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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | response | Rom 1:18 | Morant61 | 20569 | ||
Counterview.................................... Greetings Schwartzkm! Concerning your perspective on the church and seminary, I don't think the problem is seminary. The problem (in my opinion) is that the Church has developed a fortress mentality over the years. Pastors and laypeople alike (in general) open the doors and expect unbelievers to come to them. While I was pastoring, I constantly tried to get the Church out of the building. But, it was a constant struggle. Currently, I am working with small groups, which I think is a wonderful way to meet the world where they are. Now, maybe colleges and seminaries need to do a better job at articulating some stratigies for reaching out, but their primary job is to equip people. Those who have been equipped then have the responsiblity to use that training. In fairness to your pastor (though I don't know him), pastoring is more than just evangelism. It is probably harder for a pastor to evangelize than almost anyone else. People just aren't themselves around you when they find out you are a pastor and they don't really hear what you have to say because you get paid to say it. So, while I believe pastors must be examples and actively engaged in evangelism, their primary responsibility is to equip the saints for ministry. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | response | Rom 1:18 | Hank | 20644 | ||
Tim, I love your term "fortress mentality" as you use it regarding the attitudes that churches today have developed in their relationship to the world around them. And its sadly true, I'm afraid. One wonders if the fences are built around churches to keep their members in or to keep visitors out. Chuck Colson has noted this trend and points out its folly in his book (his best thus far, in my view) called "How Now Shall We Live?" --Hank | ||||||
3 | response | Rom 1:18 | Reformer Joe | 20647 | ||
Hank: Of course, one of the "solutions" offered by the modern church is to strive to make itself look as much like the world as possible, thinking that we can appeal to one's selfish desire to be entertained and not compromise the stumbing block that is the cross. I think you would agree that the key is to maintain our distinctiveness (i.e. salt and light) and at the same time be effective ambassadors for Christ in the world. Maybe the best place for us to be would not be the "walled fortress," but rather the neighbor, foreign country (the Kingdom of God) whose culture is clearly different from the nations surrounding it, but has a good diplomatic corps and is seeking to expand itself into the hearts of those not yet citizens. :) --Joe! |
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4 | response | Rom 1:18 | Hank | 20694 | ||
Joe, believing as I do that you are quite correct in saying that we can, and should, be something like a diplomatic corps and, as such, should not compromise our "salt and light" purpose, I'm reminded of what a fine example of this Paul set when he stood in the midst of the Areopagus and spoke to the learned Athenians upon Mars Hill. Without compromising his position or obscuring his mission, he began his sermon by being complimentary in order to gain a hearing. His sermon is a masterpiece of measured tact and diplomacy, a classic example that we Christians (and indeed the church) need not and should not feel compelled to conform in order to be the effective vessels of salt and light that Christ envisages as our proper commission to be His ambassadors in the world today. --Hank | ||||||