Wow! Great article! Your comments caused me to rethink my perspective on “American Protestantism” and its “all about me” Christian message.

You’re doing the Lord’s work. Keep it up.

Jack Campbell

I am an Assemblies of God pastor and
thought your article was right on target. Keep up the good work.

Betsy, you’re so on the $. I’m a nobody. Happy knowing that some can prosper, thrive while speaking truth. Keep up the good work, and get the Altoona Mirror to print your pieces.

Hoping you had a nice Thanksgiving.

I’m all for people’s not focusing on “me me me.”

However, the trouble with putting the gospel first is that anyone can see that the Bible is loaded with contradictions (after all, it WAS put to paper by mortals/sinners who likely added whatever they wanted to add), so it can become too tempting to turn them to your advantage. Not to mention that giving more authority to your clergyman’s idea of personal sacrifice and not to what your gut tells you is a criminal violation of yourself can be disastrous as well, something we’ve learned all too well in recent years.

It reminds me of what the Scottish Reverend George MacDonald said in the 19th century: “Better to be an atheist who does the will of God than a Christian who does not.” (He was made to leave his pulpit as a Congregationalist minister in the 1850s for, among other things, believing that women should be educated and saying the rich and poor should have the same pews in church.)

Sounds like the Rev. MacDonald was a fine orator who unfortunately missed his mark in the limited erroneous choices he forced on his listeners. Either way, you’re dead, just like his message.

It seems THE central point of Christianity, which Ms. Hart addresses and the pastor never grasped from either his seminary training or his personal insight was the choice he never offered his listeners… becoming a Believer whose Christ-like works revealed a transformed heart.

Intellectual arrogance and human pride can be a terrible thing to teach.

“Sounds like”? Have you never heard of him?

Quote:
“I have never concealed the fact that I regarded (MacDonald) as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him.”

C.S. Lewis.

See more here:

http://www.george-macdonald.com/cslewis.htm

“Sounds like”? Have you never heard of him?

“I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him.”

C.S. Lewis.

Of course, I understand C.S.Lewis’ affinity for the writings of MacDonald. And I recognize his brilliance and liberation from the traditions of his time. Doesn’t change the point, that I cannot imagine Lewis buying into. Indeed Lewis championed the notion that the essential choice was not being a non-performing religious Christian or a non-believing social worker. Neither of those is the Divine model of choice.

There appears to be good reason that much of MacDonald’s notions have been forgotten or buried among post-19th century scholars and apologists. His great contributions seemed to posit the mutual presence of God’s love and mercy along with his harsh justice. On the latter especially, it might be good to resurrect him.