erwin mcmanus at columbia university's veritas forum

[fxtrader92]

"emulate the character of Jesus Christ" - you mean like how you lied to take over Mosaic and throw all the old leaders out?

McManus' Instinct of Character is evil. That's why it's easy for him to just lie to get what he wants. But where is the Holy Spirit in all of this psycho-babel.

[Rosanna7]

Erwin is so cool. Our faith in Christ needs to transform who we are, and being at Mosaic has taught me that. I guess Erwin and Mosaic, per se, really value being relevant to culture. And I guess they're ok with upsetting some Christians (well, he still hurts through it all), if they are affecting the lives of people that don't know God. I don't know why we get mad at Erwin...there are so many other things to get mad about...like Mugabe or the genocide in Darfur, or all the orphans...

[samsaphone]

I don't trust legislators/lawyers who can't appeal back to the Constitution or Supreme Court decisions . So it makes sense that I don't trust pastors who aren't willing to back up their words with Scripture. There are plenty of stories he could have used to show his point about the value system. He didn't, and so he was a public intellectual, NOT a pastor. I have no problem with public intellectuals, as they do important work, but a pastor has higher responsibilities, which he failed to do here.

[acaval3]

i think you need to understand the context in which he is talking. he's not talking to a bunch of regular church go-er's. he's talking to intellectuals. what do you think the first thing they would've said if he came out firing scripture? - he would've been discredited immediately (because ppl discredit scripture as authoritative on the whole).

[ninasju]

Of course the world would try to discredit him. But quoting Scripture in answer to what you believe is not the same as "firing". Scripture says the world would hate us because they hated Him first. It also says preach the Word in and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2&3) and that it wouldn't return void (Isaiah 55:11). The world says, "Don't throw Bible verses around, don't offend!" - but God says always be ready to give a defense for the hope that you have (1 Peter3:15)

[samsaphone]

I don't attend Mosaic. And I'll admit that I'm a little leery about Mr. McManus's pitch as a religion major, a would-be Christian, and as a writer. He complains about "Christianese"-the theological and cultural language of Christianity becoming unintelligible to others.

I'm concerned with the fact that he talks like Tim Robbins. Some of what he says sounds legit...but as a pastor, he has a responsibility for using Scripture, at Mosaic OR at Columbia.

[Hisresonance]

Pardon me, NiseyG, but it isn't psycho babble at all. This man is amazingly describing the incredible intrinsic worth God has placed within us. "To Emulate the character of Christ" means to take on Jesus's own love he showed for mankind- despite faults and sins- because He is astoundingly amazing like that. It is a challenge to not submit to the confines of traditon or society, but become, to strive, show our fellow humanity the utter love we've found in Christ's amazing grace. : D

[fxtrader92]

You sound like you go to the Mosaic Cult. NiseyG is right. Please post the scripture where God placed that incredible intrinsic worth within us. McManus now partners with Ken Blanchard - a new age teacher. That's why he can babble on like this. His teaching is getting weaker and weaker and more confused. Oh and I've known him for 15 years. He loves to talk about who "you're becoming". It's sad to see what he's become. When he first started at Mosaic, his message was Christian. Now it's new age.

[jobyharris]

Here you go Foxtrader--

"...now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

[jobyharris]

Here you go Foxtrader- "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

[goddess7240]

You are so lucky. I wish we had him over here on the East Coast!

[cutie6380]

I'm proud to say that Erwin is my pastor. I found Mosaic through a friend of a friend when I moved to LA last year, and we've been attending ever since. I LOVE the community.

[BigMert]

I saw erwin yesterday in preston woo!