Ivory Tower Ivan:
"An understanding of the Christian God is vastly multifaceted. One must consider not only theology proper, but also Christology, pneumatology, hamartiology, soteriology, bibliology, ecclesiology, and eschatology, along with many so-called "secular" philosophies pertaining to metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Is our reasoning about God deductive or empirical? Is truth objective or subjective? Can we truly know of God, and if so, how? Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Kierkegaard, Zwingli, Calvin, Wesley... There are many various intellectual aspects of what we call faith, and one must consult the wisdom of many great thinkers if one is to come to a solid conclusion regarding his or her beliefs on the matter."
Seeker-sensitive Steve:
"Christianity is dying. We're so stuck in the old way of doing things that we've failed to fulfill our primary mission: cultural relevancy. If Jesus were here today, He wouldn't be sitting in some drafty fellowship hall eating casserole and talking about the weather. He'd be walking the street, soaking up the culture, finding out what people need. People today don't want religion; they want community. They don't need to be preached at; they need a place where everyone is accepted. They need dynamic, engaging worship they can relate to. They need media-driven messages and attractive facilities. They need a place to hang out, be authentic, and do life together. Christians need to wake up and follow the successful principles of great leaders like Rick Warren and Bill Hybels. If we don't implement relevant, accessible, five-step thinking into our lives and ministries, we might as well give up now."
Emergent Emily:
"We’re all on a journey. We live, we love, we hurt, we question. We wonder about this thing called God, but the rigid, dogmatic, religious organization known as 'the Church' has made Him into an angry tyrant. But it doesn’t have to be that way. God does not fit into a religious cookie cutter. He is by nature mysterious, and each of us journeys through that mystery in our own way. We struggle, we seek, we serve humanity. We read God’s story for inspiration. We experience spirituality through the arts. We explore the wisdom of Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Spencer Burke, and others. We blog on The Ooze. We dialogue over coffee or a Guinness. And whether we believe the rabbi Jesus was a son of God or not, we follow his journey of love, acceptance, and social change as we strive to care for our Earth and her people. And that’s really what we’re here for. It’s not about some magical destination called 'heaven'. It’s about the journey."
Jehovah God:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
“You invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men'" (Matthew 15:6b-9).
“And regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15-16).
“Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene” (2 Timothy 2:14-17b).
“And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:19-21).
“Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).
“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
“And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:12-17).
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
“But we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2).
“Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 2:16).
“I shall delight in Thy statutes; I shall not forget Thy word...
Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law...
Thy testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors...
I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Thine ordinances before me...
Make me walk in the path of Thy commandments, for I delight in it...
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Thy ways...
I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and shall not be ashamed. And I shall delight in Thy commandments, which I love...
I have remembered Thine ordinances from of old, O Lord, and comfort myself...
Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven...
I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Thy precepts...
From Thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way...
Thou hast rejected all those who wander from Thy statutes, for their deceitfulness is useless...
The unfolding of Thy words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple...
Of old I have known from Thy testimonies, that Thou hast founded them forever” (Psalm 119:16,18, 24,30,35, 37, 46-47, 52, 89, 99-100, 104, 118, 130, 152).
Voices. Too many voices. The Bride of Christ is schizophrenic.
One book. The Book. A compilation of 66, authored by at least 25, over 2 and a half millennia. One voice. The Voice.
Why are we still talking?
