Burke Lecture: John Shelby Spong
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- A pre-eminent voice for liberal Christianity, John Shelby Spong was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2000. His admirers acclaim his making contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary lay person-he's considered a champion of an inclusive faith by many both inside and outside the Christian church. His challenges to the church have also made him a target of hostility, fear, and death threats. Calling himself "a joyful, passionate, convinced believer in the reality of God," he seeks not to create a new religion, but to reform the church he loves. [1/2005] [Show ID: 9117]
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Its amazing to hear a man of faith be so honest and unflinching in his account of the dark side of religion. Too many Christians want to pretend it doesn't exist.
The world desparately needs more of this kind of honesty.
At MrMohjong What I've read of Spong is that he advocates for ending theocracy. He does not mean we have to give up Christ or God, but that we have to take our egos out of the picture.
A beautiful sermon.
I would not go back, BUT I certainly would've stayed far longer :) . Mr. Spong strikes me as a very good man, exemplary even. I think lots of people, religious or not, could learn much from someone like him.
I think Spong is right on...and I think he gives a good point towards the end that it's really not productive to try to have a "conversation" with a fundamentalist that already has decided that their point of view is correct and therefore in line with God. By the comments/debates I see here, I think he is right. I'm giving up having "conversations" with such people. I wasted too many hours of my life. I'd rather spend my time learning how in my faith I can help improve the world around me.
Uh, Matt, that's why they are called fundamentalists cuz they are not thinking with their brains but with their fundaments aka butts.
Spong is offering a suggestion of what the coming of Christ was about. Jesus didn't represent any of the destructive scriptures in the bible. His message was to be able to walk with your neighbor with love and acceptance no matter what race, religion, or sexual orientation they are. Spong is explaining how complex the bible is and the way that it is transcending through time. You experience god when you experience a source of love. I LOVE Spong!
Uh, Jexka, Shouldnt you have G in capital letter in God out of simple reverence for Him/Her as we would treat our parent out of simple respect?
“Scripture is a human creation by people who was seeking God but their humanity constantly got in the way.” - Bishop John Spong
Bishop John Shelby Spong
I salute you❤
I can feel truth when i hear it, this man talks it.
You've been deceived.
What bishop Spong is talking about is not new, what is quite new is realization and awareness of a Christian bishop.
Well usualy religions do not tell us how to keep slaves. In the roman or greek or other religions it is not taught how to beat slaves and how to keep slaves but "god" seem to see it as important to do so.
In this same chapter, St. Matthias was selected to take Judas Iscariot's place, but St. Luke makes no mention of the Apostles' approving of St. James as a "pillar" of the Jerusalem Church. Paul already mentions that St. James was a prominent figure in Galatians 2:9 and 12. 1 Corithians 15:7 also mentions that Jesus appeared to St. James. It's funny how Paul doesn't mention the women that Jesus appeared to, but this is probably his patriarchal standing point already in action.
"The Sins of Scripture challenges Christians to look beyond the myths of their faith into the heart of the matter. To some the book will be heresy, to others revelation. But above all it will make people think, which is just what Bishop Spong means to achieve." -Bill O'Reilly
This is so true.... Thank you for making since!!
A form of the Golden Rule can be found in nearly all religions, and most of these faiths predate Christianity.
Gen 1 does not say that Man and woman was made simultaneously, but simply asserts that God created them both in His image, without going into detail. Gen 2 provides that detail, where we see man was made first, then woman (Paul confirms to this in his epistle to Timothy)
Thank you sir for your reply. Yes, I believe that liberal christianity finds no need for the sacrfice of Christ, so we may save ourselves. It is a system whereby mankind is autonomous and makes his own rules as he sees fit. I on the otherhand consider Christ my Lord over me, and my creator in whom is all authority. This means I hold the bible as the sole provider for the teachings of salvation.
Also consider that if Moses wrote the Torah as we know it, then he would have been talking in first person when addressing events that happened to him, namely in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
It's wonderful how getting death threats is listed as one of his credentials.
Fortunately, religiosity is on the decline worldwide but has a long way to go yet.
To study your spouse does not make you love her. It is love that makes you love her. So will idea to study to improve a personal relationship work?
And yet, conservative scholarship fails to produce any hard evidence saying that the authorship of Moses and Joshua of the Torah is undisputed because later books like Joshua (after the composition of J and E), 2 Kings (561-538 BC), Chronicals (450-435 BC), Ezra (456 BC), and Nehemiah (431 - 430 BC). These books make no mention of the specific names of books in the Torah, but they only refer to the Law of Moses.
brilliant guy!
