tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post114961718616348206..comments2023-08-11T07:27:23.158-04:00Comments on Kisses of Sunshine: Holy Rings of Fire, Batman!GiBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03717697386035335817noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149771429236283402006-06-08T08:57:00.000-04:002006-06-08T08:57:00.000-04:00ok, laying all personal bias about Rick Warren asi...ok, laying all personal bias about Rick Warren aside, since that's been taken care of already...I wonder if we would feel the same way if this story was just about some random Christian wanting to plant churches and equip servant leaders and meet people's needs in Africa. Kay Warren wrote an <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/05/warren.aids/index.html" REL="nofollow">article</A> for CNN.com, people commented on it, and she replied to those comments. She said, "To those who read into my words a hidden agenda, there is nothing hidden about my belief that we were all made by God and for God and find our purpose for living in relationship to God. But when I sit beside a woman like Joana in Mozambique, or Ben in Orange County, California, or hold an HIV-positive baby doomed to an early, painful death, my first reaction is not to quote scripture to them, but to hold them, comfort them, and ease their suffering in any way that I can. No one cares what I believe theologically until they know that I care for them as a person. Whether anyone agrees with my belief system or not doesn't affect the level of my compassion. The point is to love." I guess this is how I approach these types of situations. When I was a high school teacher, I had several pregnant students. One, in particular, confided in me because I showed that I cared about her and her situation. I didn't condemn her for her behavior and tell her how much she needed to repent. I met her needs. I went to the hospital when she had the baby and brought her diapers and held that precious little girl. I felt very much that I was being Jesus to her even though I didn't tell her to "go and leave her life of sin." We did talk about Jesus. Her faith was VERY weak, and being only 15 years old with life experiences I wouldn't wish on anyone, I don't know how much of what we talked about sunk in. Whether or not she ever truly accepted Jesus or repented of her sin didn't affect my actions. It made me pray harder for her. I don't think showing love to her was "watering down the Gospel," I think it was living it.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09173872365261806154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149741359309402222006-06-08T00:35:00.000-04:002006-06-08T00:35:00.000-04:00Well, look at that! My soapbox just appeared unde...Well, look at that! My soapbox just appeared under my feet without me even trying...<BR/><BR/>I tend to agree with Lauren. We can do good works all day long, but in the end, the question is, "Where's Jesus?" <BR/><BR/>There are also a lot of athiests out raising money to feed the starving people in Africa. I understand Rick (and Bono) not wanting to alienate anyone, regardless of faith/no faith, who might help with this endeavor.<BR/><BR/>But when it comes time to separate goats and sheep, that's God's job. Christians should be feeding the poor, it's true. But BEING a Christian has to be about Christ. There is no watered down gospel - it's the gospel in it's entirety - we are sinners who need to repent and accept the Savior as Lord of our lives - or it's not the gospel, but some mamby pamby mumbo-jumbo about love and peace.<BR/><BR/>I love how you've taken a hard look at this and thought (and edited) it through carefully.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08808409121932480786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149738423935099052006-06-07T23:47:00.000-04:002006-06-07T23:47:00.000-04:00Woo-hoo, Lauren...you go get 'em!Woo-hoo, Lauren...you go get 'em!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149724834389521102006-06-07T20:00:00.000-04:002006-06-07T20:00:00.000-04:00I am totally the same way you are "totally NON-con...I am totally the same way you are "totally NON-confrontational, people-pleasing person." I actually just wrote a post about being that way (and if you read it, know that I was not referring to the discussion about Rick Warren here : )<BR/><BR/>I can really resonate with a lot of what you wrote in this post. Good discussion- I'm right in the same boat with you on a lot of these issues.sarahgracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09238734592533601926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149701202502906322006-06-07T13:26:00.000-04:002006-06-07T13:26:00.000-04:00GiBee, good for you for the stretch! It was way o...GiBee, good for you for the stretch! It was way over my ability to think it all through quickly and without discussion, and then organize my thoughts on it. Rick Warren has had an incredible impact on many, many lives, namely, being the instrument that brought my youngest brother and his entire family back to the Lord 2 years ago. They attend his church. Mega-church is not my style, but mega-bunches of people are reached that way.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for provoking our thoughts. You're wonderful!someone elsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12524255841655400982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149700524619180022006-06-07T13:15:00.000-04:002006-06-07T13:15:00.000-04:00One distinction you made I really agree with. Thi...One distinction you made I really agree with. This article was not by Warren,but about him. So we really don't know how he might feel about being described/represented in this way. going to his website was a great idea. And thanks to you for getting a discussion started.Jan/lost-strayed-or-stolen.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107832787231548950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149700128376241302006-06-07T13:08:00.000-04:002006-06-07T13:08:00.000-04:00Hey GiBee. I posted something kinda similar to thi...Hey GiBee. I posted something kinda similar to this today. I got to rethinking the article again and again yesterday too. I'm like you. I snap judge, then I think later. I don't know Warren's motivations, and it's not my job to judge him in any way. Obviously he even has the attention of unbelievers, which probably means he's doing something right. Jesus did love first like "Sunshine" said. But as she also said, He told them to go and sin no more. That's where we get mixed up I think. We want to show others love. We want people to like us and to support everything we do. But Christianity isn't a popularity contest. It's a walk with Christ. The perfect Christ who calls us to a life of holiness. Some are going to hate us for us stand. It's inevitable. The thing is that we aren't to hate them. We may hate the sin (God hates sin), but we are to love the sinner. We are to show them Christ in our lives. They will see something. The question is when they come to us asking why we are different, are we gonna back down because we're scared of losing a friend?Heather Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018641352722945047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22155253.post-1149699683732789672006-06-07T13:01:00.000-04:002006-06-07T13:01:00.000-04:00You did yourself proud, my friend! I'm proud of y...You did yourself proud, my friend! I'm proud of your ability to step outside yourself and still be true to what you read! It also helped me to see what I was missing as well...and I just gave more fuel to the 'christian-mocker fire that already attempts to consume the ultimate victor....JESUS! <BR/><BR/>In the words of one wise friend: "We may lose some battles, but we won the WAR!"<BR/><BR/>Blessings and thank you for keeping us moving forward in growth, towards God! You ROCK!kpjarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425417734069925095noreply@blogger.com