Comments on: On the gospel… http://seeingclearly.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/on-the-gospel/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:36:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: clearly http://seeingclearly.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/on-the-gospel/#comment-356 clearly Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:33:00 +0000 http://seeingclearly.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/on-the-gospel/#comment-356 Also, I don't think that social aid is part of the gospel. I think it validates it (or at least miracles did for Christ) and I think that good works, in general, flow from the gospel. I don't think we will agree on this_ Also, I don’t think that social aid is part of the gospel. I think it validates it (or at least miracles did for Christ) and I think that good works, in general, flow from the gospel. I don’t think we will agree on this_

]]> By: clearly http://seeingclearly.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/on-the-gospel/#comment-355 clearly Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:31:48 +0000 http://seeingclearly.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/on-the-gospel/#comment-355 Hey Phil, It would be hard to disagree with most of what you said --- I don't really see what you said as being in opposition to what I posted. We probably have different ideas of the kingdom to some extent, but I don't believe that there can be a kingdom without a cross (Col. 1:13-14) --- the cross comes before the kingdodm --- Christ's suffering precedes his glorification. Hey Phil,

It would be hard to disagree with most of what you said — I don’t really see what you said as being in opposition to what I posted.

We probably have different ideas of the kingdom to some extent, but I don’t believe that there can be a kingdom without a cross (Col. 1:13-14) — the cross comes before the kingdodm — Christ’s suffering precedes his glorification.

]]> By: phil http://seeingclearly.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/on-the-gospel/#comment-354 phil Sun, 15 Jul 2007 19:58:12 +0000 http://seeingclearly.wordpress.com/2007/07/14/on-the-gospel/#comment-354 Hey Dave, I understand what you're getting at, but I kind of think you're reacting against a straw man to some extent. I can't say I've really heard anyone say that the gospel is "merely handing out meals at a soup kitchen or merely providing shelter for the homeless and afflicted..etc" I have heard people say or imply that those things are part of the gospel, but not the whole. I would say that both proclamation and demonstration need to be part of a presentation of the Gospel. If it just proclamation, it is just words. If it is just demonstration, it becomes a social project with no real power behind it. I would also say that demonstration could include things you don't list there like healings or other miracles. It seems like demonstration is one thing that the Holy Spirit could contextualize (I know that word has all sorts of baggage, but I'm not meaning it in a postmodern sense) how this happens. I think we would do well to focus on the Gospel by saying it how Jesus said it, "the Kingdom of God is at hand". Jesus' death and resurrection opened the gates to the Kingdom for all. Certainly the message of the cross still contains an element of offense, and I think it always will. Hey Dave,
I understand what you’re getting at, but I kind of think you’re reacting against a straw man to some extent. I can’t say I’ve really heard anyone say that the gospel is “merely handing out meals at a soup kitchen or merely providing shelter for the homeless and afflicted..etc” I have heard people say or imply that those things are part of the gospel, but not the whole.

I would say that both proclamation and demonstration need to be part of a presentation of the Gospel. If it just proclamation, it is just words. If it is just demonstration, it becomes a social project with no real power behind it. I would also say that demonstration could include things you don’t list there like healings or other miracles. It seems like demonstration is one thing that the Holy Spirit could contextualize (I know that word has all sorts of baggage, but I’m not meaning it in a postmodern sense) how this happens.

I think we would do well to focus on the Gospel by saying it how Jesus said it, “the Kingdom of God is at hand”. Jesus’ death and resurrection opened the gates to the Kingdom for all. Certainly the message of the cross still contains an element of offense, and I think it always will.

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