Comments on: Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Jesus Christ http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:11:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: MarvinHusser http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4532 MarvinHusser Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:43:41 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4532 Hello.This post was extremely remarkable, especially because I was looking for thoughts on this issue last Sunday. Hello.This post was extremely remarkable, especially because I was looking for thoughts on this issue last Sunday.

]]> By: Pat s http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4468 Pat s Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:46:28 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4468 Can Jesus "save" (give eternal life) to the countless millions of humans throughout history who were not "Jews" (OT times) or not "Christian" (NT)? Simple answer: Of course He can - and I think - He does! I cannot believe He is just and merciful unless I believe this. He will not put people in an eternal torture chamber because of theological doctrine . Can Jesus “save” (give eternal life) to the countless millions of humans throughout history who were not “Jews” (OT times) or not “Christian” (NT)?

Simple answer: Of course He can – and I think – He does! I cannot believe He is just and merciful unless I believe this.

He will not put people in an eternal torture chamber because of theological doctrine .

]]> By: justin http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4309 justin Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:20:53 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4309 "Here’s the skinny. Jesus Christ is an infuriating person. He was in his own day and he is in our day as well." - well said! much to my dismay, i had lost the link to you and your blog - but alas - tis found! awesome. “Here’s the skinny. Jesus Christ is an infuriating person. He was in his own day and he is in our day as well.” – well said! much to my dismay, i had lost the link to you and your blog – but alas – tis found! awesome.

]]> By: Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Christ « Daily Illumination (Jeremy Berg) http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4298 Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Christ « Daily Illumination (Jeremy Berg) Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:19:28 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4298 [...] On this crucial, timely issue that will not be going away anytime soon, I recommend the following post by John W. Frye I came across this week called Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Jesus Christ. [...] [...] On this crucial, timely issue that will not be going away anytime soon, I recommend the following post by John W. Frye I came across this week called Emergent Theology and the Exclusivity of Jesus Christ. [...]

]]> By: John W Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4293 John W Frye Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:07:07 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4293 Wes Ellis, Thanks so much for presenting your perspective on Emergent and in particular Brian McLaren. Your insights are very helpful. Wes Ellis,
Thanks so much for presenting your perspective on Emergent and in particular Brian McLaren. Your insights are very helpful.

]]> By: Wes Ellis http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4292 Wes Ellis Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:29:26 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4292 I've had my experiences in what you call "old liberalism" (I am my self a member in the United Church of Christ) and there is a big difference in my mind between the Emergent movement and the old liberalism which is thriving amongst mainline churches. Primarily, their starting points are quite different. McLaren and others start from evangelical fundamentalism and react thereto while mainline liberals don't often feel much obligation to the evangelical tradition. I was at a UCC retreat just this weekend with some high school students and while I was there I was reading McLaren's new book (which I think is great, by the way) and McLaren seemed refreshingly conservative after a day talking with my fellow UCCers. McLaren starts from Scripture and comes out. He takes the writings of folks like Paul to be authoritative and theologically trustworthy. Old liberalism doesn't seem to have such an obligation. While scripture is beloved by the old liberals, it's not always authoritative and it's rarely "infallible." I think the Emergent movement has come from a different direction, has met and kissed old liberalism (even borrowing some of its' lingo, and has yet continued in a different direction. They're taking a sort of proverbial baton from old liberals but they are taking in still in the direction of Trinitarian particularity. I've never found McLaren's perspective, for example, to be threatening to the exclusivity of Christ... unless you quote him out of context. The openness of the Emergent movement flows from a lingering sense of the particularity of Christ. That sense does not always linger amongst old liberalism. I’ve had my experiences in what you call “old liberalism” (I am my self a member in the United Church of Christ) and there is a big difference in my mind between the Emergent movement and the old liberalism which is thriving amongst mainline churches. Primarily, their starting points are quite different. McLaren and others start from evangelical fundamentalism and react thereto while mainline liberals don’t often feel much obligation to the evangelical tradition. I was at a UCC retreat just this weekend with some high school students and while I was there I was reading McLaren’s new book (which I think is great, by the way) and McLaren seemed refreshingly conservative after a day talking with my fellow UCCers. McLaren starts from Scripture and comes out. He takes the writings of folks like Paul to be authoritative and theologically trustworthy. Old liberalism doesn’t seem to have such an obligation. While scripture is beloved by the old liberals, it’s not always authoritative and it’s rarely “infallible.”

