tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post2178640034977213083..comments2023-05-13T05:59:51.004-06:00Comments on with arms wide open: what I wish our churches taught us...rob ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06074711016726877092noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-59273199342656225672012-12-04T07:21:49.206-07:002012-12-04T07:21:49.206-07:00Thanks for your many thoughts and questions, AnonA...Thanks for your many thoughts and questions, AnonAlex. The last paragraph of what you wrote really resonates with what this blog is about.<br /><br />rob ghttp://exclusionandembrace.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-26070348911615032002012-12-03T12:32:09.676-07:002012-12-03T12:32:09.676-07:00Thanks! That's what I hoped the article would ...Thanks! That's what I hoped the article would do.rob ghttp://exclusionandembrace.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-92126898950067944082012-12-03T12:30:46.064-07:002012-12-03T12:30:46.064-07:00GC: That is very true... as children we are taught...GC: That is very true... as children we are taught so many things in a black and white way, and then with maturity comes the reality that there are key truths, and then many things which we either don't know, or about which there are significant differences of opinion about, or which just don't matter in the bigger picture of loving God and loving one another.<br /><br />It seems that for some people, the older they get the more they hold on to everything they have believed since childhood....<br /><br />rob g<br /><br />p.s. thanks also for your kind words about the blog<br /><br />rob ghttp://exclusionandembrace.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-54893378664224405882012-12-03T10:17:21.375-07:002012-12-03T10:17:21.375-07:00Dear Jane: thanks for reading the post and taking ...Dear Jane: thanks for reading the post and taking the time to comment -- I am encouraged by it.rob ghttp://exclusionandembrace.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-37250530952854152562012-12-02T19:11:03.495-07:002012-12-02T19:11:03.495-07:00The longer I am a Christian (or the older I get?) ...The longer I am a Christian (or the older I get?) the more I realize that there are some specific truths that I can hold to without question, and a whole lot that we really don't know ... or doesn't matter in light of the truths? I think this post (and your blog in general) does a great job of pointing out the over-arching importance of love and respect. <br />GC<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-2825258253032905212012-12-01T15:16:21.484-07:002012-12-01T15:16:21.484-07:00why the church was making such a big deal about bl...why the church was making such a big deal about blessing people who love each other when there’s more important things like KONY2012 happening in the world.<br /><br />I've got a question. If there is a concensus in Church that look at the collection of Scripture and think that homosexual sexual activity is wrong, then blessing it would say "we bless sin"... and then anything goes. It means that whatever you want to do - that is fine with us. Then in effect it is saying "What God wants doesn't matter to us. Only what people want." Then, we are greater fools because we waste so much time and effort on things like confession and eucharist and praying. When we could really just send our money and efforts to the UN or the Lions Club or whatever the 'cool civil movement of the day' is.<br /><br />But if we say that we can't bless an activity that is sinful, then at what point does a church remain part of an organization that does? I think there are those at said church who would say 'we were willing to stay when it was impersonal and only the national church organization, but now that it is the diocese, that is too mixed up for us'. Is that right? Does staying implicitly mean you agree? Is it because money is involved (and the donations then go to supporting the bishop and other churches that you think are blessing sin)?<br /><br /><br />Sorting it out (quickly but thoroughly enough) is critical, so that you can get to the more important work of sharing the gospel.<br /><br />(Can I say, that it would be really cool if your kid went to share the gospel with Joseph Kony and the LRA?)<br /><br />AnonalexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-2966702500026828922012-12-01T14:57:06.607-07:002012-12-01T14:57:06.607-07:00"People are more important than ideas (even t..."People are more important than ideas (even theological ones)"<br /><br />I've been reading a (fictional) account of the Exodus-time lives of Aaron and Caleb. What a heady time for the Israelites:<br />"We just wanted to love each other freely since we thought Moses died" - Death by Plague, Sword<br />"We want to be priests too - you know, closer to God" - Buried alive with spouses and children<br />"We thought we could share with the people around us" - Death by Plague<br />"We got tired and want to return to Egypt" - dead<br />"I just thought a little something for myself would be okay" - Killed, with spouse and children<br />"I'll just have a couple of idols, like my neighbours?" - dead<br />"Moses shouldn't marry a foreigner, that's not right" - leaprosy<br />"I'll just hit the rock, like before" - not allowed into the promised land<br /><br />For those in the New Testament, I remember one preacher suggesting we celebrate an Ananias & Sapphira sunday every once in a while.<br /><br /><br />I think you're right though. But what is the balance between Love and Love? How does God's love for the Israelites fit into our lives today? Or does it?<br /><br />Quite possibly, it is that since we have the message of peace, we have to be even more open to remembering your message - more welcoming to all, more open to lbgt, more able to love. To live more purely, to live more welcoming, to live more holy lives. Not selecting what we think is right but trusting God more deeply.<br /><br />AnonAlexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-27086518885095170992012-12-01T14:39:03.186-07:002012-12-01T14:39:03.186-07:00Rob, great post. I think this is great for all to...Rob, great post. I think this is great for all to hear. I certainly think it helps to frame any discussion in a very positive and helpful way. It reminds me to love and remember the people involved.<br /><br />AnonalexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149754204668875532.post-19895574578305412042012-11-29T14:20:23.379-07:002012-11-29T14:20:23.379-07:00Rob, thank you so much for this post. +JaneRob, thank you so much for this post. +JaneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com