What's the question, again?

[Jeremy D. Scott]

I'm thinking on these things for two reasons: 1. it's a sub-theme of a book I'm reading right now; and 2. this article that I posted (http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?279-Separate-Truths) several days ago that the religious leaders group I attend discussed today.

I ask this not to belittle any one's theology or catch phrases, I have just found it a healthy question to ask myself: If Jesus Christ is "the answer," then what is the question?

[Todd Erickson]

If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

No, wait. Um...

How many roads must a man walk down?

what's 6 x 7?

[Shea Zellweger]

Well Played, Todd.

Actually, I think you're not too far off there. Jesus is the answer to "The question- the question of life, the universe, everything!"

[Todd Erickson]

Should I wear shoes or sandals today? Jesus.
When will I find love? Jesus.
Camaro or Prius? Jesus.
Should I go to college or tour Europe? Jesus.
How do we feed and shelter the homeless? Jesus.
How should I vote in the coming election? Jesus.

Hrm. What sort of question is answered "Jesus"?

[Rich Schmidt]

I had a theology professor at ONU (Craig Keen) who said he preferred thinking of Jesus as the question, not the answer. We don't know we're missing anything, we're satisfied with life, we think we have it all figured out... and then Jesus walks in.

I like that.

[Todd Erickson]

I had a theology professor at ONU (Craig Keen) who said he preferred thinking of Jesus as the question, not the answer. We don't know we're missing anything, we're satisfied with life, we think we have it all figured out... and then Jesus walks in.

I like that.

To quote the indomitable Mr. Van Halen, "Love comes walking in."

[David Graham]

Todd, from the point of view of the Christian "being in Christ"...... what sort of question is not answered: "Jesus"???

[Todd Erickson]

Todd, from the point of view of the Christian "being in Christ"...... what sort of question is not answered: "Jesus"???

"Which cupboard is the frying pan in?"

"Which way do we turn to get to your sister's house?"

"Does it look like rain?"

"Have you walked the dog?"

[Hans Deventer]

I had a theology professor at ONU (Craig Keen) who said he preferred thinking of Jesus as the question, not the answer. We don't know we're missing anything, we're satisfied with life, we think we have it all figured out... and then Jesus walks in.

I like that.

I would love to be a theology professor with that kind of life. I sure hope this life won't go on forever and definitely haven't figured it all out. Though without Jesus , the "figuring out" would probably be total desperation, so yes, thankfully Jesus walked in and though He seems to care precious little about explaining stuff, He does offer hope.

[David Graham]

Yes Todd, but is Jesus with you as you search for the frying pan; as you walk to your sister's house; as you look for rain; as you walk the dog and so on......

To me the answer to all of life's questions is a relationship with Christ, who travels through the mundane aspects of life with us. True He may not be the immediate answer to where the fry pan is located, but heaven knows I'll need the Lord's guidance if I'm to cook anything worth eating with it.:smilies1722:

Cheers,
Dave

[Rich Schmidt]

I would love to be a theology professor with that kind of life. I sure hope this life won't go on forever and definitely haven't figured it all out. Though without Jesus , the "figuring out" would probably be total desperation, so yes, thankfully Jesus walked in and though He seems to care precious little about explaining stuff, He does offer hope.

Hans, maybe this conversion story will help shine a light on Craig's perspective. His story doesn't play out exactly like what I described, but he does a good job of depicting what life without Christ was like for him and how satisfied he was with it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-shore/i-a-rabid-anti-christian_b_551799.html

[Dan Ross]

Perhaps the question could be: "What is the purpose?"


Colossians 1: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

There is some scientific evidence of this. Check out this kewl video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

[Randy Wise]

I'm thinking on these things for two reasons: 1. it's a sub-theme of a book I'm reading right now; and 2. this article that I posted (http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?279-Separate-Truths) several days ago that the religious leaders group I attend discussed today.

I ask this not to belittle any one's theology or catch phrases, I have just found it a healthy question to ask myself: If Jesus Christ is "the answer," then what is the question?

I hope I understand what you are trying to state in this thread.

I guess there can be many takes on a question with Jesus as the answer but the first and perhaps the most importance to me is how to defeat my own death and live without end.

This question, ("Where oh death is your victory?"), was asked by those that wrote as if they had found the answer on overcoming death itself. (Jesus)

Jesus -(the gift of God) in whom we live (Christ in us) and we must remain in Him to live (not free to sin)

Jesus also suggests life "through Him" as the first and greatest importance to the women at the well. "If you knew the gift of God and asked HIM....."

And if there is no resurrection and hope than we can go party without concern as when we die we die. (But we know better don't we)

Where Oh Death is your victory?
Randy

[Todd Erickson]

The problem with this is that the bible makes fairly clear that in God's eyes, us living without Him is death, and choosing to live in Him is eternal life, whether or not we live on after this world. So I'm not entirely clear that that is an accurate question. A perception, perhaps...

[Daniel Hamlin]

Perhaps the question could be: "What is the purpose?"


Colossians 1: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

There is some scientific evidence of this. Check out this kewl video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

I think we have to be very careful when trying to use scientific evidence like Giglio used because you can also encounter this:

http://www.miraclesofislam.com/

What makes one better than the other?

[Dan Ross]

It's humorous. It's coincidence. It's serendipity. The same case can be made for baptism, Glossolalia, and many other things that some Christians take as a sign of something really significant. When it gets right down to it, fulfilled prophecy is, imho, the best evidence.

[Benjamin Burch]

This is so fitting to the reading I'm doing right now.


"The whole world is now in danger of nuclear destruction. Even well-intended peaceful activities lead to pollution, ecological disruption, resource exhaustion, and climatic changes that are capable of destroying our descendants. Meanwhile tyranny grows worse in much of the world and threatesn even relatively free peoples. In this context individuals find little purpose or meaning. We despair, cling to what we have, or thrash about angrily. Even neighborly responsibility and civility decline. Our need for salvation is comprehensive and urgent as ever before. We should not use the symbol Christ for anything less than the power that works savingly in this comprehensive way. Christ must be the life that struggles against the death-dealing powers that threaten us and the way that leads through the chaos of personal and global life to just, participatory, and sustainable society in which personal wholeness is possible.

But are we justified in calling the way and the life that now constitute our hope for salvation Christ? That depends on whether that which is this way and life is truly God and on whether it is truly that which was incarnate in Jesus..."