14 Nov 06 Food For Thought
The teachings of Jesus, as well as his lifestyle, are applicable to anyone in any culture who desires to follow him. A follower of Jesus Christ will reflect in her lifestyle the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus.
The teachings of the apostles were applicable to those believers wanting to live out their Christian faith in their culture. These teachings were given specifically for followers of Jesus Christ to be relevant in their existing culture.
Do these two thoughts agree with each other? Are these two thoughts in opposition to each other? Do either of these thoughts make a difference in how we live our life for Christ in our own day and age?
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Perhaps from the Book of Acts and going forward, wasn’t a “pattern†to be followed but rather the first of many “models†used by honest, flawed, Holy Spirit filled men and women who were seeking to be Jesus to lost and dying world?
Randy, I’m so glad you and your family are
okay and not about to be displaced!
[Judy, You can't believe 3/4 of what Greg writes!]
Some of what the Apostles said was just for Christians in first century culture. Most of what they said is for today. Jesus also spoke to cultural situations, and those would have to be considered.
I would have to be very careful if I were to draw a big distinction in ways to apply Jesus, lifestyle and teachings, opposed to Apostles’ lifestyle and teachings. I’ve been to way too many studies, heard too many sermons, etc. where people have said: I know what the Bible says, but that was Paul and not Jesus.
Can write HTML in this comment Box?
Why doesn’t Randy give us editing tools to comment with
Serious post beginning now:What if we’ve missed the whole point with our focus on restoration? Does it seem odd to anyone else that Jesus never once looks backwards, summoning people to return to the one, true way? Does it seem strange to anyone that the whole idea of placing a target 2000 into history runs counter-intuitive to every group dynamics principle involving growth or development? Maybe the answer to Randy’s question is on perception and not on making the two items fit together?If our focus is on reconciliation instead of restoration, it is so much easier to make the cultural application. It becomes about restoring the relationship between people and God and not about restoring a 1st century model of church. The only way to make the church universally applicable is to allow it to manifest any context. Anything else denies God’s active hand in society.Could write more, but won’t. Just a glimpse into my head.
Brady said, “Some of what the Apostles said was just for Christians in first century culture. Most of what they said is for today.”
I don’t disagree with that. But I do have a problem with it. And my problem is with WHO decides what part of the Bible is for 1st century Christians and what part is for me. It seems to me that disagreements about THAT have contributed to most of the major divisions that still plague us today.
Paul’s views on the roles of women in the church are considered by many to still be pertinent today. I do not view them that way. But who’s to say?