Comments on: The Unoffensive Gospel of Jesus: Beginning Properly With Creation http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation I write within the tension of spirituality and culture, politics and theology, existing and emerging forms of church, the Kingdom of God and Empire America, modern and postmodern thought, & the gritty drama that is my pilgrim story. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:13:56 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jeremy http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation/comment-page-1#comment-17705 Jeremy Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:19:06 +0000 http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation#comment-17705 maria...I appreciate your transparency :) but truth be told: i can be an asshole like the rest of them, too! And while I dont want to say "you'll have to wait until the other posts"...you'll have to wait until the other posts :) Seriously, though, I think the "answer" to your question (not that I think I'm the one to provide that answer!) unfolds in the telling of the entire Story. So here in the Creation Act we see what we were meant to be, but obviously we're not which is explained in the Rebellion Act. But Redemption Act (which includes the act of incarnation, inauguration of the Kingdom of Heaven, AND the Cross...) explains the hope of putting to rights the Humans and Creation. And finally, the Re-Creation Act brings the full restoration we all long. So anyway, hopefully the next few "acts" of the story will bring some clarity, for you AND me, because I'm learning through writing this thing just as much as you may be learning through reading! be His, -jeremy maria…I appreciate your transparency :) but truth be told: i can be an asshole like the rest of them, too! And while I dont want to say “you’ll have to wait until the other posts”…you’ll have to wait until the other posts :)

Seriously, though, I think the “answer” to your question (not that I think I’m the one to provide that answer!) unfolds in the telling of the entire Story. So here in the Creation Act we see what we were meant to be, but obviously we’re not which is explained in the Rebellion Act. But Redemption Act (which includes the act of incarnation, inauguration of the Kingdom of Heaven, AND the Cross…) explains the hope of putting to rights the Humans and Creation. And finally, the Re-Creation Act brings the full restoration we all long.

So anyway, hopefully the next few “acts” of the story will bring some clarity, for you AND me, because I’m learning through writing this thing just as much as you may be learning through reading!

be His,
-jeremy

]]> By: maria http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation/comment-page-1#comment-17704 maria Sat, 01 Dec 2007 23:27:16 +0000 http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation#comment-17704 wow Jeremy you are on a roll. My question is this: if as Christians we are supposed to be changed, why it is so easy to slip back into being a-holes? Why isn't it more intuitive to be kind, loving, etc.? This is one of those questions where I feel like I used to know the "right" religious answer, but don't anymore. 50 points to you if you can answer this question without using the words "justification" or "sanctification." I just get frustrated. We are supposed to be made new, but most of the time, especially lately, I still feel that sense of existential despair, allow myself to snap at my partner, and basically am selfish. If Christ is "dwelling" or whatever, is a part of my life now, shouldn't that be a little less natural? Also, wouldnt it be better for the faith AND church to NOT identify as a Christian until I had my crap together, so-to-speak? I personally think sometimes it would've been better not to out myself as a Christian because then when I act like a jerk people wouldn't think "O! theres another hypocrite for Christ!" etc etc etc peace wow Jeremy you are on a roll. My question is this: if as Christians we are supposed to be changed, why it is so easy to slip back into being a-holes? Why isn’t it more intuitive to be kind, loving, etc.? This is one of those questions where I feel like I used to know the “right” religious answer, but don’t anymore. 50 points to you if you can answer this question without using the words “justification” or “sanctification.”

I just get frustrated. We are supposed to be made new, but most of the time, especially lately, I still feel that sense of existential despair, allow myself to snap at my partner, and basically am selfish. If Christ is “dwelling” or whatever, is a part of my life now, shouldn’t that be a little less natural?

Also, wouldnt it be better for the faith AND church to NOT identify as a Christian until I had my crap together, so-to-speak? I personally think sometimes it would’ve been better not to out myself as a Christian because then when I act like a jerk people wouldn’t think “O! theres another hypocrite for Christ!” etc etc etc

peace

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation/comment-page-1#comment-17699 Jeremy Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:54:55 +0000 http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation#comment-17699 Thanks Peg! I didnt want to say it straight out, but I guess I could in a comment...I am sorta using "unoffensive" as a rhetorical device to play off the idea that we think Jesus' good news is had inherent offense to it, rather than in it's wooden definition. I agree with you that the idea of surrendering one's story and Rhythm of Life to God's is offends people's sensibilities for freedom and individuality, but where I have a hard time is saying Jesus' good news itself is offensive. Does that make sense? So my heart is to get us to think about the Jesus we show and the message of His we tell to the world, and think using the word "unoffensive" to describe both could push that re-evaluation and hopefully re-articulation. Thanks Peg! I didnt want to say it straight out, but I guess I could in a comment…I am sorta using “unoffensive” as a rhetorical device to play off the idea that we think Jesus’ good news is had inherent offense to it, rather than in it’s wooden definition. I agree with you that the idea of surrendering one’s story and Rhythm of Life to God’s is offends people’s sensibilities for freedom and individuality, but where I have a hard time is saying Jesus’ good news itself is offensive. Does that make sense?

So my heart is to get us to think about the Jesus we show and the message of His we tell to the world, and think using the word “unoffensive” to describe both could push that re-evaluation and hopefully re-articulation.

]]> By: Peg http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation/comment-page-1#comment-17698 Peg Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:14:07 +0000 http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation#comment-17698 Jeremy, Interesting stuff! I totally agree about the need to start in Genesis 2 rather than Genesis 3, and I think the old "Roman Road" is great for modernist thinking but misses the mark with postmodern. A couple thoughts: Is it possible for the gospel to be unoffensive? No matter how you slice it, Jesus' words tell us change is needed in our lives... and there will always be folks who are offended at the word "change" (if not offended at the Lord Himself). Other thought: 2 Cor 5 talks about the "ministry of reconciliation" -- how to expand on that to include restoration? Very interesting stuff -- looking forward to more! Peg Jeremy,

Interesting stuff! I totally agree about the need to start in Genesis 2 rather than Genesis 3, and I think the old “Roman Road” is great for modernist thinking but misses the mark with postmodern.

A couple thoughts: Is it possible for the gospel to be unoffensive? No matter how you slice it, Jesus’ words tell us change is needed in our lives… and there will always be folks who are offended at the word “change” (if not offended at the Lord Himself).

Other thought: 2 Cor 5 talks about the “ministry of reconciliation” — how to expand on that to include restoration?

Very interesting stuff — looking forward to more!
Peg

]]> By: John http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation/comment-page-1#comment-17697 John Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:33:15 +0000 http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation#comment-17697 "tradtion" should read "traditional" above “tradtion” should read “traditional” above

]]> By: John http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation/comment-page-1#comment-17696 John Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:32:39 +0000 http://www.novuslumen.net/the-unoffensive-gospel-of-jesus-beginning-properly-with-creation#comment-17696 Jeremy, This is a clear and passionate call to expand the Story beyond the well-worn tradition chapters of Genesis 3 (The Fall) and Romans 3 "...all have sinned."). The first impulse of God is to bless, not to curse (Gen. 1 precedes Gen 3 in my Bible). Very provocative post! Will follow the series. Jeremy,
This is a clear and passionate call to expand the Story beyond the well-worn tradition chapters of Genesis 3 (The Fall) and Romans 3 “…all have sinned.”). The first impulse of God is to bless, not to curse (Gen. 1 precedes Gen 3 in my Bible). Very provocative post! Will follow the series.

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