Fire-breathing vicar for Pentecost
I liked this story - this vicar certainly gave a fiery sermon!http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-18226394 See More
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Advent -- towards Christmas/ Second Coming/both?
Advent seems to be a time when we look towards the birth of Christ, and especially the role of Jesus in the seasonal festivitives. I think that this has been discussed very well elsewhere on these forums, and we certainly must insist that Christ is not only not forgotten but must be central at this time.
But also, Advent is surely when we are concerned with the Second Coming of Christ. Is this dual understanding because Advent is at the "end" of the Christian year and Christmas at the "beginning"? Is there actually an end and a beginning?
Our vicar recently said, "If we knew that Christ would return at 4 o'clock this afternoon, would this make any difference to us?"
If the answer to this is "Yes", then we are not ready for Christ's return. I thought that this was a very good point -- certainly made me think. We should be ready at all times: we never know when it will happen.
I told this story on another website and it was met with a very frosty reception ( but I'm not very well-liked there anyway). I wonder what views there are here about the Second Coming. Perhaps my view is wrong or at least a minority opinion.
But this doctrine of the Second Coming actually means something important for me.
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Permalink Reply by Lynda Keen on -
An interesting parallel between past and future Advents, David, and one I had not considered before.
I wonder if anyone could honestly say if Christ returned today that it would make no difference.
I also wonder what is meant by "ready".
Spiritually ready? Don't we all lapse every day, even if only by wondering why God allows the wars and suffering we see in the news, instead of remembering that these are man-made?
Morally ready? Don't we all forget our own faults every day while we criticise others such as corrupt politicians and greedy bankers or inefficient call centre staff with inadequate English?
Socially ready? Don't we all feel petty irritation at things someone else does, like a partner fussing, someone not listening properly to us or someone on the bus whose ipod is spitting out crackle through their headphones?
Individually ready? Don't we all slack off every day? By not writing the novel of a lifetime, leaving the housework for another day or eating the forbidden sugar in an enticing piece of cake?
I don't think any human being would score top marks in readiness in any of these areas if Jesus appeared today, any more than they did when He came 2000 years ago. He told several parables about being ready for when God comes but He didn’t demand perfection. Nobody sensible could ask us for that.
So what does “ready” mean? Loving God and our neighbours to the best of our ability despite our own and their faults? Being aware that 25% or 81% is the best result we can achieve for our best efforts right now?
Anyone have other ideas for a definition?
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