on another note...
In light of my last post, I wanted to talk a bit about our joining the Missionary Church.
It has been part of Nadine's and my vision to bring to Christianity our growing Jewish understanding and approach of God and scripture. A reform or "call to a serious re-examination" and re-start/rebuild, if you will. That's one of the main reasons we stay in Christian circles. We feel that so many are misled in their faith, having the basics, but also having a couple of thousand years of intrusive theology and traditions that tainted the faith. If there are some truly seeking truth, as it is ever unfolding, then we want to help them find it, and offer them resources to do so. The other side of that vision being to non-believers who are looking for authenticity, spiritual and personal growth, and truth.
The Missionary Church is providing us with incredible help in networking, training, planning, and other resources, but I often wonder where we will be with them after the two-year mentoring period. I think our partnership with them will do wonders for seeing our vision for the Center for Expressive Arts come to pass, and our vision for "authentic faith communities" as well. But after two years, I hope that they will have had the same open ear and teachable spirit that they expect of us. Will they seek truth as well, or stay stuck in the typical, often without even realizing it, usually unspoken motto of "tradition equals truth." I wonder, in the end, will we still want to be associated or spoken of as "Christian", "Church", or "pastors"? Or are we so different that we won't be able to work together with those who definitely are those things. Granted, many who are involved with us consider themselves Christian, but albeit they don't fit the stereotype in the least. We also have had athiests, pagans, and others involved with us, who surprisingly were some of the most enthusiastic in our group about studying scripture.
Speaking of "Truth," there is a datafile that I plan posting a link to on my blog later this week which examines the differences in Greek, linear thought, and Hebrew, circular thought, concerning different aspects of philosophy (i.e. way of thinking, Life, God, Truth, etc...). While the website as a whole is a bit too Christian for me, that particular datafile is awesome. If I may quote, in order to expound on some of what I wrote above:
Greek
For Greeks, the ultimate in truth tends to be scientific and rational. When looking at Scripture, they focus on how things are done. They come to believe truth as they think it through.
Hebrew
Hebrews see the ultimaite in truth as religious and experiential. When looking at Scripture, they focus on what was done and who did it. They come to believe truth as they experience it.
It goes into a much more well-rounded examination, but I really thought this explained my outlook on "truth" well.
It has been part of Nadine's and my vision to bring to Christianity our growing Jewish understanding and approach of God and scripture. A reform or "call to a serious re-examination" and re-start/rebuild, if you will. That's one of the main reasons we stay in Christian circles. We feel that so many are misled in their faith, having the basics, but also having a couple of thousand years of intrusive theology and traditions that tainted the faith. If there are some truly seeking truth, as it is ever unfolding, then we want to help them find it, and offer them resources to do so. The other side of that vision being to non-believers who are looking for authenticity, spiritual and personal growth, and truth.
The Missionary Church is providing us with incredible help in networking, training, planning, and other resources, but I often wonder where we will be with them after the two-year mentoring period. I think our partnership with them will do wonders for seeing our vision for the Center for Expressive Arts come to pass, and our vision for "authentic faith communities" as well. But after two years, I hope that they will have had the same open ear and teachable spirit that they expect of us. Will they seek truth as well, or stay stuck in the typical, often without even realizing it, usually unspoken motto of "tradition equals truth." I wonder, in the end, will we still want to be associated or spoken of as "Christian", "Church", or "pastors"? Or are we so different that we won't be able to work together with those who definitely are those things. Granted, many who are involved with us consider themselves Christian, but albeit they don't fit the stereotype in the least. We also have had athiests, pagans, and others involved with us, who surprisingly were some of the most enthusiastic in our group about studying scripture.
Speaking of "Truth," there is a datafile that I plan posting a link to on my blog later this week which examines the differences in Greek, linear thought, and Hebrew, circular thought, concerning different aspects of philosophy (i.e. way of thinking, Life, God, Truth, etc...). While the website as a whole is a bit too Christian for me, that particular datafile is awesome. If I may quote, in order to expound on some of what I wrote above:
Greek
For Greeks, the ultimate in truth tends to be scientific and rational. When looking at Scripture, they focus on how things are done. They come to believe truth as they think it through.
Hebrew
Hebrews see the ultimaite in truth as religious and experiential. When looking at Scripture, they focus on what was done and who did it. They come to believe truth as they experience it.
It goes into a much more well-rounded examination, but I really thought this explained my outlook on "truth" well.