The question we asked in our small group was, “What is the difference between the two?” Why do some people see God in circumstances and nature, why do some not? It is a vexing question.
Bell references the scripture which bodly declares, “the fool says in his heart there is no God”.
So often those we consider intellectual may have actually made a heart decision. That they will not see God, even when creation screams out His name. They may be fools.
If you are visiting this blog for the first time, or dont know me…this post may seem strange, or a bit weird…or you may think I am ‘one of those’…..but here goes.
Since when did the Bible stop being the foundation of our faith?
Since when did we start interpreting the bible as ‘just a bunch of stories’ with no practical instruction and even ‘shudder’ commands?
Since when did the Bible stop being a prescriptive document?
Is it because post modernism is pushing us too far the other way? Maybe, yet I have never resonated with modernism. Logical and rational arguments for proving God will only get us so far, we need faith. Someone wise mentioned to me the other day that we often interpret spiritual principles through a Greek mindset, to the detriment of the Hebrew one. I agree entirely with that.
Truth is that we need to understand that the Bible is true in all it affirms. And it affirms some very basic things about God, and His plan for our life.
If someone is not a Christian, thats one thing. But if someone says they are a Christian, and a church leader….then lets agree that the Bible is the place we turn to for truth, absolutes and what is sinful and against Gods nature. There is plenty of things I dont understand about God, His principles and why He operates the way He does. But I still surrender to what is clear from the scriptures, even if it sometimes grates against my culturally sensitive, post modernist mind.
Thanks to Q’s cleverness, you can now watch the Graham Mabury video online if you would like to.
Just go to our Church’s website and download the file, its about 40megs.
Church Resources
I took a minor in Philosophy when I did my Theology Degree at Murdoch University.
This appeals on many levels…..
Paul Borden’s words ring in my ears, ‘you count what is valuable to you’.
On Sunday we served communion to over 140 adults, which means there were more than that there.
But I can tell you exactly how many kids were there. I can tell you their names. I can access their phone numbers and addresses.
This is because our Childrens worker counts them, and keeps a record of their visit.
They are valuable to us.
They mean the world to us.
But we will focus on children. They need to hear and respond to the gospel. Not in some sort of ‘Jesus Camp’ way, but in the sense that the Bible speaks of, letting the children come to Jesus.
Steve Addison asks the question, “Where are the children?”. Well, 59 of them where at Inglewood Community Church on Sunday, thats something to be proud of, something to take joy in.
Graham Mabury’s message from Sunday is now online at our church website….
If you go to the page you can either listen or download it…..
http://www.inglewoodchurch.org.au/content.asp?p=51