tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post6591470273009603755..comments2023-10-11T03:54:58.698-06:00Comments on Randall Friesen: Exactly how many Christians are there in your town? In the West Bank they know.Randall Friesenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04112919973262687369noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-20020905952442801002014-04-03T11:40:13.506-06:002014-04-03T11:40:13.506-06:00But seriously. I keep reading stuff like this at t...But seriously. I keep reading stuff like this at the moment, about looking like the real thing without any significance deeper than wearing the right clothes.Toni Ertlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00191085694671148065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-37196943989410940892014-04-03T11:38:08.148-06:002014-04-03T11:38:08.148-06:00Hey, I've just invented a new word - "con...Hey, I've just invented a new word - "convistion".<br /><br />;-)Toni Ertlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00191085694671148065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-50618332888738839362014-04-03T10:18:33.674-06:002014-04-03T10:18:33.674-06:00I suppose there is culture in our western churches...I suppose there is culture in our western churches as well. A culture of what we do or do not eat, drink sing, see, dance, our language etc. My gut says that culture gets in the way of real faith happening, and that we can see we have the culture and so we must be faith filled people. It makes it more difficult to help people move towards the real goal, which for us is Christ.<br /><br />Culture then confuses people and they think they are believers when they may only be using the right language or not eating and drinking the wrong things.<br /><br />Of course then there is Paul trying to use the culture to reach the people...<br /><br />Sometimes I feel like I don't have enough time on this earth to explore all the areas of study that I'd like to have a go at. <br />:)<br />Randall Friesenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04112919973262687369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-24020756932773910662014-04-03T04:52:32.321-06:002014-04-03T04:52:32.321-06:00This makes me want to ask whether having a 'cu...This makes me want to ask whether having a 'cultural faith' is good, bad or indifferent. My natural inclination is that it's very bad - it creates tribal groups whose identity is in something outside of themselves and defined by rules that are manipulated by others. Worse is the anguish required when changing groups, when one is held in place by fear instead of convistion. And I see that as an issue whether people culturally identify as Muslims of Church or England etc. At the same time, I can see how it might build a culture that respects a certain set of values instead of everyone just doing whatever they find feeds their senses.<br /><br />And you're right about the subtlety being lost on us. Having said that, atheism certainly has taken on some aspects of a religion, and secularism is breeding its own distinct culture, with intense pressure to prevent people leaving its clutches, and a determined resistance against freedoms to pursue other faiths. So maybe not so different in some ways, suggesting people are possibly very similar where ever they go.<br /><br />Last night I spent about 90min watching your videos, then researching The Holy Sepulchre, The Garden Tomb etc. Interesting, on so many levels. Thanks for the stimulation.Toni Ertlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00191085694671148065noreply@blogger.com