And so how are you deciding what is latter church addon and what is not?
@AR333 Good post. Out of interest though, what is your personal position?
You seem to have made a decent case that christians ought to start from a more neutral, non-theistic (either deistic or atheistic) position regarding spiritual truth and only accept jesus/yahweh/the bible if what they find fits, was that your intention?
Considering the rather dodgy origins of the NT canon (and their lack of historical reliability) would we not be better off discarding the book altogether?
Yes, "A" qualification, not the "ONLY" qualification. But, since the risen Lord doesn't appear to anyone bodily today, then there cannot be Apostles
Is there a transcript of this lecture for the hearing impaired?? I cannot find one online :(
He doesn't just appeal 2 atheist who r angry at self-righteous christians... thats minimizing his message. he also appeals to many christians, who may not take the bible literally and who understand that the bible is not GOD'S WORD. but rather the word of human being trying to discover god... how is his theology "as far away from christianity as the misguided christians protesting at veterans funerals? Those people preach hate, while spong preaches love and reconciliation. which would u prefer?
cwegers1- I am not sure if that was meant for me. I actually am a scientist who supports the theory of evolution and the Big Bang and sees no conflict with those concepts with the Bible. Usually I am trying to counter the ultra conservative Biblical literalists who equate evolution with atheism and believe that science goes against the Bible. But I would rather be a pious simple-minded "hick" than a "wise man" who does not see the deity of Christ and His sacrifice for us.
The Book of Jeremiah is an even better example of pedigreed authorship, tracing back to the Prophet Jeremiah himself.
RIGHT ON!!
One sign of the end times will be people turning away from the faith. The Bible speaks of an apostasy, a departure from the faith in the last days (see Thessalonians 2:3). We read in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 that in the last days, some "will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, . . . will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."
I feel my love to God is restored!
Spong should advocate the Charter For Compassion.
If Spong is a heretic, then so be it, because people who follow him don't really care what people like yourself think, and at the end of the day, thats all that matters. I would rather listen to a Spong, than to people who call him a heretic
Throwing out the bathwater and you will find that there is no baby there.
Yes I agree, at the times 2000 years ago, people where more inclined to believe all manner of nonesense. Not a great deal has changed. But our knowledge of the world has gotten much much better. What would be so bad about just not reading the bible ever again, and just putting it up on a shelf with the rest of mythology?? Its not like we are incapable of learning ourselves.
Jesus never said "If you experience my bodily resurrection, you will automatically become one of my Apostles."
@IALON what spong is saying: god might have been present in the begining ,but now he may be gone; a deist approach, hence the name; if god exists,he is messing up or he is absent. Spong completely rejects the active judgemental god. My username does not exclude the existence of god, it is about the nature of a possible god. I do not rule god out ,but if he exists,he needs to shape up.I am not pro or contra a deist god, i am against judgemental god who motivates people to do evil in his name
Of course "bishop" Spong has so many accolades; the world rewards any former Christian apostate who tells the world exactly what it wants to hear. As for death threats, he would perhaps be better to worry about the eternal consequences of his apostasy. Anathema sit.
Scriptures are a guide on how to live a good life not to make us believe we are being watched.
“Uh, Uh, Uh, uh . . .” : The woman who introduced Spong.
"Seven-fold law of Noah? And why did they have to follow those restrictions?"
Yes, the seven Laws of Noah. They had to follow them because that is what St. James, a pillar and leader of the Jerusalem Church, had prescribed. He, like his brother Jesus Christ, would have had knowledge of Gentile customs at the time.
After listening to this entire video it's still not clear to me why Spong considers himself a Christian. Does he see himself more as a follower of a Jesus-based philosophy? If so, he's not any different from many non-religious people who, despite never having attended church, are still imbued with certain beliefs that stem from Christianity (such as loving they neighbor). Strikes me as a bunch of fluff (and I am not a fundamentalist).
What you're asking for in 20 years is a return to the past: Rome, Sodom & Gomorrah, paganism, heathenism. Mankind has been there and done that.
Has God/Jesus ever told mankind which texts are holy scripture?
Did either Jesus/God instruct mankind to compile the Bible?
Did God or Jesus make any revelation to the early church leaders on the composition of the NT?
Did any of the biblical authors know their work would be included in the Bible when they were writing?
Do any biblical authors describe writing under 'inspiration'?
The answer to all the above is no. So why do you think that denying scripture should prevent you being a Christian?
