Does evangelicalsim over simplify a profoundly complex and mysterious faith ?.Why this need to package Christianity up nicely into its own subculture ?.Are folk like Nicky Gumbel missing the point ?
2007-07-24 13:00:51 · 11 answers · asked by david d 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
i simply feel that the essence of mystery and the continued development of ones faith is left behind when that is often where God becomes real
2007-07-24 13:02:11 · update #1
IMHO - and in order...
yes!.. and make your mind up on a case by case basis as to why people have this need to simplify/package/avoid uncertainty and... yes!
spirituality is one thing...church is another. seems a shame they so rarely seem to co-incide. sounds to me like you have a strong faith...maybe that's why you can tolerate uncertainties that others find threatening? but your approach is not going to be popular with many people as things stand. i hope you are the start of a new wave!
i would go a step further though...if we all worship the same god, and i really believe we do, then what spiritual truths are revealed by other churches? is islam really just a school for terrorists...or did the sufis come across something, about the same god, in systems like their Enneagramme, for example?
i think that if you believe in god you will find that force, that mystery, that love wherever you look and i really can't believe that god's cheering on one system and not the others...this isn't the world cup!!!
i would LIKE to believe that faiths,across the world, have far more in common with each other than there are differences and one day we'll be adult enough to stop bickering over who got the details 'right'. i think what we KNOW about god can be written on the head of a pin however many angels are dancing there at the time (!) and it would be really cool if we could stop mixing up fear and arrogance with depth of faith and get on with the worship that is LIFE.
2007-07-24 13:22:41 · answer #1 · answered by mlsgeorge 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not sure David if Nicky Gumbel is missing a point..maybe he's just a man with a calling leading ppl into a relationship with Jesus...i don't know exactly how many ppl have received Salvation through attending the Alpha course, but i know it's a lot..(it's worldwide so it must be millions) it's then up to the individual where they take their relationship with The Lord...some ppl go deeper and deeper--some hunger and thirst for the truth more than others--but i believe God longs for intimacy with all of us, but not everyone responds to His voice the way maybe you do...personally i can't get enough of Him......
I hope I've answered you're Q..
Shalom
Just to say--it sounds to me that you desire to see Christians set free from bondage (religion)--that's what I'm seeing in ur Q...of course i could be all wrong..
(do u know what i mean?)
2007-07-24 15:06:10 · answer #2 · answered by ;) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said that unless we become like little children, we can never enter the Kingdom of God. Get into the complexities as much as you like, but all Christ asks of us is childlike faith. Evangelism is a gift of the Holy Spirit and He simplifies it to reach out to people of all ages, cultures, and intellects. Heaven is not just for the academics amongst us. God bless:)
2007-07-24 13:09:14 · answer #3 · answered by lix 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Evangelicalism (classically, rather than Pop-Ev) is about knowing God through his revelation. Gen 1:1 to Rev 22:21.
It is simple: God is revealed even to the children and requires "child like faith". However, it is not "simplistic". The Bible is clear and concise, yet in-depth and comprehensive.
To know God is given to us freely by him, but knowing him is a journey explored forever.
Read the Bible! It's not that hard! I find that most people who want to rely on alternate religious forms are simply too lazy to learn God's word.
He promises you a blessing if you will just read it!
2007-07-24 16:56:27 · answer #4 · answered by TEK 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Was Jesus not an Evangelist himself? Did he not sum up the faith in just two commandments?
I am not a Christian, but as a scientist I am baffled why in religion and science, people are constantly searching after answers which they can never attain. Its like watching a dog chasing its tail
2007-07-24 14:30:02 · answer #5 · answered by bouncer bobtail 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People like simplicity.
To think is to hard, to question is abhorrent. To live with free will is unthinkable.
"Tell me what to do, how to do, guarantee a nice little house in the suburbs after death and forgive me for all the earthlings I screwed."
That's what people want, and that's what evangelicals give at a price ofcourse.
2007-07-24 13:07:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We need more than an inspired Book :we need a living spirituality and a God-directed Church
2007-07-24 13:34:53 · answer #7 · answered by James O 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is love and the best and biggest Prophet ever, his miracles are everyday, every where so... we don't deny the early ones, simply, we focus in THE ONE.
2007-07-24 14:29:48 · answer #8 · answered by Revolution 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not evangelic but I'm answering for the points and hoping that I will get best answer being the only replier.
2007-07-24 13:07:57 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who is Nicky Grumble, I get the feeling you don't like him.
2007-07-24 13:16:10 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