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The Emperor Constantine, facing the biggest battle of his reign, looked into the setting sun at the Lilvian Bridge and saw a vision of the Cross of Christ. As he gazed at the cross he heard a voice say “By this sign, conquer”. The next day he gave up his reign as Emperor, surrendered all his many possessions, and went to live and work among the poor. And forever after he was known as one of the greatest heroes of the faith for his obedience to the voice of God. ”
Mig eller helvetet?
“Jesus såg på honom med kärleksfulla ögon och sa: “Min vän, vad väljer du: Mig eller helvetet?” Mannen fäller blicken och skruvar på sig. Det är tyst ett tag. Tillslut utbrister han: “Helvete!” Vänder sig snabbt bort och skyndar iväg. Helvetet var för honom inte bara en konkret plats av eviga plågor, det stod för så mycket mer. Förstod inte Jesus det? Det var själva centrum i hans trosbygge, hela hans gudsbild vilade på detta helvete. Ja hela motivationen för hans tro. Att plocka bort det kostade helt enkelt för mycket. Jesus såg efter honom med kärlek”
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Jesus undercut the basis for all violent, exclusionary and punitive behavior. He became the forgiving victim, so we would stop creating victims ourselves. He became the falsely accused one, so we would be careful whom we accuse. Any worldly system actually prefers violent partners to nonviolent ones; it gives them a clear target and a credible enemy. Empires are actually relieved to have terrorists to shoot at and Barabbas figures loose on the streets. Types like Jesus, Martin Luther King and Gandhi make difficult enemies for empires. They cannot be used or co-opted. The powers that be know that nonviolent prophets are a much deeper problem because they refuse to buy into the very illusions that the whole empire is built on, especially the myth of redemptive violence. Like Jesus, they live instead a life of redemptive suffering. ”Rob Bells sista fyra minuter från hans predikan om Filippibrevet. Han ikläder sig rollen som Paulus i fängelset…
“There is an old anecdote in which a mystic, an evangelical pastor and a fundamentalist preacher die on the same day and awake to find themselves by the pearly gates. Upon reaching the gates they are promptly greeted by Peter, who informs them that before entering heaven they must be interviewed by Jesus concerning the state of their doctrine. The first to be called forward is the mystic, who is quietly ushered into a room. Five hours later the mystic reappears with a smile, saying, “I thought I had got it all wrong.” Then Peter signal to the evangelical pastor, who stands up and enters the room. after a full day has passed the pastor reappears with a frown and says to himself, “How could I have been so foolish!” Finally Peter ask the fundamentalist to follow him. The fundamentalist picks up his well-worn Bible and walks into the room. A few days pass with no sign of the preacher, then finally the door swings open and Jesus himself appears, exclaiming, “How could I have got it all so wrong!”
“Det är vår egendomlighet såsom baptister att endast fria övertygelsen och kärleken sammanbinda oss som ett samfund. Katolska kyrkan har sin påve, den lutherska kyrkan konungen. Vi endast kärleken, som tvingar oss, och sanningen…”
- Anders Wiberg 1878
Uppryckandet sker nästa år…
Som ni vet är jag starkt kritisk till dispensationalismen som eskatologi. Jag oroas av att den tycks uppleva en rennesans på en del håll i Sveriges kristenhet. Jag har hittat ett riktigt skräckexempel från USA.
Behövs det ett komplement?
Är den här sidan nödvändig? Bidrar jag inte bara till mängden av bråte som flimrar runt i cyberrymden till ingen nytta? Kanske, tiden får utvisa… |
