Greg Boyd and The Myth of a Christian Nation

[Exell]

I may be late to the party but I just picked up this book to read it. I find it interesting that a conservative evangelical can have unorthodox beliefs regarding the nature of God and be o.k., but imply that Fox News is not the gospel, and you lose 20% of your church.

If you have read it, what are your thoughts?
If not, what dynamic do you see between the church and politics?

 

[subllibrm]

I believe that the church in America sold her spiritual birthright for a bowl of political pottage.

Imagine if all the hours and dollars that were spent on political activism would have instead been spent on fulfilling the great commission. Where we should have been making disciples we were busy making enemies.

 

[Reformed Guy]

I may be late to the party but I just picked up this book to read it. I find it interesting that a conservative evangelical can have unorthodox beliefs regarding the nature of God and be o.k., but imply that Fox News is not the gospel, and you lose 20% of your church.

If you have read it, what are your thoughts?
If not, what dynamic do you see between the church and politics?

Apart from any views about Fox News (which I personally detest), Greg Boyd is a radical Open-Theist who's "beliefs regarding the nature of God" are anything but orthodox.

 

[Exell]

I may be late to the party but I just picked up this book to read it. I find it interesting that a conservative evangelical can have unorthodox beliefs regarding the nature of God and be o.k., but imply that Fox News is not the gospel, and you lose 20% of your church.

If you have read it, what are your thoughts?
If not, what dynamic do you see between the church and politics?

Apart from any views about Fox News (which I personally detest), Greg Boyd is a radical Open-Theist who's "beliefs regarding the nature of God" are anything but orthodox.

Right. I said as much.

To me this reveals much of what is wrong with the church at large today. His unorthodox open theism is no problem, but imply that the church and Fox News are not on the same page and you lose 20% of your church.

The church has become more political and barely doctrinal.

The average church member takes in hours upon hours of Fox News talking points and scarcely picks up a Bible. I really believe, I could more easily get by at my church preaching heresy than disagreeing with Fox News. That is sad, and I have begun to address it, but I also believe it is a larger problem, not confined to my congregation.

 

[Reformed Guy]

I may be late to the party but I just picked up this book to read it. I find it interesting that a conservative evangelical can have unorthodox beliefs regarding the nature of God and be o.k., but imply that Fox News is not the gospel, and you lose 20% of your church.

If you have read it, what are your thoughts?
If not, what dynamic do you see between the church and politics?

Apart from any views about Fox News (which I personally detest), Greg Boyd is a radical Open-Theist who's "beliefs regarding the nature of God" are anything but orthodox.

Right. I said as much.

To me this reveals much of what is wrong with the church at large today. His unorthodox open theism is no problem, but imply that the church and Fox News are not on the same page and you lose 20% of your church.

The church has become more political and barely doctrinal.

The average church member takes in hours upon hours of Fox News talking points and scarcely picks up a Bible. I really believe, I could more easily get by at my church preaching heresy than disagreeing with Fox News. That is sad, and I have begun to address it, but I also believe it is a larger problem, not confined to my congregation.

I misread your post.  Apologies.

I haven't read the book, but from what I've seen in second-hand reports hasn't been impressive.

I'm of the opinion that the Church should speak to political matters, in declaring what the Scripture has already declared.  But I detest the manner in which Christians have latched onto The Republican Party/Fox News/Tea Party/etc. as the Christian Ideal.

 

[Exell]

[/quote]

I'm of the opinion that the Church should speak to political matters, in declaring what the Scripture has already declared.  But I detest the manner in which Christians have latched onto The Republican Party/Fox News/Tea Party/etc. as the Christian Ideal.
[/quote]

I'm right there with you.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

I'm of the opinion that the Church should speak to political matters, in declaring what the Scripture has already declared.  But I detest the manner in which Christians have latched onto The Republican Party/Fox News/Tea Party/etc. as the Christian Ideal.

Thank you.

