tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792313241862520060.post6958974154727756902..comments2023-06-11T05:35:47.689-07:00Comments on Letters to Hannah: DiversityJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02037654579970701695noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792313241862520060.post-36920458515760630222021-01-24T08:03:42.830-08:002021-01-24T08:03:42.830-08:00Well, in a lot of this you are right, and wrong.
...Well, in a lot of this you are right, and wrong.<br /><br />What's right: Yes, the Gospel needs to be properly adapted to all kinds of cultural-spiritual 'soil'. We have Paul's instructions to be all things to all people.<br />What's wrong: He was constantly supporting his calling to bring the gospel to the nations by quoting from the *Jewish* Bible. So any Christian who can write about the Jews, "Their soil was too barren for a worldwide religion..." hasn't been reading the first 3/4 of their own Bible (aka "old" testament). <br /> <br />What's wrong: In Rom.11 Paul did identify one group of people as the "natural" recipients of the gospel -- and he also tells us that their rejection of (their own natural) Messiah was NOT inevitable but God-induced. <br />What's right: You kind of know that, because you wrote that the Jews were "forced" to give Him up. The important thing to add is: That giving up is described as partial and temporary.<br /><br />What's right: Yes we do need to flex, recognize our limits, and compromise in our dealings with one another (long as the compromise doesn't sacrifice either truth or love). <br />What's wrong: It's quite another thing to say that GOD has to recognize "His limits" and compromise His dealings with us. Quite the contrary. We become "conformed to the image of Messiah", He does not 'conform' to our image. Either we give all and obey Him to the end, or we are not acceptable to Him. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for being brave and opening the issues.<br /><br />HannahWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03928503372362123583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-792313241862520060.post-34012616836704197042021-01-17T06:26:55.142-08:002021-01-17T06:26:55.142-08:00Not that I've read all of your missives, but I...Not that I've read all of your missives, but I've read a lot of them and this one is the most introspective thus far. I appreciate your openness and honesty about your motivations in writing. Your insights into perceived reality in this article really resonate with me right now. One thought that crossed my mind while reading it was how someone's inability to deal with the dichotomy between their inner goals and aspirations versus what was possible in the "real" world may be the cause of a significant number of suicides by those who could not square the circle in their own mind. Your points regarding The Word becoming the translation are spot on. There's an Instagram pastor named Aussiedave who's entire ministry is based on contextualizing the English version of Bible by providing the historical context and meaning of the original words in it. He's attempting to grow original context out of the translations we've all been subjected to. Bottom line, excellent post, thank you.plf5403https://www.blogger.com/profile/03149741678434631050noreply@blogger.com