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
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