Theology for the Masses

When was the last time you describe your relationship with God as a "personal" one?

A recent article I read last week pointed out that when it comes to a personal relationship with Jesus:

As far as the Bible is concerned, this doctrine is simply made up by evangelical Christian theologians.

The article seems to be a response to something Rick Warren wrote.  The author then goes on to debunk the doctrine by quoting some Bible verses (I don’t know if the author is quoting Rick Warren or making his own apologia).  In any case,  the verses used are totally not something I would have thought of using and I don’t know how one would use them to defend the idea of a personal relationship with God. 

John 15: 1-13 | John 10:1-16 | Revelation 3:20 | Revelation 19: 7-9 | Revelation 19: 17-21

With that said, I thought it was worth a discussion here at MassTheo. 

If you believe in a personal relationship with God, how do you define it?  What Bible verses would you use to back up this doctrine or teaching?

p.s. the original article is from an atheist site so I don’t want to link to it from here unless you want me to. 

Here are some good, bad, and discussion promoting links from around the ‘verse.

LCMS Invites Emerging Guru Dan Kimball from Slice of Laodicea by Ingrid

The human embodiment of Christian unity, Ingrid, freaks out because Kimball, who does not hate McLaren, is speaking in St. Louis at the Missouri Lutheran Church Snod. A small apocalypse ensues. I like that she envokes the Book of Concord in her argument for scripture alone. That and the guilt by association. (Bonus Link: See CRN.Info’s take on Ingrid’s post)

The Source of Submission from Challies Dot Com

Tim Challies argues for the location of original submission before the fall, not as the result of it. Some of his arguments hold some water, others are full of holes (4, 6, 7, 8, 10).

Does the Atheist Deny What the Theist Affirms? from Maverick Philosopher by William F. Vallicella

By far the best post of my morning reading. Vallicella describes how atheist’s arguments against the existance of god often do not address the world that theists put forth.