I agree with Trevor that the Gospel is not about entitlement, and challenges us to a different view which involves both a sense of our own identity and a sense of self-giving love. The problem for those of us who recognise that presperity theology is not the Gospel is that we often preach a message not very different, by encouraging a sense of self-worth, but not balancing it with concepts of discipleship, self-giving love, taking up our cross, etc. Ann (Rev. Dr.) Ann Wansbrough UnitingCare NSW.ACT PO Box A 2178 Sydney South 1235 Phone (61) (02) 8267 4280 Fax (61) (02) 9267 4842 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message ----- From: "Trevor Mattiske" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 10:06 AM Subject: Entitlement > During Compass last night, Hugh Mackay said that he was troubled by the > sense of "entitlement" growing in Australian society. > > I wonder if this assumption of entitlement in society is a logical outcome > of the continuing focus on the autonomous self? > > I further wonder if the apparent popularity of some churches in Australian > society arises from their endorsement of a paradigm of entitlement through > the health and wealth message which they proclaim. (One possibly unkind > friend compared some Pentacostal churches to populist politicians - namely > that people respond favourably when they are told things which agree with > and reinforce their world-view.) > > ISTM that the message of the Gospel is anything but a message of > entitlement. Right? Wrong? > > > ------------------------------------------------------ > - 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 > ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ - 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 ------------------------------------------------------
