Comments for Cross Angle http://crossangle.com Living our everyday lives in the shadow of the Cross Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:29:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on On Suffering by Janet Albertson http://crossangle.com/2010/02/03/on-suffering/#comment-68 Janet Albertson Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:29:26 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=123#comment-68 Great insights! Great insights!

]]> Comment on Sober Minded by Lynn http://crossangle.com/2009/11/08/sober-minded/#comment-62 Lynn Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:57:24 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=102#comment-62 I'm not altogether in disagreement with this, Seth. But I've seen my share of people who had no idea what the joy of the Lord was, let alone knew how to practice it. It has been my experience that Christians have a tendency to swing to extremes either on the giddy side or the dour side. Maybe we should strive more for balance and less for eradication of mirth. :) I’m not altogether in disagreement with this, Seth. But I’ve seen my share of people who had no idea what the joy of the Lord was, let alone knew how to practice it. It has been my experience that Christians have a tendency to swing to extremes either on the giddy side or the dour side. Maybe we should strive more for balance and less for eradication of mirth. :)

]]> Comment on The Greatest Scandel by Charlotte http://crossangle.com/2009/12/14/the-greatest-scandel/#comment-61 Charlotte Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:47:12 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=117#comment-61 Seth, this is very thought-provoking, but true. So many times Jesus crossed the 'conventional' line in the religious circles. Oswald Chambers often points out that it is in our personal walk with God, and not the 'accepted mores' that we find a true relationship with God and become useful to Him for His Kingdom. I recognize that there is a group who uses this premise as a license to throw away principles and doctrines, but that is obviously stepping away from a relationship with God as well as the 'faith of our fathers.' Seth, this is very thought-provoking, but true. So many times Jesus crossed the ‘conventional’ line in the religious circles. Oswald Chambers often points out that it is in our personal walk with God, and not the ‘accepted mores’ that we find a true relationship with God and become useful to Him for His Kingdom. I recognize that there is a group who uses this premise as a license to throw away principles and doctrines, but that is obviously stepping away from a relationship with God as well as the ‘faith of our fathers.’

]]> Comment on About by Martin http://crossangle.com/about/#comment-60 Martin Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:13:12 +0000 #comment-60 Hey Seth, Thanks for the great blog and deeply challenging posts. We need this stuff. God Bless Hey Seth,
Thanks for the great blog and deeply challenging posts. We need this stuff.
God Bless

]]> Comment on On Biblical Standards and Convictions by crossangle http://crossangle.com/2009/07/14/on-biblical-standards-and-convictions/#comment-46 crossangle Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:09:55 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=71#comment-46 Joy, You have some really good points. I would like to think about what you said and give a detailed answer. It might take me a week or so to get back with a reply. It is really good to hear from you. (One thing though, I think the devil has enough advocates already!!! haha) Joy,
You have some really good points. I would like to think about what you said and give a detailed answer. It might take me a week or so to get back with a reply. It is really good to hear from you. (One thing though, I think the devil has enough advocates already!!! haha)

