Centrist theology

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Mystic said:
If Jesus offered you an intimate personal relationship with Him, would you even be interested?
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(As an aside - and not meant to derail) Well I know this will not be a welcomed response - but this comment made me laugh & think about such an offer by Jesus being subject to the #Metoo movement!
 
paradox3 said:
No. I am not being evasive. I quoted @Mendalla (whose comments you appreciated) and answered in like vein. I have answered your question.
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No, Mendalla's response was very specific and eloquently nuanced. I have no clue what your vague endorsement mean
paradox3 said:
Billy Graham seems to be saying some Christians' experiences are less valid than others.
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So you believe no Christian experiences of churchianity are less valid than others?
Billy Graham is saying that many Christians use the trappings of religious beliefs and practices as vaccination against the real thing--direct experience of God as taught in many forms in Scripture. You have not even remotely addressed this issue in any helpful way in all your posts I have carefully read.
For a centrist position on the spirituality of contemplation, watch this lecture by Catholic mystic Richard Rohr's eloquent discussion of the poetics of religious language.

richard rohr youtube - Yahoo Video Search Results

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Mystic said:
No, Mendalla's response was very specific and eloquently nuanced. I have no clue what your vague endorsement mean

So you believe no Christian experiences of churchianity are less valid than others?
Billy Graham is saying that many Christians use the trappings of religious beliefs and practices as vaccination against the real thing--direct experience of God as taught in many forms in Scripture. You have not even remotely addressed this issue in any helpful way in all your posts I have carefully read.
For a centrist position on the spirituality of contemplation, watch this lecture by Catholic mystic Richard Rohr's eloquent discussion of the poetics of religious language.

richard rohr youtube - Yahoo Video Search Results

The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.
video.search.yahoo.com video.search.yahoo.com
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You seem to refuse that I have had diverse experiences of God/Christ/Spirit that have shaped and continue to shape my life. Some of those experiences you would probably interpret in other ways due to the theology to which you seem to cling. Paradox3 explained she has had spiritual experiences important to her faith life.

Have you heard the story of the Irishman with a severe drinking problem? One evening he went under a bridge when he was too drunk to get home. While there he had an experience of the risen Christ and became a born again Christian. He turned his life around and his friends asked what happened? He shared his experience with them and the word spread. He came to be invited to be a speaker in many places.

One day he met another man who had a similar experience. As the man described his experience step by step, the first man said me too until the man described their born again experience happening on a bridge. The first man angrily shouted, "You heretic. You have to be under the bridge to have a real born again experience. "
 
As to centrist, it makes almost no sense theologically. Where is the middle between the Bible is the dictated word of God and the Bible is a collection of works by mostly men no more important than many other books about faith and spirituality?
Where is the middle between an intellectual faith, mysticism, lived faith, pentecostalism, evangelism, social club?
 
jimkenney12 said:
As to centrist, it makes almost no sense theologically. Where is the middle between the Bible is the dictated word of God and the Bible is a collection of works by mostly men no more important than many other books about faith and spirituality?
Where is the middle between an intellectual faith, mysticism, lived faith, pentecostalism, evangelism, social club?
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Oh I think the middle ground for the bible is that God inspired it with the end product in mind. Not dictating it but guiding the various writers to produce the volume God wanted.

But I don't think centrist theology always finds a precise center point for any of these things. It's more like centrists pull from all over the theological spectrum to construct their personal faith. (Maybe? :unsure:)
 
jimkenney12 said:
You seem to refuse that I have had diverse experiences of God/Christ/Spirit that have shaped and continue to shape my life. Some of those experiences you would probably interpret in other ways due to the theology to which you seem to cling.
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How can I interpret your experiences "in other ways" when you have said nothing about what happened, leaving me to wonder if they are nothing more than vague feelings of warm fuzzies?
jimkenney12 said:
Paradox3 explained she has had spiritual experiences important to her faith life.
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No, she "explained" nothing. She made vague claims that are utter gibberish without elaboration.
 
Carolla said:
(As an aside - and not meant to derail) Well I know this will not be a welcomed response - but this comment made me laugh & think about such an offer by Jesus being subject to the #Metoo movement!
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You actually believe a standard NT Teaching like Jesus' pursuit of an intimate personal relationship with us is laughable and sexist?
Notice carefully that paradox3 ducked my straightforward question about whether she would accept Jesus' offer of such a relationship , if she knew it came from Jesus and then denied that she had ducked it!
 
@Mystic ,
You have been told before about the way you treat others here. Council has received several reports concerning your insulting, belittling ways in the last 24 hours. Once again, Council suggests you reexamine the way you treat others, and check your arrogance and your insults at the door.

This is a forum open to all types of spiritual experiences. Whether or not you approve of it, many people's experiences of the Divine Mystery differ from yours. You shouldn't be surprised that not everyone's experience is not like yours. It is NOT up to you to decide whose experiences are 'valid' or 'invalid' from your point of view.

If you are so uncomfortable with the pluralism, and multifaceted expressions of spirituality that are found here, maybe you should go find a forum more to your liking, and share your wisdom there.

Your arrogant and insulting manner have been evident since the days of the original Wondercafe. You have had many opportunities and more than enough time to adjust yourself to this forum. Once again, Council asks you to please curb your arrogant, belittling and dismissive ways. If the style of your posts does not show some changes for the better, further steps will be taken.

Council hopes you will take this matter seriously, and make an effort to do better.
 
Is the best way to be a centrist Christian ... make a point of stabbing all others first?

This was my early church experience from determined folk ... they declared that knowledge beyond them was evil!

Thus it is out there in their world ...
 
Shall we return to the thread topic?

Been pondering the question of whether or not we might consider Jesus a centrist.

We need to consider his Jewish faith and what we know about it. There are many clues in the Gospels.
 
He seems to be more of a radical in the vein of the Essenes or even the Zealots. His opposition to the temple elites seems a bit too harsh for a centrist position (e.g. the cleansing of the temple and some of his more pointed jabs at the Pharisees and similar groups) but it is hard to tell.
 
Jesus was a radical for sure but he was also a contemplative. Luke's gospel in particular often has him withdrawing from the crowds to pray.

No reason a person can't be both an activist and a contemplative. This probably supports that idea of the spectrum being multidimensional rather than linear.
 
Mystic said:
How can I interpret your experiences "in other ways" when you have said nothing about what happened, leaving me to wonder if they are nothing more than vague feelings of warm fuzzies?

No, she "explained" nothing. She made vague claims that are utter gibberish without elaboration.
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My most dramatic experience came in Grade 9 during a Social Studies exam. There was one question that was worrying me. I suddenly sensed the presence of some ones by me communicating not to worry as they were looking after me. I have taken many risks since then in responding to what felt like calls to some kind of service. Four years ago, that call was to move from Calgary to Deep River, Ontario to serve the Communiry Church when I thought I had retired.

There have been many in between. One that still has me pondering was a dream in my first year of ministry. In it was a person looking like an actor with white robes, white hair and beard, and an aluminum foil crown sitting on an elevated throne with stage prop palace walls in behind. The man looked straight at me and said, "Why can you not accept me looking like this?" End of dream. The scene was so clear it is stuck in my memory. I am not sure how I was to interpret the question. My main response has been to accept how other people imagine God as long as it does not cause harm. I have been unable to imagine God as anything physical since my grade 9 experience.
 
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