Comments on: It’s The End of Emerging/Emergent/Emergence/EC as We Know It….and I Feel Fine

By: Rick Frueh

Rick Frueh — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:19:00 +0000

Exactly.

By: Chad Holtz

Chad Holtz — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:16:59 +0000

And it will not be the first time McClaren has openly revealed his estrangement from Scripture and orthodox Christianity….as I, Rick, interpret it to be

fixed it.

By: Rick Frueh

Rick Frueh — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:15:04 +0000

” it won’t be the first time I disagreed with someone that I had long agreed with.”

And it will not be the first time McClaren has openly revealed his estrangement from Scripture and orthodox Christianity even if we limit orthodoxy to redemption itself.

By: Chad Holtz

Chad Holtz — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:08:10 +0000

we will have to wait and see what McClaren means – but when he speaks of divine streams in all religion it smacks of all streams leading to the same ocean.

Agreed – we’ll have to wait and see (I’ve not read the book and probably won’t for some time).

I agree it sounds like that but I trust McLaren is more nuanced than that. If not, it won’t be the first time I disagreed with someone that I had long agreed with.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:01:38 +0000

it is one thing to say that there is truth taught in other religions. it is quite another to say that other religions are true… or that they seek the one true God.

we will have to wait and see what McClaren means – but when he speaks of divine streams in all religion it smacks of all streams leading to the same ocean.

By: Rick Frueh

Rick Frueh — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:55:45 +0000

And some people are more committed to their false gods than are some Christians committed to Jesus. (i.e. 9/11)

By: Phil Miller

Phil Miller — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:29:58 +0000

True, we do create gods and idols (even Christians). My point is only to say that from the perspective of one inside one of the world’s longer lasting religions they do not think of themselves as following after an “invention.” If they did, they would change religions.

Well, of course they don’t think that they’ve invented their gods. No one but a crazy person would worship a god that he knew he invented.

They are trapped in the prison of idolatry. And as you say, I’d say many Christians are as well. That’s why it takes a personal experience with Christ to be freed from this prison.

By: Chad Holtz

Chad Holtz — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:25:17 +0000

True, we do create gods and idols (even Christians). My point is only to say that from the perspective of one inside one of the world’s longer lasting religions they do not think of themselves as following after an “invention.” If they did, they would change religions.

By: Rick Frueh

Rick Frueh — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:12:56 +0000

There is a way that seems right unto a man but they are the ways of death.

Two Bridges. Both have wood; both have rails; both are bridges; both can hold a man; and both are nicely painted.

But only one spans the entirety of the chasm; the other goes only half way across. So yes, there is truth in other religions, but that truth is wrapped in death.

By: Phil Miller

Phil Miller — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:05:54 +0000

So it’s not very fair for you or anyone to claim they are the only one’s truly seeking God whereas everyone else who thinks differently than you is merely “inventing” gods.

I would say it may be fair to say that other religions have some element or elements of truth in them, but I would also say that mankind does invent other gods, as well. Isn’t that what Paul is getting at here:

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Humans were made to worship the true and living God, and they often turn that created longing toward something else.