This Sunday at EverGreen we're going to talk a bit about influencing culture and the place of the cultural mandate (Genesis 1.28) and how we can lose being agents of this mandate that brings hope to our world and life to our bones. As part of that message I'll be quoting a short piece from Gabe Lyon's article "Influencing Culture". The rest of this article can be found at http://www.fermiproject.com/culture/
I also encourage those of you who are interested in culture formation and influence to check out the website of The Work Research Foundation www.wrf.ca, you can download (and sign up for podcasts of) their monthly Think cds. Make sure you follow the link to think and download their latest conversation on cultural transformation by one of the main movers behind the movie "Amazing Grace."
Friday, October 26, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
One of those days
I was reading in the book of Acts this morning and found that the reason the Paul and Barnabas leave Iconium is because there is a good possibility they will be stoned. After leaving Iconium they go to Lystra--where they are stoned. Bummer.
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Culturally Savvy Christian
I've been reading this book for the past week. I pulled some great thoughts out for my message on Sunday (I'm not that original, just a good researcher). Here is one part I would have loved to used, but, alas there was no more space in the message,
"So here's the deal. The largest companies in the world are hiring smart people and spending billions of dollars to drive a diversionary, mindless, celebrity-fueled popular culture down the highway of new technologies and into our lives in order to sell us stuff we don't want or need. They don't care about us, what we believe, or how we want to live. Their ads and products regularly reduce women to sex objects and men to voyeurs and predators. They are unconcerned with what is in our best interest spiritually or intellectually, and in fact, it is in their best interest to keep us spiritually desensitized and dumb. They play to our unhappiness, magnifying our feeling that we are missing something essential and that if we had this something that they offer we would be fulfilled. They then encourage us to shop, convincing us that shopping will do today what it failed miserably to do yesterday--fill what French religious philosopher Pascal calls our God-shaped vacuum.
Today's superficial popular culture is symptomatic of our human malaise, and technology, marketing, and the lust for profits simply spread our addiction and disease faster and further. For the first time in history it is possible for entertainment culture to distribute our spiritual sickness worldwide, producing a spiritual pandemic."
The Culturally Savvy Christian pp. 26-27
Reflecting on what Staub has to say I think that he is too negative toward pop culture. He doesn't seem to carry a heart for common grace nor for the positive side of what companies and businesses are doing. There is an assumption that none of these businesses are of good intent or led by well meaning Christ followers or well meaning non-Christians. I think that the Contemporary Testimony of the Christian Reformed church might have some play here,
51.
In our work, even in dull routine,[1]
we hear the call to serve our Lord.
We must work for more than wages,[2]
and manage for more than profit,[3]
so that mutual respect
and the just use of goods and skills[4]
may shape the work place,
and so that, while we earn or profit,
useful products and services may result.
But given these reflections, I still believe that Staub gives much for thought and reflection both in this quote and in his book.
"So here's the deal. The largest companies in the world are hiring smart people and spending billions of dollars to drive a diversionary, mindless, celebrity-fueled popular culture down the highway of new technologies and into our lives in order to sell us stuff we don't want or need. They don't care about us, what we believe, or how we want to live. Their ads and products regularly reduce women to sex objects and men to voyeurs and predators. They are unconcerned with what is in our best interest spiritually or intellectually, and in fact, it is in their best interest to keep us spiritually desensitized and dumb. They play to our unhappiness, magnifying our feeling that we are missing something essential and that if we had this something that they offer we would be fulfilled. They then encourage us to shop, convincing us that shopping will do today what it failed miserably to do yesterday--fill what French religious philosopher Pascal calls our God-shaped vacuum.
Today's superficial popular culture is symptomatic of our human malaise, and technology, marketing, and the lust for profits simply spread our addiction and disease faster and further. For the first time in history it is possible for entertainment culture to distribute our spiritual sickness worldwide, producing a spiritual pandemic."
