tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post8928511759394481643..comments2023-09-20T09:39:24.282-04:00Comments on Spirit in the Wild Wood: The Divide Between Goats and Sheep or I'm Not a Fan of Denominationalismdedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04110715735805987539noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-83760531722079575932009-11-30T05:43:31.972-05:002009-11-30T05:43:31.972-05:00Terry,
Yep, to know and walk in a deep love free...Terry, <br /><br />Yep, to know and walk in a deep love freed from human social boundaries and institutions is the point I think.<br /><br />Carey,<br /><br />When the dynamics within the groups that do and must exist negatively affect the group within which one resides, the causes of division ought to be exposed and excreted. <br /><br />This series is not really intended as an ecumenical panacea that brings denominationalism to an end. Rather it is simply a cry that we need NOT accept the limits of our theologies. There is a transcendant power, the power of love in the Spirit, that will transform our group if we will but submit in obedience to His leading.<br /><br />To do so requires we abandon our assumption that the way things are is the way they must remain.<br /><br /><br />Hey Patrick!<br /><br />Thanks for seeking me out over here in the Wild Wood.dedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04110715735805987539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-79126832134146917402009-11-30T05:40:22.688-05:002009-11-30T05:40:22.688-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.dedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04110715735805987539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-50889555656553424722009-11-27T22:26:11.098-05:002009-11-27T22:26:11.098-05:00Today I was driving down a country road near my ho...Today I was driving down a country road near my home( there are many) and saw a sign that read, GOATS FOR SALE. Now I am aware that sheep are sold as well as goats , but this sign made me think about the price that is paid for a sheep as compared to a goat. Am I FOR SALE? On the open market? Are you? To the untrained ear a sheep and goat may sound the same. However, a shepherd , one who knows the language of his flock, can distinguish the differences and discern their needs. Does merely being in the pasture define your identity? thanks David.Be Encouraged !https://www.blogger.com/profile/10509081731329782893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-67410297561971029842009-11-26T07:42:08.784-05:002009-11-26T07:42:08.784-05:00Jesus is not worried about our divisions. This is ...Jesus is not worried about our divisions. This is the way it has been since Peter and Paul disagreed about bringing the gentiles in; this is the way it will be until the Lord returns.<br />He said: "In my house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you so."<br />Get used to it. Furthermore, what Christians do when they're together is irrelevant compared to their <i>fruit of the Spirit</i> interaction with others in this world. <br />You need to lighten up. You're doing a great work in your chosen profession. Devote your energies to honing that precious role which God and society have assigned to you.<br />Forget the sniveling Christians who refuse to be herded into one flock. God will deal with them himself at the end of this present mess.<br />Let them stew in their own juices.<br />Speaking of gravy, Happy Thanksgiving, you turkey!careyrowlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17958687878367659875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-90868094455938272202009-11-25T16:15:31.968-05:002009-11-25T16:15:31.968-05:00After our "church" meeting this past Sun...After our "church" meeting this past Sunday I was talking with and older (than me) believer about what our group had discussed. It had been mentioned that most church splits had come about as a result of Christians not being able to find a place of unity with or understanding for brothers who had different doctrinal slants. That this lack had led to most church splits, etc.<br /><br />Since we had both been a part of the same fellowship several years ago where differences were not lightly tolerated, she made the comment that the leadership had taken her and her husband's comments as threatening their own personal identity, rather than as attempts to dialogue about the state of church affairs.<br /><br />What happened to them after was typical of that type of structure. They were "demonized" and put in time out until they finally left out of frustration and inattention.<br /><br />This type of behavior played itself out over and over again for at least the 20 years I was a part of that group. In the end, it happened to me as well.<br /><br />That we don't learn to deal with our differences in a constructive manner is a stain on the church that Christ died to birth. <br /><br />I remember reading a quote from T. S. Eliot who said that he purposed to be conservative during his early years so that he could less staid and strict during his more mature years. Not exact but I think the point is well taken. We all seem to get to a place where we think that we know it all and anything different is perceived as a threat to our security and well being.<br /><br />To embrace another human being as a child of God is not to say that we have to swallow everything they believe. I would like to get to a point in my life where I could have a Muslim family over for dinner and not have to say anything about what our differences are (though many): but rather allow whatever love God has for them to flow through me in a life changing way.<br /><br />They will know we are His by our love for them.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts.Terrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-39403010061800814062009-11-25T07:02:24.314-05:002009-11-25T07:02:24.314-05:00postmodern redneck,
