Barth

     Ok, so here some stuff I got from Barth. Everything in " " are Barth's writings.
      First I learned what dogmatics were. I had heard of the word before, but never really knew its full meaning. Dogmatics: the study of the arrangement and statement of religious doctrines, especially of the doctrines received in and taught by the Christian church. 
     Barth says that Dogmatics is a science. Science is linked with human knowledge.  Which means, flawed knowledge, since man is fallen. "I repeat dogmatics is not a thing which has fallen from Heaven to Earth" (page 10, para 2), "The Christian Church does not exist in Heaven, but on earth and in time". "Christian dogmatics will always be a thinking, and investigation and an exposition which are relative and liable to error". So the dogmatics which is so important to the church can never be perfected, it is a flawed thing. Which leads me to ask is dogmatics important? I think that they are, but not on the same level as Salvation. If one dives to deep in Dogmatics, one can get lost. Just like anyone can get lost in the motions of 'worshipping', or get caught in 'doing good list' trap.
     Second thing, Faith. Oh Faith, how I loved reading Barth's view. I agreed with most he said. When I say I believe I start of with faith. When I say I believe it means I'm not alone. "God comes to meet us and as our Lord and Master He comes to out aid. We live and act and suffer, in good and bad days, in our perversity and in our righteousness, in this confrontation with God.....but God meets me one way or the other". "Faith speaks of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as Him who meets us". 
    "Christian fatih is the meeting with this 'Immanuel', the meeting with Jesus Christ and in Him with the living Word of God." "When we say, I believe in God, the concentrate meaning is that I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ". "It is a meeting in which man becomes free to hear God's Word". 
    I think this is the crucial difference between a 'believer' and a 'follower'. For a believer they 'know' about God, but do not have faith or have shaky faith, because they never understand a one-on-one relationship with Christ. They do not have fellowship with Him. Anyone can believe in God, but not everyone will encounter Him (though everyone had the opportunity too). Faith and believing is more than just observational things. It an activity that a follower must take part in.


Well that is soooo late in the night, my thoughts are becoming somewhat jumbled. I hope I've made some since. Those are two things that stuck out to me from reading and discussion. You know I love rereading parts of stuff, especially things I highlighted, because I usually get a new take from it! Like tonight when I came to write this post! Anyways goodnight, or goodmorning to everyone!