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Post by stevekimes on Aug 3, 2011 7:24:18 GMT -8
So Josh wants some new topics, and I appreciate lists. Since theology is discussed a lot, let's go for favorite theological questions! These could be questions you've already answered, or questions that you think might never be answered. They could be serious or fanciful. Just remember that the only stupid question is the one not asked!
Here's my list of top theological questions. I tend to lean toward the unanswerable, myself:
1. Where do we draw the line between human responsibility, God's sovereignty and stuff that just happens without any direction?
2. Where does the body end and the soul begin?
3. What is the nature of the spiritual world? If it has different physical laws how can it relate to our world?
4. Why isn't the church more persecuted than it is?
5. If the church's main command is to love, why does it respond so often with prejudice and apathy?
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Post by Douglas on Aug 3, 2011 11:11:14 GMT -8
The one that caught my eye was "Why isn't the church more persecuted than it is? I must assume that you are talking about the church in the US. In the majority of the world the church is persecuted and often very heavily. If memory serves there have been more martyrs in the last century than the rest of church history combined. Perhaps the question ought to be rephrased.
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Post by robin on Aug 3, 2011 11:51:14 GMT -8
One of the organizations that Laine and I support is "The voice of the Martyrs". The stories that are told in their publications give strong evidence that horrific persecutions are still very common in many place around the globe. It is far from what we in the US experience.
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Post by Josh on Aug 3, 2011 22:42:52 GMT -8
1. What kind of spiritual life and future resurrection will the unborn and children who die at a young age have?
2. Why does God intervene in certain situations and not in other seemingly identical ones?
3. why is God invisible?
4. when is the church going to grow up?
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Post by stevekimes on Aug 5, 2011 8:06:52 GMT -8
The persecution question I would not change. There is persecution of the church in many countries, including the U.S. in small ways, but despite VotM and other good organizations letting us know of the suffering of some of the church, the amount of persecution anywhere is minimal compared to what the NT promises. Paul said, "Anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Frankly, that simply is not true today, in any country. No where is there anywhere close to 100 percent persecution.
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Post by Josh on Aug 5, 2011 8:31:03 GMT -8
What kind of persecution are you envisioning?
Also, as a counterpoint, Paul does also say that we should pray that we live "peaceful and quiet lives" and that this pleases God (1 Tim 2:2-3)
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Post by Douglas on Aug 5, 2011 14:12:30 GMT -8
I love the "when is the church going to grow up?" question. That could be taken so many ways. ; )
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Post by Josh on Aug 7, 2011 20:47:36 GMT -8
I want to hear other's "perennial questions"  |
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Post by Josh on Sept 10, 2011 10:02:34 GMT -8
What kind of persecution are you envisioning? Also, as a counterpoint, Paul does also say that we should pray that we live "peaceful and quiet lives" and that this pleases God (1 Tim 2:2-3) steve, I'm still curious to hear your thoughts on my comments here, when you get a chance. |
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Post by stevekimes on Sept 10, 2011 23:33:55 GMT -8
Actually, in I Tim 2, what pleases God is that the gospel is preached. But the gospel that is often preached is that of some form of dominion theology, prosperity doctrine or that of the Westboro ilk. Why shouldn't such theologies be rebelled against?
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that we are not being persecuted. Because so many have become so media savvy that they will tell the masses what their itching ears want to hear. Not necessarily the Westboro message, but the soft, lulling message of "peace, peace" when what God calls us to say is repentance for our sins. Not the sins of allowing homosexuals to exist (wow, those people are crazy), but the sins of not counter-protesting Westboro, of taking the easy road of doing what we are expected to do instead of radically loving, of ignoring how our small actions and inactions harm the innocent....
Hmm. I got my medicine. Maybe I should watch myself, here.
In the end, we are promised persecution ("Everyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"; "If they call the head of the household Beelzebul, they will call you..." etc.) So are we persecuted or are we not? If not, why not? If so, where and how?
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