The Culturally Savvy Christian pp. 26-27
Reflecting on what Staub has to say I think that he is too negative toward pop culture. He doesn't seem to carry a heart for common grace nor for the positive side of what companies and businesses are doing. There is an assumption that none of these businesses are of good intent or led by well meaning Christ followers or well meaning non-Christians. I think that the Contemporary Testimony of the Christian Reformed church might have some play here,
51.
In our work, even in dull routine,[1]
we hear the call to serve our Lord.
We must work for more than wages,[2]
and manage for more than profit,[3]
so that mutual respect
and the just use of goods and skills[4]
may shape the work place,
and so that, while we earn or profit,
useful products and services may result.
But given these reflections, I still believe that Staub gives much for thought and reflection both in this quote and in his book.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Latest
We saw Linda's surgeon today. He is pleased with the healing after her lumpectomy. We thankful that is going well, although Linda's arm continues to have a lot of pain. We are now moving on to the oncologist to look at further options.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Forgiveness
I've had the privilege of corresponding with a woman who was referred to me because of a ministry board that I am on. I've never met her and in fact she lives a couple thousand miles from Michigan. She has been struggling with issues of forgiveness because of an abortion and with relapses in drinking. I thought it would be worth posting my last e-mail to her as she struggles with issues of forgiveness.
Hi _____________,
Thanks for sharing your journey with me. It sounds like it has been an often painful one filled with many struggles. Rather than going right to the passages that you mention let me go instead to God's heart concerning two murderers in the Bible--King David in the Old Testament (he also commits adultery) and the Apostle Paul in the New Testament.
David kills Uriah to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba. God calls David into account for this sin--but then we read in 2 Samuel 12.13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." God forgives David's sin, even the sin of murder. There will be consequences because of what he has done (sin does bring consequences), but God forgives him. But what is also of interest is that after he has committed this murder the Bible continues to see David in a positive light, as one who serves God. The prophet Isaiah some 300 years after David says, "I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of *David* my servant!" Isaiah 37.35 Even after David's failure he is called a servant of God. In the book of Acts we read, ** "After removing Saul, he made *David *their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found *David* son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" Acts 13.22 Almost a 1000 years after David has committed his sin of murder he is still known as a man after God's own heart. It seems to me that David could not be called God's servant or a man after God's own heart after he had committed murder unless there had been the forgiveness that is spoken of in 2 Samuel. For David murder is not the unforgivable sin.
When it comes to Paul himself he declares that, 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. I Timothy 1 This life as a violent man is seen in its fullness in the book of Acts (Acts 22.4; 25.10) where Paul indicates that he had a part in killing Christians. In spite of this God not only forgives Paul, but makes his the apostle to the Gentiles.
At this point it may also be worth mentioning that Moses is a murderer (he kills an Egyptian) but God uses him to lead the people out of Egypt.
If murder is the unforgivable sin (which I do not believe it is, the only unforgivable sin is rejecting Jesus--so when we hear about a sin against the Holy Spirit that can't be forgiven, it means what can't be forgiven is believing the Jesus comes from the devil, rather than coming from God and being filled with the Holy Spirit), then God would have have forgiven these three of murder and certainly would not have used them to do great things in his kingdom.
Now to the specific texts that concern you. The text in Matthew 5 and in 1 John 3.15 are very similar. Notice that both are connected with hating a person i.e. to hate is to murder. If every person who hates is a murderer and every murderer is condemned, then there is no hope for any person on the planet, for which one of us has escaped hating others. In dealing with these texts we need to remember that John begins his whole book of 1 John by telling us the simple truth that we all sin, but when we confess our sin that the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from ALL our sin. (1 John 1.5-10). Of course murder is a big deal in the eyes of God (and so is hating others). He desires love to be the value of his new community not hate and murder, and he calls us to live those new values. But failing to live those values does not mean that there is no forgiveness, instead it means we have to go back to God and seek forgiveness and begin anew to live the values of the kingdom.
