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Russell_OU
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Name: Scott
Gender: Male
Interests: Philosophical and practical conversations on God's movement, world history, being a good husband and father, I luv really funky spicy Southeast Asian food, U2, Disciple, Thousand Foot Krutch, Coldplay, the Police, various types of music and alternative rawk! I luv the hype, colorful pageantry, impact and strategic struggle involved in college football; luv studying the ideals, philosophies and history of the U.S. and the world! I enjoy various types of literature and art
Expertise: All material published on this Website is copyrighted by the author, Scott Russell with all rights reserved. Permission must be gained from the author before any material might be used
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
4/7/2005
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| Warning: For non-Christians out there this might sound like gobldy gook Christian talk and for the most part it is. But if you want to learn a little of the culture that envelops western Christianity, then feel free to ask questions about any of these definitions, ideas, beliefs or concepts. Hopefully soon I will have something a little more relevant to those who do not follow Jesus.
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
-Psalms116:13-14
God has many names and yet one essence. This is not a theological syncretistic statement by the way. And for context I truly live in a Christian culture that is more edgy, contemporary, maybe more culturally relevant, but still evangelical. None of these descriptions are really adequate, but in short I don't go to a traditional Baptist Church like the one a I grew up in. I am not surrounded by folks who still are drenched in that culture. Though I am friends with several who are. I'm just not engulfed in that traditional church culture or surrounded by those who are. And for the record, many and probably most of those folks are my brothers and sisters in Christ. We all are followers of the LORD.
The LORD! Very few who run in my circles call Jesus that anymore at least not often. It has, well... such a traditional ring to it. And most Jesus Followers who run in my circles don't refer to Him as the LORD because it is not a commonly used word in today's vocabulary. And it may be perceived by those in my circles to be somewhat irrelevant to culture outside of Christianity for that very reason. Now those traditional evangelicals (of which I came out of) out there reading this might assume that these missional/seeker/emerging Christian types are always just trying to make things cool and more appealing so that we can sell God to people. I know. I used to fall in more of a traditional mode.
On a very important side note, I really want to distance myself from the label as being an "Emerging" or "Emergeant" Christian, as well as, the label of being a "Seeker" Christian. Even in saying that, I know some godly folks and godly things that have come out of those cultures as well. I don't really like labels much anyway. As I would just label myself as being a follower of whatever Jesus wants. But because we are humans and words/labels help to paint pictures of lifestyles, beliefs and truths. I would consider my self "missional". From my perception, being missional is doing church and living life that is sacrificial for others and for God. Not just God. As a matter of fact, we can't truly know God with out serving and loving others. If you want to know more about this philosophical idea, ask me and I will respond. Now back to the subject.
I think that the traditionalist evangelical would be right in one sense. Often times I think that the more progressive (missional, emergeant, seeker types) evangelicals are just trying to make things cool to attract people to God or to sell God to people (a harsher way of saying it). I'm not sure that this is so scripturally wrong, as it is just tacky and self defeating. God does not need salesman. He can sell Himself. One of the ugly divisions that can happen between evangelicals is that the traditionalists see the more progressives as selling out and compromising truth. And vice versa is the idea that progressives see the traditionalists as holding on to traditions that are not necessarily scriptural and that get in the way of reaching people. The progressives see the expectation of dressing up for the church service, the over use of Christianese (Christian words that non-believers don't understand), among other traditions, as alienating the very people who need to be reached. And from real people's testimonies sometimes this is exactly what happens. In other words, people have been reached at my more progressive church that would have never stepped foot in a traditional church or given a traditionalist the time of day.
The bottom line of the traditionalists is that they see the progressives as spending so much energy on trying to please those that they are trying to reach and sell God to, that these progressives sell out and don't acknowledge or speak some of the difficult truths that God so clearly communicates in the scriptures. The bottom line idea for the progressives is that they believe that among God's top priorities for the church is to leave the 99 found sheep for the one lost sheep (Luke 15). And that loving your neighbor as yourself is not some low place suggestion, but that it is up there with "love the LORD with all of your heart, soul and mind" (Matt. 22:36-40). And so how the non-believer perceives us and God is very important and by the way, "God is love." (1 John 4:7-9)
So that brings us back to "the LORD." Ok you progressives out there. I think that we should refer to Him as "the LORD." Why? Because that translates authority in a traditional sense. And we've lost that tradition. You see not all traditions are bad and some need to be kept. He is the LORD of the earth! LORD over my life! I am subject to Him. The LORD can giveth and taketh away, blessed be the name of the LORD! He is the LORD because His agenda trumps our agenda. His plan is more important than our individual, independent minded plans are. But even if we feel pain because of the triumphant will of "the LORD", we know that "the LORD" still loves us and will work all things out for even our good (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11). I see too many progressives get mad at God or lose faith, when things are not going there way. I've even been there myself. But this is because we don't understand and have lost the biblical meaning of "the LORD".
