tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post5887597691338026055..comments2024-01-11T10:58:30.769-05:00Comments on Jesus community: when Christ is not the centerTed M. Gossardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-89711204739848059422008-11-06T04:36:00.000-05:002008-11-06T04:36:00.000-05:00Amen, Literacygirl, and thanks.Amen, Literacygirl, and thanks.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-63901956626035258802008-11-05T22:03:00.000-05:002008-11-05T22:03:00.000-05:00Thanks for clarifying. Too many people are judging...Thanks for clarifying. Too many people are judging others as to whether Christ is at their center or if one is intelligent based upon their political opinions on both sides of red and blue spectrum. We CAN come to different political conclusions and still be siblings in Christ. I just don't like it when one side calls the other side names, when they should just respectfully disagree and not say they are being "black eyes". It is hurtful and demeaning. Thanks again and peace.Literacygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14341804109875514455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-73417706542568990212008-11-02T01:50:00.000-04:002008-11-02T01:50:00.000-04:00Literacygirl,Thanks for your comment.If someone de...Literacygirl,<BR/>Thanks for your comment.<BR/><BR/>If someone defends Bush and the war- it depends. Of course this could be just a question of arriving to a different judgment with Christ still as the center. But if Christ is the center, then the two Christians, for example- on different sides of this issue, will still love and get along with each other well. But when your judgment on such matters becomes central, then you will divide.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-15986485490207882612008-11-01T18:42:00.000-04:002008-11-01T18:42:00.000-04:00I am little confused. If someone defends Bush and ...I am little confused. If someone defends Bush and the war, do they not have Christ at their center? It puts a black eye on Christianity? How so? Isn't this a difference of opinion? It sounds like a lot of judgment someone who disagrees with you.Literacygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14341804109875514455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-41692087732672937552008-11-01T17:49:00.000-04:002008-11-01T17:49:00.000-04:00ESI,Thanks.No. I don't believe so at all. This is ...ESI,<BR/>Thanks.<BR/><BR/>No. I don't believe so at all. This is where both the religious right and the religious left fall flat, in my estimation, in spite of the good they do.<BR/><BR/>I'll want to vote for measures that uphold the sanctity of the unborn. I explain abortion and voting, and my thoughts on it, recently, in <A HREF="http://communityofjesus.blogspot.com/2008/10/abortion-and-voting.html" REL="nofollow">this posting</A>.<BR/><BR/>It's all the harder for me with some Anabaptist thinking in my theological paradigm to confine life to just the unborn. On top of that there's the issue of how we work towards ridding our country of abortions. And many other matters weigh in as well. <BR/><BR/>I hold tentatively to a view that God may lead Christians following Jesus to vote differently in some issues, or at least may give them the freedom in the Spirit to do so. Partly to get the salt and light everywhere, and partly as part of God's mysterious working in reaching a solution. I'm not sold on the idea that an overturning of Roe v Wade will solve the abortion problem in our country, though we should be for that. <BR/><BR/>Christ at the center does not mean we'll all agree on how to solve problems. Nor does it mean we won't think that the other is wrong. And there are some significant differences we know among professing Christian churches and people nowadays.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-18412111495666912382008-11-01T17:34:00.000-04:002008-11-01T17:34:00.000-04:00Nancy, Amen. The unity is already present in Jesus...Nancy, Amen. The unity is already present in Jesus, but we must maintain it by seeking to keep him in the center of our faith and activity. I think this will end up playing out in ways that will be as unexpected as if he were here in person, as the God-man that he is. Like in the days when he walked the earth. But he is present with us by the Spirit, now. So in ways that are clear and general- witnessing and loving each other, and our enemies, but in ways which also would be surprising, without ever violating God's revelation in his word.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-86634782859577047302008-11-01T15:03:00.000-04:002008-11-01T15:03:00.000-04:00Ted - good thoughts indeed on Christ as central to...Ted - good thoughts indeed on Christ as central to our lives, including our political preferences.<BR/><BR/>I was wondering what it might look like for Christ to be central to Christians in the realm of politics. Does it mean that we would always agree and be united? Might there be issues that we would be willing to stand against even other Christians if they opposed the sanctity of the unborn, for instance. <BR/><BR/>What do you think?Every Square Inchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636924397725214300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-79850184219483613172008-11-01T12:26:00.000-04:002008-11-01T12:26:00.000-04:00Jesus provides unity for those that follow Him.Jesus provides unity for those that follow Him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com