While searching the internet today I found an article that at once seemed to mock an interesting idea (opensourcetheology.net) and totally fail to understand my chosen industry of work. Not a bad move for a single paragraph post (due more to English skills that are worse than mine). The website must be entered into my personal hall of shame if only for claiming "any source will do, take it, just use it." which is such total and utter rubbish everything about me that just spent five years learning the industry feels utterly outraged. In general the badly written dig at something clearly beyond the understanding of the author is in itself simply laughable (as is the fact the comment system was broken when I visited) but to also insult an entire ethos of generous programming and the free giving of ones time seems morally wrong. (If the writer feels OpenSource development is so bad then maybe they should move from PHP to a non open scripting language for the site and pay for all christians to do likewise). As a Christian who also happens to be a coder I must point out that OpenSource development is just that - the source is open (free as in free speech) and nothing is hidden. This way anyone with sufficient skills might contribute to the on going refinement of a project.

As a person who has been led recently by the Holy Spirit to re-evaluate what I have held to be true I should point out something which might be obvious to many. I have been thrashing out my thoughts with people reaching the point of retirement after a life time of Bible College Teaching / Overseas Ministry. The interesting discover I made when looking at the site is that these guys are doing to themselves what any decent Bible College will do to it's first year students - carefully and systematically break down and challenge every aspect of what you believe so they can build in the freshly cleared space.

"Don't like hell or think it's relevant anymore? Redefine it. Reimagine it. Discard it." Rants sliceoflaodicea.com

which does just about as much as it can to try and run down the open discussion going on at Open Source Theology without the God given decency to actually evaluate the site. (As evidenced by the lack of off site quotes).

"We sweat through various spiritual exercises as if they were designed to produce a Christian Charles Atlas." -Brennan Manning (Ragamuffin Gospel)

I find it refreshing that people are willing to risk seeing their world view (and even self worth) smashed into a thousand tiny bits on the anvil of Gods word. While I found parts of the site to be a little dry and many topics failed to engage me particularly I could see nothing wrong with the intention or the current out working thereof. If the disciples had reacted like this to Peter's "backsliding" visit into the house of the Roman's (non-Jew) house (not to mention baptising them and claiming the Holy spirit had filled these uncircumcised Soldiers (and their servants). Peter had so broken the "law" as to be sure of hell. If the others had not recognised the hand of God well... If this is of God - who are we to stand in the way? It seems to me that God has chosen to lead some of his children through a very public Bible School where God Himself is the Tutor.

If God has chosen to do this then I would suggest that God is planning something. There is no way in heaven or hell you could talk me into getting in the way when the Master is at work. But then again did I not just through saying I thought that the dawning revival would draw persecution from the church itself? (yes I did).