Something I have just read

[Johnnz]

I have just finished reading Brian McLaren's book "A Generous Orthodoxy." The book registered with me in many areas and as I have ended up being part of a house church, although that is not the topic of his book.

I was able to identify with this statement

You may already be a Christian, struggling, questioning, and looking for reasons to stay in. Or you may have officially left the Christian community, but part of your heart is still there, and you wonder if you might someday return. So many of us have come close to withdrawing from the Christian community. It's not because of Jesus or his good news, but because of frustrations with religious politics, dubious theological propositions, difficulties in interpreting passages of the Bible that feel barbaric (especially to people sensitized by Jesus to the importance of compassion), and/or embarrassments from recent and not-so-recent church history." Or perhaps it's simply boredom-dreary music, blase sermons, sappy answers to tough questions, and other adventures in missing the point. Or perhaps it's fatigue-a treadmill of meetings and books and programs and squabbles that yield more duties, obligations, guilt trips, and stress.

Question: Why have we stayed in? Answer: Where else would we go? Would divesting ourselves of our faith in Jesus be an improvement? Would becoming just another uncommitted, secular American (or any nationality) consumer, dreaming of a bigger car or mortgage or savings account, be a step in the right direction? And if we decided to disassociate from the chequered career of the Christian community, are we so arrogant or naive as to think we and our descendants would do better? Wouldn't the very act of disassociation itself be a kind of arrogant and elitist move, and therefore spiritually dangerous? Doesn't the chequered career, once fully acknowledged, help to make recurrences less likely, by humbling us, sensitizing us to the abuses of religion? See Chapter 19.


John
NZ

 

[Amethystia]

Question: Why have we stayed in?

Blessings to you, Johnnz,

It's been interesting to observe the current trend of 'staying in'... I have friends who have been part of it. Along with 'why', I think we need to ask 'what'~ what are we doing when we 'stay in'... are we being churched by the TV, the computer, nothing?

My friends have found ways to take their faith into everyday situations, to bring the living Christ to their sphere of influence... through homechurches. The group researches their area, and focuses on the needs presented, in the name of the Lord.

I'm not sure what it is about modern 'traditional chruch' that seems to rob the layperson of this sense of purpose... of taking the 'church' into the world.

I'm searching for answers on this one, too.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

although it looks like you both meant opposite things by 'staying in',
i think you'll love the reviews at the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870830031/ref=pd_luc_0210108708302790870830031/103-7539070-6500653

the author of the book referred to exposes the falsehood of groups that call themselves christian but aren't, very thoroughly and gently, for the Gospel's Sake and not for profit (he died in prison after 13 years in solitary for preaching the Gospel)

he does this by showing from God's Life and Word what is true, what the true fellowship of believers is. (virtually no one else comes close to teaching this in the last one hundred years, and certainly no one on tv)
in living the life of Christ Jesus unselfishly and surrendered.
as it is written, God gives grace to the humble, but opposes the proud.