]]> Comment on On Biblical Standards and Convictions by Joy http://crossangle.com/2009/07/14/on-biblical-standards-and-convictions/#comment-45 Joy Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:26:58 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=71#comment-45 I would like to play devil's advocate here for a moment, and am hoping I don't offend you as that is certainly not my objective. This is from a purely theological standpoint and discussion I have been having with people for some time, with some interesting and unexpected answers and conclusions on my part. And I know what I am presenting here was not at all the main point of your post; I realize I am picking on a minor detail, but just for fun, here goes. You note as an example in this post the passage from Exodus regarding keeping the Sabbath day holy. We celebrate our Sabbath on Sunday, generally, and I am in no way questioning the merits of celebrating it on Sunday or the fact that it should be a holy day. In addition, as I continued to read through your earlier posts, I discovered you blogged on one of my favorite NT passages--Galatians 5--which discusses living by the Spirit or by the sinful nature. Paul concludes that those who live by the Spirit are not under obligation to the law of Moses (loosely, NLT). Now, here is my observation for discussion: if we are living by the Spirit and are not under obligation to the law of Moses, since our righteousness comes through faith in Christ, on what grounds do we choose any part of the Mosaic law to live by? Furthermore, the OT law was a covenant with the Israelites, which means it does not include Christians since it was not made with Christians. So how can NT Christians follow any part of the Mosaic law and still claim to have righteousness through faith in Christ? Is not our responsibility to live by the greatest commandment--the law of love, which is the outward expression of our faith in Christ? Yes! We cannot live by two systems of being made right with God. We either live by the law, or by faith. And since Christ came to fulfill--finish--the law, that option is not an option any longer, so why do we still attempt to pick out things to live by? We should be focusing on living out of perfect love, not the law. And when we do that, we will most certainly find ourselves experiencing far greater freedom, but at the same time holding ourselves to a higher personal standard. Weird, but that seems to be part of the economics of the Kingdom. So there is my little rant. I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts on this. This basically started in my mind a few years ago in my hermeneutics class when I studied the theories of Biblical continuity. Perhaps that will give you an idea of where I'm coming from. Loved the subject and love to discuss it b/c I still haven't concretely settled on which theory I believe is the most accurate. I would like to play devil’s advocate here for a moment, and am hoping I don’t offend you as that is certainly not my objective. This is from a purely theological standpoint and discussion I have been having with people for some time, with some interesting and unexpected answers and conclusions on my part. And I know what I am presenting here was not at all the main point of your post; I realize I am picking on a minor detail, but just for fun, here goes.

You note as an example in this post the passage from Exodus regarding keeping the Sabbath day holy. We celebrate our Sabbath on Sunday, generally, and I am in no way questioning the merits of celebrating it on Sunday or the fact that it should be a holy day. In addition, as I continued to read through your earlier posts, I discovered you blogged on one of my favorite NT passages–Galatians 5–which discusses living by the Spirit or by the sinful nature. Paul concludes that those who live by the Spirit are not under obligation to the law of Moses (loosely, NLT).

Now, here is my observation for discussion: if we are living by the Spirit and are not under obligation to the law of Moses, since our righteousness comes through faith in Christ, on what grounds do we choose any part of the Mosaic law to live by? Furthermore, the OT law was a covenant with the Israelites, which means it does not include Christians since it was not made with Christians. So how can NT Christians follow any part of the Mosaic law and still claim to have righteousness through faith in Christ?

Is not our responsibility to live by the greatest commandment–the law of love, which is the outward expression of our faith in Christ? Yes! We cannot live by two systems of being made right with God. We either live by the law, or by faith. And since Christ came to fulfill–finish–the law, that option is not an option any longer, so why do we still attempt to pick out things to live by? We should be focusing on living out of perfect love, not the law. And when we do that, we will most certainly find ourselves experiencing far greater freedom, but at the same time holding ourselves to a higher personal standard. Weird, but that seems to be part of the economics of the Kingdom.

So there is my little rant. I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts on this. This basically started in my mind a few years ago in my hermeneutics class when I studied the theories of Biblical continuity. Perhaps that will give you an idea of where I’m coming from. Loved the subject and love to discuss it b/c I still haven’t concretely settled on which theory I believe is the most accurate.

]]> Comment on Do You Change Culture or Does Culture Change You? | Phil Cooke and The Change Revolution by crossangle http://crossangle.com/2009/08/04/do-you-change-culture-or-does-culture-change-you-phil-cooke-and-the-change-revolution/#comment-44 crossangle Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:59:06 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=76#comment-44 Thanks for commenting. I think you have some very pertinent thoughts, and it helps to see what others take is on the subject. Have a great day! Seth Thanks for commenting. I think you have some very pertinent thoughts, and it helps to see what others take is on the subject. Have a great day! Seth