I think the Emergent movement has come from a different direction, has met and kissed old liberalism (even borrowing some of its’ lingo, and has yet continued in a different direction. They’re taking a sort of proverbial baton from old liberals but they are taking in still in the direction of Trinitarian particularity.

I’ve never found McLaren’s perspective, for example, to be threatening to the exclusivity of Christ… unless you quote him out of context. The openness of the Emergent movement flows from a lingering sense of the particularity of Christ. That sense does not always linger amongst old liberalism.

]]> By: John W Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4291 John W Frye Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:18:55 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4291 Michael K, My good brother, I know you're not the fight-picking kind. And I am not ruling out the "hints" in Scripture that you suggest. I want to proceed with as much clarity as I can on so important an idea. Thanks for staying in this discussion with me. :) Michael K,
My good brother, I know you’re not the fight-picking kind. And I am not ruling out the “hints” in Scripture that you suggest. I want to proceed with as much clarity as I can on so important an idea. Thanks for staying in this discussion with me. :)

]]> By: Michael W. Kruse http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4288 Michael W. Kruse Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:36:40 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4288 John, I'm not suggesting that other religions be viewed as neutral. I'm saying that they are at the very best distortions and at worst antithetical deceptions. There are two ways to view approach the issue. One is how does a human seek out God? There is only one path that leads to God and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The other way is to ask how does God seek out human beings? God has established his Church in the world and calls all people into relationship with him through the Church. But is this the only way God works? Does God seek out people in their confusion and deception apart from the Church in ways imperceptible to us and in some way avail them of the atoning work of Jesus? Scripture doesn't tell us but I think there are hints that point this direction. I'm not meaning to pick a fight. Just wanted be clear about my meaning. :-) John, I’m not suggesting that other religions be viewed as neutral. I’m saying that they are at the very best distortions and at worst antithetical deceptions.

There are two ways to view approach the issue. One is how does a human seek out God? There is only one path that leads to God and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The other way is to ask how does God seek out human beings? God has established his Church in the world and calls all people into relationship with him through the Church. But is this the only way God works? Does God seek out people in their confusion and deception apart from the Church in ways imperceptible to us and in some way avail them of the atoning work of Jesus? Scripture doesn’t tell us but I think there are hints that point this direction.

I’m not meaning to pick a fight. Just wanted be clear about my meaning. :-)

]]> By: Jeremy Berg http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4287 Jeremy Berg Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:24:25 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4287 Good post, John. We must be charitable in our presentation, but hold fast to the truth of Jesus exclusivity -- however we (or, better, Scriptures) define it. Good post, John. We must be charitable in our presentation, but hold fast to the truth of Jesus exclusivity — however we (or, better, Scriptures) define it.

]]> By: John W Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/emergent-theology-and-the-exclusivity-of-jesus-christ/comment-page-1#comment-4286 John W Frye Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:37:28 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=956#comment-4286 Michael, I do agree that God does work outside the church, but with the O.T. story reaching its focal point in Jesus the Christ and with the N.T. commission to announce the God made known in Jesus to the world, why do we need to postulate another "way" or "name" or assess religions to be neutral when in fact they are rivals to the one true God? We've heard true stories of Muslim leaders having visitations of Jesus and converting to Christianity. The object of their faith so to speak was Jesus Christ and Jesus met them without the church as intermediary. A good friend of ours (yours and mine) has suggested I read Gerald McDermott's *God's Rivals.* Michael,
I do agree that God does work outside the church, but with the O.T. story reaching its focal point in Jesus the Christ and with the N.T. commission to announce the God made known in Jesus to the world, why do we need to postulate another “way” or “name” or assess religions to be neutral when in fact they are rivals to the one true God? We’ve heard true stories of Muslim leaders having visitations of Jesus and converting to Christianity. The object of their faith so to speak was Jesus Christ and Jesus met them without the church as intermediary. A good friend of ours (yours and mine) has suggested I read Gerald McDermott’s *God’s Rivals.*

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