House Church Talk - public meetings

[Gary]

With respect, I don't think letting the name out will do much good. We'll
just say that I had to move out here to attend, we already know it's
reformed, and it would not accept gays and lesbians. There were good people
there, both student and faculty as well as some I would not miss.

I am so far from agreement with the seminary model now that I would not want
further school-specific comment to sound like I am slamming them. Seminary
in general shows a number of things. The first is that the church has
abdicated its obligation to train its own people for the ministry. I've felt
this for many years, but had no choice but to follow the "rules". Second is
that the church is far more concerned with academic respectability than
Scriptural qualifications when preparing its slaves, errrr.... sorry,
ministers for doing the "work of the church". If this were not true, then
why is a bachelor's degree a written in stone requirement for seminary? And
last (at least for now) seminary does not train pastors or elders but rather
managers and CEOs; people who can manage the politics of the IC system.

Does this mean that I don't believe that there are godly men who work hard
in their callings? By no means!!! But I do not believe that the system or
the "officers" that it produces has the force of God's word to prove the
validity of its existance.

Dan, I'm sorry. I should return to my writing, for you asked a simple
question and got a writing spasm. I hope it did not hit too hard. May the
Lord bless you and keep you.



Earnestly contending,

Gary

(Written using WindowEyes, the premier screenreading program from GW Micro
that makes PCs accessible to the blind and visually impaired.  Contact:
www.gwmicro.com)

"Preach not only so that the people can understand, but so that they cannot
misunderstand if they wish."  CH.Spurgeon

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the
full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the
schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist
in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."  Ephesians
6:10-13
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "DanG" <dan.dgordon at gmail.com>
To: <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 2:01 PM
Subject: Re: House Church Talk -  public meetings


> Gary wrote:
> > Technically northwestern Indiana, out from the borious state of
Connecticut.
> > When cemetary was no longer a viable option due to my family's addiction
to
> > living indoors and eating hot meals, we moved away from that town to a
local
> > reformed church six years ago. Three reformed churches later (each one
> > convinced that I am the problem) we have given up on IC, I do NOT mean
that
> > I see it as us versus them, but there's no reason to go through the
Slough
> > of Despond again.
> -------------------------------
> Oh, not that slough again... we don't want to go there, again...
>
> So, coming from a reformed background, you may appreciate this
> concoction which another reformed background guy gave to me - kinda
> cute.
>
> btw, which cemetary?
> DanG ChicagoArea
>
> Arminian grace! How strange the sound
> Salvation hinged on ME
> I once was lost then turned around
> Was blind then chose to see
>
> What "grace" is it that calls for choice
> Out of some good within?
> The part that willed to heed God's voice
> Proved stronger than my sin
>
> Through many ardent gospel pleas
> I sat with heart of stone
> But then some hidden good in me
> Propelled me toward my home
>
> When we've been there ten thousand years
> Because of what we've done
> We've no less days to sing our praise
> Than when we first begun
>
> - Dennis Walter Cochran
>
> My soul is but a spider frail
> Held o'er the harsh immortal flame
> To what savior can I avail?
> Avail to hope in Christ's name
> And he shall not reject
> For I am his elect
> Chosen before the birth
> Of this precarious earth
> In Christ there's no betrayal
>
>
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