tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011314028160236945.post3201917012927027232..comments2023-05-07T06:33:50.037-04:00Comments on Disciple's Diary: Easter HopeR. Wayne Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17082799151578983563noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011314028160236945.post-91222691539970540792008-04-23T11:21:00.000-04:002008-04-23T11:21:00.000-04:00Thanks for your insights; they're, well...insightf...Thanks for your insights; they're, well...insightful, as usual.<BR/><BR/>I'm continually amazed at how easily professing Christians can, with commitment and passion, hold to thoroughly pagan notions without even the slightest awareness that their most cherished beliefs are pagan rather than Christian, and have no basis in biblical faith. I think some of it is the result of the ubiquitous anti-intellectualism so prevalent in the contemporary church that regards all thinking about faith not only as unnecessary, but an act of unbelief. The complete lack of understanding of the NT teaching on resurrection is but one example.R. Wayne Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17082799151578983563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1011314028160236945.post-28079291256511956272008-04-23T06:14:00.000-04:002008-04-23T06:14:00.000-04:00Amen!It seems that in a lot of Christian communiti...Amen!<BR/>It seems that in a lot of Christian communities, that hope gets watered down. When someone dies, we speak of him being in “heaven” or a “a better place.” The preacher may speak of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, but that powerful word “resurrection” is often missing in reference to the person who has just died. Despite all our talk of believing in eternal life, we act like the person ceased to exist simply because he or she died. Unlike Roman Catholics, for example, we stop praying for them, and instead simply pray for the “consolation of the family.” But why? If death is not the final word for the Christian, then the dead have not ceased to exist--their circumstances have merely changed, and they can still benefit from the prayers of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Besides, I’m willing to bet that those who have died have not quit praying for us, and I’m guessing they may even pray better now that they have fewer distractions!Idellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12146186041533389273noreply@blogger.com