blinders.

Some interesting quotes here. this one is my favorite.
“Often times when I meet atheists and we talk about the god they don’t believe in, we quickly discover that I don’t believe in that god, either.”

I guess I like it because I have a (facebook) friend who grew up in the church and now claims to be an atheist. Everything he complains about or argues about God is what he learned growing up but is not biblical at all! Needless to say, we have some very interesting conversations. It’s hard to get someone to erase all that they’ve been taught and look at the bible in a new way. It was hard for me when I came face to face with it, but to the glory of God, He opened my eyes to the truth. We must remember when talking with friends or strangers, our job is not to convince them we’re right, or to open they’re eyes, but to speak the truth in love and let God work in their hearts.
At some point in history the mission went from sharing the love of Christ with everyone to let’s get out there and win souls! as if WE can save people. Then some clever marketing student who also was in seminary thought “why don’t we scare people into believing in Jesus!” thus began the Hell marketing campaign. At least that’s how I picture it happening
My point in all this is just to say, the church has subtly adopted and intermarried pagan doctrines into our theology and it’s hard to expose those without being branded as a “wacko” or “heretic”. I think Rob Bell is starting to see some of this, and although there is a lot I disagree with him on, I think he’s on the right track. What do you think MIke?