The other text in 1 John is the one concerning the "sin that leads to death". I believe that this sin is the same one that I mentioned before, a dogged refusal to accept Christ. Refusing to accept Christ leads finally to our eternal death i.e. hell, separation from God. All other sin is forgivable through the blood of Jesus. If you refuse Jesus, however, you refuse the very one who can bring forgiveness and so that sin leads to death.
The last text you mention is from 2 Peter. I would encourage you to notice the context of the passage--it is about false teachers who are leading God's people astray. So the first group (and central group) of people Peter is going after is false teachers. These are people who have apparently learned about the Christian faith, even taught about it, but now are leading followers of Jesus down the wrong path. In keeping with passages like Matthew 5.19 and Matthew 18.1-6 those who mess with the faithfulness of God's followers are called into the account and their punishment will be severe. So the context of the passage is not first of all about people who fall away and come back to God, but rather about teachers who say they are Christians, but are not and are leading God's people astray. Given this context it is questionable whether you can apply this to your situation of leaving Christ and coming back in at all. Better passages for your situation may well deal with the need for repentance and the wonder of God's forgiveness--even his waves of forgiveness that he gives after we've failed regularly (see the command to forgive in Matthew 18; if God commands us to forgive 70x7 will he not do the same?).
Two last thoughts. First, I encourage you to find a 12 step group as you deal with your alcohol abuse. At the church I serve we have more that 150 people in recovery and we've found that 12 step groups are a very important element in bringing hope.
Second, as you look at LDS remember that while it seems that all religions may seem to lead to God, that in fact, they have very distinct purposes. Christianity is the only faith in the world that teaches grace, that we have forgiveness, a relationship with God, and a part in his kingdom not through what we do, but through what Jesus has done. The goal of the Christian faith is for God to be our God, and for us to be his people living with him in joy and harmony. LDS takes a different look. LDS says through Jesus everyone is saved, brought to resurrection, but then it is up to us to determine our future. If we do well, it will be a great future, if we fail, it will be a miserable future. It is a religion of works. The end goal is not a relationship with God the Father and living with Jesus in a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21), rather the goal is to become your own god, ruling over your own planet, even as elohim rules over earth. Or putting it another way, "As we are, god (elohim) once was...as god is, we can become."
Thanks for your questions, my prayers will be with you as you continue your journey.
Larry
Hi _____________,
Thanks for sharing your journey with me. It sounds like it has been an often painful one filled with many struggles. Rather than going right to the passages that you mention let me go instead to God's heart concerning two murderers in the Bible--King David in the Old Testament (he also commits adultery) and the Apostle Paul in the New Testament.
David kills Uriah to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba. God calls David into account for this sin--but then we read in 2 Samuel 12.13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." God forgives David's sin, even the sin of murder. There will be consequences because of what he has done (sin does bring consequences), but God forgives him. But what is also of interest is that after he has committed this murder the Bible continues to see David in a positive light, as one who serves God. The prophet Isaiah some 300 years after David says, "I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of *David* my servant!" Isaiah 37.35 Even after David's failure he is called a servant of God. In the book of Acts we read, ** "After removing Saul, he made *David *their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found *David* son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" Acts 13.22 Almost a 1000 years after David has committed his sin of murder he is still known as a man after God's own heart. It seems to me that David could not be called God's servant or a man after God's own heart after he had committed murder unless there had been the forgiveness that is spoken of in 2 Samuel. For David murder is not the unforgivable sin.
When it comes to Paul himself he declares that, 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. I Timothy 1 This life as a violent man is seen in its fullness in the book of Acts (Acts 22.4; 25.10) where Paul indicates that he had a part in killing Christians. In spite of this God not only forgives Paul, but makes his the apostle to the Gentiles.
At this point it may also be worth mentioning that Moses is a murderer (he kills an Egyptian) but God uses him to lead the people out of Egypt.
