armandoke

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Ik ben tolero

Recently Kris Vleugels' mailing list brought to my attention the newest tolerance campaign in Belgium. His statements are clearly posted at actiegezin. The campaign organized by Mme Katheleen Van Brempt, the Flemish Minister of Equal Chances has been followed by the media and some groups due to a very tricky and controversial slogan. The full campaign basically aims at making Flemish society more tolerant with homosexual people and reduce the discrimination against same sex attracted people, highlighting the difficulties faced, particularly by youngsters, in the acceptance of homosexuality as their identity.

I think that everybody agrees with the fact that all humans deserve respect, equal chances, and opportunities. In that context I would oppose to any kind of intolerance and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Still, I think that the wording of the campaign is a bit out of boundaries. The campaign starts with the very famous 'f' word. That does not need translation. It curses homosexuals and heterosexuals both at the same time, and then lifts up the "toleros" (the tolerants). In my humble opinion it insults/offends gay people as well as heterosexual people. I wonder, why not to be proactive and creative in the communication strategies? That the campaign wants to shock is clear! But trespassing the limits of respecting the "other" by using such wording is at the very least questionable.

Obviously, there is a huge debate. Lots of discussions going on the issue, including in the Christian sites. Obviously, the younger generation of Christians are debating it in the forum of the Breeze site.

I was simply astonished by the following statement:
Wie zijn wij christenen om aan een ander onze normen en waarden op te leggen? (signed truthseeker)


Translation: Who do we think we are, Christians, to impose our values on others?

Today at lunch, my friend Samuel reminded me that adulthood is also about knowing your beliefs. Such comments from Christians trying to play the "cool" are a post enlightenment misunderstanding of the Gospel. This makes me think that we are not to "impose" anything by force. That was the failure of the Inquisition. But we can indeed embody a different lifestyle, a lifestyle fueled by the love described in 1st Corinthians 13. Love has also to do with truth. Love has to do with remaining firm and unmovable in the faith of the Resurrected Jesus for the sake of the whole society.

Be blessed!

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Monday, April 21, 2008

It's well with my soul (Hymn)



Powerful testimony! Powerful Hymn!

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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Wonderings of the Anglican Communion (2)

After yesterday's post, i've found that last weekend FULCRUM had a specific meeting to address the issue of the Communion and the Anglican Covenant. The main speakers were obviously Tom Wright, and Andrew Goddard.

Tom Wright's lecture "Conflict and Covenant in the Bible" can be found HERE.

Andrew Goddard's lecture "Conflict and Covenant in the Communion" can be found HERE.

In any case, it clarifies very much the understanding of what's going on with the Anglicans, and definitely does not support any idea that +Tom would be making his way from Durham to Canterbury. +Tom actually supports militantly the role of +++Rowan Williams, and hopes for the unity of the Anglicans. Both lectures are long to read but worth.

Both lectures should be carefully read by those supporting +++Venables or +++Akinola in their attempts to bring their understanding of righteousness to the wider Church. And both make the point: it's not about homosexuality per se, but about the boundaries of the Communion. It seems that everyone made homosexuality the central issue, when it's not, it's simply the manifestation of a deeper problem.

I still have to think about ;-)

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Monday, April 14, 2008

Wonderings of the Anglican Communion

As most of my friends know, I came to the Christian (bible based faith) in the setting of a small Anglican Church in La Paz. As consequence, I always had a special heart for the Anglican Communion. It was normally refreshing to know that despite the hurricanes of doctrine that whipped Bolivia (e.g.Liberation Theology, Prosperity & Faith 'gospels', Dispensationalism, and lots of other mixtures), one could always count on the Bible based faith of the Anglicans. Even if the appointed leader were once "too liberal" (low Church) or the next "too backwards" (high Church), they normally kept the principle of honoring the Bible as final source of authority: the simple saying "Show me what is in the Bible and I will teach it. Show me that what I teach isn't in the Bible, and I will stop teaching it."

I recently found a post from the Unofficial Lambeth 2008 Website. They are already suggesting that Archbishop Rowan Williams should resign in order to keep the unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Anglicans are the largest non RC Christian denomination in the world, and in many places they are "the" reference of what Christianity is all about. Therefore, the unity of the Anglicans is a matter not only for the member but for the whole Body of Christ on the Earth.

And Michael Daly, boldly suggests that the well respected scholar, the Lord Bishop of Durham, may be the successor and the only move that could keep the Anglican Communion as a Unity. Hereunder his words:

“But, who will replace him?” you ask. I thought about that, too. While +Rochester would make a fine candidate (at least I think so), he would never fly with the rest of the Communion and it is doubtful that most British people (apart from the Evangelicals) would think much of it, either. Step back a bit, then and think about who in the English Church has been most outspoken recently about maintaining the structural integrity of the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Communion? I’ll give you a hint: he’s another eminent scholar and has a seat in the House of Lords.

Putting this all together may seem a bit of a stretch, but it makes sense to my supper-addled mind, this evening. Could +Tom Wright be making a play for something the present Archbishop of Canterbury has already given up on? And would it necessarily be a bad thing?
Apparently all odds are pointing to NT Wright as the successor. As for me, I will simply keep praying for the Anglicans in the pain where they are now.

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Friday, April 11, 2008

Psalm 145



It's so refreshing!

Music: Interlude (Levi Stanford)

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Monday, April 07, 2008

Welcome Vineyard Amsterdam (August 2008)



May God Bless your mission & Church planting!

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Vineyard 25th Anniversary Video


Vineyard USA 25th Anniversary from Vineyard USA on Vimeo.

"If we are only concerned about saving people's souls, we are irrelevant" Bert Waggoneer

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