I've heard of the Campbel...postmodern redneck,<br /><br />I've heard of the Campbellites. They were mentioned in a sociology class I took once. It is always interesting to discover someone in past centuries who speaks with whole streaks of like-concepts with issues we face today. Kind of brings meaning to the statement, "He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow."<br /><br />Christians face the same truth and the inherent problems of walking that out no matter the moment or culture since Jerusalem in the 1st century.<br /><br />Also, I appreciate the history lesson. I had it in my mind that DOC was a Methodist derivation.<br /><br />Steve, thanks for coming over here to read; I know your life is very busy with family these days!! What a wonderful blessing you have.dedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04110715735805987539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-43784433689906830812009-11-21T00:50:18.003-05:002009-11-21T00:50:18.003-05:00Very well said, brother. (Both of you, actually, a...Very well said, brother. (Both of you, actually, as PMR's comment is spot on, as well)<br /><br />I was just having a discussion with a friend about this very notion of division within the body of Christ. We think we're doing God favors when we divide from others, but I believe we are actually breaking his heart.Steve Sensenighttp://www.beyondtheboxpodcast.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746468652435913462.post-1687932026561966952009-11-20T21:43:45.463-05:002009-11-20T21:43:45.463-05:00Good to see you back, David!
I grew up in what wa...Good to see you back, David!<br /><br />I grew up in what was once called the "Campbellite" movement, which started in the early 1800s in the Penn/Ky/Oh region of the US (called "the West" at the time, "midwest" now). Alexander Campbell and his associates sought to shed all denominational traditions and return to the church shown in the New Testament. They did not scrap the church building (granted church meeting houses were not as elaborate in their place and time as they are now); Campbell and others tried to get away from paid local clergy. When I stumbled upon the modern house church movement a few years ago, I was struck by the similarities between what the moderns were saying and what the Campbellites were writing almost 200 years ago. I will say the HC movement is nicer about it; if you want to see some harsh criticism of the clergy, google "Third Epistle of Peter", a piece Campbell published in 1825 and was still to be found online a few years ago.<br />The sad part is, Campbell and his friends made some headway, but the second and third generations blew it: they got the idea that they HAD restored the NT church, and could sit back and wait for everyone else to wake up and come to them. They also went back to the use of paid pastors for every church. The movement later split into 3 main groups (with assorted subdivides in places) over first, instrumental music in church, (acapella Church of Christ) and later over liberal theology (leading to the Disciples of Christ denomination). (And most of the fighting was done by those paid clergymen!)<br /><br />I still sometimes call myself an "unreconstructed Campbellite" because my views are closer to Alex's than most of those who claim to be his followers today.<br /><br />I guess my point is that this line of thought is not new; it needs to be renewed periodically, because the mass of people keep falling back into "religion" and lose track of Christ. Can't remember where I first found it, but some wise person remarked that "The natural state of fallen man is legalism." And I'm afraid he was right.<br /><br />So where am I going? I would say walk in the truth as well as you can see it, try to keep your eyes on Him so you don't get priorities mixed up, welcome fellowship with any you find on the journey, and walk in love with the people God has given you.<br /><br />One last thing, and I think I wrote this on the Theological Musings blog a long time ago: Always keep a distinction in your mind between the actual words of Scripture, and the interpretations you and others put on them. Almost all the fighting is over interpretations; and unlike Scripture, interpretations are not divinely inspired and are not guaranteed to be inerrant. We need to hold them lightly, in case we find out later that our Lord does not agree with them.postmodern redneckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07279009105618761553noreply@blogger.com