Epistles: Letters of Christian Thought is officially moving and has moved. The reason for moving is two fold:
1) the limits of blogger is apparent and the new software (Wordpress) has made up for these limits.
2) the Wordpress site is along the lines more of a website than a blog, in which more can be done for the benefit of the readers.
With this new move will come a new name (Epistles: Letters to the Modern World) and new articles. I hope the readers of this blog will move on over to the new site and enjoy the fresh air of change.
This blog will not be taken down, but will serve as an archive for the new site.
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Commentary on Salvation
Dear Readers,
I write to you today with commentary on the letters that I previous sent about salvation. Since sending them, I have received a many comments and questions in private on these matters. I wish to address these in this letter.
The chief of these questions has been whether or not I believe that salvation is attained through works alone, as it is apparent in my previous letters. I tell you this now, I have not reached a final conclusion on the nature of salvation. The letters that I sent to you on the matter were based on the question "What does it say of salvation in the synoptic gospels? What did Jesus say on the matter in them?". This question is but a fraction of the larger question on what is the nature of salvation.
I have withheld my belief totally in that salvation is attained through works. This is due to the fact that I am but starting my journey on the nature of salvation and but have reached a waypoint.
The purpose of my previous letters were to invoke thought on the meaning of salvation, as many take to their tradition without seeking the answers for themselves. This is not to say that tradition doesn't plays an important part in our faith, but if not taken care of carefully it can become a hindrance. Many take sola fide on faith, as it were, without consideration of other means. To point out these other means as I discovered them to those who have read my letters was to help inspire people to as in the words of Paul "work out your own salvation through fear and trembling."
Another question I have received is whether or not I villainize Paul. The answer to this question, is a resounding no. I regard him an example to all brothers in Messiah as Peter. He did great sins against Jesus and his followers, as Peter denied Jesus as he was lead to execution, but in the end turned, repented, and became great leaders to the gatherings of Jesus. His authentic epistles, also point to the earliest church gatherings and beliefs held by various gatherings, including his own.
He is the patron saint of myself for if it was not for him, then I my not have been a follower in the Messiah Jesus, for I like many, are Gentile. I hold him in high regard, but I wish to find the beliefs during the time that the apostles preached till the time Paul came to become a brother in the Messiah. For this means I may have appeared to villanized him as "corrupting" the message of Jesus. In that regard, he has not corrupted but has developed a higher christology than the synoptic gospels did.
I hope that these have clarified the beforehand epistles, and brought you into the insight that I have had when writing them.
As always, may the peace of the Lord Messiah Jesus be upon you.
- Ιάσων
I write to you today with commentary on the letters that I previous sent about salvation. Since sending them, I have received a many comments and questions in private on these matters. I wish to address these in this letter.
The chief of these questions has been whether or not I believe that salvation is attained through works alone, as it is apparent in my previous letters. I tell you this now, I have not reached a final conclusion on the nature of salvation. The letters that I sent to you on the matter were based on the question "What does it say of salvation in the synoptic gospels? What did Jesus say on the matter in them?". This question is but a fraction of the larger question on what is the nature of salvation.
I have withheld my belief totally in that salvation is attained through works. This is due to the fact that I am but starting my journey on the nature of salvation and but have reached a waypoint.
The purpose of my previous letters were to invoke thought on the meaning of salvation, as many take to their tradition without seeking the answers for themselves. This is not to say that tradition doesn't plays an important part in our faith, but if not taken care of carefully it can become a hindrance. Many take sola fide on faith, as it were, without consideration of other means. To point out these other means as I discovered them to those who have read my letters was to help inspire people to as in the words of Paul "work out your own salvation through fear and trembling."
Another question I have received is whether or not I villainize Paul. The answer to this question, is a resounding no. I regard him an example to all brothers in Messiah as Peter. He did great sins against Jesus and his followers, as Peter denied Jesus as he was lead to execution, but in the end turned, repented, and became great leaders to the gatherings of Jesus. His authentic epistles, also point to the earliest church gatherings and beliefs held by various gatherings, including his own.
