Some quotes worth remembering

Some bible verses worth remembering, from my readings today:

1. "Contend for the gospel which was once entrusted to all the saints" - Jude 1:3
2. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ" - 1 Tim. 2:5
3. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love, and of self discipline" - 2 Tim. 1:7
4. "You then my Son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" - 2 Tim. 2:1
5. "He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace" - 2 Tim. 1:9

And one from Mark Driscoll (Vintage Church, pg. 43):
"You can be baptized in the church, raised in the church, confirmed in the church, serve in the church, marry in the church, die in the church and have your funeral in the church, and still wake up in hell if you are merely in the church and not in Christ."

Tim Keller

Getting some helpful insights from a Tim Keller day in London last week, and now from his book "The Reason for God". Here's the first:

1. It is common for people to say that "fundamentalism" leads to violence, yet the reality is that ALL of us humans are fundamentalists, including atheists. We all have fundamental, unprovable faith commitments that we think are superior to those of others.

So the real question is which fundamental beliefs will lead a person to be most loving, humble, and receptive to other people and thus be most conducive to a peaceful world? The answer is Christianity. Unlike other systems of belief we believe that no-one is good enough and therefore all need to humble themselves. For example most people in our culture take a "moral improvement" view to life - that if there is a God then we can relate to him and go to heaven through leading a good life. Christianity teaches the opposite - we need forgiveness, grace, help, salvation. Hence once saved we should be humble and gracious, forgiving and helpful to the rest of humanity.

Historical example: The Graeco-Roman religion were very tolerant and open - everyone had his or her own God. At the same time the Christians fundamental view was that there is only 1 true God, Jesus Christ. OK, so which set of fundamental beliefs lead to more tolerance? One culture was brutal, the other not; one led to a huge divide between rich and poor, the other led to generous sharing a giving to their own poor and those of other faiths; In one women had low status with female infanticide, forced marriages being common, in the other there was far greater security and equality for women; During the terrible urban plagues of the 1st 2 centuries, who cared for the sick and the dying, even at the cost of their lives?

Answers on a postcard.

To be sure there have been terrible injustices inflicted in the name of (false) Christianity, but who can deny that Christianity's fundamental beliefs are a powerful impetus for peace in our troubled world?