Thank you so much. As a gay man, I have been going through a difficult journey recently, even to the point of rejecting Jesus' divinity. I now realise that he came to show us our true humanity. Perhaps the best way to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength is to love our neighbour as we love ourselves - without condition. We see God in our neighbour, whoever they are. We therefore honour them, even if we find it hard to like them. I say to people, I don't care what you believe. What matters is how you treat others, and by implication how I treat others. Is it with compassion, respect and love or the opposite? If the opposite, that affects you and me adversely.
I've been moving towards Christianity lately and am beginning to read the Bible for the first time in my life. I've always been put off by the judgement and conservatism of churchgoers and most pastors. I've felt alone in this journey but I am happy I finally found this channel. I feel more at ease now to continue my learning. Thank you!
This is a great speech.... It's true and this will create churches where all people will feel welcome and being given the opportunity to get to know more about Jesus through others who are giving them His love instead of a bunch of hypocrite conservative and disobedient (for not keeping the most important commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself...) "Christians ", judging them (and then will be judged them selves... Giving them the idea that God doesn't not love them... 😓 Greetings from Holland Someone who escaped from a prison (brainwash) called "Pentecostal movement " after 16 years...
Thank you for the sermon it’s giving me a lot to think about. I grew up in Reformed Theology which by its nature is very inflexible. Unfortunately that very inflexible way of thinking cost me to make some really big mistakes in my life. The church really does need to change it needs to include the LGTB Community and a host of other communities that its closes its doors to. Thank you for preaching a sermon that really made sense
Thank you for sharing. One major question that comes to mind is when you refer to John 16 and Jesus telling His the disciples that the Spirit will guide them in all truth, what leads you to believe that specific message is for all Christians for all time and not just the disciples and eventuating in the Bible?
Would that your intelligent, insightful words reach those you reject Christian theology because of so many people who call themselves Christians are stuck on dogmatic ideas.
I think of something Thomas Merton said about the parables of Jesus regarding seed, and that seed is the truth of the kingdom of God. Merton challenged me to think that the seed is not just a little here, a little there, among the thorns, on the dry path, on the good soil. Merton provoked in me an image of seed absolutely filling the air, swirling around, so densely that it is a cloud of seed. That's how strongly God seeks for us, as individuals, groups, cross culturally, cross ethnically, cross religeonly. Its God filling all there is. The Word - The Logos filling all of reality.
I agree that in many ways the “progressive” way that is inclusive and embraces ambiguity is closer to the traditional Christianity of the early Church. The early Church fathers evoked a much more cosmic and mystical vision of what the Kingdom and incarnation was all about. Ideas of a penal substitutionary Atonement and “sin management” are developments away from this traditional understanding. So in many respects the Church regressed for millennia before parts of Christianity came back to the spiritual path and the embracing of ambiguity and the deep Mystery that is Christ abounding in all.
Thank you so much. As a gay man, I have been going through a difficult journey recently, even to the point of rejecting Jesus' divinity. I now realise that he came to show us our true humanity. Perhaps the best way to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength is to love our neighbour as we love ourselves - without condition. We see God in our neighbour, whoever they are. We therefore honour them, even if we find it hard to like them. I say to people, I don't care what you believe. What matters is how you treat others, and by implication how I treat others. Is it with compassion, respect and love or the opposite? If the opposite, that affects you and me adversely.
I've been moving towards Christianity lately and am beginning to read the Bible for the first time in my life. I've always been put off by the judgement and conservatism of churchgoers and most pastors. I've felt alone in this journey but I am happy I finally found this channel. I feel more at ease now to continue my learning. Thank you!
As an Agnostic who studies theology it would surprise people how progressive the original Bible is.
This video is a treasure!!! And it's full of the grace and wisdom of the Holy Spirit! Thanks for this video!! ❤️
Tell me, what makes a person good?
This is a great speech....
It's true and this will create churches where all people will feel welcome and being given the opportunity to get to know more about Jesus through others who are giving them His love instead of a bunch of hypocrite conservative and disobedient (for not keeping the most important commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself...) "Christians ", judging them (and then will be judged them selves...
Giving them the idea that God doesn't not love them... 😓
Greetings from Holland
Someone who escaped from a prison (brainwash) called "Pentecostal movement " after 16 years...
Thank you for the sermon it’s giving me a lot to think about. I grew up in Reformed Theology which by its nature is very inflexible. Unfortunately that very inflexible way of thinking cost me to make some really big mistakes in my life. The church really does need to change it needs to include the LGTB Community and a host of other communities that its closes its doors to. Thank you for preaching a sermon that really made sense
Leviticus 20:13
This is brilliant, thank you.
Liberal means "wide-hearted"?
Otherwise. This sounds lovely.
Good criticism of how orthodoxy is used.
This is amazing! Finally someone who understands :) I am so blessed to have found you!
Thank you for sharing. One major question that comes to mind is when you refer to John 16 and Jesus telling His the disciples that the Spirit will guide them in all truth, what leads you to believe that specific message is for all Christians for all time and not just the disciples and eventuating in the Bible?
Wow this is a very important thought to consider
❤
When did the church modify its position on divorce?
Throughout all of church history
amen :D
I absolutely love this! So good!
Would that your intelligent, insightful words reach those you reject Christian theology because of so many people who call themselves Christians are stuck on dogmatic ideas.
I think of something Thomas Merton said about the parables of Jesus regarding seed, and that seed is the truth of the kingdom of God. Merton challenged me to think that the seed is not just a little here, a little there, among the thorns, on the dry path, on the good soil. Merton provoked in me an image of seed absolutely filling the air, swirling around, so densely that it is a cloud of seed. That's how strongly God seeks for us, as individuals, groups, cross culturally, cross ethnically, cross religeonly. Its God filling all there is. The Word - The Logos filling all of reality.
i like this pastor
I agree that in many ways the “progressive” way that is inclusive and embraces ambiguity is closer to the traditional Christianity of the early Church. The early Church fathers evoked a much more cosmic and mystical vision of what the Kingdom and incarnation was all about. Ideas of a penal substitutionary Atonement and “sin management” are developments away from this traditional understanding. So in many respects the Church regressed for millennia before parts of Christianity came back to the spiritual path and the embracing of ambiguity and the deep Mystery that is Christ abounding in all.
This is beautiful - gave words to a lot of my thoughts!