More Emerging

Last week I had the opportunity to listen and converse some with Dr. John Franke. He is just one of many prominent voices in the emerging conversation. In that particular forum, he raised a number of issues that brought some interesting questions, discussion and reactions and deserves much credit for going into that particular lion's den to begin with.
These discussion always seem to go back to post-modernity and it's inherent disdained for absolute truth. My take on some of this - mine not his necessarily, is that we are all of us wrong. At least in part. Due to our life experiences, our heritage, our personalities and probably our sin nature as well, we all have drifted from God's absolute truth so that none of us really have it. At least not all of it. But there is the point of disagreement. What is the truth that we do have? Some might say it is agreement on the Gospel but then they differ on what they mean by Gospel. Somewhat like Dr. Franke, I believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible Word of God, a divine revela­tion, the original writings of which were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit and that they are the supreme and final authority of faith and conduct. But, the point he seemed to be stressing was that even though we may start there (and not everyone does) it does not mean that we are infallible in our interpretations of it. Trying to figure our just how much of the truth we have to agree on in order to fully work together for the kingdom is to say the least challenging. So, for now I am still listening to the conversation and trusting in Christ alone.

Class Jesus 2

After the disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable of the sower (Mark 4), they asked why he spoke in parables. Before He explains He responds with a quote from Isaiah. (Isa 6:9 NIV) "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' In other words He seems to say I speak in parables so some won’t understand. The opposite of everything we try to do isn’t it?

In Isaiah, the people of Israel after having been blessed by God so much, have turned their back on Him. Gradually but consistently.
Isaiah 5 – woes, people rejecting.
5:4 I looked for good (grapes) and found bad
5:7 looked for justice and found bloodshed
5:12 no regard for the deeds of the Lord or the works of His hands

Isaiah 6 – charge to Isaiah
Isaiah 7 etc. – more rejection.
Gradual hardening. Then complete hardening.
The result – God is disgraced.

So, Here’s at least one secret. It is all about God’s glory. Its not about us its about Him. But there seems to be a second secret in this parable as well. That opportunities don’t last forever. Given that you have an opportunity now to bring God glory, how will we do it? If we keep putting it off we will eventually lose the opportunity, or be so distracted we won't even know the opportunities exist.