Church without Walls
@churchwow.bsky.social
Encounters with God in Southwest Scotland - going beyond the walls of conventional churchianity to commune with God in unexpected ways and places.
www.churchwow.wordpress.com
https://substack.com/@churchwow
www.churchwow.wordpress.com
https://substack.com/@churchwow
And as Christians many times our most significant decisions are made with scant regard to eternity, simply the compulsion of what is right and good in this moment. Enabling the Kingdom to be made manifest on earth is why we are here. Love is known and shown in the nitty gritty of the here and now
October 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
And as Christians many times our most significant decisions are made with scant regard to eternity, simply the compulsion of what is right and good in this moment. Enabling the Kingdom to be made manifest on earth is why we are here. Love is known and shown in the nitty gritty of the here and now
So, in terms of your intial question, you cannot turn towards God (in faith in his redemptive work) without also turning towards your neighbour; the two cannot be separated. *But* loving neighbour should be a consequence (or fruit) of loving God, not a substitute for it.
October 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM
So, in terms of your intial question, you cannot turn towards God (in faith in his redemptive work) without also turning towards your neighbour; the two cannot be separated. *But* loving neighbour should be a consequence (or fruit) of loving God, not a substitute for it.
You cannot claim to be 'saved' and follow Jesus while refusing to do what He specifically commands: to love all our fellow creatures in practical ways, meeting their physical as well as spiritual needs wherever and however you are able. Refusing to do so is a symptom of a hard (unregenerate?) heart.
October 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
You cannot claim to be 'saved' and follow Jesus while refusing to do what He specifically commands: to love all our fellow creatures in practical ways, meeting their physical as well as spiritual needs wherever and however you are able. Refusing to do so is a symptom of a hard (unregenerate?) heart.
No argument at all with that! I was just responding to your initial observation about the *apparent* conflict between the Bible and social action. While politics can never be the answer in and of itself, I'd say the only conflict exists when you try to prioritise either aspect over the other.
October 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
No argument at all with that! I was just responding to your initial observation about the *apparent* conflict between the Bible and social action. While politics can never be the answer in and of itself, I'd say the only conflict exists when you try to prioritise either aspect over the other.
It seems to me that you can't legislate the Kingdom into being within this world, but you can pass legislation which mitigates the worst effects of sinful humanity and promotes conditions which better reflect the values of the Kingdom.
October 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
It seems to me that you can't legislate the Kingdom into being within this world, but you can pass legislation which mitigates the worst effects of sinful humanity and promotes conditions which better reflect the values of the Kingdom.
Although we should seek to manifest the values of the Kingdom (and their practical outworkings) within this world.
October 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Although we should seek to manifest the values of the Kingdom (and their practical outworkings) within this world.
After all, our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces at work behind the human manifestations of evil. You can't legislate against such forces. And on a human level we are called to love our enemies, not seek to retaliate against them.
October 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
After all, our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces at work behind the human manifestations of evil. You can't legislate against such forces. And on a human level we are called to love our enemies, not seek to retaliate against them.
Involvement with secular charities, or community intiatives, even national campaigns is an imp way of showing practical solidarity with those in need of help.. But it only addresses the concrete, human aspects and it is important not to become too closely identified with political power struggles.
October 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Involvement with secular charities, or community intiatives, even national campaigns is an imp way of showing practical solidarity with those in need of help.. But it only addresses the concrete, human aspects and it is important not to become too closely identified with political power struggles.
As CS Lewis observed, most of the atrocities of which the Christian church has been guilty over the centuries came when faith and politics became entangled.
October 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
As CS Lewis observed, most of the atrocities of which the Christian church has been guilty over the centuries came when faith and politics became entangled.
The trouble with protests is they come from a human, political angle, pitting one interest group against another. As Christians, we need to grasp the nettle of spiritual realities, rather than identifying too closely with worldly activism. While supporting initiatives which reflect godly values.
October 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The trouble with protests is they come from a human, political angle, pitting one interest group against another. As Christians, we need to grasp the nettle of spiritual realities, rather than identifying too closely with worldly activism. While supporting initiatives which reflect godly values.