Mark Conner and Rob Bell

I like Rob Bell, I found his Nooma series a fantastic tool. Thought provoking and useful as a conversation starter.

Unfortunately Rob Bell has his enemies; I had one person leave our Church with one of the reasons been Rob was heretical. He has probably became more heretical in some people's eyes now with his coming out in support of same sex marriage...

I was encouraged of late when I read Mark Connors blog while not pointing to any doctrinal errors with Rob Bell was happy to quote others and without writing explicitly so keep Rob Bell in the evangelical fold.

Encouraging from one of the biggest names in evangelical Christianity in Australia.

 

Rob Bell comes out

 

According to homebrew Christianity Rob Bell one of my favourite Christian community communicators has come out in support of same sex marriage.

Well it had to happen and I think more of the main line leaders will start affirming same sex marriage. Starting as a trickle but it will pick up.

Interestingly the first attack is about he isn't a 'pastor' in a working sence anymore therefore Bell has lost credibility! I wonder how accademics, retired pastors, authors etc feel about this sort of badge you need to speak out?

Anyway, my prayers are with Bell; for he will be coping it. Many friends disowning him to protect there own position.

 

Reading a bit more critically...

One of the things that I often reflect on is how I read and listen differently to how I would have 20 years ago. I was in many ways forced to look at things critically with tertiary education

I've been reading Mark Connors series on relationships and specifically his thoughts on homosexuality.

Once upon a time I would have just swallowed it. No questions asked.

Now I'd want to know: Who is Mark Connors? Would he be writing from a certain bent? The answer is easily googled. Pentecostal, largest church in Melbourne. Just from this information, I've worked out the angle of the article, usually I wouldn't even need to read on. (I like Mark Connors I'm not sure I agree with his outworking of the meta-narrative of scripture but I like how he is on the side of the wretched and poor)

There are questions which I think the secular world is waiting for an answer from evangelical pentecostal churches. The most important is when a homosexual couple is in a loving monogomous relationship? I think that most of the verses Mark mentions is in context of a lustful homsexual incounters.

The other questions which I would be asking are there others historically and contempory which have contrary views?

Of cource there are::

A great piece by baptist minister in Collins Street Simon Cary Holt, supporting homosexual marriage.

The ancient Church there are examples of Homosexual marriage: From the wikipedia::

Historian John Boswell claimed the 4th century Christian martyrs Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus were united in the ritual of adelphopoiesis, which he calls an early form of religious same-sex marriage

A cure for homosexuality; a reading of an article by Jerray Marks is perfound and worth reading.

So like most things now I read differntly, with a critical eye; sometimes I swing one side or another but usualy If I don't have much inverstment I sit on the fence. But others where I think there is an issue of equality and Gods overall plan, then I'll look at things a bit more critically.

One of the biggest challenges for me as a Christian who once held Mark Connors view, was really knowing and understanding Homosexuals. I would think that the majority of large Church pastors in Melbourne would not have a homosexual friend that they have walked next to in friendship for over 10 years. Known there ups and downs; The desperate measures they get to.

It gives there didactic writings and orations no credibility.

I was pleased to read from Mark that "Anti-Gay is not an option" phew, some have moved on, even if slowly.

 

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Post Function...

Recently I went to function where the majority where evangelical leaders of the extrovert variety, with lots of name dropping. It was on many levels a struggle. Those who know me, know that I am fairly introverted, these sort of events just make me feel I want to curl up even more. The other was the realisation that I've moved on from their understanding of Christian faith.

This event crystallised much in my mind some of the faith differences

It seems that a huge aspect of evangelical faith is the relationship with God and the Great Commission. It seemed the coincidences of life always in conversation pointed to God and a relationship. That there is often a non-deliberate and deliberate invitation for others to follow, to become Christians.

vs

The Kingdom of God is what I work towards, social justice, compassion, ecco-responsibility, simplicity and peace, for me my relationship with God is a buy product of these thing. If God speaks, it is through these things. If people follow and get on board that is a buy product.

Its not as straight forward as a 'personal relationship' but then I think people, myself once included, think that it will be like a human to human relationship, 'personal'. It in reality not the case. Its one of the reasons I've changed my understanding of Christianity.

Why go down a liberal track?

I have decided that there are aspects in my faith that I call 'schizophrenic'. There are times I can affirm an evangelical theologians and other times I can affirm liberal theologians. While strangely I don't feel as if my faith waivers, only maybe the 'literal' aspect of the stories but that is about it.

I've writen this before but I really afirm Jesus two commandments. Mathew 22:36-39

 ³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^{[b] 38}This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^[c]

Having a liberal persuasion you can affirm both these two commandments with more freedom.
For me their is an intellectual aspect which affirms the searching deeper for God, even if this takes you to place which questions aspects of your belief and values. This is seen in the first command.
The second command makes it easier to love the gay couple that moved in next door.
The evangelical, fundamental position has clauses with Jesus Great commandment usually associated with objections from the Old Testament and Paul.  These clauses usually doesn't account for culture, time, place or a Christological position (Eg Jesus didn't comment).

For me Churches which accept the  liberal position, there is a wide breadth of position in which I can have my schizophrenic positions yet still feel safe. Its homely position.

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