Greetings and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, a small congregation with a big heart. Located in the center of Vinita, Oklahoma, our Sunday services begin at 10:00 a.m., enabling us to get to the town's restaurants before our Methodist and Baptist neighbors! Join us at worship, if you can; if you can't remember us in prayer at "Ten on Sunday".
Jesus was a thorn in the side of the fundamentalists of his time. The religion of his day had hardened into ritual and legal codes and he warned the self-righteous to "judge not".
His efforts to reform religion landed him on a cross, falsely accused of being a political revolutionary. He was not. But, he was a moral revolutionary.
God save us from those who condemn to hell those who disagree with their interpretation of Scripture.
A "Pearl of Value" for today:
"The only 'true church' is that which admits there is no way of knowing which denomination God belongs to." (Sidney Harris)
Fond regards,
Richard
Showing posts with label orthodox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orthodox. Show all posts
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
2009.01.26 Monday Morning!
Top of this Monday Morning, and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma.
It is sad, but true, that those inclined toward religious pursuits are too often inclined toward extremism. When you think of modern faith-based violence, names like Osama bin Laden, David Koresh and Jim Jones are front and center.
While certain fundamentalists and evangelicals within our Presbyterian Church (USA) may not be violent, their thinking that their interpretation of the Bible is the only way of belief is self-righteous!
There are many ways to God, and those who accuse others of heresy would do better by being less intolerant, less stubborn in their prejudices.
No person has a monopoly of belief or experience. Beware of religious tyranny!
Peace,
Richard
It is sad, but true, that those inclined toward religious pursuits are too often inclined toward extremism. When you think of modern faith-based violence, names like Osama bin Laden, David Koresh and Jim Jones are front and center.
While certain fundamentalists and evangelicals within our Presbyterian Church (USA) may not be violent, their thinking that their interpretation of the Bible is the only way of belief is self-righteous!
There are many ways to God, and those who accuse others of heresy would do better by being less intolerant, less stubborn in their prejudices.
No person has a monopoly of belief or experience. Beware of religious tyranny!
Peace,
Richard
Sunday, September 28, 2008
2008.09.29 Monday Morning!
Top of the morning and best wishes from Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma!
My thoughts about "loveless orthodoxy" last week raised a few gentle questions. Why do I believe that we distort the Bible when we interpret it literally? For me, the following passages are troublesome - and these are only a few:
Genesis 9:25-27; 19:8
Leviticus 17:11-14; 20:13
Numbers 31:1-2; 31:15
Deuteronomy 14:21
I Corinthians 14:34,35
You decide whether to take these samples literally.
For today's "Pearl of Value" think about this:
"God summons us to be masters, not of others, but of ourselves."
Peace!
Richard
My thoughts about "loveless orthodoxy" last week raised a few gentle questions. Why do I believe that we distort the Bible when we interpret it literally? For me, the following passages are troublesome - and these are only a few:
Genesis 9:25-27; 19:8
Leviticus 17:11-14; 20:13
Numbers 31:1-2; 31:15
Deuteronomy 14:21
I Corinthians 14:34,35
You decide whether to take these samples literally.
For today's "Pearl of Value" think about this:
"God summons us to be masters, not of others, but of ourselves."
Peace!
Richard
Sunday, September 21, 2008
2008.09.22 Monday Morning!
From Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, in the heart of Vinita, Oklahoma comes this Monday Morning "Pearl of Value".
"For too many of us, religion, while it is orthodox and respectable, has become almost totally irrelevant."
There is an "orthodoxy" with lovelessness that carries disapproval of those unable to believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. It sits in judgment on the faith and belief of others with intense spite and hatred.
Self-identified "orthodox Christians" have the right to believe the Bible as literally as they wish, but I resent their need to claim their interpretation of Scripture is the only truth, and then label the rest of us as "heretics" or "apostates".
We distort the Bible message when we interpret it literally!
More on this subject next Monday Morning!
Cheers and best wishes,
Richard
"For too many of us, religion, while it is orthodox and respectable, has become almost totally irrelevant."
There is an "orthodoxy" with lovelessness that carries disapproval of those unable to believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. It sits in judgment on the faith and belief of others with intense spite and hatred.
Self-identified "orthodox Christians" have the right to believe the Bible as literally as they wish, but I resent their need to claim their interpretation of Scripture is the only truth, and then label the rest of us as "heretics" or "apostates".
We distort the Bible message when we interpret it literally!
More on this subject next Monday Morning!
Cheers and best wishes,
Richard
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