What follows is an attempt to build a series of articles that provide a theology for the normal Christian life. I clumisily describe myself as a ‘born again … again’ Christian. When I first modelled my life on Christ I quickly became captured by the organised religion within a pentecostal tradition. As I have matured in my Christian life, I feel like I have had a further spiritual metamorphesus where I have truely seen the proverbial light!! No more empty cliches and holding true to doctrines of prosperity, healing and overcoming in denial of the sobering accounts of suffering and pain that are also a legitimate component of the Christian experience. As my theological understanding increases I am more certain that God is pre-eminently concerned about my relationship to the poor than my personal hapiness and (dare I say it?) my salvation. An anlysis of the weight of evidence for ‘salvation’ and ‘the poor’ is not born out in the allocation of Christian effort – individualy and collectively. The over-arching Gospel message realtes to Love. Consequently, the outcry against homosexuality, abortion and other such social matters need to be considered in Love and compassion not earthly judgement.
At the risk of alienating the majority of potential readers I will state my position on these divisive issues up front so there can be no misunderstanding. I dont beleive God considers people in same sex relationships as being in some extra-ordinary sin. Further, Women who have an abortion (often after much agonising) are not especially sinful people. I address both these issues in greater detail. It is unforunate that one’s opinion on these two matters is how both sides determine the authenticity of what one has to say.