@DavidDayPraise Christ has defined the narrow road. The point of the broad and narrow road is not about who you choose to stand alongside, but about salvation and life. Mr. Spong is teaching that certain texts of scripture are "terrible" and should be disassociated with the bible. By taking out these verses it broadens the road to God. Christ warned about taking this approach because it’s erroneous. Anyone who is repentant of their sin should have "equal footing."
Just learned of his passing. :(
If Spong can't get basic things down in Scripture, I doubt he can do much of what he's claiming to be able to do in this book either.
No, Metallic, it should be...but people like Spong prove otherwise.
You also said, "No, Paul doesn't mention women because Jesus wouldn't allow women that type of authority in His church--they didn't have it"
Now you contradict yourself. The Gospels record that the Resurrected Jesus appears to the women disciples, now according to you, this would have to make them Apostles automatically. Surely Paul would have known this if he had personally known Jesus and that women already had prominent roles in the church
not true the tasmania school story..Australia uses sun smart uniforms since a pharmaceutical company invented them circa 1980.
I am not a christian but I can easy relate to Mr Spong's lecture, greatly appreciate his commonsense approach, makes one THINK
Yes, and you share something in common: neither of you is Christian.
@@Dishodiwaba .
I don't know what he would say to you about that but I agree with him on everything except God in Jesus being a good thing so, I would take what you said as a compliment.
You stay with the bigots and the racists and The godly people. We will love them and help them when they flee from you. And they are - in droves.
Not being a Christian
How then do you manage to live and get along in a largely Christian world and among Christian friends or are you a Mus!im, Allah, be praised!? Living among Muslim brothers in Arabia or India?
If religion has caused such strife worldwide for so long,does it not behoove us to see that it is not the true way of love, nor the true way of God? Can we not witness His own truths?
paul ducharme I agree!
Just a quick message ...John Shelby Spong has renewed my faith in Christianity. I SO admire this man!
Rod O'Brien the same, returned to it just thanks to him
That's nice to hear.
What he taught wasn't Christianity.
hi mga ka sir raj :) HAHHAHS
Hey Chip, your statement is exactly the same thing I said about Jerry Falwell over 40 years ago. The irony is that as a teenager I had the extraordinary experience of living in a place and time where I had personal interaction with both Mr. Falwell (my mother was a charter member of his church) and Mr.Spong (I became a member of his parish) and I can tell you with complete certainty that John Spong is a fully realized spirit that speaks the truth. Nothing dangerous about it unless you are fearful of discovering the magnificent spirit that you are in essence. Should you prefer to continue living in fear (of ideas and/or everything) then the life denying legacy of Mr. Falwell's ideas would be the way to go.
Oh good Lord!
Jerry Falwell and his congregation were misinformed, misdirected and so far off course as to be totally irrelevant
👍
@@crusaderking5387
Which Lord?
@@JorgeMartinez-pn7gh . Anyone who has taken advantage of the ignorance and the desperation of people the way Jerry Falwell did, is not irrelevant. He's dangerous.
I removed my comment because to many people could not grasp the understanding of this situation. So rather than bring nonbelievers into the conflicts within the body, I decided to stop trying to explain things to those who do not have the common foundational understanding of Scripture. I apologize if I have offended anyone; however, I stand my my beliefs.
After spending a lifetime listening to hundreds of church sermons explaining how to live life based on some specific Bible verse along with a fair amount of sophistry, it's nice to get a breath of fresh air and hear a speaker who can clarify things into undeniable wisdom. That man is Bishop John Spong.
Daniel Evjen -- Spong appeals to listeners who are not afraid to think for themselves -- what a concept!
👍
Yes, Bishop Spong is indeed a rare jewel and stand out among his peers of todays's clergy, and a great voice for humanity too soon claimed and silenced by death.
Finally someone to help people understand the fact that religion is a scam.
Uh, no, Atam(?)not Adam? Religion is not a scam but the interpretation of it by people who have their own self serving personal agenda. Get it?
i actually really like this guy - he isn't like most evangelists/apologists like bill craig and frank turek - basically politicians or defence attorneys for christianity - this guy is real.
I enjoyed learning from Bishop Spong that after we get rid of the Terrrible Texts of the Bible, the ones used along history to justify so much cruelty, injustice and oppression, we can focus on the texts that reflect the Love of God.He `s an eloquent, dynamic, informed and persuasive speaker.