If murder is the unforgivable sin (which I do not believe it is, the only unforgivable sin is rejecting Jesus--so when we hear about a sin against the Holy Spirit that can't be forgiven, it means what can't be forgiven is believing the Jesus comes from the devil, rather than coming from God and being filled with the Holy Spirit), then God would have have forgiven these three of murder and certainly would not have used them to do great things in his kingdom.
Now to the specific texts that concern you. The text in Matthew 5 and in 1 John 3.15 are very similar. Notice that both are connected with hating a person i.e. to hate is to murder. If every person who hates is a murderer and every murderer is condemned, then there is no hope for any person on the planet, for which one of us has escaped hating others. In dealing with these texts we need to remember that John begins his whole book of 1 John by telling us the simple truth that we all sin, but when we confess our sin that the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from ALL our sin. (1 John 1.5-10). Of course murder is a big deal in the eyes of God (and so is hating others). He desires love to be the value of his new community not hate and murder, and he calls us to live those new values. But failing to live those values does not mean that there is no forgiveness, instead it means we have to go back to God and seek forgiveness and begin anew to live the values of the kingdom.
The other text in 1 John is the one concerning the "sin that leads to death". I believe that this sin is the same one that I mentioned before, a dogged refusal to accept Christ. Refusing to accept Christ leads finally to our eternal death i.e. hell, separation from God. All other sin is forgivable through the blood of Jesus. If you refuse Jesus, however, you refuse the very one who can bring forgiveness and so that sin leads to death.
The last text you mention is from 2 Peter. I would encourage you to notice the context of the passage--it is about false teachers who are leading God's people astray. So the first group (and central group) of people Peter is going after is false teachers. These are people who have apparently learned about the Christian faith, even taught about it, but now are leading followers of Jesus down the wrong path. In keeping with passages like Matthew 5.19 and Matthew 18.1-6 those who mess with the faithfulness of God's followers are called into the account and their punishment will be severe. So the context of the passage is not first of all about people who fall away and come back to God, but rather about teachers who say they are Christians, but are not and are leading God's people astray. Given this context it is questionable whether you can apply this to your situation of leaving Christ and coming back in at all. Better passages for your situation may well deal with the need for repentance and the wonder of God's forgiveness--even his waves of forgiveness that he gives after we've failed regularly (see the command to forgive in Matthew 18; if God commands us to forgive 70x7 will he not do the same?).
Two last thoughts. First, I encourage you to find a 12 step group as you deal with your alcohol abuse. At the church I serve we have more that 150 people in recovery and we've found that 12 step groups are a very important element in bringing hope.
Second, as you look at LDS remember that while it seems that all religions may seem to lead to God, that in fact, they have very distinct purposes. Christianity is the only faith in the world that teaches grace, that we have forgiveness, a relationship with God, and a part in his kingdom not through what we do, but through what Jesus has done. The goal of the Christian faith is for God to be our God, and for us to be his people living with him in joy and harmony. LDS takes a different look. LDS says through Jesus everyone is saved, brought to resurrection, but then it is up to us to determine our future. If we do well, it will be a great future, if we fail, it will be a miserable future. It is a religion of works. The end goal is not a relationship with God the Father and living with Jesus in a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21), rather the goal is to become your own god, ruling over your own planet, even as elohim rules over earth. Or putting it another way, "As we are, god (elohim) once was...as god is, we can become."
Thanks for your questions, my prayers will be with you as you continue your journey.
Larry
With friends like these...
I've been making my way through Job for the last few days. Since I'm doing more dog walking because of Linda's health stuff my way of "reading" is to listen via my ipod. One of the great things about listening (which by the way, the Bible was originally designed not merely to be read but to be listened to and memorized) is you often hear things differently. One of the things that has really gotten through to me is the arrogance (and unhelpfulness) of Job's friends. They all spout the party line about why Job is struggling, they all point out that Job must be one very sinful guy to have all that has happened to him happen, they all do this--even though they have certainly observed his life and seen his faithful following after God. The conclusion they come to is something like, "Well sure you look like you follow God, but we know that can't be so because you are suffering--so you must have done nasty things in secret." Anyway, as I listened I really felt for Job and was reminded for myself that pious and sure platitudes in the midst of suffering do very little good. Probably the best things his "friends" did is what they did at first: they were so overwhelmed by his suffering that they sat with him and said nothing.
