Ivy Phetteplace's List: Expository Writing

• • I find it interesting that the words "sinner" and "hypocrite" are being confused because they don't have a lot in common. Sinning and being a hypocrite is something that you can do but being a hypocrite is by choice while everyone sins. 
• nfortunately the words “sinner” and “hypocrite” are being confused.
• • I agree that everyone sins. I like the wording that "all hypocrites are sinners." There is a difference between sinning and being a hypocrite but when you are hypocritical you are sinning. 
• Being a Hypocrite is specifically what one does. Since hypocrisy is a sin, we can say, All hypocrites are sinners. But not all sinners are hypocrites
• The church is full of sinners, murderers are sinners therefore the church is full of murderers.
• • I believe that this is a very good example and gives us a very clear image. When people say "the church is full of sinners" it is true but there is a difference 
• was caught speeding in his car. Therefore everyone who buys this certain car will speed and break the law
• • I agree that there are hypocrites in the church. I even know a few! I think that it's rather hypocritical to stereotype that "all Christians are hypocrites." Not ALL Christians are hypocrites but there definitely are some. 
• The Church is neither full of Hypocrites nor empty of  Hypocrites
• Though the church may not be full of hypocrites, it is by no means empty of them
• • I find this statement interesting. It is true that when you call someone a hypocrite you are ALSO being a hypocrite. That means that we are all technically hypocrites and they aren't just "in the church"  
• No one can fairly disburse the accusation of hypocrite and not look at themselves as one too.

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• • I find it interesting that this was the number 1 response. The church should be for people who aren't perfect and need help. That's why most "sinners" come to church. I don't think that it is the churches place to judge people who are coming even to try out the whole church thing. 
• “Church people judge me.”
• • What if the church had actually conversation in the sermon. How would the church look different if everyone participated and interacted with each other throughout the sermon. Would more people come and actually like what they are hearing because they can ask questions and not by judged?
• “I don’t want to be lectured.”
• • I believe that it is hypocritical to say that church people are "a bunch of hypocrites." In the past there have been many churches who looked to the high priest for all the answers. Sometimes these "high priests" weren't very Godly at all. Still today you will hear on the news about priests who are in jail. I think that we need to take the stereotype off of the church and just fix the people who are hypocrites. 
• “They’re a bunch of hypocrites.”
• • I agree when the majority says that "I don't want religion. I want God." Religion is just a bunch of rules put in place in hopes that being good will get you a free ticket to heaven. These people want to know that God is real; he's not just what preachers say that they are. Religion destroys something that is very hard to rebuild, faith. 
• “I don’t want religion. I want God.”
• They’re dying to be reassured that God is real, that he is more than a historical figure, that he is present today, and that he is active in the lives of people around them.
• • What if we did stop worrying about how big our churches our and making all the member happy. If we spent as much time going out and asking people who don't go to church how to fix it the church would be dramatically different. "I'm concerned that the church has turned into a bunker where we seek shelter when we're actually called to storm the gates of hell."(Batterson) 
• need to stop talking and “teaching” long enough to listen to the majority outside our walls

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• Many will be confused, if not offended by such a statement,  for they have identified God with religion. Religion, therefore,  needs to be defined and differentiated from the Christian gospel.
• • I believe that we need to expose the difference between God and Religion because they are two different things. The poem "Why I love Jesus but Hate Religion" (http://www.revivallifestyle.com/religion-vs-jesus/) perfectly explains the whole point I am trying to get at through this paper. The poem really shows the difference between God and Religion.  
• Religion binds people up in rules and  regulations or in ritualistic patterns of devotion.
• • I find it interesting that religion literally means to "bind up." I, firsthand, have seen how religion can really bind you up. Friend's parents who couldn't go to church because they are remarried and people who don't love God anymore solely because religion says you can't look a certain way and love God. I think that the definition of religion perfectly sums up all my feelings about religion 
• • I believe that this, even though it has big words, is a accurate definition of Christianity.  It says that it basically a relationship, not a religion. It also states that everything you do should be beneficial and bring glory to God.  
• Christianity is the dynamic spiritual  life of the risen Lord Jesus indwelling the spirit of man so  as to create functional behavior to the glory of God.
• • I find it interesting that "man made religion" exists. My family has felt the full forces of man made religion and the rules that come with it. Religion has a bunch of rules and if you don't follow those rules then "God doesn't love you" 
• which is of the invisible God and  attempt to make it visible, tangible and controllable. Man-made  religion! T
• • I believe that they are referring to Pharisees in this part of the article. While Jesus was alive the Pharisees criticized everything he did. They turned a lot of people away and 21st century Pharisees are  doing the same. Some priests turn people, teens especially, away from the church if they don't look or act the same as "regular Christians" 
• Such religious authoritarianism creates a "fantasy-bond" of the people toward their so-called "priests." There is a projected idealization of the authorities as being especially close to God -- almost "gods" themselves.

