tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post173235380200447640..comments2023-08-10T06:32:38.601-04:00Comments on By Their Strange Fruit <a name="top"> </a>: The Social Gospel Saved my SoulBTSF:http://www.blogger.com/profile/02553697351488297764noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-7461496713050851632013-03-15T11:33:26.669-04:002013-03-15T11:33:26.669-04:00Thanks for your perspective!Thanks for your perspective!StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-35613506733714809752013-03-15T09:57:31.916-04:002013-03-15T09:57:31.916-04:00Salvation and service are, cross and kingdom are c...Salvation and service are, cross and kingdom are connected for me in the image of God. We see the image of God in Jesus most fully as he hangs on the cross in love. The NT says that God's Spirit is renewing us in the image and likeness of God. All of us. "Jew and Gentile, Scythian and Barbarian, Male and Female." Injustice is any subtle or overt denial of that image in other people and that denial can certainly be institutionalized.<br /><br />If we want people to have a personal relationship with Jesus the church will have to take their identity as the body of Christ much more seriously. We are "God with us" as the Spirit makes a home in our community and our body. We are the personal touch of God. Unfortunately, the institutional church has turned the cross into a legal transaction between God and love rather than viewing it as an extension of Jesus life.<br /><br />If we could embrace our calling as "ambassadors for Christ" we would establish a new creation/systems that are just and fair because we no longer "view people from a human point of view." Of course, that won't happen until we become "new creations" ourselves. Sadly, too many Christians are just waiting for heaven.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-43868513833089078732013-03-15T07:56:33.879-04:002013-03-15T07:56:33.879-04:00Salvation and service are, cross and kingdom are c...Salvation and service are, cross and kingdom are connected for me in the image of God. We see the image of God in Jesus most fully as he hangs on the cross in love. The NT says that God's Spirit is renewing us in the image and likeness of God. All of us. "Jew and Gentile, Scythian and Barbarian, Male and Female." Injustice is any subtle or overt denial of that image in other people and that denial can certainly be institutionalized.<br /><br />If we want people to have a personal relationship with Jesus the church will have to take their identity as the body of Christ much more seriously. We are "God with us" as the Spirit makes a home in our community and our body. We are the personal touch of God. Unfortunately, the institutional church has turned the cross into a legal transaction between God and love rather than viewing it as an extension of Jesus life.<br /><br />If we could embrace our calling as "ambassadors for Christ" we would establish a new creation/systems that are just and fair because we no longer "view people from a human point of view." Of course, that won't happen until we become "new creations" ourselves. Sadly, too many Christians are just waiting for heaven.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-69976988153950739602013-03-12T18:01:28.445-04:002013-03-12T18:01:28.445-04:00There is a converse point that should be mentioned...There is a converse point that should be mentioned as well: Feeding the belly without feeding the soul reduces our neighbors to corpses with no soul or opportunity for salvation. Service in this manner is dehumanizing charity that furthers few of anyone's goals.StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-68795610651445401092013-03-12T17:55:56.081-04:002013-03-12T17:55:56.081-04:00All this to say, go check out Kingdom Come! 'P...All this to say, go check out Kingdom Come! 'Part 1' starts a bit slow, but it’s laying the foundation for the rest of the book. There is also one specific page in which I wish he had chosen a different illustration of his point. You'll know it when you come to it.StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-31084703598954880372013-03-12T17:55:13.480-04:002013-03-12T17:55:13.480-04:00Thanks to The Peace Pastor for featuring this post...Thanks to The Peace Pastor for featuring this post on his page: http://blog.chron.com/thepeacepastor/2011/11/the-social-gospel-saved-my-soul/StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-64389346528043298972013-03-11T00:42:35.155-04:002013-03-11T00:42:35.155-04:00We cannot preach Good News to the poor and then re...We cannot preach Good News to the poor and then retreat to gated communities, expecting that our words will be taken with sincerity. Conversely, we know that feeding the belly without feeding the soul reduces our neighbors to corpses with no soul or opportunity for salvation. We follow a Christ that was very concerned with personal salvation, but did not trivialize the suffering he encountered on earth.StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-86465495693071102962012-09-12T11:56:56.441-04:002012-09-12T11:56:56.441-04:00I
