[CS-FSLUG] Alpha course---OFFENDED!
Christopher Rose
kf6snj at lycos.com
Thu Dec 2 20:58:07 CST 2004
Should I feel offended by this? Probably. I still REJECT the Alpha program. I know many who have gone to check it out and find themselves feeling WORSE for going (including myself, I became suicidal for a number of months because I felt like I had an "insufficient quantity" of the Holy Spirit). I will stay with my position. The rest of you are free to believe as you will, but this is where I MUST disagree.
Pax,
Christopher
----- Original Message -----
From: "Timothy R . Butler" <tbutler at uninetsolutions.com>
To: "A Christian virtual Free Software and Linux Users Group." <Christiansource at ofb.biz>
Subject: Re: [CS-FSLUG] Alpha course
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 20:38:02 -0600
>
> That's good to hear, Kathy. Alas, I wasn't able to attend the Alpha
> course at my church (which, ironically, I suggested we have), but I
> have read a portion of Nicky Gumbel's excellent companion book --
> Questions of Life.
>
> At any rate, to respond to the original post concerning an article
> critiquing Alpha, I think the anti-Alpha article is so far off its
> hard to even begin to critique. They seem to mostly go after what
> they see missing in the program, but they overlook the fact that it
> is a "Christianity 101" type course -- it should be the BEGINNING
> of the journey, not the end. Therefore, it is important to
> emphasize the basics on issues like sin, not go into the
> theological minutia that is just going to confuse new Christians
> and seekers. Don't get me wrong, it should be truthful and not
> misleading, but it needn't get into everything right off the bat.
>
> Moreover, it criticizes the idea that being filled with the Spirit
> has external results. If it does not, then faith is dead (James
> 2:20). This isn't a question of salvation but the fruits of the
> Spirit.
>
> Frankly, this sounds sort of like a critique I saw from a Lutheran
> magazine on the Left Behind series a few years back. It was so
> worried about details -- non-important ones -- that it missed the
> mark. Rather than lauding the fact that millions of non-believers
> were reading the Gospel that is presented over, and over and over
> in the series, it went on a tirade on why it was wrong and people
> should not read it.
>
> Alpha seems to be bringing a lot of people into the Body of Christ.
> If we can tell a tree by its fruit, and this tree's fruit is
> bringing people to Christ, it seems to me it would be better to
> write an article on how to supplement Alpha rather than merely
> criticize it.
>
> As an aside, what's the quick jab at CCM all about at the end?
> Don't tell me they think Christians shouldn't listen to Christian
> music either...
>
> -Tim
>
>
> On Aug 24, 2004, at 10:18 PM, K Montgomery wrote:
>
> > Christopher Rose wrote:
> >
> >> Works now. Oh, and goto http://www.luthercomment.org for an
> >> interesting article on the alpha program. I do not recommend
> >> that program to anyone.
> >>
> >> In Christ,
> >>
> >> Christopher
> >>
> > Lest the opposite point of view be neglected, I'll testify that
> > I've experienced the Alpha program and think it's fantastic. The
> > presenter on the videos has a great sense of humor and explains
> > the various facets of Christianity in a straightforward,
> > non-threatening way. I know people who came to the Lord as a
> > result of this course.
> >
> > Of course, I'd recommend anyone to watch the videos and judge for
> > themselves before implementing Alpha in their organization.
> >
> > - Kathy
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > ChristianSource FSLUG mailing list
> > Christiansource at ofb.biz
> > http://cs.uninetsolutions.com
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
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