Originally posted by bbarr
I'm an atheist but my wife was raised a Lutheran. We've found nice, accepting churches here in Seattle that are committed to equality and social justice without emphasizing blood, sin, hell, magic, etc.
Originally posted by josephw
"...without emphasizing blood, sin, hell, magic, etc."
If that's what you want then just turn on the TV or go to the movies, or better yet join the service and deploy to the Middle East.
The reality of blood, sin, hell and horrors are right out there in the street everyday. Unless you live in an ivory palace. While the Bible does contain some elements of blood shed the overriding theme is of the love of God for those who believe in the method and means of salvation provided by God while we were yet lost in sin.
I would hope that that is the message you're hearing in your church. If you're going to church to escape the realities of life and not to learn of the love of God while giving Him thanks for the good things you have, and are only there because the message doesn't invade your comfort zones, then you're in the wrong church.
Preaching from the Word of God isn't always going to make you feel comfortable, but is instead designed to reshape and redefine who you are. The whole purpose of preaching and teaching, if done according to the plan of God as it is revealed in His Word, is to conform you to the image of Christ.
Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Galatians 4:19
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
God and Christ are real. Is the preaching in your church convincing you of that? Or are you just going to church to be conformed to the image of your community? Or to some idea that makes it palatable to your own sensibilities?
Welcome back bbarr. 🙂