The other part of Job to keep in mind is that Job's friends are in fact spewing forth the accepted wisdom of their day, namely, the righteous prosper and the wicked suffer. The book of Job is designed to raise the question of how do you deal with things when the righteous suffer, how do the righteous suffer and how do they deal with God in the midst of their suffering? What is most stunning is that the solution for Job's suffering and the pain of it, is not God telling him why he is suffering, rather it is a demonstration of the greatness of God. In the last chapters of Job is given a picture of God's greatness. When he sees that greatness he puts aside his demand to have his day in court. One has to wonder how seeing the greatness of God is a remedy for what we see as unjust suffering. Could it be that we have made God so close that we can no longer see him as truly great and because we cannot see him as great we can't deal with our suffering--except to demand an answer for it?
The other part of Job to keep in mind is that Job's friends are in fact spewing forth the accepted wisdom of their day, namely, the righteous prosper and the wicked suffer. The book of Job is designed to raise the question of how do you deal with things when the righteous suffer, how do the righteous suffer and how do they deal with God in the midst of their suffering? What is most stunning is that the solution for Job's suffering and the pain of it, is not God telling him why he is suffering, rather it is a demonstration of the greatness of God. In the last chapters of Job is given a picture of God's greatness. When he sees that greatness he puts aside his demand to have his day in court. One has to wonder how seeing the greatness of God is a remedy for what we see as unjust suffering. Could it be that we have made God so close that we can no longer see him as truly great and because we cannot see him as great we can't deal with our suffering--except to demand an answer for it?
Linda's Broken Pelvis
Just a quick update from this summer's car accident. Linda went to the doctor yesterday to check on the progress of healing in terms of her broken pelvis. The x-ray showed that it is healed! The doc told Linda that it will be about 1 year before she is fully back to where she was before the accident, but he's lifted all restrictions on activities--a great thing. Now if we can just get her pain level down from the surgery for cancer...
Monday, October 15, 2007
Linda's Cancer
We received good news today. After totally missing Linda's tumor the first time, this time they got it all with good margins--which means no more surgery Yea! The tumor itself was small 3mm x 8mm. We are going to meet with an oncologist to discuss further treatment.
Thanks to all for your prayers and concern as we've been jumping from one crisis to another these last few months.
Thanks to all for your prayers and concern as we've been jumping from one crisis to another these last few months.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Canada
We had a great weekend in Canada attending the wedding of friends, Dan and Mira, as well as getting to spend time with our daughter Gayle. The weekend included some good rest, good food, and great conversations. For those of you who traverse the border from time to time a happy moment came in a quick border crossing in spite of the fact that it was Canadian Thanksgiving.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Times of Refreshing
I think that one of the greatest or at least most appealing lines in the Bible is in Acts 3 where Peter calls people to repent so that "times of refreshing may come". Who doesn't want to have times that are refreshing. It makes you think of diving into a cool pool on a hot summer's day or drinking that great cold drink after a hard run--refreshing. What I'm not sure I caught before is that the refreshing has at least two parts to it. First comes repentance which brings about a blotting out of our sins--refreshing! Next comes a refreshing new life by listening to and following the words of Jesus. Peter in this masterful message connects Jesus to Moses and the prophet that Moses said would be coming that the people were to listen to him (check out that at the transfiguration 9.35 that the Father makes this same connection when he tells us to "listen to him" i.e. Jesus). The cool thing is that when Peter uses this reference from Deuteronomy 18.15-19 is that he connects Jesus with the teachings of the Torah and the giving of the law on Sinai. Here's what it says in Dt. 18 15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' 17And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him."
