Comments for Purposely Different

Comment on Jesus vs. Religion by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:46:35 +0000

Heya Hanna! That's not what Jesus actually said. He said he came to fulfill the law. Look at how the NIV phrases it:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

You can see some other translations of that verse here. Because he was sinless, Jesus was able to fulfill the law perfectly - something we are incapable of doing. Jesus made it clear that perfection is the standard that God requires (see Matthew 5:48). Because he fulfilled the requirements of the law and we believers are now in Christ we don't have to keep the law (i.e. perform religious acts) anymore to be acceptable to God. It's no longer about what we do. It's now an issue of what we believe.

Comment on Jesus vs. Religion by Hannah

Hannah — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:26:37 +0000

I think his video was cool and had some good points, but Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that he specifically came NOT to abolish religion…so some of what Jefferson Bethke says here isn’t exactly spot-on.

Comment on Jesus vs. Religion by Crystal Force

Crystal Force — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:34:51 +0000

Absolutely on track.
I once heard someone say that strictly speaking, Christianity is not a religion since religion is defined as man seeking God. Christianity is based on God seeking man….. through Jesus and his work on our behalf on the cross. I think many people have trouble believing that “finding God” is as simple as accepting a free gift of salvation through Jesus. There are people who walk on their knees for great distances to places they see as sacred…..pilgrimages to earn their way to God and thought up by man……..then there were the religious leaders who dreamt up thousands of rules for people to follow to find God, yet they were unwilling to give up control of their lives to God. Being spiritual control freaks earned them the tongue-thrashing Jesus gave them since they ignored God’s direction to give Him their hearts but “compensated” by following petty rules that made them look good on the outside only. Religions think up their own way to God, but ignore God’s way. Which is why scripture records the words of warning in Proverbs 14:12. Man can dream up all sorts of great-sounding and good-looking and clever “ways to God”, but God’s way to God is the only way. It does require some faith in God and handing over control to him but the result is life instead of death.
Thanks to Jefferson Bethke for having the courage to record the beautiful truth.
Thanks to you, Chris, for highlighting this truth, and thanks for your on-going thoughtful articles.

Comment on Everyone Believes Something by Hadrian Parker

Hadrian Parker — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:20:54 +0000

I have often wondered if this is an impossible boundary between people of a belief persuasion and agnostics like my self, but I just don’t see why belief is necessary.
I would like to state for the record that no amount of evidence, testimony or scientific proof, would cause me to believe anything. I accept things because they consistently produce the same result. For example I accept the existence of the world and myself in it because I consistently interact with the world with predictable results. As such I assume that when I open my front door I will see more or less what I saw the last time I opened it. I don’t see why I need to have an opinion or to have made a judgement about the nature of the reality. It seems that my mind set is a minority and that most people (religious or not) believe. But even if it was only me that worked this way it would suggest that not everyone believes something.
So for the record I do not hold anything to be true, and have no convictions about any topic or though including this one.
Despite this I still enjoy debate, feel love, despair, wonder and outrage without the need to give any of it meaning.
I hope this expands the debate.

Comment on Why is Faith a Good Thing? by Hadrian Parker

Hadrian Parker — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:49:03 +0000

I would like to thank you for this post. As an agnostic I find it very refreshing to hear rational well argued statements from person with religious faith.
Even though I do have a few criticisms.
My biggest criticisms is that faith requires belief.
I am an agnostic, not because I follow some creed or philosophy, but because that word describes the the fact that I do not think I know the answer to anything.
I have faith (in that I have confidence), but it is not based on belief. If something can be demonstrated to work I will propose it as a solution (e.g. I have seen a parachute consistently, so if I am going to jump out of a plane I would suggest using one). This is not a belief. this just something that I accept to be true as it has given me no reason to think otherwise.
This is pragmatism.
I would suggest (though this is just an opinion based on my observations and could easily be wrong) that it is also possible to have faith in something because it offers sanctuary from a persons fear and paranoia. That faith can be obtained without any believe or a pragmatic confidence. I would call this superstition. To take your parachute analogy: If I was scared of being in a plane I might where a parachute during the whole trip, as it makes me more confident, not that I think it is really going to save my life. I you accept James 2:14-22. I imagine you think that these people do not really have faith. In my observation the vast majority of people religious or otherwise fall into this group.
I would love to hear your thoughts.

Comment on What Does Success Look Like? by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:22:47 +0000

Heya Chris! We do make choices, that’s for sure. The good news is that Jesus is trustworthy so we can see so much more come to pass when we choose to follow his example.

Comment on What Does Success Look Like? by Christopher Johnston

Christopher Johnston — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:08:23 +0000

I know the person you are talking about, the first one you referenced in your post, and honestly he was someone I admired and also wanted to be like. I was stunned when earlier this year I discovered that he and his wife had separated. I have often wondered what it would be like to be travel around the world speaking to large crowds and commanding huge speaking fees and then I remember something my pastor said about “stages of life”. In my current stage of life I have 2 small children and they are more important than anything I could impart to those crowds and its not worth it to spend all that time away from them and my wife. Another reason, is late last year I decided to pursue a Master of Divinity degree at Liberty University. I’m learning how to build disciples for Christ and use the internet as tool to do it. Maybe in a few years I can speak, travel, and take the wife and kids along.

Comment on God Does NOT Bring Calamity by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:48:36 +0000

Heya Kat! While we agree that there will continue to be natural disasters, I don't see where Jesus said anything about God or himself being the one who sends these disasters. What I see Jesus saying is this: "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." – John 10:10 As I just mentioned to Jasmine above, natural disasters will certainly happen. But since they are bringers of destruction and death, not abundant life then according to Jesus they are fall into the works of Satan and not God.

Comment on God Does NOT Bring Calamity by Chris Cree

Chris Cree — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:40:49 +0000

Heya Jasmine! I apologize for the delay in my reply here. We still live in a fallen world where most reject God. The calamity that falls on us is a combination of direct and indirect consequences of sinful behavior of people. In Romans 8 Paul says that all of creation suffers from the effects of mankind’s sinful behavior and waits expectantly for its full redemption. Plus there is still an enemy out there prowling around looking to devour.

Jesus did say that there would be earthquakes, wars and whatnot as we get closer to the end times. But I don’t see him saying that “The Father will send earthquakes, etc.” anywhere.

Will they happen? You bet.

But God is not causing them. It’s the enemy who comes to steal kill and destroy, not God.

Comment on Samson Was Different by Dan

Dan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:29:44 +0000

Let me first clarify that Sampson was no ordinary man and this battle has no compatible counterpart in modern warfare.
The first thing I would like to share is a more detailed description of the weapon that Sampson used in this battle. The jawbone of an animal can be fashioned to the end of a stick to form a tomahawk that resembles a pickaxe in both form and function. The native Americans were known to have used this same type of tomahawk made from the jawbone of deer. Images of this type of weapon can be easily found online.
The second point the I would like to make is that Sampson was probably the single most elite warrior in history. He would have moved with incredible speed, and been capable of feats rarely if even seen even from Olympic level athletes. With his combined strength, speed, accuracy, and overall combat efficiency he would have been capable of killing, and or rapidly incapacitating as multiple enemy combatants in a single second, and in fact would have had to by necessity in order to avoid being overpowered vary rapidly by such a large number of enemy combatants.
This battle would have been over therefore in approximately only 15 to 30 minutes.
I hope this information helps people to form a more realistic view of the battle as it actually occurred.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post.