Comments on: The Danger Of Knowing Too Little

By: ramanathan

ramanathan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:11:14 +0000

Eddy, that’s a fascinating question – in the past it only occurred to me to compare Paul and John. Your question made me go back to Prof James Stewart’s 1935 book “A Man in Christ: The Vital Elements of St Paul’s Religion.”
[Some may know Prof Stewart - he was an ordained minister in the church of Scotland - from his book/s Heralds of God.]
I found some notes from my 1999 reading of his book. In the context of this discussion, I think the following conclusions of Stewart are striking:
1. For Paul, love, joy, longsuffering was orthodoxy, not theological minutiae.
2. Precise definition is dangerous when dealing with a man like Paul who thinks in pictures: nailing curse on a cross, the cross as chariot in victorious procession (Col 2:14, Phil 2:5)
3. Define Paul’s doctrine closely at risk of losing his Christ completely.
4. A heart aflame for Christ has vision, conviction, love – not precision of doctrine or skill of definition.
5. The authentic gospel first changes a man’s life, then moulds his thought.
I do think that in the New Testament Peter appears more “moralistic” and “rule-bound” than Paul the ex-Pharisee.
Stewart notes that unlike the Stoic and pagan moralists of his day, Paul promulgated no ethical code, preferring instead to promote an inner consistency and unity.
Perhaps the answer to your question was found by John Sung when he threw his doctoral and other diplomas overboard on his journey from the US back to China.

By: Eddy Lee

Eddy Lee — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:11:33 +0000

Sometimes I wonder why God chose Paul, the learned pharisee who was well-versed in Greek and Hebrew, to write most of the books in the New Testament? I wonder whether Peter could take on the philosophers in Athens and relate the story of “the unknown god” with the Gospel? Sadly, the most poignant question is, can evangelical Christians think?

But I also have to admit, being a half-Roman Catholic, Catholic Christians should take some responsibilities in this ignorance. I have in numerous times, pointing to Catholic Christians that “Catholics are Christians also!”

By: Singam

Singam — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:13:32 +0000

What Ramanathan said about BM rings so true. When one wants to witness for one’s faith, what one needs in abundance is faith. In fact book learning may even get in the way.

But when one wishes to speak about religion, faith alone may turn out to be too shallow. In a discussion, clear ideas and comprehension are necessary. And clear ideas can certainly be conveyed without slick powerpoint slides.

By: Steven Sim

Steven Sim — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:37:18 +0000

Of course, the whole challenge echoes back at us, we run in danger of feeling superior over those who feel superior over others.

I think both sides (evangelicals/protestants and roman catholics) need to reflect and introspect why there are so much misunderstanding…

Steven Sim

By: zewt

zewt — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:26:35 +0000

Well, not surprising when Christians from the same denomination can feel more superior just because they are from different churches, what more different denominations…

By: ramanathan

ramanathan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:44:54 +0000

Once I met a senior Filipino at a conference. He had been “compelled by a terrorist leader (read ‘dean of the faculty’)” to come and speak about spiritual leadership. He came apparently ill-prepared and reluctant, because he felt speaking on the subject was utterly incompatible with his own assessment of himself.

The venue was the chapel of a Methodist seminary. While others during the course of the week had used fancy Powerpoint presentations & other magnificently edited materials, BM had two very poorly reproduced transparencies. The first was of Mother Teresa. The second was of Chairman Mao. He had no image of Christ, but it was clear BM was infected by Christ.

BM spoke of passion and commitment, a life spent as a disciple of Christ. He spoke of co-working with Catholics and others to bring down Marcos, camping in a public square and leading the singing of “amazing grace.” He said much else which I remember vividly many years on, including his desire in retirement to go live amongst “the Muslims in the South” and serve their medical needs – at a time of kidnappings and murders of Christians in the South.

If the eloquent sceptic G B Shaw were alive today, I could sit and talk with him – his controversies with the Catholic Mr Chesterton make for lively reading. I had a chance to sit and talk with BM. I chose not to.

I trust the baptism of Leonard’s child will be an infectious one – it’s not the water, it’s the congregants and their Christ that make the difference.

By: The Micah Mandate: The Danger of Knowing Too Little « The Potted Plot

The Micah Mandate: The Danger of Knowing Too Little « The Potted Plot — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:23:04 +0000

[...] more, click here. ▶ Comment /* 0) { jQuery(‘#comments’).show(”, change_location()); [...]

By: Singam

Singam — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:33:13 +0000

To me it seems pretty clear that childlike innocence is all one needs to have faith, believe in God, follow His teachings and observe His injunctions.

But if one wants to talk about religion, one had better be well read. If reading is too difficult, then perhaps it’s better to keep one’s opinions to oneself.

By: Gray Tan

Gray Tan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:20:32 +0000

I am in agreement with you that a lot of Christians, unfortunately, hold that view about Catholics. Well, I must admit that I used to be one of them too till I was enlightened by friends and also readings. Hehe! Perhaps more education is needed from pulpit?