Category Archives: Two Views…
From Theology to Spirituality: "In the Image of God" (part 2)
We continue thinking about the spiriutality that is built on the foundation we’ve been looking at for many weeks. In those lessons we did some rethinking of the unquestioned assumptions that often goes into the doctrines of our faith. Continue reading
Posted in Two Views...
Tagged Divine union, human nature, Image of God, original sin, total depravity
Leave a comment
From Theology to Spirituality: "In The Image of God" (part 1)
For many weeks, we’ve been thinking about the theology of our faith, and how our unquestioned assumptions, and the things taught us often betray us and lead us into a sickened spiritual state. Today we begin to look at how rebuild a healthy spirituality on the foundations of these reconsidered Truths. Continue reading
Posted in Two Views...
Tagged Divine union, human nature, Image of God, sin, total depravity
Leave a comment
Thinking About Thinking About Jesus (Appendix)
by Doug Hammack [Download MP3] In the lesson we did before the summer break, there were two Stories about how we think about Jesus “dying to save us,” that we couldn’t fit in. I thouht they were beautiful enough stories … Continue reading
Posted in Two Views...
Tagged Atonement, Love, Moral Influence Theory, Powerful Weakness Theory, Rethinking Religion, salvation
Leave a comment
Thinking About Thinking About Jesus (conclusion)
We conclude our lesson on thinking about what the words “Jesus died for our sins” mean. Today we look at other stories that frame our understanding besides the “penal substitution” theory of salvation. We consider the Ransom Theory, the Christus … Continue reading
Posted in Two Views...
Tagged Atonement, Christus Victor, Love, Ransom Theory, repentance, Rethinking Religion, salvation
Leave a comment
Thinking about Thinking about Jesus (part 4)
In this lesson, we look at some of the problems with the most common way Western Christians think about salvation. The “penal substitution” theory of salvation was advocated in the 11th century by a man named Anselm, and while it … Continue reading
Posted in Two Views...
Tagged Atonement, feudalism, Love, penal substitution, Rethinking Religion, salvation
Leave a comment
Thinking About Thinking About Jesus (part 3)
Having laid two weeks of foundational concepts, we turn in this lesson to some introductory remarks about what we think the words “Jesus saves us from our sins” mean. In this lesson, we begin looking at some other ways of thinking about this than the familiar “substitutionary atonement” theory of salvation. This kind of thinking makes some folks a bit uncomfortable. Have a listen. Continue reading
Thinking About Thinking About Jesus (part 2)
Christians say that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was about more than just a good man, standing up for the downtrodden, and being martyred for his efforts. We believe that Jesus fulfilled something of great historical significance, enacting God’s purposes to save humanity.
To be able to think clearly about what it means that Jesus saves people, in this lesson we think about what sin is (the stuff we believe Jesus saves us from). Continue reading
Thinking About Thinking About Jesus (part 1)
This would be a continuation of the “Two Views” series of lessons, and we would call it “Two Views of Jesus.” However, over the course of this lesson, we’ll encounter at least five historical views of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
We could have called it “Five Views of Jesus,” but where’s the symmetry in that?
In this introductory message, we do some background thinking about God and love, and retell Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard. Continue reading
Posted in Two Views...
Tagged Love, peace, Rethinking Religion, salvation, value/worth
Leave a comment
Two Views of People (Part 3)
In this lesson, we conclude our look at two views of people. We see that the common view of ourselves as foreigners on the earth, waiting to go to heaven to find our heart’s true home tends to make for a version of Christianity less engaged with the teachings of Jesus. The view that we and the earth are being redeemed, and that we are co-travelers on the journey toward God’s purpose…
* this makes for a version of Christianity that better cares for the earth, better watches over it, and in general, makes us better citizens of the planet.
* Have a listen to this conclusion of the last three lessons. Continue reading
Posted in Two Views...
Tagged alienation, belonging, human nature, Owners or Renters?, Rethinking Religion, St. Francis
Leave a comment
Two Views of People (Part 2)
There is an old-time hymn titled, “This World is Not My Home.” The sentiment behind the hymn, and behind a common Christian view of humanity, is that we (ie the followers of Jesus) are resident aliens on this earth. We’re just waiting to get snatched away to our true home in heaven.
In this message we examine the problems with this view of things. If we’re resident aliens on the earth, it’s proving pretty difficult for us to be very good citizens here. Continue reading