by Norm » Sun Aug 15, 2004 6:31 pm
Norm: Interesting. Faithful meaning evangelical? Whereas evangelicals may actually attend church each week more often than mainstream Christianity (but within evangelicals what percentage would that be, 5, 10%?), 1) mainstream members are more active with their faith through community/social ministries than evangelicals, given the research I have seen reported by such institutions as Pew, Hartford, etc. Faithful thus means more than once a week rather than one who attends faithfully weekly? The ones that I am acquainted personally faithfully attend church but are not voting for Bush (not that it makes any difference in my state). 2) Are they then not to be counted among the faithful, and is this just another attempt by William to make the point that evangelicals are God-respecting but others are less so? Loose use of language, William.
Keith--- 1) But that would, of course, depend on what one means by faith. Some see the mainstream as being active with the so-called social gospel which is no gospel at all [...]
Norm: First of all, Keith, when you insert something inside my words, use [] not 1), 2) etc. It is sloppy conversation to not properly indicate something is being added to another's words. The opinion of others is noted and rejected, and I prefer data generated on the topic, that is data revealing mainstream Christians being more active in relieving the sufferings and effects of being disadvantaged than do evangelicals toward said individuals. If social gospel activities are not gospel, please explain to me why evangelicals engage in such activities, too (however, even if to a lesser extent than more progressive Christians). Do they make the same mistake as others that take Matthew 25 seriously?
Keith [...] 2) I doubt that William meant that, but it is an interesting topic that you bring up. Remember that the Pharisees were quite faithful in what they did, but not so faithful to Christ. I guess that means that you are using rather loose language, Norm.
Norm: Is once a week, faithfully, less faithful than more than once a week? Does Sunday and, say, Wednesday evening constitute being faithful and Sunday only not so considered? Is it remember the Sabbath or remember the Sabbath and midweek? Is not the Sabbath enough to be considered faithful? What of those that remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy, and the homeless on Friday, as is their responsibility in, say, an ecumenical community/social ministry? Does that count as being faithful, yeah, even to Christ? Seems to me William was a bit loose with his language and you a bit confusing in yours.