Comments on The Schooley Files: The Problem with a Cross-Centered Theology

Hi Avis. Welcome, and thanks for the kind words! ...

2010-08-31T20:01:28.948-04:00

Hi Avis. Welcome, and thanks for the kind words! I checked out the article you mentioned. I think that dialogue among people of different faiths is a good thing, to the extent that it promotes our ability to live with one another in peace and without stereotypes. However, I can't see forging a vocation in Christian ministry, including (especially) the unique truth claims that biblical Christianity makes, in an environment where people with mutually exclusive truth claims are forging vocations in those traditions. In other words, I think there needs to be a commitment to more than just a generic "spirituality" to cultivate a spiritual vocation.

Hi Mr. Schooley, I'm enjoying your posts. It&#...

2010-08-31T13:02:42.484-04:00

Hi Mr. Schooley, I'm enjoying your posts. It's almost like one big book. Please continue to write more. P.S. Just wanted to know your thoughts on the article written in the Times Magazine Interfaith U. A theology school's push to train pastors, rabbis and Imams under one roof. Date of magazine September 6, 2010. Thanking you for your thougts on this article in advance. Avis aka 1st autumn

Hi Brother Mallett. Thanks for reading and interac...

2010-04-18T01:28:51.812-04:00

Hi Brother Mallett. Thanks for reading and interacting with my post, and I did go back and read the post that you linked to. I hope you will continue to read the follow-up posts and interact with them as well, since they will flesh out where I am going with this.

My purpose is not at all to denigrate or diminish Jesus' work on the Cross. It is rather to re-appreciate the significance of the Resurrection.

Let me ask you this: what would change in your theology if God had chosen merely to whisk Jesus off to heaven after the work on the cross was complete, instead of bodily raising him? Since the atonement would already have been completed, would anything change? And if not, then how can Paul write that "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:17)?

Keith, This is a good post. I come at this from a ...

2010-04-17T14:29:04.282-04:00

Keith,
This is a good post. I come at this from a different perspective. The resurrection strikes me as an absolute certainty resulting from Christ's finished work at Calvary. Because of this, I place that work central to our faith and know that the resurrection is gifted to us through our faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. When looking at the emphasis Paul places on our faith, I see the following.

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

Ga 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

I have a great deal of trouble watching the church move away from a Calvary centered focus, the ground of our faith, to the results of that faith. While the resurrection is essential doctrine along with the life, death and burial of Christ, what brings salvation to men is the preaching of the Cross, itself being a manifestation of the power of God.

I wrote a short bit on this a while ago that explains my view perhaps a bit better than this.

http://travelah.blogspot.com/2009/04/calvary-focused-faith.html

Blessings in Christ!

from Dave Porter: looking forward to it, as usual...

2010-04-07T19:58:18.962-04:00

from Dave Porter:

looking forward to it, as usual

"christian" was originally a pejorative, yes ??

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Dave, you'll ...

2010-04-06T07:09:36.009-04:00

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Dave, you'll see in a few posts how this all can influence us in a very experiential sense. And "caveman" isn't the most perjorative term that's been used for us.

from Dave Porter Excellent analysis as usual Keit...

2010-04-04T12:26:49.251-04:00

from Dave Porter

Excellent analysis as usual Keith. I see two problems, one serious ane one whimsical. First, the understanding you offer (and that the church needs) comes from Christian doctrine--the importance of the resurrection is clear in nearly all the historic creeds-- and systematic theology. The "seeker friendly" (and I do NOT mean that term as a slight)orientation of many dynamic congregations today emphasizes experiential relationship with Jesus (something the mainline denominations have sadly neglected)and often shove the dry doctrinal stuff aside. A fully realized, true christian faith would seem to require both experiential relationship with Jesus and historical understanding of what's gone on before; teaching as well as encouraging. Hymns full of doctrine as well as the "prom songs to Jesus" that seem to fill many modern worship services.

Now for the more whimsical part. I think that an empty tomb icon, while helpful in emphasizing the central role the resurrection plays in out faith, would irresistably lead to christians being labeled "cave-men." Heck, the tag line even exists already. Believing in Jesus- it's so easy a cave-man can do it.

Anyway, God bless you, and Happy Easter.
Dave Porter

Spot on, my brutha. I've been working on an em...

2010-04-04T07:01:19.878-04:00

Spot on, my brutha. I've been working on an empty tomb icon for a while, but haven't nailed it (no pun intended).