Knowing What's What

Paradigm shifts are huge when they occur. The Enlightenment, the Protestant Reformation, and now seemingly the Post-Modern,Emergent/Missional Movement. Bob Dylan said in the 60's, the times they are a-changin. I think his words are often prophetic,hopefully so now. Perusing the blogosphere it is quite something to scan across various and sundry blogs and take in a glance at how this shift is occurring. I think blogging has actually played a big part in adding to this shift, much like the printing press aided Martin Luther and the progression of the Reformation. Exciting to see newness and change taking place.

Campus Crusade for Christ played a major role in evangelical Christianity the past 4 decades. The 4 spiritual laws, praying the *sinners prayer* and recognizing God has a wonderful plan for your life have been foundational for many people initially coming to faith in Christ and becoming part of the Church. Very good things have happened through these ministries, God definitely blessed them, but there are some real challenges as to their overall effectiveness. Lack of followup in developing discipleship, leaving a new believer wondering if all that was needed to be *saved* was praying that prayer and having no instruction on growing spiritually and the struggle that would occur in doing so.

The *Left Behind* book series has enjoyed resounding popularity and success, but is it sound and good theology??? Dispensationalism, the theology which these books advocate, only came into being in the 19th century. A look back at the early church fathers will show an openess to an amillennial theology as well as some other divergent views. We are a personality-driven culture in the USA, and the christian world in many ways does this as well. Strong,charismatic,authoritative leaders and ministers often dictate a lot of the thinking,actions and attitudes that the church adopts and brings into actual life events. I am a conservative republican who has been on the moderate side of the theological/political map. I have found myself more and more achieving common ground with views that are on the liberal left, and seeing the grayness and mystery that keeps so much from being purely black/white,

What is to be taken literally, what is symbolic??? This is a major area of inquiry i want to tackle exhaustively now. Is the creation narrative in Genesis a literal 7 days???? Is the book of Job a literal true story?? How do we recognize what is which??? How do we cone to agreement on what is the correct interpretation of Scripture as the Holy Spirit intended it to be ??? Some very exciting questions i hope to explore more and sure want lots of input on from any and all who stop by here.