Inherently Wrong!? :-S

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Posted by John Roberts | Posted on 28-08-2006

Category : Literature, Religion, Society

At the moment I am currently reading the book ââ?¬Å?Blue Like Jazzââ?¬Â by American writer Donald Miller, this is a book I bought a few years ago but it has nestled harmoniously in between all my other Christian books, until 3 days ago. I was packing, to get ready from my north to south move and I decided I would pack 3 books to go with me, I picked up the Bible, I picked up a copy of Twelfth Night which I am translating and for some reason I picked up Blue Like Jazz.

I have only read the 1st two chapters and already I could write 4 or 5 different posts on some of the things that have stood out at me, but this one thought has made me think for quite a while now are we born inherently wrong? What I mean is, are we born knowing how to be bad/naughty and not know what good is?

ââ?¬Å?some friends were over at the house, and they have a kid, about 4 or 5 years old or something, and they were telling me about child training. They said their kid had a slight problem telling them the truth about whether or not he had broken something or whether or not he had put away his toys, you know things like that. So later I started wondering why we have to train kids at all. I wondered, you know, if I ever had a couple of kids and I trained one of them, taught him right from wrong, and the other I didnââ?¬â?¢t train at all, I wonder which would be the better kid.ââ?¬Â
ââ?¬Å?The kid you teach right from wrong, of course.ââ?¬Â I told him
ââ?¬Å?Of course, but that really should tell us something about the Human condition. We have to be taught to be good. It doesnââ?¬â?¢t come completely natural. In my mind, thatââ?¬â?¢s the flaw in the human condition.ââ?¬Â
Extract from “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller, nelson 2003

Unfortunately this post is going to open up more questions than I can give answers too, I suppose it�s a post to find out what your thoughts are as much as what mine are.

So are we born inherently wrong?
Do we only know how to behave badly and we have to be taught what is right?
Is this a side effect of the Fall ââ?¬â?? after all we were created in Gods Perfect Image?
is this a problem caused by Satan, does he try and attack the young and innocent, when they still don�t know right from wrong?
Or do we know what Good is, but we just ignore it?

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God Has A Dream

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Posted by Jo Borley | Posted on 21-08-2006

Category : Literature

God has a dream. This is the title of an amazing book written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Nelson Mandela wrote of this book ‘Desmond Tutu shows each of us how to transform our pain and sorrow into hope and confidence in the future’. This book has helped me to understand how it is possible for us to see the world through God’s loving eyes.

For me, the most important message in this book was about how we judge. How do I put myself on a pedestal and look down on others? How do I judge sin? What categories do I create, so that the sins of my heart can appear to me as less important?

This book spoke so much love to me. Not a soppy kind of love that sweeps us off our feet, but true love, love that can only come from God. This love takes hard work, but it’s worth it, because it’s life transforming and world transforming.

Desmond Tutu has seen humanity at its worst and it blows my mind to think that little me, who lives such an easy life, should find it hard to have the love he demonstrates in some of the most unjust places in the world. In the face of his oppressors during the years of apartheid in South Africa Desmond would demonstrate such love that only God can give. Imagine how changed the world would be if we all strove to demonstrate this awesome love to those who oppose us.

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Something to interest?

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Posted by Felix Page | Posted on 20-07-2006

Category : Literature, Society

In their most recent newsletter XXX ChurchÃ? had this interesting letter from a guy…..Ã? Ã? 

The Buzz:
The book isnâ��t even out yet, the tour is a few weeks away, and yet Starving Jesus is already drawing attention all over the country. From pastors getting fired, to people giving away beds, to bikes being fixed in Texas. Starving Jesus is leaving its mark. Pastor Brian McDaniel dropped us this letter last weekâ�¦� � 

Hello,

I thought you might find it interesting, even humorous, to know that I preached a sermon last Sunday in which I quoted the introduction of your book, all the way to “Welcome to the conversation.” The part about committing “spiritual suicide” and saying “Church sucks” struck a chord, apparently.Ã? TwoÃ?  days later I was told to leave the church by my Pastor and the deacons. I was literally asked, “not to come back.”Ã? 

I was the full time Worship Pastor for 5-1/2 years and a bit controversial the entire time, because I consistently told people that worship was not for them, as the church has trained them to think, but that it’s for the heart of God. Of course, newer believers and teachable followers of Jesus passionately embraced this truth, but the larger majority has been struggling with me the entire time. My Pastor (and friend), however, supported and defended me throughout. Until now.Ã? 

I was already in the process of leaving the church to pursue a vision God has given my wife and I for a ministry that involves simply meeting people where they are, being Jesus instead of a church where we expect people looking for God to come. I can’t find that anywhere in the teachings of Jesus or the rest of the Bible.Ã? 

So after 15 years in full-time ministry we are finally doing what we believe Jesus intended for His bride to be. The only problem was that I wasn’t going to leave until the end of July. Last Sunday’s sermon was going to be my farewell address. I guess it really was!Ã? One of the ironies is that the Pastor loved the message and said it was the truth! But certain people were so upset and very vocal about their anger, so he felt it was best that he remove the one that “instigated” it. Hopefully he won’t do the same to the first revolutionary – Jesus Christ.Ã? 

Brian McDaniel Former Worship Pastor First Baptist Church of Vacaville, CA� 

I thought that this is something that might be of interest to some of ourÃ? more churchÃ? radicalÃ? readers! It certainly sounds like this book could be an interesting read….. I shall have a read and perhaps follow up with a review, if anyone feels like joining me in this reading adventure then grab yourself a copy here and letââ?¬â?¢s have a debate!Ã? Ã? 

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