Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Bible and Us: a book review; comments on Mary and Protestantism Message-ID: Date: 1 Oct 90 00:46:27 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC Lines: 34 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach) writes: >I am not convinced. I think the acknowedgement of Jesus as Lord >is far more in line with Christianity than Jesus as "friend". >I think it is important that we fear God as well as love Him. >Treating Jesus as a sort of cuddly comforter, like a Teddy >bear, makes Christianity appear a very childish religion. I >think there has been too much juvenilation in Christianity >(Catholic as well as Protestant) in recent years. Matt: I understand where you are trying to go, but it isn't quite so onesided as this. Yes, we must never forget who Jesus is, but at the same time we have entered into a new relationship with God when we become Christians. That relationship is predicated upon the spirit of adoption and the power He gives us to become "sons of God." Through that spirit of adoption we can call Him "Abba, Father." Abba being interpreted as "Daddy." I do not see that this makes Jesus Christ some sort of cosmic Teddy bear. It does convey the sense of family and belonging that is part of the Faith. It does convey that He is more to us than one dimensional. He is Savior, Lord, King, God, and friend and brother. He is the first-born of many brethren, or so the Word says. We should not be flip about this, but nor should we ignore such a wonderful intimate relationship. But there is liberty in Christ Jesus, and you do as you feel led to do. No one should impugn you for this. Because He lives, Gene Gross