My Blog has Moved, You Will Be Redirected in 5 Seconds.
It's now located at http://www.methodistcorner.net
So much to do, so little time. You'll find here, from time to time, posts on various topics. Whatever has my attention at the moment will find it's way here.
It's now located at http://www.methodistcorner.net
If your interested in joining an email discussion list concerning all things UMC, then stop by Aldersgate1 at Yahoo Groups.
"This Group is a forum for members and friends of the United Methodist Church who wish to discuss our beliefs and traditions."
This "What's Your Eschatology" quiz has been around for several months, but I just now had the opportunity to take it. No suprises here, although I must confess, I've studied eschatology just enough to consider myself a staunch pan-millenialist. Meaning I believe it will all "pan-out" in the end. It is fun though, to "wrestle" with the deeper meaning of God's word. Some would say that it's better just to leave those "deeper" things to God and find out the answers on the other side of eternity. I however, would rather think that any question that brings us closer to knowing who God is, as limited as that "knowing" may be, is a question worth asking. Anyway, here are my results...
You scored as Amillenialist. Amillenialism believes that the 1000 year reign is not literal but figurative, and that Christ began to reign at his ascension. People take some prophetic scripture far too literally in your view.
What's your eschatology? created with QuizFarm.com |
Read the latest UMAction Briefing from the Institute on Religion
An article in Christianity Today highlights "The Holiness Manifesto". Could this be a blueprint for churches today?
"In February, the top leaders of ten historic Holiness denominations released a theological manifesto to rearticulate their key doctrines for today."Could it be that a return to the teaching of "holiness of heart and life" espoused by our founder, John Wesley, is just what we need to turn around the seemingly unstoppable exodus of members from our mainline churches?
"There is one number in our denomination which keeps going up,' Coyner said. 'It is the percentage of churches that did not receive even one person as a new member by profession of faith, a number that is now up to 43 percent.
'If there is any number in our denomination that is steadily growing, that is it, and it is causing all kinds of other numbers to decline, including our ability to stand before God and say we are doing a good job in making disciples.' "
Links:
Actually, TERRIFIED is more like it. What do you do when you find yourself face to face with fear? I know what your thinking. "Where's your faith brother?" Well, that's the exact question I'm hoping you'll help me answer. How do you find you're faith when confronted with the possibility that deep within you lurks a sniveling coward who's greatest wish is to remain hidden within the dark recesses of your seldom visited past?
An online article on the Pacific Justice Institute website reports another obvious example of anti-Christian sentiment in the secular workplace. The article states...
CSULB ordered Ms. Escobar to sign a document admitting that she had “an inability to separate her religious beliefs from her role as a[n] . . . Intern.” She was also directed to refrain from sharing her faith, even during breaks and after work hours.Would someone please tell me how it's possible to seperate yourself from your beliefs, especially religious beliefs. Aren't our beliefs an expression of who we are? To seperate yourself from your beliefs would be to fundamentally alter your character. That's not to say that your beliefs can't change or evolve, but as they do, YOU change.
In a recent email exchange from the United Methodist eMail group someone wrote the following.
"The questions we vigorously debate will be revealed as the work of Satan to divide us."The following was my response...
In a recent article , in The United Methodist Reporter, Rev. Donald W. Haynes discusses the apparent lack of "free will" authors. He also mentions the "secret weapon" of early methodism - Books. In "Why are United Methodists Mute in face of Calvinism?" he states...
"If we have no free will, we are not moral, responsible daughters and sons of the most high God, born in God's image. Rather we are robots, marionettes on a string, pre-programmed micro-chips.I am often amazed at the lack of "Wesleyanism" encountered in our Methodist churches. Maybe it's just those I've been associated with, but there seems to be a serious lack of "Wesleyan/Arminian" theology being taught in our Methodist churches today. Maybe it's just the location, that's deep-south, where there are as many "Baptists", theologically speaking, in our pews as Methodists.
Methodism, speak up! Preachers, become prophetic. Develop what your forebears called "holy boldness". Don't be intimidated by predestination in "grace clothing"."
Christianity today has posted an excellent editorial addressing the two-edged sword of cultural influence.
"Scripture gives only one antidote for the temptation that cultural influence presents- worship of the living God."How many of our churches have become hubs of social activism instead of assemblies for communall worship? However, I would rather a church be a "hub of social activism" than "meet, greet, and gossip social clubs"; but that's a different topic altogether.