differ, the willingness to face conflict without anxiety. Think of marriage. Maturity is nurtured by the difficult work of unity. When we face conflict without fear, we grow, most especially in faith. Think of marriage. Division is childish. It’s childish to retreat into our safe places, where everyone is like us. Division rules in the childish world of the old covenant (cf. Galatians 4), the world split in two by the cut of circumcision, a world of tribes and tongues and nations and peoples. To be content with division is to revert to that old world. Division is a form of Judaizing. We cannot have mature Christianity in the midst of our divisions, because maturation is maturation t...