Christian Pipe Smokers

I was asked to teach our SS class this Sunday.

"Sure", I said, "What's the lesson title?"

"A new world order", was the reply. So, this isn't about conspiracy theories, but ultimate eternal life in a new Heaven and new Earth. A poor choice for the lesson title, is my immediate thought. Anyway, I'm interested in any of your thoughts, comments, etc., if any.

sweetandsour wrote: 13 Nov 2024, 03:43 I was asked to teach our SS class this Sunday.

"Sure", I said, "What's the lesson title?"

"A new world order", was the reply. So, this isn't about conspiracy theories, but ultimate eternal life in a new Heaven and new Earth. A poor choice for the lesson title, is my immediate thought. Anyway, I'm interested in any of your thoughts, comments, etc., if any.

First that, yeah, strange title. But on second thought, i's not a bad title at all. Done correctly, it will remind us that we're not citizens of this world but subjects of the Kingdom. I don't think we spend enough time contemplating that as we set up our rules and regulations and pretend like this life is the only thing that matters.

Teach the hell out of those people, sir. Literally!

Hugo Drax wrote: 13 Nov 2024, 09:14

sweetandsour wrote: 13 Nov 2024, 03:43 I was asked to teach our SS class this Sunday.

"Sure", I said, "What's the lesson title?"

"A new world order", was the reply. So, this isn't about conspiracy theories, but ultimate eternal life in a new Heaven and new Earth. A poor choice for the lesson title, is my immediate thought. Anyway, I'm interested in any of your thoughts, comments, etc., if any.

First that, yeah, strange title. But on second thought, i's not a bad title at all. Done correctly, it will remind us that we're not citizens of this world but subjects of the Kingdom. I don't think we spend enough time contemplating that as we set up our rules and regulations and pretend like this life is the only thing that matters.

Teach the hell out of those people, sir. Literally!

Thanks again for your input. It went well I think. The focus was on Rev 21:4, "... for the old order of things has passed away", hence the lesson title. Somewhat surprisingly a lot of discussion time was spent on Rev 21:8, and the Lake of Fire. Is is symbolic? If real then it must be a really big lake. Why must there be a lake of fire in the first place? And are there different levels, eg from bad to worst. Is it "fair"? Why for eternity? No definite answers of course, but some interesting discussion, albeit uncomfortable. It went from theology to philosophy, but then ended on a positive discussion regarding the new heavens and new earth, so there's that.

sweetandsour wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 05:35 . . . Is is symbolic? If real then it must be a really big lake. Why must there be a lake of fire in the first place? And are there different levels, eg from bad to worst. Is it "fair"? Why for eternity? No definite answers of course, but some interesting discussion, albeit uncomfortable. It went from theology to philosophy, but then ended on a positive discussion regarding the new heavens and new earth, so there's that.

You're a good teacher to leave space for wide-ranging discussion like that.

Besides praying for one another, not getting upset when threads range off topic is probably what I enjoy most about this place. Plenty of real-life Sunday school teachers would try to steer people back to their teaching points rather than let the class go where it needed to go at that place and time. I believe someone in that place needed to be part of that discussion or maybe just witness other Christians trying to work through difficult things. Nice work dude.

+JMJ+

I'm not really sure what's wrong with the title (though sure, it might not accord with one's preferences, and that's cool).

Cuz the whole notion of a New World Order, International Law, Universal Rights, etc. is inspired by (cribbed straight outta) the Christian Treasury.

And yes, said cribbing can mutate/degenerate into an unreal, impracticable, destructive Globalism — but dang if that ain't the way it always is when some element of Christian Tradition is detached from its holistic context.

My 2¢

Wosbald wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 08:31 +JMJ+

I'm not really sure what's wrong with the title (though sure, it might not accord with one's preferences, and that's cool).

Cuz the whole notion of a New World Order, International Law, Universal Rights, etc. is inspired by (cribbed straight outta) the Christian Treasury.

And yes, said cribbing can mutate/degenerate into an unreal, impracticable, destructive Globalism — but dang if that ain't the way it always is when some element of Christian Tradition is detached from its holistic context.

My 2¢

The language of "New World Order" is also cribbed straight outta Marxist ideology. Which makes sense, because Marxism is also founded in Christian virtues -- but only with God stripped out and the virtues running amok.

And then Liberation Theology came along, which was an effort to press religion into the service of Marxism -- so that the whole matter of God and Social Justice was inverted.

+JMJ+

Del wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 09:27 The language of "New World Order" is also cribbed straight outta Marxist ideology. Which makes sense, because Marxism is also founded in Christian virtues -- but only with God stripped out and the virtues running amok.

And then Liberation Theology came along, which was an effort to press religion into the service of Marxism -- so that the whole matter of God and Social Justice was inverted.

Kerdy?

Wosbald wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 10:52 +JMJ+

Del wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 09:27 The language of "New World Order" is also cribbed straight outta Marxist ideology. Which makes sense, because Marxism is also founded in Christian virtues -- but only with God stripped out and the virtues running amok.

And then Liberation Theology came along, which was an effort to press religion into the service of Marxism -- so that the whole matter of God and Social Justice was inverted.

Kerdy?

Kerdy was that govt agent on the old site? I recall that he had some interesting views.

FredS wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 06:57

sweetandsour wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 05:35 . . . Is is symbolic? If real then it must be a really big lake. Why must there be a lake of fire in the first place? And are there different levels, eg from bad to worst. Is it "fair"? Why for eternity? No definite answers of course, but some interesting discussion, albeit uncomfortable. It went from theology to philosophy, but then ended on a positive discussion regarding the new heavens and new earth, so there's that.

You're a good teacher to leave space for wide-ranging discussion like that.

Besides praying for one another, not getting upset when threads range off topic is probably what I enjoy most about this place. Plenty of real-life Sunday school teachers would try to steer people back to their teaching points rather than let the class go where it needed to go at that place and time. I believe someone in that place needed to be part of that discussion or maybe just witness other Christians trying to work through difficult things. Nice work dude.

Fred, thanks for those eloquent and kind words. The class has some deep thinkers, and I was happy to allow the discussion to go where it did.

+JMJ+

sweetandsour wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 16:21

Wosbald wrote: 18 Nov 2024, 10:52 Kerdy?

Kerdy was that govt agent on the old site? I recall that he had some interesting views.

He always got his dander up whenever Social Justice was the topic.

Then he became Catholic and apparently mellowed out.