1. What are the three different ways the early church has responded to the social order in which it lived?
2. St. Paul said that he became “all things to all men” for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. What are the limits to this approach in being a Christian witness?
3. Regarding the apostles, Scott says “The hostile, negative reaction they experience from society is to be expected.” (P. 267) Question: What kinds of negative reaction do you experience from this current society?
4. Scott states; “The state, on the other hand, does not know of the lordship of Christ but still serves Him unconsciously and against its will.” (P. 287) Question: What action can we take to help change the state for serving Christ and following God's Will?
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1.) The three ways in which the church has responded to the social order is:
ReplyDelete1.) Responding to them in word and behavior.
2.) Deeds which show to the world Christian concern, love, justice and mercy in the face of opposite behavior from the society.
3.) Showing witness through lifestyle.
2.) The limits to this approach in living a Christian life of witness is that we must not do things or participate in behaviors that are sin in order to bring others to Christ. We should also not do things that cause our brother to stumble in order to be "all things to all men."
3.) Various types of negative reaction are experienced in this current society. When sharing my Christian beliefs with non-believers, I often experience rejection from them because they either do not believe what I am sharing or are offended by my Christianity. Isolation can also play a part in this type of behavior as well.
4.) We, as citizens of the state, can express our viewpoints and beliefs to those in leadership positions in the state and impart to them what we believe to be the importance of a Christian worldview and values. We can also volunteer our time with Christian groups that support causes of the Christian faith such as Campus Crusade, Focus on the Family, etc. that work to lift up the purposes of Christ in the world.
1.)
ReplyDeletea.) Behaviour.
b.) Deeds.
c.) Lifestyle.
2.) In the Church today we look totally different from the world but yet we live exactly the same; which it should be the polar - we should look exactly like the world but live totally different. Should we dress different from the world, eat different from the world, and talk different from the world? No. We should however live life with a different purpose which is to bring Honor to our Father in Heaven. If anything that the world does would cause us not to bring Honor to God then we should abstain from it-otherwise we should look just like the world.
3.) The current Society that we live in is one that is open to acceptance of anyone's beliefs as long as you are open to others beliefs-the problem that Christianity causes is our modern society is that we proclaim Christ is the only way and a set of unmovable standards set by the bible.
4.) It is not the states job to serve Christ nor follow God's will - As Christians we have a dual-citizenship; The first and primary citizenship is that as a Follower of Christ, and secondary we are citizens of the United States of America. We serve Christ first and foremost in all that we do even if we are involved with the state in other ways. I think that as Christians we should always follow the commandments the Lord has set before us while living a lifestyle that Glorifies God. As citizens of the United States we are a free country, we should not try to impose our beliefs on others just as we would not want others beliefs imposed on us - I am not saying that we should not fight when our religious freedoms are called into question - but to make the accusation (public school prayer) that the state should somehow be one that is Christian is ludicrous and unbiblical.
Good thoughts Brian. In question number two, what do you mean by Isolation? Could you expound upon that?
ReplyDeleteJonathan:
ReplyDeleteBy isolation, I mean that the behaviors of others towards us can sometimes make us feel like we are isolated and all alone as believers in this world.
2.) Jonathan, I liked your comments on this question. What a good point. We mean to live totally different from the world yet look like them, and often it is the opposite manner. We end up looking totally different from the world, yet living the same. I had never thought of this comparsion before, but it is a good one.
ReplyDelete3.) Jonathan, good summary of the current situation that the world is in today. Believers are not persecuted as much because there is a belief that multiple ways lead to Heaven, not just one. The Christian life only becomes a stumbling block when we step up and stand up for what we believe in!
1.Bahving
ReplyDelete2. Doing good deeds
3. Living a correct lifestyle.
2. We have to be able to reach ou to people where they are. This can include musical style, contextualization of hte message, dress etc. Even in Athens, Paul contextualized the message of Christ and applied it to the statue of the unknown god. However, we can't change the word or message. It has to speak for itself. Cintextualization is different from cahnge.
3. As a whole, this society hates Christianity. In every turn, popular media tries to undercut us as a faith. I aubmit to you, Family Guy. Although funny, this show, at least every other week, undercuts faith in general, and usually as it applies to Christianiy. However, it is wildly popular.
4. None, except prayer. The state has no place in Religion. The church should continue to operate apart from the state, without trying to gain power. When Christians gain leadership, they should conduct themselves and their decisions according to their beliefs, but the church should have no ruling power over government.
Jonathon, I agree with you on number 4. The state should not be espected to dole out any kind of Christian ordinance as part of its law.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I agree with you on number 2. Our Christian freedom doesn't give us license to do things against the teaching of the bible in order to gain the trust and ear of non-believers.