Shane Claiborne preaches “The Best Sermon Ever” from Matt 5-7 (and changes scripture to suit his agenda)
(You can view the sermon here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzbQzn9-_Xk&NR=1 )
A number of people rave about Shane’s talk a few years ago at a youth conference in America. He just got up and read a couple of chapters of Matthew. And sat down. What they all appear to have missed is that Shane changed the scripture verses to suit his purposes.
The ‘sermon’ has been posted on YouTube by his Simple Way colleague Jamie Mofffat. Shane quite clearly uses the NIV text from Matthew 5-7 (not another version, eg KJV, NASV, etc – I have checked them all) but he makes a number of significant changes.
[In this page, words added by Shane are underlined and words he omits are crossed through.]
We may be able to pass over every change of words that he interprets as gender specific (eg ‘men’ changed to ‘men and women’, though many do not view them as offensive and needing to be changed); and perhaps the deletion of ‘from your Father in heaven’ in 6:1 is accidental: Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
But how about:
1. Matt 5:3, where the ‘blessed are the poor in spirit’ becomes ‘blessed are the poor’, and the ‘kingdom of heaven’ becomes the ‘kingdom of God’ (which has a specific meaning to emergents and refers to earthly community rather than the kingdom reign of God or, as some erroneously conceive it, heaven itself ). This no accident because the switch is repeated in 5:20.
2. Emergents do not believe in a literal devil (for them he is a metaphor) so this is probably why Shane changes the NIV text of the Lord’s prayer (he is reading the from the NIV) back to its more traditional form. 6:13 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one evil. Tellingly, he does not choose to revert from the modern ‘debts’ to ‘sins’ or ‘trespasses’ which fits his political philosophy much less well.
3. Shane is meticulous over his change of the text to be gender neutral. Therefore it cannot be any accident that he changes masculine references God (he, his) to the gender neutral (God, God’s) no less than THREE times in four verses. Once might be a slip of the tongue. Three times is deliberate. It is here:
v 30-33: If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he God not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his God’s kingdom and his God’s righteousness
Here is the full text with Shane’s alterations.
Matthew 5
The Beatitudes
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven God.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, the peacemakers, (repeated)
for they will be called sons the children of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, people that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
The Fulfillment of the Law
17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven God.
Murder
21“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder,and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother or a sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or your sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Adultery
27“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’[e] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f] 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
An Eye for an Eye
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[g] 39But I tell you, but I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers friends, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men people. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer
5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men people. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9“This, then, is how you should pray:
” ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one evil. 14For if you forgive men people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins you.
Fasting
16“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men people they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men people that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Treasures in Heaven
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24“No one can serve two masters. Either he they will hate the one and love the other, or he they will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Do Not Worry
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his your life[b]?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he God not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his God’s kingdom and his God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Amen
Matthew 7
Judging Others
1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s or sister’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother another, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s or sister’s eye.
6“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he and the person who seeks finds; and to him the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9“Which of you, if his a son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he your daughter asks for a fish, will give him them a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up all of the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will just tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man person who built his their house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man person who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, it fell, with a great crash.”
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
1
Emerging Church Concerns 
August 26, 2010 at 7:01 am
I am crushed with disappointment. Shane Claiborne and his “agenda” have been a great inspiration to me. But today I watched “The Best Sermon Ever” on You Tube (it was supposed to be my “devotions”) and I was puzzled by the missing “in spirit”. I presumed some acceptable explanation, but I nonetheless cracked open various translations of Matthew 5. Shane gets no support in any. I still wanted to believe that there was some acceptable explanation that I was simply missing,… so I went to the net and found your blog post. Thank you for your research and your efforts,… and the calm (concerned) voice with which you communicate the Truth. (If you were not so meek and gracious, you would have “busted” Shane by quoting his own words: “That’s why God created highlighters, so people could focus on Scripture that suits them, and ignore the rest”.
This is a sad day for me, for I now realize that I can never again sit under the very exciting, inspirational, and “hip” teaching of Shane Claiborne. But I can praise God for testing me and rekindling a devotion and reverence for His Word. And I praise and thank God for you,… whoever and wherever you are.
