Link Roundup

I hope everyone has made progress on writing their stories this week. Don’t forget to send them to the Board of Directors, here is the info you’ll need. It’s been odd to have the blog so quiet these past few days – I’ve missed interacting with all of you! Regular posting will resume next week.

For now, here are a few things I’ve enjoyed recently:

1) A great example of Christian manipulation:

Taken out of context, but stringed together, the verses spoke of the sin of contempt or disagreements being sowed among the brothers . . . how terrible of a thing it was, and how God will punish people for doing that.

2) Does sin really separate us from God? (2021 update, blog has since been removed)

3) Characteristics of Pseudo-Leaders

4) 

5) When relationships are built around the truth of the Gospel

6) If Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians was published in Christianity Today:
Dear Editor:How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters?

And the best post I’ve read in a while: The Stages of Faith

one of the hardest things about all of the tossing & turning & churning of spiritual growth and change is that it sometime can just feel so confusing and disorienting. when others around you are perfectly fine with where they are on the journey with God, church & life, but something feels awry in our spirit, we can get a little insecure and sort of wonder “what’s wrong with us?”

2 comments:

Natalie said…

OH WOW THANK YOU FOR NUMBER TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my goodness, Revelation MAJOR!
R.A. THANK YOU! I just can’t thank you enough for all that you are doing with this blog!!!!!!
This whole post is good but #2 struck me the deepest. This is something I learned at T.M. (I’m not blaming T.M. for this teaching though, before I got there I’d been saved two years and didn’t know what sin even was. Sadly I totally promoted gay marriage and abortion. I’m sure had I been in a church that taught about sin I would have been told the same thing.)
It makes since though I guess, “Sin is separation from God.” But it’s NOT?!?!?!?
Jesus blood covers us?! And that makes since that shame is what separates us, and it’s not God doing any of the separating, it’s us. And He’s actually there the whole time still, even though we’re ignoring Him. And as soon as WE turn back to Him, He’s not mad at us!
wow.
And I told EVERYONE that’s what sin was. I’m determining I know nothing.
February 18, 2010 5:31 PM

Recovering Alumni said…

Glad you like it, Natalie. You might also like the follow up piece here:

However, I’ve since come to understand that an over concern with sin is a shame based behavior that Jesus dealt with on the cross. Because shame has been removed, sin should no longer be the focus of our attention. Now that I’m free, my attention can be focused on God and his love.

http://forgettingtheformerthings.blogspot.com/2009/11/sin-and-shame-part-2-solution.html

I really should figure out how to embed links in my own comments…
February 18, 2010 5:52 PM