In making this connection Peter wants us to see that Jesus is the new Torah or God's new word to his people telling them how to live. Following that path brings times of refreshing, ignoring the path means being cut off from the refreshing that Jesus' teaching brings. Of course, for al of us this has a struggle to it--we actually have to believe (which means both saying with our mouths and doing with our lives) that Jesus' teaching is the way to a refreshing life. The second part of the struggle is to spend enough time studying the teaching of Jesus to discover that refreshing life. I know that I'm not alway in either of those places.
In making this connection Peter wants us to see that Jesus is the new Torah or God's new word to his people telling them how to live. Following that path brings times of refreshing, ignoring the path means being cut off from the refreshing that Jesus' teaching brings. Of course, for al of us this has a struggle to it--we actually have to believe (which means both saying with our mouths and doing with our lives) that Jesus' teaching is the way to a refreshing life. The second part of the struggle is to spend enough time studying the teaching of Jesus to discover that refreshing life. I know that I'm not alway in either of those places.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
A family update
It's been quite a summer and fall for our family. You can check out the summer struggles by looking at those posts. For our fall deal we found out 2 weeks ago that Linda, my wife, has breast cancer. Her surgery last week went well--sort of. The good news out of the surgery is that there is no cancer in the lymph nods. The bad news is that somehow the main point of the surgery --to remove the cancerous lump--was totally missed. Yes, they took out only healthy tissue and missed the lump. How is this possible you ask, no one has a really good explanation--just theories. The bottom line was, "This has never happened before". While we like to break new ground, this is not one of the ways we want to do it. Linda's repeat surgery is scheduled for October 11. We are trying to find ways to assure there is not another "miss".
On a happier note, we are heading to Canada this weekend for a wedding of two great people, Dan and Mira. The added bonus is that Gayle will be flying in from Seattle for the wedding so we get to spend a couple of days with Gayle and Rob. I'll try to take some pics and put them up next week.
On a happier note, we are heading to Canada this weekend for a wedding of two great people, Dan and Mira. The added bonus is that Gayle will be flying in from Seattle for the wedding so we get to spend a couple of days with Gayle and Rob. I'll try to take some pics and put them up next week.
Just wondering
I started reading the book of Acts today and noticed something in the footnote of my esv Bible version, namely, that when it talks about Jesus' brothers being in the upper room praying (Acts 1.14) that the Greek word can mean and most likely in this case does mean siblings. So Jesus' brothers and sisters are in the upper room praying. In verse 15 when Peter stands up among the brothers the same words is used--so the crowd he addresses and calls brothers is actually a mixed crew of men and women. All of this reminds me of the radically inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry where both men and women can be and in fact are disciples (see Luke 8). Along with this come the words of Acts 2.41 where we are told about 3000 are added to the Christian community on that first day of Pentecost--unlike the distinction when Jesus feeds the 5000 where we are told that there are 5000 men besides women and children, here we find a unity. It seems as we move into the book of Acts the separation between men and women disciples is being broken down and now there is just one group--followers of Jesus (see Galatians 3.28).
Along with this I also wondered about another group -- kids. It is interesting how few times we find children central to the story in both the gospels and Acts, not to mention the epistles. Are they part of the 3000 counted in Acts 2? I wonder if the lack of children being mentioned connects with the OT idea (Dt. 6) that children are taught by their parents and the covenant community so that the adults learn and become disciples by being with the Apostles and then they carry this not only to the world, but also to their children. Children are not mentioned very often because they are second in line in receiving the message and Acts is about those who are first in line. Not sure if this is right, but I was just wondering.
Along with this I also wondered about another group -- kids. It is interesting how few times we find children central to the story in both the gospels and Acts, not to mention the epistles. Are they part of the 3000 counted in Acts 2? I wonder if the lack of children being mentioned connects with the OT idea (Dt. 6) that children are taught by their parents and the covenant community so that the adults learn and become disciples by being with the Apostles and then they carry this not only to the world, but also to their children. Children are not mentioned very often because they are second in line in receiving the message and Acts is about those who are first in line. Not sure if this is right, but I was just wondering.
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