So, now I'm . . .the guardian of orthadoxy?
When did I become the guardian of orthodoxy? I was the rebel for heavens sake! I spent my college years raging against the system. “The traditional church was not doing its job!” I yelled. And perhaps I was right. When I created The Gathering, the plan was to assist those who felt somehow marginalized by the traditional church. I am convinced it’s a good and useful ministry. But, I never said there should not be a church!
There is a move in Christianity towards avoiding church altogether. The reasons are often valid in so far as people do not feel they are growing spiritually or intellectually in the traditional church. I can very much appreciate it and have often felt that way myself. This ever increasing theology suggests that one can grow outside the local congregation just as much as they can in it. It also suggests one can learn as much and be as much outside the church as they can in the church. In theory this is true; in practice, it’s not. It’s much like the theory that suggests not all people (in theory) need the atonement of Christ for salvation. If one were to be born, live, and die without committing a sin, one would automatically be saved. This is true in theory, but as all people sin, it’s not true in practice.
Real people tend not to learn a great deal outside the church. They tend not to read, study, or seriously engage new ideas. If you are in a church that does not expose you to these things, you have a need to leave. And, for a while, I can see not spending time in the fellowship of believers, but that ought to be short lived. Truth is, strength is found in fellowship and community. Learning to lean on one another is challenging, but necessary. There is a unique unity given Christians that springs from a shared understanding and a shared indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We really are drawn to one another in a supernatural way.
Likewise, corporate worship is invaluable to the spiritual health of a believer, not to mention it is demanded by the New Testament. Now, I am as much or more the rebel than most people, but there is little point in rebelling for the sake of rebelling.
There is a move in Christianity towards avoiding church altogether. The reasons are often valid in so far as people do not feel they are growing spiritually or intellectually in the traditional church. I can very much appreciate it and have often felt that way myself. This ever increasing theology suggests that one can grow outside the local congregation just as much as they can in it. It also suggests one can learn as much and be as much outside the church as they can in the church. In theory this is true; in practice, it’s not. It’s much like the theory that suggests not all people (in theory) need the atonement of Christ for salvation. If one were to be born, live, and die without committing a sin, one would automatically be saved. This is true in theory, but as all people sin, it’s not true in practice.
Real people tend not to learn a great deal outside the church. They tend not to read, study, or seriously engage new ideas. If you are in a church that does not expose you to these things, you have a need to leave. And, for a while, I can see not spending time in the fellowship of believers, but that ought to be short lived. Truth is, strength is found in fellowship and community. Learning to lean on one another is challenging, but necessary. There is a unique unity given Christians that springs from a shared understanding and a shared indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We really are drawn to one another in a supernatural way.
Likewise, corporate worship is invaluable to the spiritual health of a believer, not to mention it is demanded by the New Testament. Now, I am as much or more the rebel than most people, but there is little point in rebelling for the sake of rebelling.
posted by Joe at 7:03 PM
1 Comments:
So we're rebels, heh? I like that. You are right though in saying that there is little point in rebelling for the sake of rebelling. I also agree that sufficient time should be spent outside of the corporate Church in order that one may gain perspective on Christianity, oneself, and The Church. There are too many disappointments found in the traditional church; there are too many hypocrites that exist, that give forth loving words of acceptance, and that expound upon what it is a Christian ought to do and how they ought to be; they are advocates of Christianity, but they do not practice it; they do not live it. They exist contra to what they say, and this is what averts people from the Church (corporate). They [the disillusioned] cannot reconcile what they see with what is taught. The 'believers' needs be awakened from their sleep. There are people who have rejected Christianity because of this hypocrisy; we are turning precious souls wayward because there are those have allowed themselves to be corrupted by their doubts and fears, which perpetuate ignorance. They [the wayward souls] see it not only in the 'followers' but also in the pastors who have given over to social Christianity, who have lost touch with the true Faith, who have lost touch with the deeper magic that does exist. Church has been reduced to potlucks---which are integral for fellowship but not the sole definition of Church---and scripted services. Christianity goes deeper than that. Fellowship is needed. A gathering of Christians in worship of God is needed. But, these things needs be done in truth to our death. We need to take off our masks and live the Way as it was lived by our God, the Christ in flesh. We need to stop being hypocrites and show the people that there is hope. Complacency in the Church has become a plague that has infected the women and the men and in turn, their children and their grandchildren. The Church has lost a lot of integrity and honour. It needs be restored. If the Church, as delineated by Christ, is abolished, then the Evil One has won. And, if it continues in its current state, then we fair no better. The disillusioned need hope. Let us restore that hope in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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