This man serves God by trying to make a world in which everyone can be loved, even those who don't seem deserving of it (Luke 6:27-29). I don't think one has to believe in a hell to get saved, that just produces more negativity in our developement as human beings. Rather, one must believe in the Kingdom of Heaven which our Lord said is within us (Luke 17:20-21). We must work very hard to produce the Kingdom from within us to a Kingdom around us (Matt. 13:33).
You are right, bro. Hell is what create for ourselves and no out side place of torment nor do we need to be saved for we were never lost as if God would allow that for his children.
Women were treated that way long before the Jewish faith came about. Slavery was also a different animal back then. Spartacus, an escaped slave from Rome, also owned slaves. What the Bible does is show individuals and the whole of humanity, warts and all. It's an honest portrayal of us. Polygomy is one example of that. No where in Scripture does it say that's fine. It presents it as a reality of the time. Same with slavery, just giving guidance for Christians on either side of that life.
*Peter Johnson2*: I am 100% sure that God the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ
do not support his opinion on homosexuality.
*Rod*: 100% sure? I can't find the term "homosexuality" anywhere in the original texts of the Bible. Not in Hebrew OR Greek. That term didn't appear in editions of the Bible until 1946. Moreover, Jesus never said ONE WORD about homosexuality.
Are you STILL 100% sure ...?
*Peter Johnson2*: Sin is sin and it does not rest with this man,
*Rod*: Nor does it rest with you. It's between 'the sinner' and God. And, biblically speaking ...YOU are a sinner. Did you know that?
*Peter Johnson2*: Homosexuality is sin, and leads to spiritual death,
the wages of sin is death.......
*Rod*: In that case you - a 'sinner' - are doomed according to scripture. Again, did you know that? Also again, NOWHERE in the original manuscripts of scripture does it say anything about homosexuality being a 'sin'. You've been duped along with much of Christianity.
I haven't read Sam Harris' book, but I've seen some of his interviews and lectures. I've also seen a lot of films of Christopher Hitchens. They are pretty harsh, but Spong isn't any bit more gentle than they are.
I love the part in Mark 5:9-13, when Jesus was ready to have a conversation with Legion. It's funny how Jesus doesn't send the demons straight to hell, but he takes compassion on them and grants their request to go into pigs. Most exorcists, like John Constantine, are ready to have a brawl with their demon apponent, but Jesus did no such thing, he's one of a kind!!
God Bless!!!
Now why would demons be afraid to go to hell since that's where they belong? And what did the pigs do to deserve such evil burden?
As usual, I agree with the late Reverend Spong; it must surely be the unforgiveable sin, to claim to be the Chosen, for it denies the Sacred Spirit in all.
How wonderfully comfortting it must be to have a mind so small that it doesn't have room to recognize that it is possible to "believe" while at the same time questioning and examining those beliefs. The N.T. was written in an attempt to make god understandable to First Century people who, because they knew nothing of germs, decided that if one was a leper it was because god was punishing him.
Bishop Spongs new interpretations of the Bible in light of modern science are refreshing and spot on.
Why do you have the letter G in small letter of your god like He was not the God you believe in but others believe in?
The real irony there is that, if you read Genesis all the way through the expulsion from Eden, you find that the snake was telling the truth, and that god himself confirms it.
I don't think God is interested in revealing himself to those who mock his words.
anastasia doxologia,
The words of the bible are easy to mock when you read the immorality in the book. Leviticus and Exodus clearly endorse slavery.
The New Testament isn't any better. 1 Peter 2:18 tells slaves to obey their masters, even the cruel ones. Deuteronomy gives the death penalty to a disobedient child. Exodus gives the death penalty for working on the Sabbath. Leviticus gives the death penalty to homosexuals and adulterers.
I wish I had this guys literature when I was a christian. It may have helped rescue me from a lot of waisted time and effort. how much support does this guy get amongst christians nowadays?
Why is it important to you that Bishop Spong have the support of many? Do you appreciate quantity more than quality of content? Do you go by popularity as your gauge of faith?
"The Sins of Scripture challenges Christians to look beyond the myths of their faith into the heart of the matter. To some the book will be heresy, to others revelation. But above all it will make people think, which is just what Bishop Spong means to achieve." -Bill O'Reilly
Thank you.
Interesting to recall that a book that was available to me as a child was Fox's Book of Martyrs.
If more preached sermons like this there would be less hate in this world.
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST . . . "Love God with all your heart and all your mind; love your neighbor as yourself." This is EXACTLY what Spong is preaching.
Uh, Rocky, any command is abhorrent and repulsive to human nature even the command to love and even coming from Jesus. Maybe we should start saying instead.....It would be wiser to love
God ........