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• • Hypocrites 
• Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and wickedness!

• • I believe that this isn't what true Christianity is about. When you are "shaking with anger" about something little like that you are just making a fool of yourself. A lot of member from my church left when we changed the color of the stage. Changes have to be made in order to be better so why get mad at the changes?  
• “There are too  many changes! They’ve taken the  ‘Amen’ away from the Our Father!  Now they’ve gone too far!”
• • I wonder if the "conservative" people are a different, older, generation and the "progressive" people are younger. I find it interesting that you can't please everyone. Either there's too much change or not enough.  
• For some “conservative”  Catholics there has  been too much change; for some  “progressive” Catholics, not nearly  enough.
• • I wish I knew more about how much the church has changed. I have seen dramatic changes even in my life time. For example, someone at my church, only 20 years old said that when he was little he had to wear a suit and it was mandatory that girls wear dresses. There was no dancing and the music was very slow and "boring". I can tell you, my church is nothing like that anymore; so, even in the past 20 years the church has undergone many serious changes. 
• —the  Church has indeed changed.
• • I find it interesting that they pulled this right from the Bible and it still applies to our lives today. I think in order to have a healthy church that changes have to be made and suggestions should be taken into consideration. Without these changes we have a "sick church" that nobody likes or wants to attend. 
• Paul compared the Church to a  body with different parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-13;  Romans 12:4-5). Today, in light of our many divisive  issues, we might extend his comparison. A human  body must constantly take in new things: fresh air,  food, water, etc. This is essential if we are to grow and  be healthy

• However, not everything we take in is in  fact healthy; at times we pick up germs and viruses.  The body has an immune system to warn us when  things are going wrong and to help sort out what is  harmful.

   
• to live is to change.We believe the Church to be the  living body of Christ in the world.
• • I wonder who said that quote to begin with. I also wonder who wrote this article. The author is saying some controversial things. I believe that the Church isn't the living body of Christ; we are. But I have to agree that in order for the church to live on we have to make changes  

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• • Vision for H20!
• In the 1800's in America an Awakening occurred. People began to search for truths on their own, rather than just staying with their religion of birth. When they did not find what they were looking for, some began their own churches.

• • I find it interesting that Jesus clearly says not to judge people but we still find ourselves judging people in the church. It's very hard not to judge people but that means that we should work even harder not to judge people. 
• blunt and absolute, Jesus commanded us, "Do not judge" (Matt. 7:1)
• "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged" (7:2).
• • I wonder if this verse is saying that it is okay to judge just be careful. if you make make bad judgments then other people will make bad judgments about you. In reverse, if you make good judgments about other people they will make good judgments about you. 
• here are other Scriptures that either cloud or shed light on the issue.
• • I wonder why there are scriptures that have two total different meanings. In one verse it says never to judge but in another they are saying to judge certain people. I wonder why they did that. It's only confusing people today..
• • I disagree when the author says we need more judging. We are judged so much already that encouraging it would be horrible. I understand where the author is coming from because he thinks judging people will clean up their act. But, in all reality, it is just turning people away from God. As Christians I think we need to take away the judging, not add to it. 
• Modern Americans suffer from a fear of judging.
• I would suggest that, in our day and age, we need more—not less—judgment.
• • I believe that Americans do suffer from a fear of judgment and judging. Strangers will look at me and they don't know anything about me but they have already made judgments about me. If you care about what people think of you then you will be scared that they won't like you. Many people come into church messed up and when people don't like them they leave and don't come back.

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