Inigo Montoya and the Dread Pirate Roberts have spoken the pleasantries and standing facing with swords drawn. "Begin"
If this blog is even worth looking at occasionally we must ask...
Why should we search for truth when the people who seem to have found it haven't seemed to be helped by it, or they are drab and boring. Does truth make us intellectual and lofty above everybody else? Would the truth preaching church be inviting or rejecting?
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5 comments:
I understand the "unchecked tradition" of which you speak, but I think it would be helpful to give specific examples of what you mean by "drab and boring" as a result of such. In my very limited experience, it is apparent that what some label "drab and boring" is considered by others to be "simple and solemn." Of course, it depends what subject is being discussed. Thanks for the clarification.
Congrats eklektos! you are the first bring more in i have so much we need to chit chat about!
As to the clarifying: i am speaking of the preconceived notion of those with the truth... for example fundamentalists see themselves as possessing the truth and standing for it most, but often their churches are less than small and populated by those that like their style of running church not passionately seeking to know the word. I in no way judge them, i respect that they are standing for the word and desire it be preached soundly, i am just saying that i don't think they are preaching it soundly all of the time if the church is lifeless. 1 John speaks of those that abide in the vine will love God and others. If they aren't they are not in the vine. Would people leave en masse if they were being loved and pointed to the love of God. Again i am bashing no one. Maybe the simple question could be: if the truth is being preached would the church growing and vibrant or would it be slowly dropping? Now obviously the cross is a stumbling block to the world, so i am not talking about world wide attendance to the truth speaking church, but the tone the feel...
Thanks again for clarifying. I think you're right on when you speak of "preaching [the Word] soundly." However, as one still living in the fundamentalist world, I think we can also add "exclusively." Too many folks in this circle tend to preach the Word well when they actually preach it, but often jump from the Word of God to the soapboxes of men. It's no wonder that churches of this sort are small (not that small is necessarily bad) and seemingly lifeless. If one is drinking water from the well of Scripture, then undoubtedly life, and that abundantly, will ensue. However, if I may carry my slightly ridiculous analogy further, when one is being fed a joint diet of God's water and man's soap, he ends up with flatulent bubbles.
Is the answer in newer programs? Culturally relevant preaching? A fresh approach to evangelism? The answer is (in my opinion) much simpler. As you alluded to, the answer is lies in the sound preaching of God's word and a deep, all-encompassing devotion and piety (fleshed out in loving Christ and loving others).
By the way, this is your old neighbor from 210 North.
Thank you for the refreshing blog!
I have a much simpler comment to make than what has been made so far, but still wish to say: No, complete truth does not actually make one lofty, but incomplete truth does. Finding precious truth will leave a person humble, not proud.
And to the second question, having been part of both kinds of churches, the truth-preaching church truly is inviting, but also spiritually challenging; accepting, but encourages growth; alive and exciting because Christ is exciting, not just to draw a crowd.
Aw, might as well join the fray. If I may comment with a view from the rice fields... it's interesting to see life and ministry from a foreign perspective. And Thailand is a bit unique because of the freedom the gospel has had here. There is a stronger Christian base in this part of the Orient, unlike other surrounding nations. But it looks quite different than the states. There are no highly sophisticated programs or such. Churches are extremely simple, which has sent me on a search for what God has in mind when He thinks "church". There's a lot that the American churches can still learn, that I know. And perhaps from the mission field. Is it any wonder that Korean missionaries end up in the US?
What I see here from a ministry perspective is people. Thai society itself is built around families and people, but there's more. An interesting fact over here is that the culture is much closer to the culture of the old and new testament than our American culture. So when I observe life here and read the scriptures, I see some things reflected a bit more accurately. The church is the people. The New Testament says that Christ died for the church, and He did not die for a building or a program. But what usually takes precedence in American churches? Many times the program. We have to get people out to church, we have to get people to do things around the church. But perhaps we miss what the "church" is, the church IS the people and the connections and relationships between them. This is more philosophical than purely theological, yes, but a good philosophy of ministry comes from the word of God. What thinkest thou? Perhaps this was a bit unrelated to the other comments, but perhaps not...
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