]]> Comment on Do You Change Culture or Does Culture Change You? | Phil Cooke and The Change Revolution by Charlotte Meador http://crossangle.com/2009/08/04/do-you-change-culture-or-does-culture-change-you-phil-cooke-and-the-change-revolution/#comment-43 Charlotte Meador Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:56:17 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=76#comment-43 More and more this trend of thought has been on my mind. My reading in My Utmost has sometimes dealt with some of these issues in the last month or so. The issue of determining in our hearts the purity of our love for God has been one that has been important to me lately. What is more important–the work we do? The value system others hold, and that I hold? The Bible? I stood by my mother’s grave for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I thought how transient our lives are, and what really matters in our lives. Our culture is so important to us. Sometimes it is micro-cultures that control our lives–those who are around us every day or those ideologies we embrace because those about us embrace them. if we could live above our culture and our mores, and live strictly for God; for instance, to embrace His ideologies and values. For example, how important is our love for others as far as God is concerned? I have often wondered what God thinks when He looks down at our every day lives. I sometimes worry and fuss about such silly little things (though my culture may not dictate them as silly), but are they really important to God? Some people think God looks at us and laughs at our feeble attempts to please Him by pleasing people. I’m not sure. Is He grieved? Does He feel that it matters more to me what people or culture or cultural mores dictate than what God wants? Does He feel like I idolize culture? Uncomfortable thoughts, sometimes, but I pray much lately that God will strip away my preconceived ideas and influences that might hinder my love for Him and others. More and more this trend of thought has been on my mind. My reading in My Utmost has sometimes dealt with some of these issues in the last month or so. The issue of determining in our hearts the purity of our love for God has been one that has been important to me lately. What is more important–the work we do? The value system others hold, and that I hold? The Bible? I stood by my mother’s grave for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I thought how transient our lives are, and what really matters in our lives. Our culture is so important to us. Sometimes it is micro-cultures that control our lives–those who are around us every day or those ideologies we embrace because those about us embrace them. if we could live above our culture and our mores, and live strictly for God; for instance, to embrace His ideologies and values. For example, how important is our love for others as far as God is concerned? I have often wondered what God thinks when He looks down at our every day lives. I sometimes worry and fuss about such silly little things (though my culture may not dictate them as silly), but are they really important to God? Some people think God looks at us and laughs at our feeble attempts to please Him by pleasing people. I’m not sure. Is He grieved? Does He feel that it matters more to me what people or culture or cultural mores dictate than what God wants? Does He feel like I idolize culture? Uncomfortable thoughts, sometimes, but I pray much lately that God will strip away my preconceived ideas and influences that might hinder my love for Him and others.

]]> Comment on Thomas ‘a Kempis on Of the Inward Life by Rowen http://crossangle.com/2009/06/14/thomas-a-kempis-on-of-the-inward-life/#comment-24 Rowen Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:27:40 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=61#comment-24 Thanks for sharing this Seth. It is quite deeply challenging to me, though I feel that I was able to only partially grasp the truths within the words on first reading. I'll be back, to study, contemplate, and apply whatever the Lord wants to do in my own life through this truth. Keep up the great work that you are for the Lord, of which this is certainly a part. Do you think that you could take the time to 'translate' this piece into modern vernacular? It would be worth the time to do so. Praying for your ministries, -Rowen Thanks for sharing this Seth. It is quite deeply challenging to me, though I feel that I was able to only partially grasp the truths within the words on first reading. I’ll be back, to study, contemplate, and apply whatever the Lord wants to do in my own life through this truth.

Keep up the great work that you are for the Lord, of which this is certainly a part. Do you think that you could take the time to ‘translate’ this piece into modern vernacular? It would be worth the time to do so.

Praying for your ministries,
-Rowen

]]> Comment on Can Christians be Holy? by crossangle http://crossangle.com/2009/06/01/can-christians-be-holy/#comment-17 crossangle Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:51:29 +0000 http://crossangle.com/?p=55#comment-17 Glad you liked it and thanks for sharing your thoughts. It does help reinforce it. Seth S. Glad you liked it and thanks for sharing your thoughts. It does help reinforce it. Seth S.

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