So to all who may be coming from the same “spot” as I, we must choose between being cool and the Truth. And when we discover that someone is capable of tampering with God’s Word to serve his/her own purposes, we must call the person out on it and walk away.
If anyone is aware of Shane EVER directly addressing this criticism, please direct my attention to it. In fairness, I want to give the man an opportunity to explain himself.
December 29, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Very interesting reaction. Sorry to have upset you but hope it helps to clarify things. Thanks for the comment about “meek and gracious”. According to one CofE bishop I am very far from that! It’s nice to have the balance redressed!
September 26, 2010 at 3:18 pm
The substitution of ‘Kingdom of heaven’ with ‘Kingdom of God’ and the omission of ‘in spirit’ when talking about the poor is not an invention of Mr. Claiborne, but it’s taken from Jesus’ own words in another gospel: ‘blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God’ is from the other beautitudes in Luke 6. So it’s perfectly biblical. It might show that Shanes ‘best sermon ever’ is taken from both gospels and not just from Matthew, but I don’t see the fuzz… Does he say that he’s reading the NIV version of the sermon on the mount or does he read what he thinks is the best sermon ever, which is mostly Matthew and a little bit of Luke?
December 29, 2010 at 1:15 pm
All I’d say is read THAT part in the context of everything else on this blog.
October 17, 2010 at 9:05 am
In the Greek- the original language the Bible was written in- it actually does quite literally say, “Deliver us from evil” and some translation make that into “Deliver us from the evil (one)” So Mr. Claibourne is actually more accurate than he might seem.
December 29, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Interesting thanks. As Claiborne appears to deny the existence of Satan as an inidividual, he would chose to use the scripture this way. Deosn’t invalidate your observation, which is helpful
November 11, 2010 at 11:15 pm
I’ve been reading a lot of blogs tonight by un-emergent Christians about the Emergent Church. In every one of them I’m finding a lot of distress and condemnation over the differences in interpreting the Bible but so far these diferences don’t seem so bad to me. What IS so bad about feeling some pity for the poor?! They really don’t have it so great; maybe it wouldn’t be so anti-biblical to help them out–or give them a slice of the scriptures? They could use a little bit of kingdom anything, I’m sure. I’m really quite bewildered with the arguments I’ve come up with tonight. I’ve grown up being taught to watch out for people who manipulate the Word of God but these changes don’t seem to be very manipulative. The Bible DOES seem to say that God identifies with the poor and is served through our service to them. And as far as the other changes go, they seem pretty normal if he’s speaking to an audience of youth. Youth these days are pretty used to politically correct speech so why turn them off the Bible by seeming to preach only to the men in the audience? From an editor’s point of view, his substitutions of “God” for “his” (etc.) only serve to clarify the meaning of what he’s saying–which would be handy in case some of those youth drifted off mid-sentence! I’m just saying, it seems like splitting needless hairs here.
December 29, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Thank for this. Nothing is bad about compassion for the poor! I would simply refer you to Mike Bickle’s quote at the beginning of the main paper on the Emerging Church. Good works never cease to be good, no matter who does them. People who do good works may teach true scritpure or not. The two are not the same.
January 10, 2011 at 3:30 am
[…] Shane Claiborne rewrites Matthew’s gospel Shane Claiborne preaches “The Best Sermon Ever” from Matt 5-7 (and changes scripture to suit his agenda) https://emergingchurchconcerns.wordpress.com/shane-claiborne-rewrites-matthews-gospel/ […]
May 25, 2011 at 2:18 am
This post reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:23 “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.”
All i see is meaningless arguments over slight differences in wording. It’s not like any of this actually effects the gospel – let alone furthering the kingdom of heaven!
It appears to me that you approach this with pre-conceived ideas and judgements and are nitpicking, and assuming far too much!
September 9, 2012 at 11:52 am
I agree… I see this post as the usual debunk and refute one another thing that is going on… and not so inspiring squabbling over inspired words and sentences.. What i don’t get is what Shanes agenda might be… and what of it isn’t part of what can be called Biblical Christianity?
