tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455062295291252427.post4853801872962372889..comments2023-08-01T10:08:58.388+02:00Comments on Keeping Up ... with the Joneses: When (and how) do people come to Jesus?Steven Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08152927209644414146noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455062295291252427.post-36447602511990702752011-02-07T17:30:12.143+02:002011-02-07T17:30:12.143+02:00Hi Mark
My apologies for taking so long to reply....Hi Mark<br /><br />My apologies for taking so long to reply.<br /><br />Firstly, to your question "if 'all can be saved', why aren't they?", my understanding is based on our God-given freedom of choice, an example of which is found in Revelation 3: 19-20. We were not created as robots. It is often a source of both wonder and bewilderment that God would allow humankind the freedom to choose, but then again, those God-sourced virtues such as love, kindness, etc. could never be real unless freely expressed.<br /><br />As to your second question, I understand "content" as being the Gospel message, and "packaging" being the way we present it (often through our churches, but mostly by the way we live). For example, suppose you heard that a particular restaurant served the best food in town. However, when you arrive at the restaurant concerned, you find that the carpets are worn through, the tablecloths are full of cigarette burns, the waiter is rude to you, it takes forever to prepare it, and when the chef comes out with this much-anticipated meal (on chipped plates), he is wearing a greasy overall, his fingernails are dirty, and he has a foul-smelling cigar stuck in the corner of his mouth. Would you want to eat there? I know I wouldn't!<br /><br />The same goes for the way we as Christians sometimes present Jesus. It's not about whether we worship with hymns or choruses, or whether or not we say the "Our Father" each week. Each to their own, as far as worship styles are concerned, as long as it brings the person concerned closer to Jesus. Rather, it is our empty rituals (whatever form these take, whether traditional or contemporary), "clubs" that pass for churches (where the "insiders" matter and those who are "out" remain outsiders), and less-than-exemplary lifestyles that cause many not to seek out the real Christ.<br /><br />I'm however open to debate and discussion on these - in fact, I'd welcome it.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />StevenSteven Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08152927209644414146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2455062295291252427.post-40983952353130094502011-01-22T19:23:24.734+02:002011-01-22T19:23:24.734+02:00:).
Hey Steve,
Cool thoughts.
Two questions, fi...:).<br /><br />Hey Steve,<br /><br />Cool thoughts.<br /><br />Two questions, firstly, if "all <i>can</i> be saved" why aren't they? Secondly, what for you is the distinction between packaging and content?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com