The Compassion Renaissance

  The Hebraic Mindset & the Proper Understanding of the Gospels *** Below are excerpts from: Alan Hirsch, ‎ The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating Apostolic Movements , Brazos Press; 2nd edition, Sep. 20, 2016 These excerpts discuss the crucial matter of the difference in believing something (propositional belief) versus believing in somebody as one’s Lord (trusting and obeying) by showing that attempting to understand the Scriptures using the common Western viewpoint distorts a message that ought to be understood using a Hebraic mindset. *** From Pages 130-131 Essentially, on the one hand, a Hellenistic view of knowledge is concerned with concepts, ideas, the nature of being, types and forms the Hebraic view, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with issues of concrete existence, obedience, life-oriented wisdom, and the interrelationship of all things under God. It is quite clear that, as Jews, Jesus and the early church operated primarily out of a Hebraic under...

Quotations are taken from: Curt Thompson MD, Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships , Tyndale Momentum, June 1, 2010. *** Transformation – Beyond “Belief” 261 - Often we judge whether someone is a Christian based mostly on what that person “believes” – In other words, logical, linear, literal thought processes about perceived propositional truth. To prove they are Christians, people need only reel off a few sentences reflective of left-mode mental processing. But this is not the same as being a Christian, which demands the full integration of right-mode operation along with cognitive, factual expressions of faith. 16 - Despite the interest in spirituality in much of the West, and North America in particular, our overall experience of God’s power and life-giving vitality is often limited – especially when it comes to growth and reconciliation in our relationships. We ofte...