Re: theage.com.au ~ GAY ministers still up for debate

[Niall McKay]

hmmm terry, you make some excellent points about boxes etc (although I doubt language is possible without categorisation)... As someone who saw Geza Vermes speak when he was in Sydney a few years ago I was wondering whether you could say more about what you understand him to mean in the quote... (When I heard him speak he used a very similar statement to distinguish the reading of the synoptics (and possible the Gospel of Thomas) from Pauline Epistles and the Johannine writings. Though Paul and John are quite important theologically it is really important to go back to the synoptic accounts to find out 'what he really/probably said'. I don't know whether I agree or disagree with Geza on this one...) anyway, I would be glad to hear (read read) you thoughts niall Terry wrote: G'day Darren & Sue,   As a Christian, I also feel uncomfortable with terminology such as Orthodox, Fundamentalist, Liberal, Conservative etc, when applied particularly to believers of Christ.  It implies and somewhat helps to perpetuate the gaps that divide us, not only within but throughout other denominations as well.   There seems to be a modern day tendency for some believers, to interpret or re-interpret Scripture to their belief system. For example you would find that many Social Workers, Shelter Workers, those working with Homeless or those wanting social change, tend to be in the Liberal category (box). This is not saying they are more right or wrong than any of us but it will colour their perceptions and interpretations of the Message. Whilst we want and need social change, does that therefore lead to necessarily wanting the Message or Church also to change accordingly.  Surely the great and wondrous thing about Scripture, is that it as relevant today as when it was written and we don't have to reinterpret it to apply it.   Is this why the Sexuality debate keeps on going, because we want to fit the Message to it rather than the other way round?   But I am new to all this and maybe see it differently because I was outside and have now come back in.   To paraphrase Geza Vermes, we should take more notice of what Jesus said than what is said about Him.   Peace and blessings to all,   Terry Bester   [EMAIL PROTECTED]  ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------