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October 19, 2011
2. Thoughts on Justification, Part 1
4. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
1. Activist Feedback
Lisa, who tabled at the Asheville VegFest, writes:
The four of us in our family tabled for Asheville's first VegFest as a kind of family project. My husband and I mostly worked the table, but my kids decorated a largo fold out table presentation that drew a lot of attention. I saw many people photograph it! I read in an on-line report that there were 1,500 attendees. Due to the nature of downtown Asheville, regardless of advertising, the area is a popular place for which people to take a Sunday stroll, so I think that many people just "happened" upon the festival. Many people stopped and thanked us for being there, and commented that many times there is no Christian representation at these kinds of festivals. We spoke with a lot of people, mostly favorable, and yet it didn't seem as if as many people walked away with literature as I had expected. Perhaps this was also due to being a strongly environmentally friendly area, and people are conservative with paper.
Thanks for letting us do this!
Upcoming Activist Opportunities
10/24 VA Norfolk Red Christian rock Concert
10/25 IL Quincy Skillet Awake and Alive Tour
10/26 GA Atlanta RED Christian Rock Concert
10/27 TN Cordova Skillet The Awake & Alive Tour
10/28 MD Baltimore David Crowder Bands Last Tour
10/28-29 OH Cleveland Acquire The Fire Youth Conference
10/29 NY New York City David Crowder Bands Last Tour
10/29-30 MA Boston Boston Vegetarian Food Festival TABLE
10/30 PA Philadelphia David Crowder Bands Last Tour
11/1 NC Charlotte David Crowder Bands Last Tour
11/3 SC Greenville David Crowder Bands Last Tour
11/3 CO Denver HUGE Newsboys Winter Jam Concerts Series
11/3-5 OH Cleveland Joyce Meyers Ministries Conference
11/4 NM Albuquerque HUGE Newsboys Winter Jam Concerts Series
11/4 VA Lynchburg David Crowder Bands Last Tour
11/4 LA Monroe Gaither Homecoming 2011 Tour
11/4-5 NY Rochester Women Of Faith Conference
11/4-5 MO Kansas City Women Of Faith Conference
11/4-5 IL Rockford Extraordinary Women Conference
11/4-5 MN Rochester Hearts @ Home Mom Revolution Conference
11/5 AZ Phoenix HUGE Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, NewSong
11/6 NV Las Vegas HUGE! Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, NewSong
11/10 ID Boise HUGE! Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, NewSong
11/11 OR Portland HUGE! Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, NewSong
11/11-12 CT Hartford Women Of Faith Conference
11/11-12 OK Oklahoma City Women Of Faith Conference
11/12 WA Tacoma HUGE! Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, NewSong
11/18 CA Sacramento HUGE! Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, New Song
11/18-20 GA Atlanta National Youth Workers Convention
11/19 CA Fresno HUGE! Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, New Song
International Events:
10/21-22 Canada, Ontario Hamilton Acquire The Fire Youth Conference
10/28-29 Germany, BW Balingen Rock Without Limits
11/20 Canada, Ontario Parkway HUGE! Winter Jam Newsboys, Kutless, New Song
Contact Paris at christian_vegetarian@yahoo.com if you can help. To find out about all upcoming leafleting and tabling opportunities in your area, join the CVA Calendar Group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/christian_vegetarian/
2. Thoughts on Justification, Part 1
How we are “justified” in the eyes of God is an important question in Christian theology and history. Some have argued that we are justified by the works we do, and others argue that faith is central to being justified. What is justification?
The notion of justification is largely a product of the Protestant Reformation. Catholic doctrine had held that Baptism and a life of good works would result in salvation of the human soul. But Protestant reformers argued that people invariably falls into sin and therefore cannot be “justified” on the basis of works. Indeed, Paul wrote, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Knowing that we all have a tendency to sin, how can a person be confident of justification while others are (presumably) not?
I question the notion that God selectively chooses among those who do or do not deserve salvation. I favor the outlook of John 12:32, which describes Jesus saying, “When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” I think God either cares about everything God has created, or God doesn’t care about Creation. Why would God create and then choose to be concerned about only a part of that Creation?
I suspect that the human tendency to separate those who are justified from those who are not is grounded in the scapegoating process, in which we gain a much-wanted sense of self-esteem by elevating ourselves at the expense of others. Denigrating others is part of a process that, ultimately, results in their victimization, and therefore I have suggested in previous essays that scapegoating is “the sin of the world” to which John the Baptist referred (John 1:29).
Next week, I will reflect on the Protestant theory of “justification by faith.”
Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.
3. Web Site of Interest
VegDocs.com <http://vegdocs.com/> is working to establish a network of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly physicians who are knowledgeable about and supportive of these diets.
4. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
He Prayeth Best, Who Loveth Best
http://www.all-creatures.org/sermons98/s20111016.html
Your question and comments are welcome
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