Marginal Christianity

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Howard Snyder (Based on a non-canonical hypothetical conversation between Jesus and Thomas.) For forty days after his resurrection, Jesus met often with his apostles, speaking about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). The apostles asked many questions about times and seasons, and about God’s plan. One day Thomas said to Jesus, “You rose from the dead and defeated Satan! But there is still so much violence and evil in the world. Why?” Jesus replied, “As I have often told you, there are many things you do not understand now, but you will know later.” Thomas said, “But can you give us some help now? We are troubled and puzzled that we still see so much suffering and evil all around us!” read more at: http://howardsnyder.seedbed.com/2016/03/08/problem-evil-solved/

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8024463059512837285#editor/target=post;postID=2267554768549433853 Posted on March 3, 2014 by Howard Snyder Church planting assumes an ecological process. The very term is organic, not mechanical or architectural. If we’re talking about the body of Christ , not an institution or edifice, we don’t build the church. We don’t erect the church. We don’t even start a church, for that is the Spirit’s work. We plant and grow churches. More accurately: Effective church planters take the lead in planting good gospel seed and become “coworkers” with God (Col. 4:11, Phil. 4:3, 3 John 1:8) in growing faithful, witnessing communities of disciples. The Bible does of course use building language—for example in Ephesians 2 and 1 Peter 2. Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Mt. 16:18). These references are clearly metaphorical, though. Peter speaks of “living stones” (1 Pt. 2:5). Paul saws the edifice “grows” into “a dwelling p...

http://howardsnyder.seedbed.com/2013/11/05/americas-top-gods/ Posted on November 5, 2013 by Howard Snyder Americans are fundamentally polytheists, worshiping at the shrines of many gods. Many who call themselves Christians are as polytheistic as Hindus. We of course have different names for our gods of prosperity, fertility , good luck, or whatever. Money and success have often been thought of as America’s gods. “God is gold,” “the Almighty Dollar,” and all that. But things have changed over the years. Money has been demoted to a somewhat lesser deity, though still devoutly worshiped. America’s Top Gods Here are North America’s seven most popular gods. By “god” I mean something (anything) in our life that commands more loyalty, dedication, and devotion than the one true Living God. Not necessarily the highest loyalty, since many of us are functional polytheists, whatever we claim. But sincere and central devotion. The question then becomes: What is yo...