You've written a very thought-provoking post as always.
While I feel and hear your concerns around positive Christianity (especially the replacement of the offence of the cross with 'a public pitch for reasonableness and attractiveness'), I would be keen to hear your thoughts on the following:
1) Passages such as 1 Peter 2:12, Matthew 5:16 (and possibly John 13:35?) - aren't those passages assuming that non-Christians see/evaluate our 'good lives' (1 Peter 2:12), our 'good works' (Matthew 5:16), and on that basis, 'glorify God' (by which I take to mean glorify God in this lifetime - but either way, they are seeing something that is 'good' by their standard).
2) What do you see Paul doing in 1 Cor 9:19-23? Is it possible he is, in your words, '[adopting], to some significant extent, the worldview and assumptions of its audience, and shape the presentation of how Christianity is good or attractive in these terms' ?
You got me thinking, how is "7" prosecution, similar and different to "1" persuasion?
I wonder if a Biblical "flow" is 5 - 7/1 - 4 - 5 - 7/1 - 4? Although, you don't always need to have 5. (Hope that makes sense!)
It is also sad that as I get around, there seems to be very little "5" happening - maybe because Christians, as you have say, have been on the back foot for so long we have lost our confidence and fear has crept in.
Hi Tony,
You've written a very thought-provoking post as always.
While I feel and hear your concerns around positive Christianity (especially the replacement of the offence of the cross with 'a public pitch for reasonableness and attractiveness'), I would be keen to hear your thoughts on the following:
1) Passages such as 1 Peter 2:12, Matthew 5:16 (and possibly John 13:35?) - aren't those passages assuming that non-Christians see/evaluate our 'good lives' (1 Peter 2:12), our 'good works' (Matthew 5:16), and on that basis, 'glorify God' (by which I take to mean glorify God in this lifetime - but either way, they are seeing something that is 'good' by their standard).
2) What do you see Paul doing in 1 Cor 9:19-23? Is it possible he is, in your words, '[adopting], to some significant extent, the worldview and assumptions of its audience, and shape the presentation of how Christianity is good or attractive in these terms' ?
Thanks again for another engaging post!
Akos
Love it! Thanks Tony.
You got me thinking, how is "7" prosecution, similar and different to "1" persuasion?
I wonder if a Biblical "flow" is 5 - 7/1 - 4 - 5 - 7/1 - 4? Although, you don't always need to have 5. (Hope that makes sense!)
It is also sad that as I get around, there seems to be very little "5" happening - maybe because Christians, as you have say, have been on the back foot for so long we have lost our confidence and fear has crept in.
John