I BELIEVE IN GOD, part 1

To listen to the sermon "I believe in One God, part 1", click here.

God's Truth

If God's truth can be found in the movies we watch, the song's we listen to, and the books we read....than why wouldn't we also affirm the truth we find in other religions?

Is God not everywhere? Can we really compartmentalize God out of certain spheres of existence?

"It would seem strange if the Spirit excused himself from the very arena of culture where people search for meaning" - Clark Pinnock

"All truth is God's truth" - Augustine

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, part 2

Preached part 1 to the 'Believing One God' message yesterday. This week preaching part 2, and I want to two things. I want to focus on how Christianity is unique narrative in light of the other religious narratives held by our neighbours (how and why would we feel okay with trying to convince someone to switch their allegiances?)

And secondly, I want to talk about how God can use people from different faiths to bring truth to Christians - truth that we might not have received if we had no interaction with people from a different faith. Last Sunday (yesterday) the main point was that Christian can affirm truth as they see it in other religions (just like Paul affirmed truth about God, as he saw in other religions...Acts 17); this Sunday, rather than stopping at Christians blessing truth where they see it, we want to appreciate that other faiths can bring truth to us where we don't see it.

Some passages to consider in particular. In light of Christianity as unique - Amos 9:7 and Acts 10:34-35. In light of God using people from different faiths to bring us into deeper truth - Genesis 14:18-19 and Exodus 18 and Numbers 22.

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD

"A new generation of believers wants to find a God who dwells outside the boundaries of their own religious tradition, a God that would be worth worshiping. They are torn. They have discovered that God's presence or involvement with humanity is so obviously greater than their own religion. At the same time, they have discovered that the more they cling to their respective traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam... they have to accept their traditions...as God management systems" - Samir Selmanovic

What do you think????

How about this one? - from the same guy

"I used to think that God's choice of depositing the ultimate truth in my religion was a wonderful mystery. How glorious, I thought, that God would actually put together a religion to carry the ultimate truth to the world! Yes, others would have truth too, but no the ultimate one, I thought, thrilled that it was we Christians who were chosen for the top task. We were the ambassadors of God on earth.

Whoever has not tried this drink, I think, has never been properly drunk. What can possibly compare to being in charge of God? Of course, we never said, "Listen everyone, we are in charge of God." Like drunks, we would deny even thinking such a thing, to both others and to ourselves."

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD

"We can either stay within the Christianity we have mastered with the Jesus we have domesticated, or we can leave Christianity as a destination, embrace Christianity as a way of life, and then journey to reality, where God is present and living in every person, every human community, and all creation." - Samir Selmanovic

Preaching a sermon in a couple weeks, "I believe in one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob". Looking for some conversation. We all know that we work and live with people of many differing faiths - how does one live committed to Christ and dialogue in this context? How does one talk enthuisiastically about what one is committed to, without being the superior condesending (don't judge me because I spelled that wrong) one? How can you be certain that you are right, and millions of others are wrong? Should you be certain? Does it matter if others are wrong? Is there truth in other religions? Do Muslims commune with the same God we commune with? And if they do, do they just commune with less knowledge of who he really is? Is this arrogant to think? Should you ever say that to a Muslim? Shouldn't we be visiting Mosques from time to time? If we shut out other religions, shouldn't we expect them to shut us out too?