 

[T-Bone]

I may be late to the party but I just picked up this book to read it. I find it interesting that a conservative evangelical can have unorthodox beliefs regarding the nature of God and be o.k., but imply that Fox News is not the gospel, and you lose 20% of your church.

If you have read it, what are your thoughts?
If not, what dynamic do you see between the church and politics?

Apart from any views about Fox News (which I personally detest), Greg Boyd is a radical Open-Theist who's "beliefs regarding the nature of God" are anything but orthodox.

Right. I said as much.

To me this reveals much of what is wrong with the church at large today. His unorthodox open theism is no problem, but imply that the church and Fox News are not on the same page and you lose 20% of your church.

The church has become more political and barely doctrinal.

The average church member takes in hours upon hours of Fox News talking points and scarcely picks up a Bible. I really believe, I could more easily get by at my church preaching heresy than disagreeing with Fox News. That is sad, and I have begun to address it, but I also believe it is a larger problem, not confined to my congregation.

I misread your post.  Apologies.

I haven't read the book, but from what I've seen in second-hand reports hasn't been impressive.

I'm of the opinion that the Church should speak to political matters, in declaring what the Scripture has already declared.  But I detest the manner in which Christians have latched onto The Republican Party/Fox News/Tea Party/etc. as the Christian Ideal.

Agreed!

 

[praise_yeshua]

While I'm not a Greg Boyd fan in many areas.... but I'd take him any day over men like Piper.

Boyd makes many good points in his books. In fact, he's got more theology in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.

This nation was formed by deists.....and christian "bastards" that no one would claim. Most people that are advocate for a Christian founding.... embellish the truth. Most of the founding fathers where opportunists. They saw dollar signs.....but there were some very smart men involved. The idea of a "republic" was smart choice. However, it doesn't matter what system of government someone chooses. All of them can be corrupted. Some more so than others. Even when you have a "king"... the "king" could be a good influence or a bad influence.

 

[praise_yeshua]

I believe that the church in America sold her spiritual birthright for a bowl of political pottage.

Imagine if all the hours and dollars that were spent on political activism would have instead been spent on fulfilling the great commission. Where we should have been making disciples we were busy making enemies.

Making disciples involves more than just making friends. The Gospel separates. It always has... it always will. Not saying political activism isn't wrong sometimes. However, the same people bashing others for political activism in Christian....aren't very tolerant of an opposing view.

Being active in political causes is part of the "liberty of the believer". UNLESS.... there is a moral issue with said cause. Say what you will.... political issues are often.....really world issues.

 

[Ransom]

In fact, he's got more theology in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.

And it's heretical where it counts. No thanks.

 

[subllibrm]

I believe that the church in America sold her spiritual birthright for a bowl of political pottage.

Imagine if all the hours and dollars that were spent on political activism would have instead been spent on fulfilling the great commission. Where we should have been making disciples we were busy making enemies.

Making disciples involves more than just making friends. The Gospel separates. It always has... it always will. Not saying political activism isn't wrong sometimes. However, the same people bashing others for political activism in Christian....aren't very tolerant of an opposing view.

Being active in political causes is part of the "liberty of the believer". UNLESS.... there is a moral issue with said cause. Say what you will.... political issues are often.....really world issues.

Where did I intimate that disciples are just "friends"?

 

[T-Bone]

While I'm not a Greg Boyd fan in many areas.... but I'd take him any day over men like Piper.

Boyd makes many good points in his books. In fact, he's got more theology in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.

Not sure why it would be necessary to settle for the heresy of an open theist, because he is "right" in other areas.  The well is still poisoned.  Surely there are non-open theist who make the same good points.

 

[praise_yeshua]

In fact, he's got more theology in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.

And it's heretical where it counts. No thanks.

Where is it heretical? Its just not Calvinism.... and we all know how calvinist feel about anything that opposes them . EVERYTHING is heretical to them..

 

[praise_yeshua]

While I'm not a Greg Boyd fan in many areas.... but I'd take him any day over men like Piper.

Boyd makes many good points in his books. In fact, he's got more theology in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.

