tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post1333036245055438966..comments2023-10-30T04:07:47.437-07:00Comments on Advancing the Kingdom of God: Beware of Grammatolatry by Robert RicciardelliRobert Ricciardellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160368258138662091noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post-14152845946437818122009-04-01T15:54:00.000-07:002009-04-01T15:54:00.000-07:00Could it be that we are so devisive, as a church, ...Could it be that we are so devisive, as a church, because we love so little? Could it be that we love self more than we love God and His church? Could it be that we are so unhappy and out of touch with the source of peace that we have to have an enemy and do not really care who it is?Marietjiehttp://www.afcichase.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post-57995015040678955952009-03-31T07:17:00.000-07:002009-03-31T07:17:00.000-07:00Perhaps Boardman or Paul was taken out of context ...Perhaps Boardman or Paul was taken out of context here. The Letter (or the law) indeed kills (II Cor 3:6) as it leads us to a dead end of failure only a savior could rescue and recesitate us from. I must heartily agree that without the Spirit our understanding of Scripture is at best foolishness, mechanized, stone like, and in vain, however let us not mix the 'letter' with Scripture that by self admission in II Timothy 3:16 is 'breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.'<BR/><BR/>God's breathing implying through the Holy Spirit as evidenced in other places in Scripture.<BR/><BR/>I guess I really wanted to caution Boardman's misuse of II Corinthians 3:6. Unity in the Body of Christ,by the Spirit, is bar none the most centralized theme of the New Testament. Paul here was emphasizing purpose of the 'letter' to bring sinners to Christ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post-86517547647876686042009-03-30T15:18:00.000-07:002009-03-30T15:18:00.000-07:00Why is Unity So Illusive?I have a theory. Unity i...Why is Unity So Illusive?<BR/><BR/>I have a theory. Unity is illusive because we believe that it is a thing, or a state that can be achieved separate and apart from Jesus. <BR/><BR/>It cannot. God has a Unity for us that is so much higher than this man-made construct.<BR/><BR/>Recently the most apparent example of the futility of bringing about Unity in the church emerged over the election. Though most Christian conservatives rallied around a political party and a candidate--that effort at Unity only produced Disappointment and not the outcome they desired.<BR/><BR/>We need to really examine that disappointment. I believe that from this point and going forward--we are going to see disappointment manifest anytime Christians attempt to create Unity from a Lesser Thing.<BR/><BR/>Pentecost<BR/><BR/>Acts 2:1 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."<BR/><BR/>IN CHRIST JESUS is the only transcendent and eternal unity. It is not a movement, a political affiliation, a denomination; it is neither male or female, gentile or Jew, slave or free. <BR/><BR/>Robert I amen you... And I believe the Reformation that you call for is a Reformation of Reality.<BR/><BR/>We must wake up and find ourselves in Acts 17:28<BR/><BR/>"...in Him we live and move and have our being."<BR/><BR/>Anything less is sinking sand and bears the fruit of disappointment.<BR/><BR/>Appreciate you.<BR/><BR/>Kelly Deppen<BR/>BridgesKelly Deppenhttp://www.parabola.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post-35928868609076696502009-03-30T09:50:00.000-07:002009-03-30T09:50:00.000-07:00I agree that "the letter alone kills...it is the S...I agree that "the letter alone kills...it is the Spirit within the letter that gives life." However, to discard the letter and the correct interpretation of it (from the culture, language and context in which it was written)has resulted in the divisions that characterize the church. Early on the believers separated from those who birthed us....our Jewish brothers....and have tried to interpret their scriptures apart from them! How arrogant and foolish....We Gentiles are the spiritual descendants of the Jewish people. "Salvation is from the Jews," John 4:22 Paul says that those of us who are Gentiles by birth and separated from Christ, "excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise" have been INCLUDED through the blood of Christ. "Consequently, we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." Eph. 2:12,19 Unity will only occur as the church begins to honor the origins of our faith. Paul said, "Do not boast over those branches (that have been cut off). If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. Do not be arrogant." Rom. 11 We have much to learn from the ancient paths.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post-22889055724055130152009-03-30T09:00:00.000-07:002009-03-30T09:00:00.000-07:00amen to that!amen to that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post-47619028771134377052009-03-30T08:27:00.000-07:002009-03-30T08:27:00.000-07:00Right on, brother.Shalom,Bill BremerColorado Sprin...Right on, brother.<BR/><BR/>Shalom,<BR/>Bill Bremer<BR/>Colorado SpringsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3675435213767321001.post-77136690279008931562009-03-30T04:42:00.000-07:002009-03-30T04:42:00.000-07:00Dear Robert,I have struggled with this problem for...Dear Robert,<BR/><BR/>I have struggled with this problem for many years now, and discovered that "kingdom building," and "church planting" by now are born out of presumption in the builders and planters. Your last sentence, for instance: "We must begin to establish relational communities that are authentic, have no agenda, and establish a safe place where expressions or preferences take a back seat to love and serving one another."<BR/><BR/>Every time we "establish" anything it is bound to have walls of human preference around it. It is not about what we call things. It is about who and what The Lord calls. If we can just back off from our presumptuousness, and like Jesus, discover those The Lord has give us in Him, we might get to step far enough to the rear to discover what God calls Church.<BR/><BR/>Bless You!<BR/><BR/>Love!<BR/><BR/>JayJay Ferrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01647192166120365647noreply@blogger.com