Eaglewings,
I'm glad your comment was opinion instead of intrepretation. I hope my position does not disaffect you. I believe the historical Jesus was the decisive revelation of God; a role model centered in God. I think following Jesus's way emphasizes practices rather than beliefs. To me, the cross is both personal and political; the path of confrontation with the domination system and its injustice and violence. I think Jesus's message was the kingdom of God; what life would be like on earth if God were king and the rulers and systems of this world were not; a world of distributive justice in which everybody has enough, in which war is no more, and in which nobody need be afrai...

Eaglewings,
I'm glad your comment was opinion instead of intrepretation. I hope my position does not disaffect you. I believe the historical Jesus was the decisive revelation of God; a role model centered in God. I think following Jesus's way emphasizes practices rather than beliefs. To me, the cross is both personal and political; the path of confrontation with the domination system and its injustice and violence. I think Jesus's message was the kingdom of God; what life would be like on earth if God were king and the rulers and systems of this world were not; a world of distributive justice in which everybody has enough, in which war is no more, and in which nobody need be afraid.

His parables and lessons were focused on love and forgiveness, a
message of "come as you are, not as you should be." The bulk of his
time was spent preaching about helping the poor and those who are
unable to help themselves. At the very least, Christians should be
counted on to lend a helping hand to the poor and others in need.

I couldn't agree more.

Well then we do not disagree. The point of difference is only in the preaching of the gospel or some other doctrine made by man. There is no conversion without repentance. I believe in helping the poor but in not leaving them as we found them but introducing them to the life changing force of Salvation in Christ. I do not believe if you are a true believer that your life style will continue to mimic that of the world. That is the exception that I find with Jay Bakker and his newfound church of the unredeemed. Anyone can create a following but Jesus wants Diciples not just followers. He wants those who are willing to lay down their lives for others not just look for a pat on the back and all ...

Well then we do not disagree. The point of difference is only in the preaching of the gospel or some other doctrine made by man. There is no conversion without repentance. I believe in helping the poor but in not leaving them as we found them but introducing them to the life changing force of Salvation in Christ. I do not believe if you are a true believer that your life style will continue to mimic that of the world. That is the exception that I find with Jay Bakker and his newfound church of the unredeemed. Anyone can create a following but Jesus wants Diciples not just followers. He wants those who are willing to lay down their lives for others not just look for a pat on the back and all is well welcome to heaven easy does it all is well gospel message. They need to be confronted with the truth of being sinful beings in need of redemption.

His parables and lessons were focused on love and forgiveness, a message of "come as you are, not as you should be." The bulk of his time was spent preaching about helping the poor and those who are unable to help themselves. At the very least, Christians should be counted on to lend a helping hand to the poor and others in need.

His come as you are did not mean remain as I found you. The blind man could see. The lame man could walk. The deaf man could speak. The leper was cleansed. The sick was made well. The crippled where made whole. He did not leave them as he found them nor does He expect us to remain as we are either. We must show forth fruits fit for redemption.
Repent (change your way of living) and be baptized. And I am not a denominationalist.

Why is there no talk about the travesty of these mega-churches? Using their millions to build their grand cathedrals whilst all around them people go hungry and cold and without a decent roof over their heads?

Look, after the crucifixion, christians met in secret, wearing nothing but sandals and what one can assume were pretty dirty clothes since they had to crawl under catacombs. Do you really think that God was more concerned with what they were wearing than what was in their heart? You don't know the heart of those mentioned in the article above. The majority of you sound just like the pharisees in Christ's day. Anyone can quote scripture and sound all holier than thou. If you're a foll...

Why is there no talk about the travesty of these mega-churches? Using their millions to build their grand cathedrals whilst all around them people go hungry and cold and without a decent roof over their heads?

Look, after the crucifixion, christians met in secret, wearing nothing but sandals and what one can assume were pretty dirty clothes since they had to crawl under catacombs. Do you really think that God was more concerned with what they were wearing than what was in their heart? You don't know the heart of those mentioned in the article above. The majority of you sound just like the pharisees in Christ's day. Anyone can quote scripture and sound all holier than thou. If you're a follower of Christ, why don't you have the mind of Christ?

This is absurb.

The majority of you sound just like the pharisees in Christ's day.
Anyone can quote scripture and sound all holier than thou. If you're a
follower of Christ, why don't you have the mind of Christ?

This is a true statement and you are correct in saying anyone can quote scripture but quoting does not equate to doing. If you are doing it then you really have no need to quote it.

On this same topic just because you pick a few scriptures from the bible to use as a proof text does not mean you have the WHOLE COUNSEL of God on the side of your position.

There is no forgiveness of sins without repentance. ULTIMATELY that is what the Christian message is about forgiveness of sins b...

The majority of you sound just like the pharisees in Christ's day.
Anyone can quote scripture and sound all holier than thou. If you're a
follower of Christ, why don't you have the mind of Christ?

This is a true statement and you are correct in saying anyone can quote scripture but quoting does not equate to doing. If you are doing it then you really have no need to quote it.

On this same topic just because you pick a few scriptures from the bible to use as a proof text does not mean you have the WHOLE COUNSEL of God on the side of your position.

There is no forgiveness of sins without repentance. ULTIMATELY that is what the Christian message is about forgiveness of sins brought about by repentance of the sinner thus placing them in RIGHT standing with God and destined for an eternity with Him. Apart from repentance its weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Course you may be well fed and clothed on your way to hell but to hell you be going none-the-less.

Pharisasical perhaps but gospel for sure.

If you're a follower of Christ, why don't you have the mind of Christ?

I am not sure if this was meant to be a personal attack or not but because you do not know me nor anyone else on this forum I gather it was meant as question to garner debate.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Phil 2:5-8 (KJV)

Now that is the mind of Christ.