Hired gun?

[Jamey]

A friend of mine, who is going thru a denomination bible college, discussed something with me that was extremely disturbing. We were talking about some of the things in his denomination that didn't seem to be in scripture. I know this man well, we both went to bible studies together and have alot of conversations about scripture.
That is why his response to my scripture floored me. He said that if the doctrine was not scriptural, that being he was ordained by that denomination, he wouldn't preach against it. It would be something that he would talk about in private.

Ok, here is my question. When does your denominational loyalties end and your following Christ begin? I feel like the organic church movement is beyond denominationalism in the current definition of the term. H.C. is just trying to be the church as our Lord and Saviour intended.

But, I think my friends views show the reason why the H.C. is so needed today. Just because we my hold loosely to some doctrine does not mean we are enslaved to it to the point where we ignore God's word.
I guess its all about following the money trail. Not biting the hand that feeds ya.

Your brother in Christ
J.

 

[EyezOFire]

He just hasnt been unplugged from the Matrix yet bro, and you know what, you cant unplug him if he is not ready. The walk is costly, and for him, if he is in any sort of paid leadership it's hard because he'll have to walk away from that to. I know a person like that, he's still a good man. I think that deep down he knows the truth, it's just the outworking of that truth hasnt been manifested fully yet. That all depends on the Lords prompting and his willingness to count the cost. So if he needs to wrestle with it for awhile, let him wrestle, but dont try to unplug him if he isnt ready.

 

[Remy Sheppard]

He just hasnt been unplugged from the Matrix yet bro, and you know what, you cant unplug him if he is not ready.

As true or untrue as that may be, that is a horrible way to view a brother in Christ.

 

[EyezOFire]

He just hasnt been unplugged from the Matrix yet bro, and you know what, you cant unplug him if he is not ready.

As true or untrue as that may be, that is a horrible way to view a brother in Christ.

Not really, because I was speaking metaphorically. The IC is a system

 

[- DRA -]

A friend of mine, who is going thru a denomination bible college, discussed something with me that was extremely disturbing. We were talking about some of the things in his denomination that didn't seem to be in scripture. I know this man well, we both went to bible studies together and have alot of conversations about scripture.
That is why his response to my scripture floored me. He said that if the doctrine was not scriptural, that being he was ordained by that denomination, he wouldn't preach against it. It would be something that he would talk about in private.

Ok, here is my question. When does your denominational loyalties end and your following Christ begin? I feel like the organic church movement is beyond denominationalism in the current definition of the term. H.C. is just trying to be the church as our Lord and Saviour intended.

But, I think my friends views show the reason why the H.C. is so needed today. Just because we my hold loosely to some doctrine does not mean we are enslaved to it to the point where we ignore God's word.
I guess its all about following the money trail. Not biting the hand that feeds ya.

Your brother in Christ
J.

Sorry, but I fail to see how your friend's misplaced devotion elevates the need for house churches. People fail to teach and take a stand for truth for a variety of reasons. For instance, family ties/relations sometimes gets in the way (Matthew 10:37). Can family ties/relations be a problem in a house-church setting? Sure they can. The answer is to put God and doing His will first in our lives ... for all Christians. Doesn't matter if you meet in a house, or are a part of a large church - the teaching equally applies to both groups.

My two-cents worth. You can keep the change.

 

[visionary]

There is both good and not so good news about any group setting..

good ....for bringing understandings together before the Lord in prayer and fellowship ..

not so good... dominating human intervention even with honorable intentions pushing the work of the Holy Spirit aside.

One good thing about new branches of the Lord's work.. they are fresh, still inspired by God Himself, free to grow spiritually, and full of life.

 

[Jamey]

Dra,
I guess one of my problems is that I see the house church movement thru Restoration glasses. You are right, just because one is in a house church does not mean one would not follow false doctrine. But my friend's rewards (status or money) would greatly decrease if he was in a simple church setting. Maybe his reasons for staying are more devious than I first thought.

 

[- DRA -]

Dra,
I guess one of my problems is that I see the house church movement thru Restoration glasses. You are right, just because one is in a house church does not mean one would not follow false doctrine. But my friend's rewards (status or money) would greatly decrease if he was in a simple church setting. Maybe his reasons for staying are more devious than I first thought.

For sure, any "reward" that takes precedence over the eternal reward offered by God (a home in heaven) is a poor trade. It reminds me of the point about Esau in Hebrews 12:16.

I wouldn't necessarily classify your friend's actions as devious. It tends to remind me of passages such as John 12:42, Philippians 1:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (which, to me, is one of the more sobering texts in the N.T.).

I am of the mindset that God's people in both large and small groups would greatly benefit by focusing on what's best for the doing the Lord's word in their respective locations. Thinking back to the church at Corinth, the "carnal" mindset allowed brethren to be sidetracked. While jockeying for prestige and personal exaltation, they lost sight that the Lord called them to serve. In some of the newer supplemental song books that are being used by some churches today, there is a song entitled, "Make Me A Servant." I like both the song and the message. I sense it is as needed today among God's people as it ever was.

Just a few thoughts.