Celebrating Easter Reconciliation: Alive and One in Christ

did I miss your question about Christian Canada something, somewhere, sometime? sorry, but I can't find it???

Recently, I asked my fifth grade class if there were any holidays we celebrate in the US that don't make much sense. A couple of students started to question why Easter was a holiday, because it's all about rabbits and eggs. My lone Muslim student was the only one who understood what the meaning of Easter was really all about. How sad. at the same time, students learn all about "growth and development", or basically how a male and female "get it on" We are called to be tolerant and respect diversity. Well, what about authentic Christianity? We are rapidly losing a generation of society -- more than one generation, actually -- because we'd rather separate church and state than have the good news be told.

Our society has become the proverbial frog in the water. The water is heated slowly, the frog doesn't notice until it's cooked to death. The only thing that can be hoped for is that we move too far from being post-Christian to a pre-Christian society, where the gospel becomes fresh once again. The fastest growth of Christianity is in such countries, especially Asia and Africa. There is an excitment of learning about the one God and Savior of all.

Question is: Where does the Sojo crowd stand on standing up for the Gospel? are some people too politically motivated as to be unable to see the forest for the trees?

Wow--I never would have thought blog posts on Christmas would be considered anti-Christian.

Is Christmas the equal of Easter in importance? Without Easter, there is no Christianity today. But you wouldn't get that from Sojourners' bloggers. Why? Because a writer can't make a flawed "The Holy Family was homeless" analogy to homelessness today or a diatribe (or 10) against Christmas giving, from Easter. Even Good Friday gets used as an anti-death penalty event, but Easter? Only Ms. Haddad has addressed Easter as a meaningful event in the church, while Christmas and even New Year's Day (!) were widely posted about.

Bravo for Ms. Haddad. Well-written!

Hmmm, the chicken or the egg debate .

I love Christmas , Easter seems more solemn to me . Quite humbling and quite joyfull . But to the Gospel , Easter and its meaning is what it really it is all about from an Evangelical perspective . Not many Evangelicals blog here that are pro sojouners unfortunately. Just different perspectives .. Peace

"For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then, Christ must still be dead. 14. And if he is still dead, then all our preaching is useless and your trust in God is empty, worthless, hopeless"

"It makes me wonder what many on this blog really believe about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Upon what do you base that comment? How well do you think you know any of us?

That is an utterly baseless, absurd, disrespectful, and offensive comment.

What comments have I made about you?

Please cite the threads in which they appear

I Sometimes wonder if this just a front actually .
I remember seeing a video here of a service where Jim Wallis spoke at and it was an Evangelical church however . In my area as some bloggers here believe, The Bible needs to be peer reviewed for it to have substance to it , and in my local area the only place Jim Wallis has any kind of mention are the few very far left congregations and the Uniterian Church . They tend to lean to the beliefs all beliefs lead to the "god". I guess they can reach more people that way politically , but its not an organization that is founded on the Gospel as you say .

Why don't you ask that of Ando? I think that would be a better way to answer.

I don't think you were following me . If I sad a person could not add , I guess one way to answer was say take that back . That is what you did .

Another way would be say 2 plus 4 is 6 .
Ando is an Evangelical ,
So I understand where he is coming from . Just a little surprised it caused such hostile emotion .

Many beliefs spoken here advocate good works BECAUSE of the Gospel , but not actually sharing the Gospel. I think all Christians share the belief we need good works in our life , but it is strange to Evangelicals that spreading the Hope and Love In Christ would not be considered very very important.

jJst as perhaps it is strange to non Evangelicals that it is SO important .

Its just the difference between main stream denominations and Evangelical ones , this is suppose to be an Evangelical organization but has mainstream supporters basically n the blogs. I think the issues would have had much more success being discussed if more Soujouners were Evangelical in nature , it would help communication .

Some beliefs tend to take the all roads lead to god contempory Americvan view point . And yes , Evangelical beliefs are iquite different of that view, liberal or conservative .

See my response to Ando above. Or below--depending on how you are reading through the comments...I explained myself up there. Or down there...

I don't think thast is what was meant . The culture we now all are part of has seemed to have an effect on us in the church . The church should have an effect on culture . I am not talking about political effects.

Political Evangelism does not work is the point I got .
But this is a political blog , not a religious one . If receiving help from Ceasar is equal to receiving help from the church , the church looses its role is what I got out of what was said .

And I suppose you could have had Christianity without Christmas?

I'm still waiting for ando's response to Neuro. Until that arrives, call Ando an Evangelical or call him whatever you want, he's not being forthright which, last I checked, was still a virtue in the evangelical world.

I explained myself up there.

Not really squeaky , this is the comment you staed was anto christmas for some reason ?

"Easter isn't all that important compared to those two events...probably because it doesn't lend itself to easy use for a political agenda.'

At one time I thought you were quite open to differing opinions .
Your not . The view that you called as ANTI Christmas was anything but . The view above stated that certain popular rreligious views were used for a political purpose here . By the non Evangelicals here and Soujorners. Many here in Agreement with this organization don't even consider Christ important to salvation . Hence using organization as an Evangelical organization is not really forthright is it ?

I would totally aggree with that assessment . This is a political blog using the Cross as a means of promoting a political purpose . Its no more righteous or above that of the religious folks on the right that do so .
You have bullies who promote a negative view of those who disagree, in fact sometimes that is the only pro soujourner view , saying what is wrong with the opposing view.