This is worth watching several times. Great truth. thank you
I like Spong's point that the bible can be seen to move from one conception of reality/God/humanity to another (I think it starts about minute 47). If we see our holy scripture as a static set of rules then we might just turn out to be that kind of Christian. However, if we view the whole of scripture as dynamic, a living, growing tradition, then we may open our own hearts and minds to such growth. The Spirit moves.
100k Iraqis? Try 1 million your grace.
I definitely agree!! That's why there has to be another reformation cuz the Protestant reformation didn't make things any better.
No, we can't recieve new insights about God. Jesus has made Him fully known to us.
This man makes Christianity come alive for me
+Billy de bianchi THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE A REPROBATE.
ah ok. and you are who, god himself??
+Billy de bianchi OH, NOT HARDLY, GOD HIMSELF HATES YOU AND SPONG.
Lol taking this from a guy who calls god jehova. Its yahweh idiot
+Billy de bianchi HAR, HAR, HAR, HAR - WERE YOU ALSO DROOLING WHEN YOU WROTE YOUR POST?
TELL ME SHITLOCK HOLMES, WHY DO YOU THINK I CALL THE LORD GOD JEHOVAH?
WHERE DID YOU GET YAHWOWMAWPOWZOW FROM, GRAFFI FROM THE WALLS OF THE PROJECT YOU LIVE IN?
I believe he spoke very well without getting into mystical teachings on the inner esoteric meaning of Yahushua (Jesus) message. Very thought provoking!
Thank you for acknowledging and addressing some of the points that atheists and other critics have rightly leveled at religion and more particularly the Bible. Human capacity for reason may be used for deducing that some ideas cannot possibly be true, and the hope is offered that religion might be moderated or improved. However, the burden of proof still rests on one who asserts that some sort of god actually exists.
Yes, Sgrannel, A God exists but who is outside the bible and not one who intervenes in human history out of respect for his gift of Freewill to mankind. He is the God of Christianity who speaks of love and compassion and mercy not the God of Christianity who advocates violence and revenge
and cruelty.
Yes, God exists because you exist as his image and likeness. You are proof itself that God Is.
There are none so blind as those who have eyes but do not see nor minds so closed that refuse to understand.......
Beautiful, this is a calling to change christianity and make it more like Jesus.
I’m watching this from Australia and I can tell you the climate here has changed since this was recorded. We are currently suffering from the cold and rain and not the heat. Last three years the La Niña has been bringing the rains. We have just had crops wrecked by rain.
Uh, Bro. Willow, in spite of the natural calamities your land has been suffering under, dont let yourself become a weeping willow
But instead be steadfast in your faith and accept that what is happening is part of natural law
and you just have to ride with it.
Sorry to hear of your climatic problems down there. My son is visiting there as a tourist. I hope he doesnt get sick because of your weather.
@@conradbulos6164 four years la Nina now although the BOM is still saying it's a freaky el Nino. Probably too scared to say it's gotten colder not hotter. Only trouble is we haven't had many bushfires 🤣. It must be so frustrating for them. They have been hunting fires. There is one in VIC but the conspiracy theorist in me thinks it's deliberate because it's near farming land and I know those places burn off a lot and it can get out of hand etc. just do happens to be in a socialist state🤣. But houses have been lost which is always sad. I'm sick of the rain here though. The tropics are getting hammered by rain. Hope you son's not gone up there. Cairns and Tully area in Qld. But hey it happens up there.
@@conradbulos6164 where is he. No I haven't heard of people getting sick in the rain. Flooding is another matter. Lots of germs in the soil and they get moved around. Best to stay away. I'm near Sydney. It's not too bad flood wise here just wet.
"Religious wars" have political and economic subtexts. hey are not "all about" religion.
In addition to Jesus’ specific claims about Himself, His disciples also acknowledged the deity of Christ. They claimed that Jesus had the right to forgive sins-something only God can do-as it is God who is offended by sin (Acts 5:31; Colossians 3:13; Psalm 130:4; Jeremiah 31:34). In close connection with this last claim, Jesus is also said to be the one who will “judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1). Thomas cried out to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Paul calls Jesus “great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13) and points out that prior to His incarnation Jesus existed in the “form of God” (Philippians 2:5-8). God the Father says regarding Jesus: “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8). John states that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God” (John 1:1). Examples of Scriptures that teach the deity of Christ are many (see Revelation 1:17, 2:8, 22:13; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Psalm 18:2, 95:1; 1 Peter 5:4; Hebrews 13:20), but even one of these is enough to show that Christ was considered to be God by His followers.
