I agree he calls for 100% commitment from his followers, but this didn’t mean he separated himself from the real world.

And what about a third option? People who just exist, whether good or bad, who are trying to figure out this mess called life and are confused by the lack of Christlikeness in ‘christians’. What about the group of ‘christians’ who get used by the devil [not my definition] to deter people from ever seeking out the truth in Christ because the ‘love’ they are supposed to represent doesn’t exist in the way they live?

News flash… for ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. We’re all in the same boat. Unfortunately, only some of us have found truth. Even less of us actually live in it.

I don’t know if I agree with Regan or not. I suspect I might, but the theology in her (his?) comment is a tad askew, in my opinion.
I agree too many Christians give the devil more power than he’s worth or due.
I disagree that “we’re all the same.” Yes, all have sinned, etc. But post-grace, we are not “just like sinners.” Christians and the unsaved are fundamentally different.

And while of course I think one’s view on the matter dictates how they view separation from the world, I hasten to add that despite the theological similarity in Robert’s view and my own, we have starkly different views on how this affects evangelistic methodology.

Hmmm.
Nutshell:
I feel theologically akin to Robert.
I have methodological affinity with Darren.

I think it’s all about trying to be like Jesus.

LOL, despite Jared’s warnings, here are some things I’ve written about this in the past:

Hanging out with sinners
Thoughts on being salt and light
Christians stink
Christian metaphors

I suspect that a lot has to do with the connotations we attach to terms like “separation”. While I’ve debated with the Thinklings a lot about this, in actual practice I think the difference between us is pretty small.

Jesus spent far more time loving those in the ?world? than He did with those in the ?church?.

Jesus spent almost ALL of His time with His disciples and the folks who followed Him, right? So what do you mean by “world” and “church”? I think you must have switched their definitions!

A child of God or a child of Satan?

Regan, these are the divisions and terms Jesus and Paul both used to describe us. Jesus said that the Pharisees were of their father, the devil. Paul described lost people as captives of the devil who did his will.

People who just exist, whether good or bad, who are trying to figure out this mess called life

The Bible doesn’t give us room for this categorization of us all as more-or-less neutral confused people. Jesus is pretty blunt – you’re either with Him or against Him. Enemy of God, or reconciled to Him. Child of God or child of Satan. Saint or sinner.

Christians and the unsaved are fundamentally different.

Now you’re starting to sound like me, Jared! :-)

I don’t necessarily reject limited atonement; I just won’t be dogmatic about it because I don’t see unambiguous Scriptural support. But, the more I read Dr. Heddle, the closer I get to fully embracing it!

how does this post relate to your post concerning halloween? surely there’s a correlation of some kind.

LoL. The Thinklings need to get out a bit more.
Regan is a common name for a guy.
He is Rachel Cunliffe’s husband and a heck of a thinker from NZ.
Have you guys thought about joining the chat at Signposts and getting to know some fellow thinkers?
I think ‘neutral confused people,’ isn’t quite what he was saying. Blog on!