I’m trying to show what Paul might sound like if our mainline “evangelicals” influenced him. Of course, that could never happen, but it’s interesting to think about.

I would think one of the biggest things that would bother me in this letter is, “You know that as long as you do good, you can go to heaven. Yet remember that our God is not a mean, cruel, sadistic monarch, for he will simply annihilate those who not achieve bliss. We know this plainly from the Scriptures and from reason.” Hmm. Or maybe the American Idol comment. ;)

Sean: I agree. If you ask me though, the world becomes intolerant around us. Have you ever talked to someone who tries to say everything in thier power to define us as intolerant, yet they get mad and vocally violent towards our beliefs?

One thing that bothered me was how you wrote about intolerence. I’m noticing a strange and growing trend in Christian publications, and in conversation, that makes light of convictions. The way I see it, our lack of tolerence is one of the things that separates Christians from the rest of the world’s religious beliefs.