January 15, 2012 at 11:12 pm
The trouble with a ‘slight differences in wording’ is that every major cult in the world has started this way. They always end up publishing their own bibles. You have to ask, why? A little yeast leavens the whole lump. What we should be concerned with is not what appears to be meaningless semantic changes but the intention behind those changes. Why do so many new ‘teachers’ of the gospel feel the need to tailor it to their own agendas?
Never complain about christians who feel compelled to check out changes in scripture, its usually a sign that they take the word of God extremely seriously.
Let’s face it, somebody has to…
February 29, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Shane Claiborne uses “Today’s NIV” which has a lot of inclusive language that may explain some of the changes regarding gender translation issues in this sermon. All of Shane’s books I have read cite scripture from the TNIV “unless otherwise noted.” TNIV is not the exact same translation as the ‘standard’ NIV.
I have to agree with some of the other posts that we may be “straining a gnat and swallowing a camel” here…I think people find what he has to say offensive because he is challenging the majority church’s cultural sensibilities. “The first shall be last and the last shall be first” certainly seems to me to imply that the “poor” have a reward waiting for them in the next life.
March 2, 2012 at 2:32 am
You’ll notice he doesn’t change talk about being thrown into hell or this “anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Where he obviously does not emit the evil one. It seems that you are on an agenda against the emergent church… I’m not saying I agree with them, but your argument is poor and your intentions for doing this seem questionable.
March 4, 2012 at 8:19 pm
I would just like to ask why are us, Christ Followers, so concerned in arguing about this? Sure Shane change a few words for his sermon. It’s still the same sermon, I mean Pastors in every denomination, emergent or not, sometimes take verses out of context for the purpose of said sermon. Why do we have to spend so much time analyzing it though? Shouldn’t we spend time loving God and loving our neighbors, as Christ commands us to? I mean he does say it is it the GREATEST commanded and that all the others hang on those two.
So we’re trying to lead others into relationship with Christ, but if all they see is others in the Church fighting about whose doctrine is more correct wouldn’t that be a turn off to them?
There must be a reason that “the greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”-Brennan Manning.
Just a humble follower of Christ’s thoughts. Take it or Leave it. I still love you as we all called to love.
Grace & Peace.
June 11, 2012 at 2:40 am
Enjoy the Shane Claiborne meme: http://www.quickmeme.com/Shaming-Shane/newest/?upcoming
November 29, 2012 at 8:58 pm
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20)
Seriously ridiculous criticism of an amazing man of God.
January 24, 2013 at 3:13 pm
I read through the text, not in complete detail, but scanned enough to see what’s going on. I really don’t have much of a problem at all with his reading of the “Sermon on the Mount” and his apparent paraphrasing of it – on its own. I do, however, have a HUGE problem with his theology and how he rewrites the Gospel in his book Irresistible Revolution. Once you see Shane’s version of the gospel, you will understand where he is going with his version of the “Sermon on the Mount”.
On page 194 of his book he states, “As the people of God, we are building a new society in the shell of the old…the new Jerusalem, the city of God. This is essentially a political act.” He goes on further to say, “A gospel that is not political is no gospel at all.”. He talks endlessly about social justice and nothing about repentance. He talks continually about the redistribution of wealth, but nothing about the spreading of the true Gospel and the need for a Savior. His gospel is nothing more than a kinder, gentler version of socialism repackaged in a religious box – a social theology with an entitlement mindset. The true Gospel message is Christ Jesus crucified and the price He paid on our behalf for the redemption of our sins so that we may be saved – saved from a literal hell, not from the ravages of a sin-filled world…IF we choose to accept and believe. He speaks nothing of the need for redemption of sin against a Holy and Righteous God. The theology of Shane is one of social and political change, devoid of the need for personal, individual redemption of sin. The theology of Shane is one of the need for societal redemption, and we as ‘true christians’, and his version of the gospel, are to be the agents of that redemptive change. It is the common thread that runs throughout his book, and would appear to be, his messages as well. There is nothing of the need for repentance, nothing of the need for a Savior. He sees “we the people” AS the savior. Show me one place in all of the teachings of the New Testament, or even in the “Sermon on the Mount” itself, where we are instructed to overthrow or change Cesar’s system (the world’s system, however that may look). Show me anywhere in Paul’s teachings that the Gospel, or we as Christians, are to be a sociopolitical agents of change.
