Post by Brother Ben on Jan 7, 2011 12:20:55 GMT -5
Phl 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Agendas you say? Yes, agendas. I have noticed, and I am sure I am guilty of this to some degree, that groups have agendas. I guess this is o.k., if your part of "that" group, but the sad thing is when you are not. Some say, that's easy to remedy, just join the group. I would love to join the group, but what if you cannot join unless you meet prerequisites 1- 10? Well, then you are welcome to visit, in some cases not, but you cannot be one of "the brethren." You cannot share in the meetings, in some cases, you cannot take communion, or take part in other parts of assembly life, you are an outsider. Sometimes you receive a phone call and are, quite frankly, asked to not come back (and yes, we have experienced that.)
I realize this may sound idealistic, but wouldn't it be wonderful if the agenda was Christ and Christ alone? Wouldn't it be great if the key goal was Christ in your life and the lives of those whom you touch? If the key dress style was, adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. If the rules or ordinences to be followed would be let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. If the mandate for personal accountability was to walk in the Spirit. If the assembly was all those whose sins have been purged by the blood of Jesus. If the key to oneness in the assembly was to love one another.
But, agendas seem to put an end to that. We have a certain doctrine that must be held higher than Christ. We have a certain standard which must be held higher than Christ, and the list goes on. The man made practice of "joining" the church has subverted the great truth of scripture that we have been made a part of the body by trusting in Christ. So is joining a group wrong? No, not if that "joining" is merely a stating of identifying with a local assembly, not a (almost,) swaring of an oath to keep their particulars.
I am not making room for a rebel, though a rebel surely would come. But forcing the assemblies to look at their format and see is it the formula that keeps you pure or is it the spirit of Christ? Is it the written or unwritten but understood list of does and don'ts or has Christ been reached in reality? Do we need agenda's or do we need Christ?
The only one's who may respond to this post are those who . . .
You thought I was boxing you into an agenda. No, if you have been washed in the blood of Jesus, come and dine.
Bro. Ben
Agendas you say? Yes, agendas. I have noticed, and I am sure I am guilty of this to some degree, that groups have agendas. I guess this is o.k., if your part of "that" group, but the sad thing is when you are not. Some say, that's easy to remedy, just join the group. I would love to join the group, but what if you cannot join unless you meet prerequisites 1- 10? Well, then you are welcome to visit, in some cases not, but you cannot be one of "the brethren." You cannot share in the meetings, in some cases, you cannot take communion, or take part in other parts of assembly life, you are an outsider. Sometimes you receive a phone call and are, quite frankly, asked to not come back (and yes, we have experienced that.)
I realize this may sound idealistic, but wouldn't it be wonderful if the agenda was Christ and Christ alone? Wouldn't it be great if the key goal was Christ in your life and the lives of those whom you touch? If the key dress style was, adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. If the rules or ordinences to be followed would be let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. If the mandate for personal accountability was to walk in the Spirit. If the assembly was all those whose sins have been purged by the blood of Jesus. If the key to oneness in the assembly was to love one another.
But, agendas seem to put an end to that. We have a certain doctrine that must be held higher than Christ. We have a certain standard which must be held higher than Christ, and the list goes on. The man made practice of "joining" the church has subverted the great truth of scripture that we have been made a part of the body by trusting in Christ. So is joining a group wrong? No, not if that "joining" is merely a stating of identifying with a local assembly, not a (almost,) swaring of an oath to keep their particulars.
I am not making room for a rebel, though a rebel surely would come. But forcing the assemblies to look at their format and see is it the formula that keeps you pure or is it the spirit of Christ? Is it the written or unwritten but understood list of does and don'ts or has Christ been reached in reality? Do we need agenda's or do we need Christ?
The only one's who may respond to this post are those who . . .
You thought I was boxing you into an agenda. No, if you have been washed in the blood of Jesus, come and dine.
Bro. Ben