Why Have Evangelism?: Father Matthew Presents

[earlofca]

Number One: Don't be a jerk. It seems something Christ forgot to say.

[seanom23]

Is the episcopal church Catholic?

[FatherMatthew]

@seanom23 Yes.  Just not Roman Catholic.

[iwantmorelifefucker]

Amen to that, Father. Christians being blinkered jerks are what kept me an atheist most of my life. Of course that isn't to say that atheists can't be just as big jerks at times too. I like your tolerant message and your sense of humour, Father Matthew.

[cryptocat71]

Wow! Christianity needs more people like you Fr. Matthew. All the negative feelings about Christianity come from what the Evangelical movement has been doing these past few decades.

Their use of fear tactics, which by the way reminds me of the political climate as well, has only served to drive people away from Christ.

I know personally it has kept me from getting involved in a church. What a shame...maybe I could have already developed a relationship with Christ had I not been so turned off.

[HHGary]

It's not too late!

[goldgoku3264]

thats real talk right there.

[grimysoldja]

God is a cannabis plant!

[boomac62]

God made the cannabis and all other plants...but God is too big to be limited to a plant! Peace

[grimysoldja]

shit 4 months ago, cant even remember wot i said, lol, wtf was i watching this 4 ? anyway i hate these type of so called christians who try and force they're BS on ppl, to believe in the christian god will slow down evolution and keep us all dumb. i believe in a god btw, and evolution , i just dnt believe in that prick from the bible

[NutCheese]

"Don't be a jerk!" Haha! You should offer a class on that one. That tends to be my experience with most Christians.

[FatherMatthew]

Yeah. I lucked out. Or was blessed. I met, early on, Christians who weren't jerks. I can't imagine what life would be like if I had met the jerks first!

[decay789]

yeah man. i dont mean to be a jerk myself. but i can only pray that it thins out.

i mean they are ruining it for other ppl. man i really wish they hadnt affected the ppl they did.. but we cant change the past.

things would be easier/smoother.. but we cant change the past. only not be jerks ourselves. yeah. and create a new future.

[ddrninjette]

My last comment was directed in response to

rrchapman and not you, Father Matthew.

I don't want any confusion. :)

[ddrninjette]

Father Matthew, do you think the Episcopal Church is in a position to really challenge the views of the hard-core literalist, young earth creationist types who are giving Christianity a bad name?

Also, how should the Episcopal Church explain that the Bible should not be taken literally while maintaining the divinity of Jesus?

[rrchapman]

"...not be taken literally while maintaining the divinity of Jesus?"

Maybe something like this:

"Also, how should the Episcopal Church explain how to maintain Jesus' divinity while reading each type of literature in scripture for what it is, rather than reading all scripture the same way."

Scripture contains fables, myth (educated definition, not common definition), poetry, teaching, and eyewitness accounts. You read each differently. (Scripture does not contain journalism, by the way.)

[ddrninjette]

Rrchapman, you are right. I would disagree that the Bible has "eyewitness accounts" as the gospels are more hearsay, but much of the poetry, myths, and fables are very spiritual.

But why not read the gospels as fables? The problem of reaching out to a broader audience is that most people are not going to be able to take the divinity of Jesus Christ at face value. However, that does not diminish the teachings and morals of Jesus Christ.

[rrchapman]

I wouldn't read the synoptic Gospels as fables because they aren't that type of literature.

No one will even entertain the idea of the divinity of Jesus unless they see it in your life and my life.

[ddrninjette]

What if the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written as gospels and not historical literature?

Surely, if someone went around Roman Empire healing the sick and performing miracles, someone at the time would have wrote about it. Instead, all we have are these four books written by four anonymous authors long after Jesus would have been crucified.

I'm not trying to diminish your faith, but if you want to reach out to people of different background, you need to deal with these issues.

[rrchapman]

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written as Gospels. They are not histories. So, your point is?

When it comes to dealing with issues, I need to deal with those issues God has given me to deal with--not other people's issues. When I am not bearing false witness to my neighbors but being myself is when I'll be an ambassador of Christ.

[rrchapman]

We have (at least) five books that talk about this: the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. There are other historical references. But, arguments do not bring people to understand Christ's love. Our love is what does it.

Historical study and apologetics better serve those who are already Christians.

(And "myth" does not mean "fable." It is a story that explains a "truth." It may or may not contain "fact.")

[decay789]

exactly (on first paragraph) in the bible it says other ppl will know us by our love. so we gotta share it now now not in a secular way. but in a way that the secular can see.

it says it in the bible. i think John mnot sure. but all in all we gotta be sincere. this migh just change the christians as well by bein sincere heh heh. k goin off topic. peace

[splashpont]

When I think of defining the Divinity of Christ, I look at Church Councils and Creeds--though John's gospel has its "high Christology" as well.

[rrchapman]

People are not brought to understand Christ's love for them through apologetics. People are brought to understand Christ's love for them through the love Christians have for them.

It could be argued that even C. S. Lewis came to his understanding through his friendship with people like J.R.R. Tolkien--not the debates he had with him.

[ddrninjette]

Father Matthew, I like the message you bring in this video. I recently read how shocked evangelicals were to find out most their fellow Christians believed that their God wouldn't automatically send Muslims, Hindus, atheists, etc... to hell.

[rrchapman]

It would be useful to develop or explain better how Christians can maintain this while still believing Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

This can be done.

[splashpont]

I believe it can be done, too.

Jesus may use the phrase, "the way, the truth, and the life," but I am not the one who defines the vastness of his gateway!

[splashpont]

"God looks at the heart....." Why can't human beings?

[ABAisSCIENCE]

Well said Father Matthew here is how.

People dislike Christianity for 2 reasons so have an answer for them on both: exclusivity & hell fire.

1) Everyone knows themself & the 1 religion is sacrifice based on your self knowledge as described in Psalms 51:17 as any works based religion is disregarding the initial data.

2) Hell fire in Luke 12:5 is best explained by Matthew 10:28.

Keep up the good work.

[kbpipes]

Great video... I get excited when I hear people talk about evangelism. Just cus we are not evangelical doesn't mean we cant evangelize. :)

[lawilson200]

I agree with you. For the Episcopal Church to grow again, we must speak out.

[mrbassman2004]

...and also with you! Thanks for the great insight.

[foititis]

:-) amen about the dominant voice of "christian" media.

Ps. where did you go to seminary?

[FatherMatthew]

"The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church," or "General" for short.

[garethppls]

Good job :)