Radical Christianity Is Normal

[Garland-Green]

Radical Christianity Is Normal  

[cristobela]

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but....concerning the Laodicean church,
he made the following comment:

@38:22-34 "Are we referred to as those who are wretched, pitiable,
poor, blind, naked? So you would say, 'oh, that describes a believer' ?"

....Yes.

I would call them believers because the chapter describes them as such.

• Revelation 3:14-19 (NIV)
  
  14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
  
  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler
  of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot
  . I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm
  —neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17
  You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’
  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
  18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become
  rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
  and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
  
  19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and
  repent.
  

They're in him (but about to get spit out if they don't repent). Jesus knows
them. And loves them.Those whom God considers his children—
as legitimate sons and daughters—are the ones who receive his discipline.

• Hebrews 12:6-8 (NIV)
  
  6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
  and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]
  
  7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For
  what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—
  and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true
  sons and daughters at all.
  
  Footnotes:
  
  a. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  
  

The Laodiceans are actually legitimate children (believers) who know Jesus,
and Jesus loves back, but they are not radical enough; ergo, they're getting
disciplined and if they don't repent, they will get spit out.  

[Garland-Green]

cristobela

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but....concerning the Laodicean church,
he made the following comment:

@38:22-34 "Are we referred to as those who are wretched, pitiable,
poor, blind, naked? So you would say, 'oh, that describes a believer' ?"

....Yes.

I would call them believers because the chapter describes them as such.

• Revelation 3:14-19 (NIV)
  
  14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
  
  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler
  of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot
  . I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm
  —neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17
  You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’
  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
  18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become
  rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
  and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
  
  19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and
  repent.
  

They're in him (but about to get spit out if they don't repent). Jesus knows
them. And loves them.Those whom God considers his children—
as legitimate sons and daughters—are the ones who receive his discipline.

• Hebrews 12:6-8 (NIV)
  
  6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
  and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]
  
  7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For
  what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—
  and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true
  sons and daughters at all.
  
  Footnotes:
  
  a. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  
  

The Laodiceans are actually legitimate children (believers) who know Jesus,
and Jesus loves back, but they are not radical enough; ergo, they're getting
disciplined and if they don't repent, they will get spit out.

Good points. I don't disagree with you. Jesus calls the group of people who profess to believe in Sardis also a church, and He goes on to say that they should remember what they have heard and received and repent so at one point they did believe.


Revelation 3:1-16 New International Version (NIV)

To the Church in Sardis
3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.