He is the patron saint of myself for if it was not for him, then I my not have been a follower in the Messiah Jesus, for I like many, are Gentile. I hold him in high regard, but I wish to find the beliefs during the time that the apostles preached till the time Paul came to become a brother in the Messiah. For this means I may have appeared to villanized him as "corrupting" the message of Jesus. In that regard, he has not corrupted but has developed a higher christology than the synoptic gospels did.
I hope that these have clarified the beforehand epistles, and brought you into the insight that I have had when writing them.
As always, may the peace of the Lord Messiah Jesus be upon you.
- Ιάσων
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The Spirit In Action
Dear Readers,
A change is taking place in the world. From what it looks like now, it is a change for the better. What is the change you may ask? It is a change in the way people have a relationship with the divine, a way they worship, and the way they live. Infused with the Spirit the pioneers of these changes are making a new path to the traditional Way.
People too often express their belief in two ways (without getting too technical): a conservative way and a liberal way. The conservative way holds fast to the traditions of Christianity and preserves the orthodox beliefs of the Church as it has passed down through the ages. However, they idealize the past as an age to be longed for and a goal for the modern church to aspire to. Thus they move forward painfully slow, often by being dragged kicking and screaming. They are torchbearers of Christianity, but they shun progression.
The liberal way is altogether different. They view traditional belief as the foundation of future belief. In time, they believe, the old gives way to new beliefs, new theories, and new ways of doing things. Adapting and moving, yet retaining the essential beliefs of their faith, the liberals are the progressors of Christianity. Their desire is to progress the Gospel in new ways, but reject the stifled views of the conservative. Sometimes, they lose sight of their roots and are too open to change.
Now, this is where the new change comes in. The Spirit is making a middle way in the midst of these two basic ways. It is making way for change yet retaining their roots. Take for example: New Monasticism.
The new monasticism movement takes a new spin on the ancient practice of living the monastery life. Instead of living in solitude to find and experience God they live in the midst of the poor, the marginalized, and the downtrodden, in their words “in the abandoned places of Empire.” The old way of finding God in poverty and solitude is adapted to further the Gospel in the streets and slums.
Old ways are being adapted for modern times. These new pioneers are not clinging wholeheartedly to the old or abandoning tradition for the new. They preserve tradition and teach and live and experience in new ways shown to them by the Spirit. Truly, God still works in new ways in the modern world.
What about you reader? Have you seen any new signs or wonders in the world lately?
The Simple Way
New Monasticism
-Ιάσων
A change is taking place in the world. From what it looks like now, it is a change for the better. What is the change you may ask? It is a change in the way people have a relationship with the divine, a way they worship, and the way they live. Infused with the Spirit the pioneers of these changes are making a new path to the traditional Way.
People too often express their belief in two ways (without getting too technical): a conservative way and a liberal way. The conservative way holds fast to the traditions of Christianity and preserves the orthodox beliefs of the Church as it has passed down through the ages. However, they idealize the past as an age to be longed for and a goal for the modern church to aspire to. Thus they move forward painfully slow, often by being dragged kicking and screaming. They are torchbearers of Christianity, but they shun progression.
The liberal way is altogether different. They view traditional belief as the foundation of future belief. In time, they believe, the old gives way to new beliefs, new theories, and new ways of doing things. Adapting and moving, yet retaining the essential beliefs of their faith, the liberals are the progressors of Christianity. Their desire is to progress the Gospel in new ways, but reject the stifled views of the conservative. Sometimes, they lose sight of their roots and are too open to change.
Now, this is where the new change comes in. The Spirit is making a middle way in the midst of these two basic ways. It is making way for change yet retaining their roots. Take for example: New Monasticism.
The new monasticism movement takes a new spin on the ancient practice of living the monastery life. Instead of living in solitude to find and experience God they live in the midst of the poor, the marginalized, and the downtrodden, in their words “in the abandoned places of Empire.” The old way of finding God in poverty and solitude is adapted to further the Gospel in the streets and slums.
Old ways are being adapted for modern times. These new pioneers are not clinging wholeheartedly to the old or abandoning tradition for the new. They preserve tradition and teach and live and experience in new ways shown to them by the Spirit. Truly, God still works in new ways in the modern world.
What about you reader? Have you seen any new signs or wonders in the world lately?
The Simple Way
New Monasticism
-Ιάσων
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