In my view in every time its done , either to promote family values or so called social justice , spirtually you put Christ up on the Cross again .

many people understand this view point . It can be discussed rationally and intelligently among believers .

I have not found this something you have been able to do . At one time I thought you could , but I believe you have become too smart for me .

"It makes me wonder what many on this blog really believe about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Upon what do you base that comment? How well do you think you know any of us?

That is an utterly baseless, absurd, disrespectful, and offensive comment.

What comments have I made about you?

Please cite the threads in which they appear

I Sometimes wonder if this just a front actually .
I remember seeing a video here of a service where Jim Wallis spoke at and it was an Evangelical church however . In my area as some bloggers here believe, The Bible needs to be peer reviewed for it to have substance to it , and in my local area the only place Jim Wallis has any kind of mention are the few very far left congregations and the Uniterian Church . They tend to lean to the beliefs all beliefs lead to the "god". I guess they can reach more people that way politically , but its not an organization that is founded on the Gospel as you say .

Why don't you ask that of Ando? I think that would be a better way to answer.

I don't think you were following me . If I sad a person could not add , I guess one way to answer was say take that back . That is what you did .

Another way would be say 2 plus 4 is 6 .
Ando is an Evangelical ,
So I understand where he is coming from . Just a little surprised it caused such hostile emotion .

Many beliefs spoken here advocate good works BECAUSE of the Gospel , but not actually sharing the Gospel. I think all Christians share the belief we need good works in our life , but it is strange to Evangelicals that spreading the Hope and Love In Christ would not be considered very very important.

jJst as perhaps it is strange to non Evangelicals that it is SO important .

Its just the difference between main stream denominations and Evangelical ones , this is suppose to be an Evangelical organization but has mainstream supporters basically n the blogs. I think the issues would have had much more success being discussed if more Soujouners were Evangelical in nature , it would help communication .

Some beliefs tend to take the all roads lead to god contempory Americvan view point . And yes , Evangelical beliefs are iquite different of that view, liberal or conservative .

"but explaining why ando's questioning of people's commitment to Christ was not appreciated."

I totally apologized if you were offended . I failed to see where ANDO challenged anyone's commitment to Christ ? I defintely see where he challenged this blog on its commitment to as advertised an Evangelical organization . But this is not exactly what he said either , but how i took his comments .

Perhaps you can highlight that part where Ando did as you say , and not what you perceived he meant ? , I kept searching for it . I found a comment that promotes a belief that this blog is not an Evangelical blog . I share that view . That is a perception many see here . The comments here I have read are quite contrary to Evangelical beliefs , past or present . Criticizing say a Left Behind Book serries is taken better say when my Pastor recently did it at our Bible Study for its fictional stretched of Bibical understanding , but say when a person who mocks speaking in tongues , views on marriage, or the understanding of how the Gospel and importance of reaching the Lost for Christ is , well the ridicule appears to be done for a different reason then why my Pastor did . Sort of the mentality I guess I can say my brother is a jerk , but if you do watch out . Is that my judgement or is that discernment ?

This organization says it is an Evangelical organization , well the main supporters of this blog have preached that say a god of Mohhamed is the same God in Christianity . Such beliefs deserve respect , All paths to god are equal . To some people that is considered tolerant . I see it personally as intolerant because you are taking the words of Christ and disregarding them as important . , but totally will offer that belief system be treated here with as much respect ,BUT not more ,e Christ when he says He is the Way .
Believing Christ is not intolerant , claiming moral superiority over another believer or non believer I agree is . I think w agree here ?

I have seen Wallis videos where he has gone into churches that believe exactly as I do in my Faith group that would totally agree with what i am saying .

People in Evangelical circles actually are still being murdered in parts of this world and mocked in this country for bringing the Gospel . I know of one who personally died not long ago. So yes its quite upsetting to see the term Evangelical used and then see the word misrepresented here for what appears to be political. . Especially when at one person here has said he did not even trust Americans .

You don't owe me an apology Squeaky . I just think you ahve been caught up in this us and them crap that have allowed dis respect to be judged by political sides rather then just people exchanging beliefs and learning about the needs of people and how we think it should be handled .

I'm still waiting for ando's response to Neuro. Until that arrives, call Ando an Evangelical or call him whatever you want, he's not being forthright which, last I checked, was still a virtue in the evangelical world.

Ando's post was this:

"It makes me wonder what many on this blog really believe about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Which can be perceived in this way:

"If your politics don't line up with mine, then I wonder if you are really even a Christian."

Note that in my original response to his statement I wrote:

"Behind that statement is an assumption that many on this site believe the wrong things about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps that wasn't your intent, in which case, I hope you modify your statement to reflect that."

Thus, I not only told him how I understood his statement, but I gave him an opportunity to further explain the intent behind the statement.

Notice that nowhere in this exchange was the word "Evangelical" even mentioned.

How I took his statement has little to do with politics and even less to do with what you write about in your above post to me. Obviously we read it from two different perspectives. Please honor my perspective by accepting my explanation at face value rather than reading motives into it that just don't exist.

"Until that arrives, call Ando an Evangelical or call him whatever you want'

LOL Your an Evangelical ?

I will wait for your responce .

.