From: jnorris@carson.u.washington.edu (Joel Norris)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Jesus, not dogma
Date: 20 Nov 92 05:13:27 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

In article <Nov.17.02.59.20.1992.25966@geneva.rutgers.edu> tebert@utdallas.edu (Tim Ebert) writes:
>I must admit I am rather disappointed in this group.
>(Perhaps there is another group, but I don't think so..)
>
>I don't want to hear arguments/discussions about dogma:
>I want to hear about Jesus.  I want to hear people talk
>about how God has become REAL for them in their lives.
>I want to hear about how the power of God and the Holy
>Spirit has transformed lives.  
>
>That's why I left the church for 10 years and got away
>from my faith: all the arguments about doctrine.  
>I don't want to hear arguments about dogma...because
>in the big picture, it really doesn't matter much.
>
>What matters is Jesus!  I don't know the reference exactly,
>but one verse says something like: "...I made up my mind to
>know nothing but Christ, and Him crusified..."  
>
>getting back to Him,
>*** tim

Well, maybe I can give somewhat of an explanation for the way things are
here. I suppose it's true that most of the bandwidth on s.r.c. is taken
up by doctrinal wrangling. But as our moderator pointed out a short while
back, perhaps the medium is conducive toward that sort of thing. I really
don't think the net comes close to giving the full perspective on
Christianity; that is to say, most of my walk with Jesus probably won't
be observable to you folks out in netland. When I have something to say
about how God has become real for me in my life, when I am undergoing a
great trial, or when the Lord has given me a great victory, I don't go to
the computer -- I go to my brothers and sisters in my church or my campus
fellowship group. Why? I don't quite know, but it seems more natural for
me to do that. I suppose interacting with a real person is important in
these situations. After following s.r.c. for about a year now, I feel
that I have gotten to know some of the regulars around here. Sometimes I
wonder what it would be like to meet some of you in real life. But
basically, you all are just bits and bytes to me. No offense.

Conversely, there are certain parts of Christianity that s.r.c
particularly facilitates, namely intellectual discussions. There are
several reasons for this. One is that I come in contact with a greater
variety of people (and theological viewpoints) than I would otherwise in
everyday life. Perhaps I live in a closed little world, but I don't think
I would have the time to get out and see all the sorts of people who turn
up here. Another is that most of the people here can and will engage in
doctrinal discussions. Most of my friends cannot or will not. Doctrine is
not as great a concern for them as it is for me, but that is because they
are gifted differently than me. My greatest gifts are in teaching and
knowledge of the Scripture. Therefore searching after the Truth takes a
high priority in my life (and I teach those for whom it is not). And I've
really learned alot from people in s.r.c. over the past year.

Of course, there is certainly something to be said for expressing more
charity in the discussions that occur here. And I'm probably as guilty as
any for flaming. And maybe people sometimes elevate trivial bits of
dogma higher than they should. But I'm not really surprised that things
turn out the way they do here on the net, that we have so many arguments.
It's easier for me to disagree with 10% of someone's discourse than to
agree with the other 90%. Plus, I think our moderator has a policy of
screening out "me too" postings.

If anyone wants to hear more about the power of God and transformed
lives, why don't they start it off.

Joel

--
Joel Norris			"The fear of the LORD
				 is the beginning of knowledge."
jnorris@u.washington.edu	 -- Proverbs 1:7