A 1950's Church tradition of church going men wearing three piece suits might prevent people from knowing the LORD these days because the non-believer may avoid people who seem over dressed and pretentious or they may feel too lowly (in an economic/class sense) to relate. While the concept of "the LORD" may turn away the non-believer because well, certain non-believers don't want to follow that kind of God, we can not lose this concept. Well, because HE is the LORD! And to call HIM and choose to follow something contrary to "the LORD" would be speaking of a different god and not following "the LORD" of the bible. The three piece suit tradition is simply man's tradition, which might or might not be good for bring people to know "the LORD". The older more traditional english usage of biblical word "the LORD" is quite important for bringing people to know "the LORD." Oh hey, and if it is too Christianese for the non-believer to understand for you progressive teachers out there, then teach it to them in a gentle healthy way. Besides understanding and following "the LORD" is one of the most healthy ways to live, grow and know HIM.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." (Psalms 34:8)
"...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Deuteronomy 24:15)
Scott
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| “Somehow Christianity has become a nonmystical religion. It’s about a reasonable faith. If we believe the right things, then we are orthodox. Frankly whether we ever actually connect to God or experience His undeniable presence has become incidental, if not irrelevant. We have become believers rather than experiencers. To know God in Scriptures always went beyond information to intimacy. We may find ourselves uncomfortable with this reality, but the faith of the Scriptures is a mystical faith. It leads us beyond the material world into an invisible reality. We become connected to the God of eternity. Who you are at the core is spirit. God is Spirit. To walk with God is to journey in the spiritual realm. ”
Erwin McManus “The Barbarian Way”
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| Let me say to you that I will make no promises about future blogs since it has been a year since I've left anything on this site. Anyway, God is teaching me something. God is not a Genie in a bottle. He doesn't always give us the quick answer, wish or quick fix. I used to always think that it was weird when Jesus spoke in riddles. I used to think, "why does he make things seem complicated or am I missing anything?" Now I think (emphasis on "I think") I know why Jesus spoke in riddles and complex analogies. And I don't think that it has to do with us or teachers knowing the Greek or biblical background better (though I've had 2 years of Koine Greek and several biblical background classes). But God speaks to the common man, even the one with out an education. What Jesus is saying is, "...seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened." (Matt. 4:7-8) OR "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deut. 4:29).
You have to seek. It is interesting because in Romans 3 it says something to the effect that "there is no one who seeks, there is no one who does good." And this is also true. So how can both be true. Well no one can seek enough and no one can do good enough to reach God on their own. But if we'll just run with the little voice in our head that says, "just read a sentence in my Bible today... just put aside 5 minutes for Me in your busy day. Just be open to hearing my voice no matter where it comes from. Just seek me in the way that you currently can right now... just do something going towards me... just go .0001 percent of the way toward me. And I will go the rest of the 99.9990 percent of the way toward you..." "Come near to God and He will come near to you..." (James 4:8) Oh and for you strict Calvinists (I used to be one) just in case you are thinking that I left out the biblical theological idea that it is not up to us, but God loved us first. I didn't. God's sovereignty in all is biblical and true. If it were not the truth, there would be no way that we could even go .0001 of the way toward God.
But this is a process. This is a painful process. It is about having a relationship with the living God of the universe! And relationships are always messy. Not because God is messy, but because we are messy. And there are always ups and downs. And there is no "love at first sight-happily ever after" with us toward God. We doubt. We get hurt. We blame God. We look for other gods when things are going well for us. This seems to be human nature. And sometimes God doesn't rescue us from the trial. And sometimes we don't get what we want. But God sometimes allows us to go through the trial because we grow and understand what really matters with out getting the quick fix or answer. We become more desperate for Him and dependent on Him. Then we'll know what it means "to know Christ and the power of His ressurection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippian 3:10-11). Then you can "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2-3).
So seek Jesus with all of your heart and He will show up through the thick and the thin!
Scott
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| Long time no blog eh? I've really slacked off from blogging obviously. But I hope that all is well with everyone. I'm going to attempt to blog once a week here and on my MySpace. It seems that most people that I'm connected to locally have migrated from xanga to myspace. But I don't want to lose complete contact with my xanga friends either. So for today I'm going to provide you with one of my favorite quotes:
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing." Sir Edmund Burke
This is the quote on my Myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=14936605
What is one of your favorite quotes? Feel free to fill my xanga up with quotes
Blessings,
Scott | | |
| HUMAN NATURE: GOOD OR EVIL?
