the Christian Faith: A Way of Being More than a Body of Doctrines

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Mendalla said:
John and I had a discussion about that years ago
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Ah @revjohn certainly had an impact in this space.

During the whole values vs belief debate, John argued that GV's claim to be doctrine free was, in fact, a doctrinal statement of a different kind.

As an aside, you-know-who has now retired from congregational ministry.
 
paradox3 said:
During the whole values vs belief debate, John argued that GV's claim to be doctrine free was, in fact, a doctrinal statement of a different kind.
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I guess we are off-topic, but my experience has been that secular types can be doctrinal, too. I still remember the hootin' and hollerin' when a minister in the UU fellowship offered a, horror of horrors, UU-focussed Bible study (yes, I was part of it and an avid supporter of it). Based on books about the Bible by UU ministers, no less. My God, the humanists went ballistic. And, yet, is not insisting that the fellowship conform to their humanism a form of doctrine given the UU fourth principle that I cited above (free and responsible...)? Not to mention that our "Sources of Our Living Tradition" includes "Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves."

(OTOH, the minister got a barnburner of a sermon out of it).
 
No harm in chatting while we wait for @Mystic to return with his promised post.

I agree with you about humanism. My experience with so called Progressive Christianity was similar
 
It is all beyond me how people can say they are you nited when they have such scattered perspectives about being on thread!

Is the ultimate fabric not well distributed as sod ... oh my! The word as given is prone to alternation and mutation as evolution goes round ... thus wrinkles!
 
(3) At an Oxford conference Classics professors convened to discuss what is the unique distinctive of Christian spirituality. Prof. C. S. Lewis walked into the meeting late and was asked his opinion. He replied, "That's easy; it's grace." The other professors quickly agreed. Grace is unmerited favor, and so, the only proper response is a life based on gratitude. For Christian spirituality, grace and hence gratitude is more basic than love precisely because Christian love is motivated by gratitude. Paul teaches us to make gratitude a permanent mood in which we relate to others from a sense of grateful privilege rather than legalistic duty. If your prime motivation is legalistic duty, "you have fallen from grace (Ga[atians 5:4)." Gratitude must be the Christian's way of being:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18)."
Thus, petitonary prayer must strive to replace worry with gratitude to be faith-filled and effective:

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6)."

A grace-based life requires the development of the ability to refocus our stream of thought in a positive direction:

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, focus on these things (Phjl. 4:8)."

Paul recognizes that for a mind seething with resentment against politicians (like Trump), it can take time to cool down:

"Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26)."

A grace-based or gratitude-based life also creates a mentally and physically healthier life:
For example, consider this quote from the Mayo Clinic Website:
"Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease. If a pill that could do this, everyone would be taking it. Your brain is designed to problem-solve rather than appreciate. You often must override this design to reap the benefits of gratitude.

What's the right amount of gratitude? Simply stated, gratitude should be practiced daily — just as you'd take that magic pill if it existed. Try starting your day by thinking of someone you're grateful for as soon as you wake up. It could be appreciating a friend who sends you funny texts, a teacher who recognizes your child's gifts, or the barista who hands you your coffee and shares friendly conversation. Later, thank that person with a text, note or kind word when you see the person."​

 
What do you do about a power that imposes grace when the was contrary activity for the indenture? Shall they become de served ... and thus escape?

It one is literate can they read into the imposition of illiteracy as folly? How extensive is the force of illiteracy to form sheepishness .... incarnates as Phoebia ... fear of initiates! That'd bi "A" ... in Hebrew an א representing the mystery of how it all started ...

Life is mysteriously rough ... comfort can ruin a power of the horizontal ... well laid out? No end to ultimate freedom of the lie ... just because you can and no onus ... this would be for the later consequences! Thus frightening angels ... Xeon's! Is fear appropriate in some cases ... thus those that don't know what to avoid and plow on without hesitation, or observation of the surroundings ... environmental brutality ...

Imagine treading lightly ...
 
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Mouthing the words of gratitude can be an empty formality. But the actual regular experience or feeling of gratitude as a rather permanent mood is a vital means of improving emotional and physical health according to the research reported by the Mayo Clinic.
 
Mystic said:
Mouthing the words of gratitude can be an empty formality. But the actual regular experience or feeling of gratitude as a rather permanent mood is a vital means of improving emotional and physical health according to the research reported by the Mayo Clinic.
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Saying anything by rote can become quite meaninglessness. OTOH repetition and chanting can create a very meditative space.
 
Mendalla said:
Really, this is the nub of the problem that a lot of people, me included, have with Christianity as it exists today. Jesus and Paul, the arguable founders, did not go on at length about doctrine or what to believe, but mostly espoused ways of living and relating to God. They weren't calling for rigid enforcement of theological ideas, but for people living in a particular relationship to others and God.

Interested to see where you and others go with this theme.
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I always have ideas banging around
Most of my good thinking happens unconsciously -- an idea appears and I go "hey, neat"

Sometimes I meditate or sleep on a question and wake up with an answer of sorts. Not from me, and specifically for that person. Since I have given myself over to Jesus, the Wise and Cute, I interpret that as the Holy Spirit in messenger mode (and mg connexion mind goes into hyperlink mode with that, from spirits everywhere to thoughts as people to Mercury as Messenger and even angels as their species is Messenger. Oog.my mind is crowded)

So I generally distrust orgs and groups. To me they eventually lose me because they change too much from.when I initially joined them. Or they get into politics that I don't like. I love people, but need my breaks :3

So Christianity. I am still a mystic. Wanting direct interaction. And I do. Yhat is why I converted, to initially shut Jesus up lol

Maybe Christianity, like all those things, has the theoretical (which is the scripture, the church doctrine, and so forth) and the experiential (which is how we act out our beliefs) and we need both?

I think the metaphor aboot the World being kinda against Christianity is a useful metaphor? Ferinstance I think English in the West has become more technical minded and American Fundamentalist Protestantism, for all its fecund creativity, tends to be like a Baseball fan who has all these statistics and how we seem to be leaning into scientism more than science?

I think Christianity can be summed up in that one part of scripture of Clothe the Naked, Feed the Poor, Heal the Sick and be Obedient to God.

It is so simple. But it took me this long to get there :3

And I get the idea that some are reluctant or even kinda afraid of Christianity and Jesus? Which is weird, because it in itself, as I have experienced, isn't at all. Its the people who are the problem lol

At least these are some thoughts knocked loose

Thankee, Mendalla :3
 
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