Speaking of Paul, I believe he states it about as clear as it can be.
Galatians 1:6-9 (NASB77)
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
May 14, 2013 at 12:55 pm
I love it when Conservative evangelicals and other fundies start having a go at a Christian who actually attempts to practice what Jesus preachers. I smell Pharisee!!!!
Shane Claiborne embraces what the true way is about!
November 26, 2013 at 6:23 am
Can’t both be right. All we have is the scripture to verify the truth. Where’s yours?
June 26, 2017 at 6:44 am
Thank you, Bob, for your excellent comment. I, too, am amazed that people are so quickly deserting Him and the Truth!
May 29, 2020 at 10:39 am
And thank you Cindee for standing with me in defense of the simplicity of the Gospel. Why do people try and add to what Christ has done? As if we as flawed creatures can add ANYTHING of value whatsoever to what Jesus did for us. Now in defense of Shane and others who want to help people and be a positive change for societal problems around them, I commend them for that. But DO NOT teach or try to make it a requirement to be done as a part of the Gospel of salvation because that’s where you start to change it to a works based salvation plan that are of men’s making and one of the different gospels that Paul warns against. And to quote Paul once again, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”. 1 Corinthians 2:2
July 6, 2013 at 3:01 am
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand.
It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
August 19, 2013 at 8:35 pm
[…] Church Concerns (2013) Shane Claiborne rewrites Matthew’s gospel, Available at: https://emergingchurchconcerns.wordpress.com/shane-claiborne-rewrites-matthews-gospel/ (Accessed: 06th May […]
December 21, 2013 at 1:45 pm
So, I am confused. Are you are up in arms because he
1) did not use the obviously and decided sexist translation of the original text that was written in a male dominated society more than a thousand years and instead used non gender specific pronouns, or,
2) because he accidentally repeated himself a couple of times (having zero impact on the text), or,
3) because he (knowingly or not) said “from evil” instead of “from the evil one” which is how virtually every catholic raised in the 60s and 70s learned The Lord’s Prayer (aka Our Father) and is the version most often used in every movie or tv show in which the The Lord’s Prayer is recited?
I don’t this guy and I am not defending him. I am just trying to figure out what you’re argument is?
February 2, 2014 at 6:37 am
James 2 v 14 – 26 NIV
Faith and Deeds
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is uselessd ? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”e and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
I see the deeds of these people… I don’t see the deeds of most of those calling themselves Christians and attacking them… I don’t see the deeds of those pursuing low taxation, of objecting to tax being spent on the poor and needy, I don’t see them sharing their food, clothes, lives but rather cutting themselves off and only pursuing their own agenda based on me, myself and I… surely that makes much of those calling themselves Christians when we get judged by Jesus will be found to be goats… Matthew 25 v 41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
March 14, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Shane C has not done anything wrong. He has not changed the context or meaning of the message. The Bible goes on about helping the poor and preaching good news to the poor
April 6, 2018 at 2:16 am
While Shane is actually demonstrating authentic discipleship, you simply waste time with meaningless critique.
May 29, 2020 at 1:32 am
Rev 22:19 I have seen alot of this from the emergent church. I love my brothers and sisters But God has alot to say about teaching His Word falsely. The most startling is he puts the word gods. Break my heart. You can be a good person, helping the poor, still be so wrong.. I love the Truth we dont and should never change it. They also believe the church is responsible for fixing culture, that’s why he takes out heaven…..I really see your concern and the burden in your heart. I have had the same burden with another that said God might have a trap door for people to get to heaven. He said it to a bunch of college students…Broke my heart.. It is so hard to have to speak about these issues but you did the right thing with such a humble heart. Love you brother