I want to know your thoughts: This is the question of the day. Is our (humans) nature good, evil or maybe neutral? I would love to read your thoughts on this subject. But when you give your thoughts, please give me reasons for your thoughts. Are your thoughts based on some personal experience, higher authority, some authoritative piece of wisdom or something else? In other words, I would love to read the pieces of wisdom or personal experience that shapes your belief. (Feel free to blog about this on your own xanga or myspace site and direct them to this site if you like. I'm trying to get back to blogging, but there is more energy for me in blogging when more people are involved. Right or wrong that is the way it works for me at this point. I'd love to get a variety of different opinions on this topic if possible. Of Course NO ONE'S OPINION WILL BE DEGRADED ON MY BLOG. In other words, opinions may be disagreed with, but people must not be degraded.)
My Thoughts: Of Course for those of you who do not know, I am a Christ Follower. I believe that Jesus is the One and only Son of God, who also came in the form of a man to save us from our sins. That is a very loaded statement of which is open for questions or discussion from anyone, as well. But to be short, I believe that humans tend to do the wrong thing. That means that if God is the author of good, then humans tend to drift from Him.
Some of you may ask, "Why do you believe in such a thing?" I believe this because of a collected wisdom beyond my own wisdom (the Bible). In other words, it seems as though the scriptures, which I believe to be God's word through many wise, but yet flawed authors, builds this very truth: Humans seem to do the wrong thing. My own experience and history itself also seems to confirm what the scriptures say as well. Now you must know that I do not believe that humans are utterly evil without the capacity for good. I do think that we have a tremendous capacity for goodness. We were made in the image of God (however broken and faded that may become). So there is potential for goodness that can be found in history, the scriptures and experience, as well. However, I just believe that we, on our own accord, tend to drift from what is right to what is wrong.
Is the Bible God's Word? This is a very important question that must be answered for many people. There is much evidence for the understanding that it is God's Word. One piece of evidence that shines above many others are the prophecies about Christ and his work of salvation, written 300, 700 (especially Isaiah), even 1000 years before Christ's appearance on the earth. Even the most radical liberal Old Testament scholars date the latest prophecies about Christ as being written at least 150 years before Christ. There are also several pieces of scholarship that write off such prophecies and even Christ's historical existence, as well. But that is another discussion for another time. I have done much study on this with as much of an open mind as I can muster (being a person who has experienced Jesus' literal presence). Yet I find the sceptical scholarship wanting, even by scientific standards. At this point try to imagine with me if you don't already believe, that the Bible is indeed at the least an attempt of God trying to communicate wisdom to man. Or at least appreciate the fact that there are no other texts that have been found to be as ancient or as accurate as what we have in the collection of the Bible.
Scriptural Evidence of human evil tendencies:
Romans 3:9-11 "What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written,'There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.'"
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Isaiah 64:6"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind take us away
Scriptural Evidence of human potential to do good:
Proverbs 2:20 "Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous"
Psalm 11:7 "For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face."
Isaiah 57:1-2 "The righteous persih, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."
Matthew 6:1 Be careful not to odyour acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Is God's word contradictory here? No, one has to understand what makes a person righteous with all that is said in the scriptures about humans tending to lean towards evil. A man is considered righteous when He trusts in the living God of the universe, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is not his/her good deeds that make them righteous. It is their humility before God and trust in Him that allows God to bestow righteousness upon someone. Righteousness could only be given to people when the stain of sin is wiped away. Why is this important? Because sin is contagious and destructive. One sin even of relatively minor proportions tends to snow ball and ultimately destroy many peoples lives, hopes and dreams.
The simplest lie would be a great example. Lies tend to start small and ultimately destroy trust, relationships, etc... If God has prepared a wonderful place for everyone, how can he allow people with the stain of sin to enter this place. He can not. Or else the beauty of it all would be lost and corrupted as we often see happen in this world. So He had to wipe away sin because of justice. Justice is what someone deserves and it carries over into eternity. Justice is actually a good thing. It preserves what is pure, holy and good. An example would be, that if someone kills (theoretically) then they should be killed according to justice. This helps to preserve what is left of goodness and innocense with those who don't kill. Someone may do many good things, but if that person is a killer also then he/she is a carrier of the disease of killing. It doesn't go away without justice being done. It is a natural law of God in the context of freewill. Therefore, someone has to pay for that sin as a law of justice, whoes ultimate goal is to preserve peace. Jesus paid the price for all who freely accepted the payment (God almost always works in the context of freewill).
Therefore, a righteous man is one who trusts in the living God of the universe, who is also Jesus. And his righteousness is given to him/her and not earned (Ephesians 2:8-9). God also imparts the tendency to do what is right in the man who trusts in Him. This is done through the power of the Holy Spirit. Hence, not only is that man/woman with faith in a position of righteousness before God, but also starts to lean toward doing the right thing as a result of the Holy Spirit given to him/her.
More to come on historical and experiential evidence that the natural man tends to do evil...
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