Curious Christian

Exploring life, art, spirituality, and the way of Jesus

Preaching the gospel apophatically

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-09-18

“The limitation of theology and language, let alone of speaking about God, indicates that preaching is not just the verbal proclamation of the gospel in the pulpit but also the need for ritual, living and solidarity. It incorporates these significant elements not in a compartmentalized but in an integrative and…
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Praying when God seems hidden

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-09-18

O God, you withdraw from our sight that you may be known by our love. Help us to enter the cloud where you are hidden and surrender all our certainty to the darkness of faith in Jesus Christ. From a Mennonite Hymnal
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Hate Speech Is Not Good News

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-09-17

The problem with Evangelicalism is that many Evangelicals aren’t evangelical enough. To paraphrase Bebbington, Evangelicalism stresses the euaggelion, the good news. It’s hallmark is a fourfold emphasis on the experience of the good news, the authority of the good news, the story of the good news and the practice of…
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Practicing reconciliation between Muslims and Christians

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Matt Stone

on

2016-09-17

As a moderator of the The Christian-Muslim Interfaith Bridge it shouldn’t be any surprise that I’m interested in reconciliation between Muslims and Christians and how we put that into practice. Recently I came across these comments in Peace-Building by, between, and beyond Muslims and Evangelical Christians by Mohammed Abu-Nimer and David Augsburger…
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How unknowable is the love of God?

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-09-08

It is important to recognise the difference between true knowledge and complete knowledge. I know that God loves me truly, but I do not know all there is to know about that. The love of God is unknowable in that sense.
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Trinity analogies from John of Damascus

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Matt Stone

on

2016-09-07

I love these Trinity analogies from John of Damascus, particularly the last two: “Think of the Father as a spring of life begetting the Son like a river and the Holy Ghost like a sea, for the spring and the river and sea are all one nature. Think of the…
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Keep Your Hands To Yourself

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-09-03

Why is it that the gate keepers of society are more focussed on what women wear than what men wear?
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Inadequacy is okay

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-08-30

I am inadequate to the task God has set before me. But that’s okay. Because God doesn’t want it to be all about me.
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Who is the Old Testament law for?

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-08-29

When interpreting Old Testament law it’s important to recognise who it’s for. For while some laws were given to humans in general, other laws were given to the Israelites alone. And while some laws were given to the Israelites in general, other laws were given to the Levitical priests alone.…
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Dress Codes: Are We Getting Too Hot Under The Collar?

Published by

Matt Stone

on

2016-08-27

There have been some vigorous debates over dress codes lately but I have to ask, what would a universally acceptable dress code even look like? In some (sub)cultures full body coverings including face coverings are mandatory for all. In some (sub)cultures clothing is optional. Two extremes on a spectrum. In…
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