Comments on: The Gospel(?) of the Slippery Slope http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:11:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: nancy http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3722 nancy Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:07:48 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3722 God is Love, and the Love of God is a greater power than than the power of fear. God is Love,
and the Love of God is a greater power than than the power of fear.

]]> By: david http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3718 david Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:18:15 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3718 hey.. wait a second.. wasn't martin luther himself a tragic victim of the slick seductive slope of satan? :) i've been stunned by the multitude of issues that have triggered this response from people i've conversed with. it always turns up at a different spot on the mountain depending on our view, the way that the sun glints off the crags. we get blinded and fear the unknown beyond what we are comfortable with. but you know what, I don't think i can name a single individual i've known personally that has actually fallen down one of these slopes into oblivion. not in any theological sense. the only true slippery slopes I see around me are anger and rage; pride in our right interpretations; fear and bitterness; a desire to limit who our neighbours are.... thanks for this john! hey.. wait a second.. wasn’t martin luther himself a tragic victim of the slick seductive slope of satan? :)

i’ve been stunned by the multitude of issues that have triggered this response from people i’ve conversed with. it always turns up at a different spot on the mountain depending on our view, the way that the sun glints off the crags. we get blinded and fear the unknown beyond what we are comfortable with.

but you know what, I don’t think i can name a single individual i’ve known personally that has actually fallen down one of these slopes into oblivion. not in any theological sense.

the only true slippery slopes I see around me are anger and rage; pride in our right interpretations; fear and bitterness; a desire to limit who our neighbours are….

thanks for this john!

]]> By: Transforming Sermons http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3717 Transforming Sermons Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:04:08 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3717 <strong>Firm footholds...</strong> Stop living in fear of the slippery slope.... Firm footholds…

Stop living in fear of the slippery slope….

]]> By: Joseph http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3712 Joseph Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:43:34 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3712 Hey John, I strongly agree with you … so much of what defines contemporary American Christianity is based on fear, identity issues and social control. Thanks for posting this. Hey John, I strongly agree with you … so much of what defines contemporary American Christianity is based on fear, identity issues and social control. Thanks for posting this.

]]> By: John W Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3711 John W Frye Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:19:36 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3711 Barb, Yes, I think you're on to a great reality in your analogy--the power and protection of compassionate community. Thanks for commenting. Barb,
Yes, I think you’re on to a great reality in your analogy–the power and protection of compassionate community. Thanks for commenting.

]]> By: Barb http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3710 Barb Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:52:23 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3710 As a mountaineer (back in the day) I have climbed up and down some actual slippery slopes. To ensure our safety we always had the proper gear--crampons for our feet and an ice axe in our hands. Also we practiced our "self arrest" technique in safe places incase we needed it up on the real hill. But most importantly we were always roped together--that way if one fell the others on the team could hold fast and then go about a rescue. Only fools tried to go it alone. I wonder if there's any corrollary to this and the moral and spiritual slippery slopes discussed above. As a mountaineer (back in the day) I have climbed up and down some actual slippery slopes. To ensure our safety we always had the proper gear–crampons for our feet and an ice axe in our hands. Also we practiced our “self arrest” technique in safe places incase we needed it up on the real hill. But most importantly we were always roped together–that way if one fell the others on the team could hold fast and then go about a rescue. Only fools tried to go it alone. I wonder if there’s any corrollary to this and the moral and spiritual slippery slopes discussed above.

]]> By: John W Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3704 John W Frye Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:06:11 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3704 Hey, Cally-Forn-ya, Friend! How's it going, Ken? Great observations. Thanks for stopping by and contributing to the saga--How to kill the dread slippery sloooooope! Hey, Cally-Forn-ya, Friend! How’s it going, Ken? Great observations. Thanks for stopping by and contributing to the saga–How to kill the dread slippery sloooooope!

]]> By: Ken Kemp http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3703 Ken Kemp Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:22:25 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3703 Terrific reflections, good friend. The slippery slope is a threat to those who are not quite prepared to defend their position. Seminarians (and God knows you and I were there), particularly those who attend the evangelical variety, are heavily burdened with the duty to defend an orthodoxy they don't fully grasp. The nagging question is this: what if I discover I've got it wrong? I've learned to accurately parrot the key tenants of the faith, but the so-called supporting arguments fall well short of air-tight. If I give in, compromise, back down - I'll be banished. So I hang on tightly to the rail and at the same time fear that my defense will not convince anyone - especially me. One slip, and I'm a goner. You can see it in their eyes. Hear it in their voice. STAY AWAY FROM THE SLOPE... IT'S SLIPPERY. Be prepared. Life happens. Terrific reflections, good friend. The slippery slope is a threat to those who are not quite prepared to defend their position. Seminarians (and God knows you and I were there), particularly those who attend the evangelical variety, are heavily burdened with the duty to defend an orthodoxy they don’t fully grasp. The nagging question is this: what if I discover I’ve got it wrong? I’ve learned to accurately parrot the key tenants of the faith, but the so-called supporting arguments fall well short of air-tight. If I give in, compromise, back down – I’ll be banished. So I hang on tightly to the rail and at the same time fear that my defense will not convince anyone – especially me. One slip, and I’m a goner. You can see it in their eyes. Hear it in their voice. STAY AWAY FROM THE SLOPE… IT’S SLIPPERY.

Be prepared. Life happens.

]]> By: John W Frye http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3694 John W Frye Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:36:17 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3694 Ken, Thanks for the comments. I appreciate your thoughts. John Ken,
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate your thoughts.
John

]]> By: Ken http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/the-gospel-of-the-slippery-slope/comment-page-1#comment-3693 Ken Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:50:58 +0000 http://www.jesustheradicalpastor.com/?p=700#comment-3693 The irony is that people who actually are on the slippery slope live in denial (perhaps ignorance is a better term?). I've been on a number of them myself over the past few decades. But the fact of the matter is my heart was always for the Shepherd and He was always able to get me off the slippery slope in one way or another and keep me moving forward in this adventure called life. By the way, Webster's first definition for adventure is "an exciting and dangerous undertaking". In reading Psalm 23, the dangerous part relates to the sheep, not the Shepherd. He knows how to take care of His own ... if they just carefully listen to His voice. The irony is that people who actually are on the slippery slope live in denial (perhaps ignorance is a better term?). I’ve been on a number of them myself over the past few decades. But the fact of the matter is my heart was always for the Shepherd and He was always able to get me off the slippery slope in one way or another and keep me moving forward in this adventure called life. By the way, Webster’s first definition for adventure is “an exciting and dangerous undertaking”. In reading Psalm 23, the dangerous part relates to the sheep, not the Shepherd. He knows how to take care of His own … if they just carefully listen to His voice.

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