Comments on: The Christian Other

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:11:50 +0000

Thanks for thinking about this. Keeping it in mind, and reminding each other as when we slip into an unhelpfully critical mode, is sure to reduce the frequency.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:53:30 +0000

I thank God that he has seen fit to give us his Word. I don’t have the mental ability to decide which of the Old Testament accounts are myth and which literal history, which prophecies are only symbols of some sort and which will be or have been fulfilled, and neither does anyone else. We are human and he is God. He doesn’t lie and confuse, but Satan does (or is he also a piece of fiction?). Jesus said, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies….He who belongs to God hears what God says.” John 8:44c & 47 It seems to me that Jesus and the apostles were more concerned with truth and with warning against false teachers. Agreed, we need to “correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Tim. 4:2 “but speaking the truth in love” Titus 4:15, and above all love one another! The concept of a “rapture” is extra-biblical in any case.

By: Christian Carnival CCXLIII « A True Believer’s Blog

Christian Carnival CCXLIII « A True Believer’s Blog — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:32:43 +0000

[...] at Theology for the Masses, asks about how to deal with Christians with differing views in “The Christian Other.” I know a lot of people who have wrestled with this kind of issue, and it’s a great [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:16:00 +0000

I have been feeling this way recently, as well. It reminds me of when I was incredibly into reading apologetic literature and was constantly attacking the positions of others. As far as how to go about it better, I’m not entirely sure. We can talk about the positive attributes of our positions rather than the negative ones of those we disagree with (although it’s easy to imply the negatives of other positions, i.e. “Peace Theology holds a very high view of God’s universal love,” read: “Others’ views do not”). We can talk about these things less. We can repent and pray that God will give us a better perspective. We can spend more time with those we disagree with to better understand their positions and how their identities are formed by those positions. Hopefully some of those are helpful. Also, I thought one key “othering” position that was conspicuously left off (whether purposeful or not) is Calvinists/Arminianists (depending on which side you fall). This post was really good and really timely. Thanks Henry.