This is a flashy video promotion of historic and 200 year old First Baptist Church of Savannah, once a member of the very conservative Southern Baptist Convention.
I might be mistaken, but I think I heard the Name of God, God, only once in this video. Shockingly for a once conservative Baptist Church, there was no mention of Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior or the inerrancy of the Scriptures.
It is true, though, that Baptists generally have elevated one’s own interpretation of the Scriptures to an infallible status. I think that’s called Gnosticism.
But what is praised is the Church and its mission and inclusivity. All of these more important than the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ which is never used—its the horizontal and what we do meme elevated to a god. When I hear what those who speak say, I hear Pope Francis:
6 comments:
"I might be mistaken, but I think I heard the Name of God, God, only once in this video."
Well, Good Father, either turn up your hearing aid or turn on the closed captioning because you MISSED a lot in this video.
The first image is the Cross of Jesus Christ priminemtly displayed in their logo.
I heard the following:
A mention of the "nature of Christ's message."
Someone who said, "We labor for our God."
Someone who said, "We share God's love and kindness with the rest of our community."
Someone who said, "I find it a place where I could praise God."
Someone who said, "God is at work throughout the world – the church attempts to be at the work of God throughout the world.
No, gnosticism isn't the elevation of one's on interpretation of the Scriptures to an infallible status. Gnosticism, "consists in obtaining true knowledge (gnosis), an enlightenment that allows progress from the material world of evil to the spiritual realm, and ultimately communion with the immaterial supreme deity."
What you are referring to is "Private Interpretation," which is not gnosticism.
Father McDonald said..."I might be mistaken, but I think I heard the Name of God, God, only once in this video."
I heard "God" mentioned four times.
I heard "Christ" ("Christ's message") one time.
I heard "Christians" mentioned one time.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Couldn't get over the lack of Southern drawl in the speech of these Savannahites. What's happening to y'all? (Or does that tell a story all of its own?)
Savannahians nowadays come from all over. We are a city of immigrants, you know.
Most folks raised in Savannah don't have a typically strong "southern" accent. I've always understood that that is because Savannah is a port city, and we had a variety of sounds influencing the way we sound.
Now, you don't have to go far to find a wicked thick accent. Folks on the west side of Chatham County have a "Geechee" accent, named form the Ogeechee River out that way.
The Baptist Church--A Pope Francis Kind of Religion.
Father McDonald said..."But what is praised is the Church and its mission and inclusivity. All of these more important than the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ which is never used—its the horizontal and what we do meme elevated to a god. When I hear what those who speak say, I hear Pope Francis:"
I heard Pope Francis in the sense that the folks in the video said that their Baptist community welcomed all...were keen to embrace each other, as well as the outside community, in charitable fashion. We should hear Pope Francis in that regard. The above is Christianity 101.
But in addition to the above — preaching inclusivity and mission — Pope Francis proclaims the "Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ"...as well as the fullness of the True Faith.
Just yesterday, during The Angelus, Pope Francis declared:
"Now let’s think about when Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved”.
"He wants to tell us that to enter into God’s life, into salvation, we need to pass through him, not through another one, through him; to welcome him and his Word.
"This means that the rule of measure is Jesus and his Gospel – not what we think, but what he says to us.
"So, we are talking about a narrow door not because only a few are destined to go through it, no, but because to belong to Christ means to follow him, to live one’s life in love, in service, and in giving oneself as he did, who passed through the narrow door of the cross."
Pope Francis proclaims "the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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