believe that Jesus wanted social justice for the...I<br />believe that Jesus wanted social justice for the world. I have<br />discovered a new book that shows how His message was covered up by<br />His Gentile followers. The church has blinkered its past. It's no<br />secret that Jesus strove to bring in the kingdom of justice here on<br />earth and his followers implemented it in the communal society we<br />read about in Acts 2:44-47. The church’s dirty secret is that the<br />Jewish followers of Jesus continued to hold his vision dear, later<br />influencing such sects as the Bogomils and even, according to their<br />own oral traditions, the Doukhobors. After exterminating the Jewish<br />followers of Jesus, the church’s historians buried this history of<br />justice-seeking but an author by the name of Lawrence Goudge has<br />exhumed their story and presented it in 'Cover-Up:<br />How the Church Silenced Jesus's True Heirs.'<br />This book does the world a great service by illuminating for the<br />first time this vital part of the history of social justice. I found<br />it at http://tinyurl.com/69cazll<br />.Vicky Chasehttp://www.facebook.com/vicky.chase.98noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-66062510995296866412012-01-02T16:41:25.936-05:002012-01-02T16:41:25.936-05:00"...There is no such thing as the Social Gosp..."...There is no such thing as the Social Gospel. There are social implications of the Gospel, based on the second of the two greatest commandments given by Jesus, to love our neighbor as ourselves. But that is inextricably linked to the first commandment, loving God with all our heart, soul , strength, and mind. The operative word in both commandments is love, not hate. It is the love of God for us and our love for Him that makes it possible for us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and it is love for and of God that is to be our focus, not our social complaints. The Gospel is given to us clearly in Philippians, Chapter 2. We must not lose the heart of the Gospel: the humility of the Son of God in renouncing his own rights in order to take on the pain of our sin. Exaltation comes from doing the will of the Father as Jesus did in his supreme act of sacrifice. Thus, the Gospel is an act before it is a speech. It is the redemptive self-effacement of God in taking judgment upon Himself, the only justice that could pay the price for our redemption and without which we could know no change of heart. That price, paid by our Savior, is what makes forgiveness, peace, hope, and love possible. And the greatest of these is love. This is what forms the core of the Gospel message." (May '08 RZIM newsletter) <br /> Wil7381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-78256872990265312092011-12-15T13:51:51.396-05:002011-12-15T13:51:51.396-05:00Wonderful! Let's do be in communication! bythe...Wonderful! Let's do be in communication! bytheirstrangefruit at gmail dot comStrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-15398736753261013362011-12-15T13:18:00.151-05:002011-12-15T13:18:00.151-05:00Hello Katelin. My name is Malika Carter - passion4...Hello Katelin. My name is Malika Carter - passion4pivot.com<br /><br />Recently, I met Yen Lee Loh who told me about your blog. Since I have a kindred interest, I would like to communicate some new initiatives, interests, etc about moving from social injustice toward justice. Hope to hear from you soon.Passion4pivotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-33236340496613053082011-11-05T23:12:47.224-04:002011-11-05T23:12:47.224-04:00Of relevance: Is Social Justice an Essential Part ...Of relevance: Is Social Justice an Essential Part of the Gospel? Wallis and Mohler debate: http://blog.sojo.net/2011/10/28/wallis-and-mohler-debate-social-justice-and-the-gospel/StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-77551561038498353722011-08-23T11:02:13.496-04:002011-08-23T11:02:13.496-04:00The questions you raise are central to the mission...The questions you raise are central to the mission of BTSF! <br /><br />Change is slow, especially in the church. But even at a crawl, it is happening. I have been encouraged to see many examples recently (C4AP, Center for Reconciliation, Mosaix). I'm not sure how to increased momentum, but I know it will take continued dialogue and education. It would be great if there would be a sparking moment where everyone would go 'ah ha!' But I'm not sure that that is how the world works, let alone a fragmented church. <br /><br />I believe God loves the Church and hasn't given up on it, so neither should we. BTSF is my way of pushing forward little by little. I am appreciative of your dialogue that helps keep conversation going and the message spreading!StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-41073132179192947122011-08-23T06:52:29.395-04:002011-08-23T06:52:29.395-04:00"The Church still can and must, get get into ..."The Church still can and must, get get into gear..."<br /><br />It's been noted that Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America. How, why or when do you see that changing?<br />Especially with so many in the American church who see no or hardly any current injustices at all.<br /><br />What do you think it will take to change (wake-up) the church?Matarinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-4007616257910480072011-08-22T23:03:58.461-04:002011-08-22T23:03:58.461-04:00heh...A lot to unpack there. Thanks for your thou...heh...A lot to unpack there. Thanks for your thoughts!<br /><br />Division based on skin color is a tactic of the Devil, yet the diversity of people themselves are a gift from God! It is amazing how such blessing get twisted!<br /><br />The Church still can. and must, get into gear to combat injustice. Too long it has been silent, or whispered at best.StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-69992474274991108072011-08-22T22:42:29.087-04:002011-08-22T22:42:29.087-04:00Hello Friend,
First, I love the intent and direct...Hello Friend,<br /><br />First, I love the intent and direction of this blog.<br />And second, in concert with this "social gospel" topic comes the realization that the idea/origin of categorizing God's creation by so-called skin color could only have come from the depths of Hell. What's shocking (to me anyway) is that the "Church" still subscribes to this nonsensical divide and conquer tactic - because they go along with this... Isn't it time for the "Church" to grow up, and step up - or is the "church" now merely a corrupt and dead shell of it former self?Matarinoreply@blogger.com