Virtually Paul

MegaChurch Got It Wrong?

Willow Creek Repents? @ChristianityToday

An allegiance based faith

I’ve been thinking a bit about faith formation recently, with particular reference to The Parable of the Sower. I’m wondering - to what extent is a dogmatic allegiance to “being a Christian” or “belonging to a church” actually legitimate faith? How do we know which of the quadrants in the parable that we’re sitting in? Is that even the point of Jesus’ story in the first place?

It seems to me that a black-and-white faith which puts people in boxes and condemns them to hell, isn’t a particularly productive platform for someone who claims to have a Christ-like worldview. Interestingly enough, being black-and-white is one of the hallmarks of adolescent logic. It opens up some interesting questions surrounding what faith is, what faith isn’t, who has it, who doesn’t have it, who thinks they have it, and the range of other permutations combining those options.

Have a read of the articles linked below. They sparked the original thought process.

http://www.slate.com/id/2175640/?gt1=10538

http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/tenn/2007/10/04/christianity/?source=whitelist

Songs we dare Bec to walk down the aisle to

A top ten list compiled on behalf of the wedding party by Paul, Jess and Analise:

10. I got you Babe - Cher
9. She Bangs - Ricky Martin
8. Papa Don’t Preach - Madonna
7. All Night Long - Lionel Ritchie
6. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
5. You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
4. A Little Less Conversation (a little more action) - Elvis
3. I Get Around - The Beach Boys
2. Barbie Girl - Aqua
1. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for - U2

We are taking suggestions in the comments for the recessional song (the one they play as the couple walk out).
So far we’ve got:

10.  I will survive - Gloria Gaynor
9. Highway to Hell - ACDC
8. He’s going the distance - Cake

And yes - this didn’t start out being as mean as it ended up but we still think it’s funny.