Not sure why it would be necessary to settle for the heresy of an open theist, because he is "right" in other areas.  The well is still poisoned.  Surely there are non-open theist who make the same good points.

I said I would take him over Piper any day. I stand by what I said. Piper is far worse than Boyd.

Piper has long be jealous of Boyd. Theologically, Pipet isn't on the same planet as Boyd....  and he knows it. Its one of the reasons Piper has been so vindicitive against Boyd. No brother in Christ should have been treated like Piper treated Boyd. I know most people rationalize their actions with that little word heretic....Boyd isn't a heretic as far as I'm concerned. He simply believes the future doesn't already exist. It's that simple. it drives Calvinist crazy because they know they have no evidence to prove it does. I must admit. I generally enjoy watching a Calvinsit squirm around Boyd.

 

[T-Bone]

While I'm not a Greg Boyd fan in many areas.... but I'd take him any day over men like Piper.

Boyd makes many good points in his books. In fact, he's got more theology in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.

Not sure why it would be necessary to settle for the heresy of an open theist, because he is "right" in other areas.  The well is still poisoned.  Surely there are non-open theist who make the same good points.

I said I would take him over Piper any day. I stand by what I said. Piper is far worse than Boyd.

Piper has long be jealous of Boyd. Theologically, Pipet isn't on the same planet as Boyd....  and he knows it. Its one of the reasons Piper has been so vindicitive against Boyd. No brother in Christ should have been treated like Piper treated Boyd. I know most people rationalize their actions with that little word heretic....Boyd isn't a heretic as far as I'm concerned. He simply believes the future doesn't already exist. It's that simple. it drives Calvinist crazy because they know they have no evidence to prove it does. I must admit. I generally enjoy watching a Calvinsit squirm around Boyd.

Not being a Calvinist nor an open theist, I must confess ignorance to this battle between the two...what I know is that God knows the end from the beginning and what will be is not a surprise to Him, and our choices don't change that.

 

[praise_yeshua]

While I'm not a Greg Boyd fan in many areas.... but I'd take him any day over men like Piper.

Boyd makes many good points in his books. In fact, he's got more theology in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.

Not sure why it would be necessary to settle for the heresy of an open theist, because he is "right" in other areas.  The well is still poisoned.  Surely there are non-open theist who make the same good points.

I said I would take him over Piper any day. I stand by what I said. Piper is far worse than Boyd.

Piper has long be jealous of Boyd. Theologically, Pipet isn't on the same planet as Boyd....  and he knows it. Its one of the reasons Piper has been so vindicitive against Boyd. No brother in Christ should have been treated like Piper treated Boyd. I know most people rationalize their actions with that little word heretic....Boyd isn't a heretic as far as I'm concerned. He simply believes the future doesn't already exist. It's that simple. it drives Calvinist crazy because they know they have no evidence to prove it does. I must admit. I generally enjoy watching a Calvinsit squirm around Boyd.

Not being a Calvinist nor an open theist, I must confess ignorance to this battle between the two...what I know is that God knows the end from the beginning and what will be is not a surprise to Him, and our choices don't change that.

I recommend that you read what Boyd has to say about prayer. Its worth the read.

 

[Ransom]

Boyd isn't a heretic as far as I'm concerned. He simply believes the future doesn't already exist. It's that simple. it drives Calvinist crazy because they know they have no evidence to prove it does.

It's not "Calvinist" to believe in omniscience.

 

[rsc2a]

Boyd isn't a heretic as far as I'm concerned. He simply believes the future doesn't already exist. It's that simple. it drives Calvinist crazy because they know they have no evidence to prove it does.

It's not "Calvinist" to believe in omniscience.

And omnipresence.

 

[praise_yeshua]

Boyd isn't a heretic as far as I'm concerned. He simply believes the future doesn't already exist. It's that simple. it drives Calvinist crazy because they know they have no evidence to prove it does.

It's not "Calvinist" to believe in omniscience.

Sure it is. You Calvinists have formed your own theology around your own definition of omniscience.