tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post2023504084560775086..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: The Hope Of Millions Of Enslaved PeoplesRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-34014348004478632862010-10-04T22:24:53.284-04:002010-10-04T22:24:53.284-04:00I realize this I'm coming to this very late co...I realize this I'm coming to this very late compared to the dates of the last posts - but I got here doing some research on David Platt. One thing that I don't think I have yet to see mentioned anywhere in the discussion that Christians should having caring for the world's poor as a primary concern - Jesus never gave any money to any poor person to help them in their poverty. He gave them no provisions, no shelter, no clothing, nothing. The only thing he ever did was to at most heal them physically and then only to point them to the reality of their spiritual sickness - and to demonstrate that he had the authority and power to deal with that.Dave Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06800619945755554640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-24017147907948017432010-01-24T17:01:38.039-05:002010-01-24T17:01:38.039-05:00Michael Boyd,
I'm glad that you're concer...Michael Boyd,<br /><br />I'm glad that you're concerned about issues like how people should use their money and helping the poor, but your comments are mostly vague and don't interact much with what I've said.Jason Engwerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031011335190895123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-33184835488072055252009-12-15T17:05:51.795-05:002009-12-15T17:05:51.795-05:00Continued from above: As for me and my wife, we ha...Continued from above: As for me and my wife, we have come to the conclusion that we were pursuing "the good American life" while ignoring the poor of the world and the need for more resources for the advancement of the Gospel through missions. This has resulted in us saying "no" to varying wants that are not needs so we can free up money to give, changing future plans "to move up" in society, beginning the process of adopting two to three children from Ethiopia, and sponsoring two children through Compassion International. We are very passionate about this area and think the Christian church needs to be much more. We as the American church have been given much. We do not need to go spend it on bigger and better cars, houses, etc. I'm learning this myself, and it is sometimes painful, especially this time of year. I do not have to have everything I want- a smart phone currently. I can love others by sacrificing my wants and desires for the sake of others needs, and therefore lay up treasure in Heaven. I mean, think about it, 15,000+ kids die each day from preventable causes. It has been estimated that if we as "American Christians" would care, give and sacrifice we could make a major change in the sad stats around the world- just the SBC itself could do some unbelievable things. We can save lives both physically and spiritually. We need to become aware of the needs around the world and the great need for the spread of the Gospel, especially among "unreached people groups". There is great need for more resources to these areas I've heard and read. Lets not deceive ourselves- faith without deeds is dead. Most of the people who I know- mainly ones I work with- who say they are believers are in hot pursuit of the "good American life". We as believers have to be counter-cultural when it comes to how we live, give and love.Michael Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04483596714203378092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-82032754803319205082009-12-15T17:02:27.711-05:002009-12-15T17:02:27.711-05:00Jason, there is much I would like to respond to as...Jason, there is much I would like to respond to as pertains to some of what you wrote, but do not have the time to do that. I would recommend you listen to the last 4 sermons of Platt's "Radical" sermon series. "The Gospel Demands Radical Giving" is the 1st of these sermons. I've been studying this area for the past year now, reading books, blogs, looking at videos, and listening to sermons. I've just got done reading you're two blog post, having meant to already have read the first after you posted a link to it from the BTW blog. I think Platt is hitting at an area of greatly needed reform in the American church. From monitoring the blogs it seems this area is beginning to cause some disagreement among reformed believers, or disagreements are becoming more visible because it is being talked about and discussed more. To me it is an area that needs to have more thought placed into it, especially by examining the Scriptures, but also reading and listening to some of the ones who have spoken and written in this area so we can see if what we believe is correct or not, and improve the mission of our churches if we find this to be a need. I would say I would have put forth arguments similar to yours a year ago, but after all I've read, seen, and heard I no longer would and see the change in my position as an area of sanctification I've gone through in my thinking and actions over the last year. I would encourage you to listen to more of Platt (applicable James sermons and ones listed above), read Tim Keller's writings on this area- his book "Ministry of Mercy" and his paper from summer 2009 called "The Gospel and the Poor", some of Matt Chandler's sermons from Luke are applicable to this area (Bigger Barns). Others who have a lot to say to this area of thought are John Piper and Francis Chan. Read about the plight of orphans around the world- see Russell Moore's book "Adopted For Life" and Jason Kovacs blog- http://abbafund.wordpress.com/ and link from his blog to other resources, blogs and videos. More believers in the church need to become aware of people like Katie Davis (http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/) who lay down and sacrifice their lives for the sake of others- orphans, poor, and sick in her case. The book, "The Hole In Our Gospel" is an eye opener to what is going on around the world and also "Too Small to Ignore" by Wes Stafford. Randy Alcorn's "Money, Possessions, and Eternity" is also a helpful read.Michael Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04483596714203378092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-52890568975556555492009-12-07T13:29:10.666-05:002009-12-07T13:29:10.666-05:00Jason Engwer: "There's good reason to gi...<b>Jason Engwer</b>: <i>"There's good reason to give an issue like homosexuality more attention than issues of poverty in some contexts."</i><br /><br />One context was the Manhattan Declaration.<br /><br />;-)<br /><br />Pax.Truth Unites... and Divideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891402278361538353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-43822485134470430242009-12-07T00:07:20.674-05:002009-12-07T00:07:20.674-05:00I'll offer additionally that there's a spi...I'll offer additionally that there's a spiritual connection between issues like homosexuality and poverty. To follow Christ in submission to God even as he submitted to the Father is diametrically opposed to the self-centered pursuit of any sin, including homosexuality. True concern for the poor is found in the love of God. Lose the message of the love of God and support for the poor will dwindle as a vague shadow of the truth. So to expend resources keeping the message of the gospel in the public square is a large part of keeping the needs of the poor in the hearts of men as they realize their salvation in Christ.Jim Pembertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01446388434272680014noreply@blogger.com