House Church Talk - Re: Fluid Church

Sean Kelly seank at microsoft.com
Wed Mar 31 20:54:47 EST 2004


Let me add an observation in your exhortation. In what sounds almost like the antitheses of today's modern church practices, Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:1-3 to exert humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love, and diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit. Only later (in verse 13) will we attain to a unity of the faith. So without being of the same mind with regard to the second coming, election, spiritual gifts, or a litany of other "issues" we are to strive to maintain a unity of the Spirit. This adds new light to other exhortations like I Corinthians 8:9.
 
To answer your question, I'm sure trying though only those who know me well understand why.
 
SeanK

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From: House Church Talk -bounces at housechurch.org on behalf of David Anderson
Sent: Wed 3/31/2004 4:29 PM
To: House Church Talk
Subject: RE: House Church Talk -  Re: Fluid Church




     Hey there,

I had another thot on the idea of fluid church which we discussed several
weeks ago.

Remember those old milk cartons which had the words 100% homogenized on
the side? This meant that the contents were consistent and without lumps
and layers - of uniform consistency. "Homogenized" comes from the word
"homogeneous."

I actually encountered that word in an old Christian book which described
a "homogeneous body of elders." In other words, they were equal or the
same. This would be in distinction to churches today which have "ruling"
and "teaching" elders. Truth is, all elders are to teach, just as all
older women are.

In what could truly be called the Lord's prayer, Jesus prayed that his
people would be one. That's found in John 17. Are we doing our part to
promote unity, wherever possible and I know that sometimes it does seem
pretty impossible.

      David Anderson
    
   
    

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