Q & R: John 14:6
Q: I recently had to teach a class on John 14:6 and did some extensive research, but couldnt put my fingers on just the right approach. I googled this and your paper came up. I have used it in my study and my teaching and have found your ideas extremely helpful. I just do not believe this passage the way most Christians do and want to wide student's ideas about a new vision for this chapter.
Thanks for sharing these insights. You have helped me tremendously.
Thanks. I reworked that material into an important chapter in my upcoming book, A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions that are Transforming the Faith. The passage is often used to answer the question, "How do we relate to people of other religions?" But a careful reading of the verse ("I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me") in its immediate and broader context shows that its most likely meaning is almost the opposite of the way it's commonly used. Who is Jesus speaking to? What specific question is he answering? What does "come to the Father" mean? What do way, truth, and life mean? What's the dramatic setting for the statement? (If people think the answers to those questions are either immaterial or self-evident, I don't think they've really struggled with the text, nor have they taken seriously what is for John an extremely important statement - namely, John 6:63 in relation to 6:55 ... Jesus speaks on a "spirit" level and people hear/read him on a "flesh" level. This theme goes way back to 3:6.) What a fascinating gospel we have in John! Working on a close and comprehensive reading of John for that chapter in the book constantly moved me to wonder, amazement, and worship.
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One more on health care.
Just received this:
I am one of the conservative Christians you refer to in your letter. I did not and still do not support President Obama although I do know that there is reform needed in health care. It just does not need to be run by the Federal government. The reason I do not support the President is his pro abortion views. The Senate bill will mandate government payment for abortion. How an Evangelical Christian or any Christian support a president or a bill calling for the taking of the life on the innocent in the womb is beyond my understanding. Or vote for a candidate that is pro abortion as President Obama has made clear he is. I strongly support the church doing its part in caring for the health needs of the poor. My church[First Baptist] in West Palm Beach, FL has a state of the art medical clinic for the poor along with a ministry to help the homeless and poor with basic needs. If liberal Christians as yourself would spend their time mobilizing the church to do what it is called to do and give generously and encourage others to there would be no need for health care reform for the needy. I would like your response relative to the life issue. I would have posted this on your blog but saw no way to do it. I pray God will change your heart. I find it very interesting that the life issue is ignored in your open letter.
Reply after the jump:
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Sunrise …
Tracy Howe just sent me this beautiful song enriched with footage from Africa with amahoro-africa.org. Enjoy ...
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Q & R: using dvd format …
Here's the question:
I am wondering if you are taking the presentations of Brian McLaren and video taping him doing them so that they could be shared on a DVD format. The DVD's could come with guidelines/ suggested questions/ helpful information for small groups to discuss. My own sense is that there is a need for a DVD about atonement / the purpose of Jesus' ministry. We need to be able to discuss together a focus on getting to go to heaven / being part of bring heaven to earth under God's care.
Response after the jump ...
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