Serious questions for Christians.

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You have searched the words of many more pastors

May 18, 2020, 11:02 AM

than I have, such that "ANY" is an indictment. Kudos for your research.

The message I have heard has been simple and consistent, which has seemed right to me; the more existential the issue the more basic the Truth. "Jesus, if you had only been here rather than dallying around would not have happened, and whatever killed my brother and your friend wouldn't have happened. You failed us."

"Lazarus isn't really dead. He will rise again."

"Oh, Jesus, I know THAT. This is me you're talking to. We're all Jews here, remember? I got the last judgement and all that."

"No, you're missing it. I am the resurrection and the life. If you believe in me, there is no death. Do you believe this?"

There is no other message. No prayer prescription, no bible reading course, no act of service to the community can make that true for the individual. When everyone is panicking and placing blame, do you, the individual, know that Jesus has already died ahead of you and has taken you Home with Him? Do you know that this is not your home, that no death can happen to you here that has not already happened to all? Do you know you have nothing to worry about? If the answers are not already "yes" no sermon can make you feel better.

The only truthful sermon regarding covid is to remind the believers of this, and to call the not-yet believers to it.

The only meaningful application to daily life I have heard as two interdependent parts:

1. Remember where this, and every disease and every human ill comes from. There is an enemy, and your neighbor is not it. We are all complicit in this, and there is only one Victor over that enemy. Therefore, do not look to humans for either a scapegoat or a solution. Neither are there.

2. Keep this hopeful and peaceful attitude, because if the worst happens people might again be willing to drop their pride and be open to looking beyond humanity for answers. Disasters destroy the facade of human control. Be ready with the answer, which is the simply Gospel story above.

As best as I can tell, #2 is yet to happen. People are by and large doubling down on human dependence, even sacrificing freedom and identity in the hope that someone can fix the unfixable. But there are individuals who do ask for answers, and they are looking for authenticity, one who is not blaming someone else.

There is no prescription for one to follow in any of that. There are no Five-Simple-Steps-To-Peace. The Creator has already taken one Home, or one is still holding on to this world, and to the prideful belief that answers are found here. So, there is the offer to drop the rebellion, abandon one's pride, and come Home. "You must be born again."

This is the message I have heard. It seems right to me.

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Mk 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

Jesus spoke these words before He ever went to the cross. The people He spoke those words to, they understood what the cross was. They had witnessed the pain and suffering it inflicted upon those found guilty and sentenced to die by the cross. Therefore, they would also understand the sacrifice they were committing themselves to. That Jesus was calling them to.

Beginning with:

1. They would deny themselves. Whatever the worldly side of their being tried to do which interfered with their following of Christ, they were to deny it - to deny self for the sake of Christ.

2. Even it it means the pain of the cross, deny yourself and follow Christ Jesus. They were to take up their own cross - whatever that burden entailed. The problem, however, with being a living sacrifice is this, when it gets uncomfortable we can get up off the alter and leave. Proving by this action, the true measure of our faith.

3. The Christian is not called into the expectation that life will be all rainbows and butterflies. They are not called to complain against, or about, God either when their life gets hard. Or when they don't understand what is happening - as if God ever owed anyone an explanation about what happens everyday.

4. God has not told us why, or where this is heading. But He has made us a promise. The Christian knows what that is. And having the assurance of that promise they are filled with peace that surpasses all understanding - or even explanation by them other than to say this, God is good all the time.

5. Is your calling to follow Jesus any different? You have a special pass that no one else gets? You want help - from a man? Because He owes it to you? My, my, how far from the altar some have fled.

Message was edited by: HuntClub®

Not sure what you're looking for...

Re: Not sure what you're looking for...

Yes, just not sure how a pastor would divorce those

Re: Yes, just not sure how a pastor would divorce those

Oy vey. You clearly are not hanging out the Messianic Jews.

I knew that, but didn’t think you were Jewish?***

OK, no I don't personally know any.***

ATL PAW MAN, I would like to apologize to you

I’m not being snarky here.....you’ve really never seen

No.

Fair enough....I think the first time I noticed it

No offense taken. Many are not aware of this custom.***

Re: ATL PAW MAN, I would like to apologize to you

Throughout my 49 years of spiritual life...

that's fine for belief/faith, but G-d sure is wiping out a

That is an interesting idea to discuss, and of course it

not helpful and nothing to do with present, physical reality***

Doesn't fit what you want to believe.

That is not a sweeping promise that...

G-d sure as Hades has permitted it, has He not?***

Yes. But here you have to fish or cut bait.

...a forum in which....***

Re: G-d sure as Hades has permitted it, has He not?***

bats and snakes are not kosher - so there is that, but DAYUM

They probably want to keep quiet on this.

exactly - was hoping someone had a good/better take

He manufactured one. If one buys into the strawman,

I’m not sure why it’s so baffling.

This is a straw man post. No one here has said anything

OK..why does God allow children to get Covid an die?

A miracle is

Sounds like you want a microbiologist.***

You have searched the words of many more pastors

Here a couple of solid sermons I've watched lately.

Well... Since you asked...

decent answers by N.T. Wright...

Have you not read in the Scripture

Thanks for your efforts, NT Wright came closest but nothing

You seem to be projecting based on nothing. I mean,

I agree about the craving for contact. Our church is

Dang broseph, we had a session meeting last week and

#smartdecision***

Well, if the church was just a place where people gathered

Yep. I've read the Bible cover-to-cover three times.

There is something I don't understand

I simply wanted a better take than "G-d is in control".

Hey, I hear you

I've seen a lot of pastors worrying about money***

Amen. "There won't be an Easter"! Translation: Ea$ter is a

These pastors practiced what they preached.

gotta respect the ones who went out Mardi Grasin' though.

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