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About me: I am Tim Nightingale, I enjoy people, cultures, and learning. I used to love soccer, but now I have been reduced to watching it, I currently live in England. I work in a church as a youth worker and have a great staff team. I have a wonderful girlfriend, whom i miss very much, she is completing her studies, quite unfortunately somewhere else.
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Wednesday, January 24, 2007,1:30 PM
Chistian Communism
At the word communism people shudder as if it symbolized all evil, but at its most basic principle, everybody being provided for and sharing.... isn't it Christian? Matthew 5:40 " And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."
or for another example Acts 2 :44 " All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."
If you look up the old testament laws that God gave Israel for their community, what would you find? A form of communism perhaps?
Am I "proof-texting" which is utterly wrong? Is this in the right context? Am I using proper hermeneutics?
In this capitalist society have we made the Bible capitalist as well?
I know the health and wealth gospel has translated the gospel into financial blessing... which if you look at the Super Apostles and Jesus and their teachings you would notice that the health and wealth gospel is wrong; actually if you look at Jesus and the super apostles you will notice their emphasis on sharing and giving out of love and the way they gave of themselves out love...
arguments or agreements welcomed....
or for another example Acts 2 :44 " All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."
If you look up the old testament laws that God gave Israel for their community, what would you find? A form of communism perhaps?
Am I "proof-texting" which is utterly wrong? Is this in the right context? Am I using proper hermeneutics?
In this capitalist society have we made the Bible capitalist as well?
I know the health and wealth gospel has translated the gospel into financial blessing... which if you look at the Super Apostles and Jesus and their teachings you would notice that the health and wealth gospel is wrong; actually if you look at Jesus and the super apostles you will notice their emphasis on sharing and giving out of love and the way they gave of themselves out love...
arguments or agreements welcomed....
Monday, January 15, 2007,1:02 PM
The Anabaptist Vision
This exciting 36 page, big print, $3.99, essay written by Harold S. Bender intrigued me to the extent of reading it in one sitting. It only took 30 minutes and it was some of the most enjoyable reading minutes aside from the Bible that I have ever had. This book was written at a mennonite low. The church was struggling with the seperation of culture and gospel. Often we as christians have a problem with intertwining the culture we learn about God in, with the Gospel that is taught. Because the Mennonites could not seperate the two they fell into strict and sad legalism. Harold was a very important and influential man, he wrote this book to remind the Mennonites what the Anabaptist forfathers had in mind when they began their peaceful revolution. Highlighting their lives and their principles thus giving the present day audience a clear picture of Anabaptism ideals and intentions inspired the church to rethink and change their visions and goals, and has also inspired me to do some thinking of my own.In conclusion Harold finishes...
The Anabaptist vision was not a detailed blueprint for the reconstruction of human society, but the Brethern did believe that Jesus intended that the Kingdom of God should be set up in the midst of earth, here and now, and this they proposed to do forthwith. We shall not believe, they said, that the Sermon on the Mount or any other vision that He had is only a heavenly vision meant but to keep His followers in tension until the last great day, but we shall practice what He taught, believing that where He walked we can by His grace follow in His footsteps.
It is a quick, easy and enjoyable read...
The Anabaptist vision was not a detailed blueprint for the reconstruction of human society, but the Brethern did believe that Jesus intended that the Kingdom of God should be set up in the midst of earth, here and now, and this they proposed to do forthwith. We shall not believe, they said, that the Sermon on the Mount or any other vision that He had is only a heavenly vision meant but to keep His followers in tension until the last great day, but we shall practice what He taught, believing that where He walked we can by His grace follow in His footsteps.
It is a quick, easy and enjoyable read...