My mind was spinning after our study in Progressive Christianity last Sunday. I want to thank Muffin, Phil, and Melanie for organizing and leading these sessions and everyone who attends for making this such a lively conversation. It’s not too late to join if you have been unable to attend the earlier sessions.
Our session this week focuses on being a community that is inclusive of ALL people and “Know that the way we behave is the fullest expression of what we believe. ”Perhaps you saw the sign on the side of the church, which says “ALL means ALL.”
Unit 4 makes reference to the Book of Thomas which I think the author may mean The Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Thomas is 114 sayings that are attributed to Jesus. The value of this resource is debated among biblical scholars. Some scholars believe this gospel was written around 40 CE and contains sayings of Jesus. Other scholars believe that this gospel was written centuries later. The scholars who favor an early date think it is an important addition to the New Testament, those who favor the later date think it adds little value to our understanding of early Christianity.
Introducing The Gospel of Thomas raises questions about the formation of the New Testament and the authority of the Bible for Christians. I will use my time in our Sunday discussion to share my thoughts on these questions.