Comments for The Forward Look

Comment on George Bush and Church Splits by Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:40:17 +0000

Becka, your comments are always provocative. I am glad someone is reading these tirades of mine. I should have made a disclaimer, that I do not imply by my post that I also endorse all of GWB’s behavior. It is just sad how often false motives are attributed to those who do dissent rather than thinking through the issues knowing that we all see through a mirror dimly.

Comment on George Bush and Church Splits by Becka

Becka — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:43:22 +0000

This IS an interesting piece. I like it, maybe because I’m naturally drawn to dissension. For example, I think GWB was prone to acts of insanity. Voting him into office was even more insane. There. That felt good…but is it true? It is for me. And this is where the problem lies. Truth. Who’s truth is truer?

As for dissent, I’m all for it. Without it we’d be English not American; there wouldn’t be a Lutheran among us. I’d enjoy a clean kitchen courtesy of whatever people group we could enslave, and we’d still be sending troops to Viet Nam.

Furthermore, I encourage dissent to take place in our churches…it gets rid of a lot of riff raff. Ha. Fortunately churches are a temporary fix – the Bride is eternal. Churches will never be more perfect than our own fallen nature and as such needs to be kept in check and that, I believe, is accomplished by whistle blowers. Dissenters.

Eventually we will all be reconciled to “truth” and I doubt that any of us will escape without some scraps of egg on our faces. But then, it will not matter.

Comment on George Bush and Church Splits by Eric Patton

Eric Patton — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:53:09 +0000

Chris- great viewpoint. I find it interesting that in a western world like ours that worships dissent at all costs & w/o thought that churches tend towards unity & submission at great cost. It seems that much of the reluctance towards change might stem from strong leadership enjoying a place of prominence, or at least worrying about the “non-leader types”’s ability to “lead” in a different, but biblical, fashion.

Comment on George Bush and Church Splits by Steve Marquardt

Steve Marquardt — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:46:07 +0000

Interesting thoughts, Chris! I have always felt that any unity that is maintained at the expense of truth is not worth having. If you are looking for unity at all costs, some of the cults and sects out there are the best places to go. But if you are looking for truth, you will unfortunately have to look elsewhere. So in my judgment, we should obviously pursue unity as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, but we shouldn’t overlook truth and righteousness in the process. Thanks for sharing this!

Comment on One more Joy of being a Dad… by Camille

Camille — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:53:59 +0000

Thank God for Godly men!

I admire your daughter for giving her whole self to her Lord, she inspires my mother and I with all of her knowledge and wisdom. It delights my heart to read of a father who is joyfully fulfilled knowing his daughter lives in the Truth. Thank you for your ministry.

In His name’s sake,

Joyfully a daughter in the Lord

Comment on One more Joy of being a Dad… by Rob Boek

Rob Boek — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:16:40 +0000

Cool! Thanks for sharing.

Comment on The Church – A Means of Grace by Eric Patton

Eric Patton — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:32:30 +0000

Chris-
You have done well. I appreciate the perspective lived out actively through your family.

I had a discussion with a friend of mine once, who is a bit more of a theologean than I am. He went into the concept behind sacremental thoughts, particularly pertaining to communion. Until that time, I was uncomfortable with the term “sacrement”, I always took a lower view akin to “ordinance”. Since our discussion, & through a lot of reflection, reading, & prayer, I think I have become much more “sacremental”. There is something special, set-apart, sacred about the weekly Gathering of the Saints (Communio Sanctorum). I believe we enter into the eternal & ever-present worship with all the saints during communion. Anyway, thanks for writing, keep it up.

My friend has also become a pado-baptist, which I see more of the beauty in than ever, though I remain firmly convinced that the biblical model is believers baptism.

-See you at the Gathering

Comment on Sneaker Waves… and “Fatal Flaws” (part 1) by Becka

Becka — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:52:07 +0000

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

I’ve never liked these verses…

Comment on The Hidden-ness of Christ by Lindsay

Lindsay — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:30:30 +0000

Thanks Dad for this insightful post! I have often wondered why Jesus wanted to keep some of his miracles a secret. Very thought provoking thinking of His hidden-ness! Welcome back to the blogsphere as well.

Comment on Doctrines are not God… CS Lewis by David Knopp

David Knopp — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:25:12 +0000

Thank you, Mr. Taylor, for this link. I fully agree that understanding the irrevocable influence perspective has on our view of the world is essential to forming not just effective communication skills, but also an intellectual humility (not to mention honesty). A few quotes that stood out to me:

“There is one truth, and each perspective is merely an angle from which that truth can be viewed.”

“So I think that perspectivalism is an encouragement to the unity of the church. Sometimes our divisions of theology and practice or differences of perspective, of balance, rather than differences over the essentials of faith. So perspectivalism will help us better to appreciate one another, and to appreciate the diversity of God’s work among us.”

I’m convinced that if we discuss perspectives without giving equal treatment to objects, we run the risk of breeding confusion. If we fully appreciate the perspective of another while neglecting the reality that raised the question in the first place, the wheels will come off our epistemological wagon –which is what we’re seeing as common place today (and why Frame writes, “Our finitude does not imply that all our knowledge is erroneous, or that certainty is impossible.”)

I’m really encouraged to see Dr. Frame avoid this and teach both perspectivalism and objectivism side-by-side.