COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER
I have really not been closely following the postings on the blog these past 30 days. Not to sound self righteous, but I simply have been too busy trying to help lead a congregation to be faithful to its calling to help reconcile people to God. To borrow Dan Kimball's expression "to be the bridges to the bridge." And creative energies have been focused on connecting with unchurched people to engage them in a dialogue that would help open their hearts and minds to Jesus Christ. I think the word still is evangelism.
I know this is a blog that is basically "in house" and is trying to create a sense of receptivity towards emerging generations (at least that was my understanding when I began reading the blog). The question is "are we dialoguing with all the brethren who make up the Church of God today?" For a variety of reasons, that dialogue appears not to have happened. But when that time comes, what will be our purpose? To convert previous generations to "our way" of viewing the church (including categorizing people in their APEST streams) or will it to be to build a unity of the Body that honors Christ and presents a life-transforming gospel to the world.
It is my experience lately that many traditional pastors and church leaders really want to do ministry that honors Jesus Christ and makes new disciples, but feel tied down by local congregational expectations and denominational comparisons and equipping that has not even begun to recognize what it means to do ministry in an unchurched culture.
Mission statements and motivational slogans do not define or empower the church. People seeking to open and obedient to the Holy Spirit are what enables the church to be fruitful in its mission. If that does not always have precision in mechanics or conformity to every doctrinal iota--will the church fail to be faithful? I think not. It has been reported that on his death bed that John Winebrenner implored the brethren to do everything necessary to preserve the unity of the Body.
How do we go about discovering and embodying that unity as the Churches of God in 2010? I would be interested in your thoughts. - Steve Dunn
Labels: unity
posted by LIFE MATTERS at 7:17 PM
2 Comments:
Steve - thanks for participating in this conversation and it this case starting a conversation.
I very much what for us here - and more widely - to find some core values or priorities that we can agree on instead of (only) arguing things. I think that we do need to continue dialoguing about varying understandings. but more importantly, we need to come together with some shared values.
There have been some positive signs of late. It seems like lately we have been discussing being led by the Spirit and what it means to be a disciple.
Thank you, Dan. I love these dialogues but have lately grown to want to know the point of a dialogue. I suppose it's my oncoming old age but I want to know where a dialogue is headed. Too close to the time of His returning to want to be found wandering.
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