Comments for Threads from Henry's Web

Comment on In Which I Discover that I Am Not a Thinking Person by Henry Neufeld

Henry Neufeld — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:29:36 +0000

I tend to agree. If I put myself in the proper skeptical frame of mind and then ask what evidence would convince me of the divinity of some particular person, I’m not sure I can find the evidence. There’s faith and subjectivity in there!

Comment on In Which I Discover that I Am Not a Thinking Person by John

John — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:26:43 +0000

Henry, found the site after reading “Not Afraid” ebook, which I’m very greatful to you for writing.

Dale Martin makes the case about why the limited historical examination shouldn’t be used to draw conclusions for either side in his lecture on the historical Jesus. Which, if you haven’t already seen can be found at: http://youtu.be/d_dOhg-Fpu0?t=13m22s with thanks to the wonderful people of Yale for putting it on the interwebs for free.

He also raises the important question of what exactly a test of Jesus’ (or anyone’s) divinity would look like, which I think is a question that deserves some thought. Even with the science of today would we be able to come up with a convincing proof? Does that not then me we have to accept that it is very unlikely any skeptic will ever be swayed by any evidences from the ancient world, whatever those might be?

Comment on Asked to Move in Church? by Savannah Baker

Savannah Baker — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:55:25 +0000

Hi Henry,

If they make a big deal out of that circumstance, what do you think is their reason for going to church then?

Savannah Baker

Comment on A New Testament Political Theology by Bob MacDonald

Bob MacDonald — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:05:57 +0000

I came across this text in the context of recent developments in theology which have as their motto “you will not see my face without your brother”. (Rendtorff, Rolf. (2005). The Canonical Hebrew Bible, A Theology of the Old Testament) Relating this to the issues of the strong and the weak and those for whom Christ died gives some import to our attitudes whether we think of an issue as one of purity or ethics or morality.

Comment on A New Testament Political Theology by Henry Neufeld

Henry Neufeld — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:53:54 +0000

Bob – Not easily solved? You’ve got to be kidding! No, you’re right. This one is contentious, and it’s sometimes contentious even in my own mind.

Craig – I think it’s hard to say “this is wrong” and at the same time NOT work to disallow it in society. I think in many cases that is precisely what we, as Christians, must do. I actually think we would have a greater impact on society if we put our attention more on living the gospel fully as the church, and less on programs or movements to change society more directly. In my view, the gospel works, however hard it may be to live that way!

Comment on A New Testament Political Theology by Craig Bennett

Craig Bennett — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:35:26 +0000

I have oft made this same kind of observation on my blog, particularly when it comes to our fight against gay marriage in society. I make the point that the Apostle Paul never made rules for society to abide by, rather he taught the church how to live within the framework of a secular society.

Take his counsel for not allowing those who had multiple wives to take a position of eldership…yet he clearly allowed any in those situations to participate in the church… While personally I don’t like the idea, I think our political posturing has done little to win any to Christ.

Comment on In Which I Discover that I Am Not a Thinking Person by Craig L. Adams

Craig L. Adams — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:47:37 +0000

Oh well. You are a thinking person, so his opinion is just hot air.

Comment on A New Testament Political Theology by Bob MacDonald

Bob MacDonald — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:55:41 +0000

In my summary of Book 1, I have this note: Bill Morrow of Queen’s University (from a comment that he made at coffee-time at the University of Victoria) has suggested that the Old Testament is a long meditation on the issues of human governance. It seems that the making and following of rules is not a problem that is easily solved.

After all, one major question in the psalms is “who’s in charge”? What do you do when the king is dethroned by a foreign power? What do you do with the 2 year old who says: “you’re not the boss of me”? How is justice administered with equity and with mercy? (Psalm 85, Psalm 149)

And we, the Church, the churches, Israel, etc – do not exist in a vacuum – but we exist for the light of the world, for the good of Egypt and Moab – even the narrow places, even enemy territory.

Comment on Joel Watts Quoting Edward Vick by Bob MacDonald

Bob MacDonald — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:37:52 +0000

Nice to see this. It gives me an idea of what students are expecting in a book of this sort.

Comment on Beware the Cult of the Speaker by Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:42:19 +0000

Good points. The laymembers of a congregation shouldn’t have to rely on a “senior preacher” to take responsibility for their own witnessing. Within the Restoration Movement churches of Christ, there’s a faction that has a tradition referred to as “mutual edification” (ME). Rather than having an employed preacher, the male members take turns giving sermons. There are a number of pluses and minuses, but this set up does prevent one leader becoming a celebrity.