Jesus is also given titles that are unique to YHWH (the formal name of God) in the Old Testament. The Old Testament title “redeemer” (Psalm 130:7; Hosea 13:14) is used of Jesus in the New Testament (Titus 2:13; Revelation 5:9). Jesus is called Immanuel-“God with us”-in Matthew 1. In Zechariah 12:10, it is YHWH who says, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” But the New Testament applies this to Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:37; Revelation 1:7). If it is YHWH who is pierced and looked upon, and Jesus was the one pierced and looked upon, then Jesus is YHWH. Paul interprets Isaiah 45:22-23 as applying to Jesus in Philippians 2:10-11. Further, Jesus’ name is used alongside God’s in prayer “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2). This would be blasphemy if Christ were not deity. The name of Jesus appears with God's in Jesus' commanded to baptize “in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19; see also 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Actions that can be accomplished only by God are credited to Jesus. Jesus not only raised the dead (John 5:21, 11:38-44) and forgave sins (Acts 5:31, 13:38), He created and sustains the universe (John 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17). This becomes even clearer when one considers YHWH said He was alone during creation (Isaiah 44:24). Further, Christ possesses attributes that only deity can have: eternality (John 8:58), omnipresence (Matthew 18:20, 28:20), omniscience (Matthew 16:21), and omnipotence (John 11:38-44).
God is Love,God is also Holy.......He said be thou Holy for I am Holy.....I used to be a Episcoplalian....after listening to this guy....I know why I left the church...He doesnt have a clue of who God is , or HIs character....He cant stand sin..thats the deal. Read your bible..God will give you understanding all you have to do is ask.
JESUS IS LORD OF ALL . To everyone He commands : Repent and believe the Gospels for the remissions of sin(s); There is no other name in existence under the heavens other than JESUS by which any man can be saved from their sins and the righteousness of the Living GOD.... HE IS HOLY, HOLY, HOLY !!!
-- Except a man is BORN AGAIN he cannot enter the Kingdom of God; Except a man is born again of the water and the Spirit he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD.
-- God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus so that whoever believes on Him will not perish but will have everlasting Life in Jesus (beginning right now).
-- Whoever puts their full trust on the Son of God, the LORD JESUS CHRIST has everlasting life and will in no wise come into condemnation or wrath; but whosoever rejects the Son and truth, the wrath of God already abides on him in this life and the next to come
That is not Christianity!!!! This is Another gospel !! Men made gospel
nice sermon but very miss placed, he makes the case for a real false prophet,
because he did said many truth, but mixed with lies, the war of Iraq was wrong that is true, and yes many in the church.were in favor of slavery, but most of them fought it.
I spent Lent reading books like The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, Why I Am Not A Christian and other essays on religion and related subjects by Bertrand Russell, and Some Mistakes of Moses by Robert Ingersoll. However, I'm now reading The Sins of Scripture, and Spong is about as harsh as Dawkins, Russell, and Ingersoll.
Human = Humane
Anything less is unsustainable.
In the metaphorical beginning (once upon a time) was the word of Truth and the word of Truth was with God (Reality) and was Reality manifest as the metaphorical 'light' of understanding unto the darkness of ignorance; yet those dwelling in the darkness of their ignorance comprehended not the metaphorical light of understanding and continued in the folly of their literalism.
Wisdom is the principle thing. Therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding.
Namaste'.
Like most Mainline churches..have watered down the Gospel,allowed detestable things to enter and serve as ministers......so much has changed from the first century...listening to this guy.......He is Lukewarm at best and Jesus will spue him out of His mouth....
Ran out of characters, haha. Continuing in my example of his referencing sexism in the Bible, he uses the age-worn "Wives, submit to your husbands" verse. What he neglects to do, as all do when using this, is to mention the best part of that verse. "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church and gave His life up for her!" Well, if someone loves me so much to give their lives for me, yeah, I'm willing to submit my life to them. Running out of characters again, so will continue...
@tumbleweeeeeed I couldn't agree more. Whenever I hear Spong speaking he always reminds me of the snakey charcter in the garden of Eden story, and conversely, when I read that very true story, I can always see the 'bishop''s face with the mouth opening and the darting tongue slithering out, 'Yea, hath God said?.....
Incredible! This man talks so much sense. I wish the whole world thought like he does!
I aggree with Spong on almost everything, but he's christianity is very original, and only for him.
Is this Bill gates Dad
Great Lecture.