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It is quiet in the cafe today, so I sampled some old threads, to help get up to speed. This post will pull together 3 points which stick in my mind. From the Gene Edwards question a comment to the effect we get what's wrong already, let's get on with building the new. From Whats church, what are "min. requirements?" From fellowship challenge where are we going/ how do we use gifts? It is wonderful that we have so many topic threads. We may admire each facet of this vast Kingdom jewel. As I hinted elsewhere,I believe our priority is to focus more attention on the glorious promise of the Spirit of Truth. Historicly, the traditional church has abused this gift in several ways. As said above, no need to go into all that again. However, if we consider that this abuse has produced the results we are all painfully familiar with, then we can project that a future church which truely is more INTERNAL, than external, is likely to produce better results in both. I have not yet seen the practice of spiritual direction mentioned here as a form of one on one church. By the most minimal terms "called out" by/for God, it would have to be. Yet I do not believe it should be so included. Some here have mentioned 4 or 5 standard practices which define doing church. Can we agree that called out describes the first step in a process? Church is compared with marriage. Surely marriage is not properly defined by only its first step. But sadly it also may not grow much beyond it. When the greeks were called out of their homes (oops, sounds kind of anti house church) they knew they were meeting for a purpose. They knew there was something they needed to do as a group, about something that effected everyone. That somthing special was happening. As we try to gain understanding we consider using other words, which could have been written but were not. So we are stuck with this strange phrase- calling out the militia/national guard may be as close as can we relate. When we allow this odd compound word to carry its original context some powerful things happen. We see a call to leave hearth and home, at least a brief imitation of the 12. We see the formation of a combined group, a new unit. We seek clarification of its purpose. Decide the best action to take. And then go home. No, wait that last one is the traditional church. The last step in the greek system would be ACIUALLY DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. No real shocker there. Together we do far more than alone. Christ adapts this normal operation to a different field,the Spiritual. In this area," together " would include His Spirit, the Spirit of truth. Who better to know what needs to be done in our new "calling?"
I have been thinking some about a recent question toward the average believer asking "why don't they get it"? I think you have tapped into a major reason here, Rich. We resist this "calling out" of the Spirit- as we meet together in participatory groups as we all advocate, this work of the Spirit in our lives becomes harder to ignore. Why do we resist it? Because as we relinquish control to God, we become less in control, and this is scary! We are "called out", and yet aren't sure where this calling will take us (think of Abraham as he left his homeland). Jesus told Nicodemus that those born of the Spirit are like the wind- and when it comes down to it, most believers simply prefer to keep their feet on the ground, "serving God" on their own terms.
I say these things not so much in judgement of others, but knowing that I need to take the plank out of my own eye first, before helping anyone else with the speck in theirs. Recently, I have been praying like the man who said to Jesus "I do believe, help me in my unbelief"- but more along the lines of "I am willing, help me in my unwillingness".
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Hi Jeanne, I think you may have a precious key to the kingdom. It is said that to realize how little one really knows is the beginning of wisdom. Would the humility to admit how weak our belief is be the beginning of spiritual wisdom? Since we don't get this type of preaching, our best hope is personal testimony. Yes, it all seems like a good idea, but I'm afraid. My human nature would really like to keep one foot in each camp. Best of both worlds. Sorry, gotta choose. When you don't choose, you did choose. I was so close 4 years ago. I said Lord I really do believe you can change my life completely. That's why I am telling you I'm not ready yet. I thank God he takes rejection well. Lot of practice I guess. If only someone told us faith is not a journey, that would be point a to some point b, but is a labyrinth maze; I get close to the center and the path carries me back to the outer edges once again. God bless your path,wherever it takes you. Rich 1
I really like the idea of the maze! I have never heard that before, but it really fits in with the idea that I'm not "ahead" of others on this journey, but just in a different place.
I think we spend [much wasted] time trying to get others to come to the place we have reached "ahead" of them, when all we really should be doing is fellowshipping with each other as we pass in the "amazing maze" of faith!
That being said, one thing I do find [hard to ignore] is when folks judge others [place] when they have no idea what The Lord is doing in that person's life. I have hard all kinds of judgments being pored out, just because someone's ministry is different than the person passing judgment. I find this very frustrating, and it's hard for me to keep quiet when I hear this stuff.
Let's pretend for a moment that we are all here to encourage one another. As we meet in the maze, there is nothing wrong with telling someone where you have been, and what awaits around certain twist and turns ...but we should not get offended when someone decides not to follow us, or even goes a way that caused us pain. Their way is just different than ours, as it should be!
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As we meet in the maze, there is nothing wrong with telling someone where you have been, and what awaits around certain twist and turns ...but we should not get offended when someone decides not to follow us, or even goes a way that caused us pain. Their way is just different than ours, as it should be! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
