Emerging Africa

I've been watching Todd Bentley from the USA with some interest in the last few days. For those of you who don't know him, you can see his website : www.freshfire.ca

Todd has, of course, caused some stir amongst Christian circles with the usual rumblings : he's a heretic this, and a heretic that; OR, he's the best thing to come since Christ Jesus.

I'd be interested in seeing the post-modernists view in justifying social justice within the post-modern type of philosophy.

"Post-Modern" is a pretty broad definition, I know. By (very) basic definition, it would be defined as 'relative' in terms of truth. Although, I know this may not do it justice, when someone calls themselves 'post-modern' in thinking, they basically are saying this. We can discuss if this definition does it any justice.

But, with that in mind, can a true post-modern thinker (ie, someone who lives according to post-modern thought or relativity) justify social justice at all? My own thinking tells me that it is rather ridiculous to assert social justice must happen, when justice itself as a concept has no absolutes.

Okay, I don't mean to harp on the homosexual issue, but the real issue that I've been discussing (to myself, probably... but anyway :) ) at my own blog is one of original sin. I'm applying my thoughts to sexuality and homosexuality to drive my point home. This is a doctrinal issue, and one that I think if understood correctly can help us understand how we can truly see ourselves, and understand our relationship with God much better.

You may find my wrestling with this issue of original sin and the sinful nature interesting by visiting my blog.

The below is part 3 of my series, you can see part one directly through these links :

This is a slight continuation of some of the conversation happening at Nic's “lame lame lame” post.

The question here is : what does Africa need? And, is there space for healing within an emergent framework?

What do I mean by that?

As Emergent Africa, we ought to be considering what Africa needs and how we, as the Church, are to be a light to Africa and satisfy it's thirst with the Water of Life that is Jesus Christ.

Let's face it – Africa is indeed thirsty.

What is Africa's thirst? I'm not too clued up on the post-colonial issue, which is what Emergent Africa is about discussing, but by using my own eyes, ears and experience with Africa (here in South Africa and throughout Africa) it's obvious to me that the main issues are :

1)Education
2)Disease
3)Poverty

Doing a short survey, and I've gone to a couple of people and asked them this question :

"What is the point of the Christian life?"

The answers I've got -- some of them expected -- some of them unexpected -- didn't really answer the question!

I was told that "The point is that we would grow and learn..." or "the point is that we would become all we were meant to be..."

You see, my problem with this, is that most of the answers were pretty pointLESS. Ie, they would only have a POINT if they were in a bigger framework. Otherwise, they all seemed self-serving and without any REAL point.

The doctrine of hell within Christianity is a sticky one, with many views defended vigorously as ‘the truth’ about the afterlife.

But, is the Bible really THAT clear about the here and after? If it was, why are there so many opposing views?

First, let me say what sparked my research into this topic over a year ago: truth. I am happy to accept that hell is eternal conscious torment for those who never knew Christ in this world (or, didn’t even have the chance to know him) if that is indeed the TRUTH. But why, oh why, does that not sit so right with me? Is this an emotional response to a hard truth? No, I don’t think it is. I think it’s because my Bible doesn’t line up precisely with this view.

My book 'single' has finally been released! Yay! The book is about... well... being single... and finding contentment, joy, patience and rest in God about that fact. It tries to answer the questions that singles, especially those who are struggling with it (as I was, and still do from time to time) tend to ask. Covering loneliness, sexuality, purpose and also whether God would want some of us to remain single or get married. I've covered dating to some degree, but seeing as dating has been overspiritualized so much lately I've tried to keep it simple. Heck, just get the book if you want to know what I mean.

The first chapter of the book is free and available at my website - www.ryanpeterwrites.com

I found an interesting article on the net with regards to church models. I've been guilty in the past of believing that my church's model is the real proper model for doing church. Can someone spell the word arrogant? Yep, I suppose I can. But God rebuked me on that. Big time. This morning while a little bored (or should I say, just not feeling like working) at the office I stumbled across this article. It talks about house-church, and the fact that when we call something a 'movement' it tends to loose what made it authentic. For Emergent, I thought it would be a welcome reminder - it's not a movement! It's simply a group of friends serving Christ together and wrestling with how to do that.

Lately I've been going through a hectic study of trying to understand EXACTLY what 'faith' means. In this study that i'm busy going through, some interesting things have come up that I originally posted on my personal blog but thought i'd like to post here for more of the world to comment on (and tell me I'm probably crazy or something... he he.)