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NASB | Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. |
Subject: Visit other churches? |
Bible Note: Charis: Actually, the non-denominational background that I was raised in is quite non-charismatic. They are just very congregational in their form of church government and steeped in the dispensationalism that flows forth like water from my neck of the woods. They are most definitely cessationists in regards to the more sensational gifts. Therefore, non-denominational does not mean Pentecostal in all circumstances. I am not suggesting that there is NO denominational bias out there, by the way. However, I do not come across a great number of individuals claiming inerrancy in their interpretations of Scripture (despite the fact that I certainly come across quite a few on here, where am modem gives one all authority in all things). I certainly hold that I very well could be wrong in aspects of my theology (and probably am), but it certainly is going to take a lot more than someone merely asserting that I am wrong to convince me of my error(s). My own mother-in-law would probably fall into the camp of the "less-orderly" saints, and I certainly see her faith in Jesus. That doesn't prevent theological disagreement in certain areas, however, that probably would not make us comfortable attending the same congregations. As far as whether the focus is on the Word or the Spirit, the two are in conjunction. While I hold that no one's interpretation of Scripture is free from error of any kind, I also do not hold the understanding of God's Word to be some up-in-the-air guessing game. I would say that I place my focus on the Spirit as revealed in the Word. After all, how do we know what is truly a work of the Spirit unless we gauge it by the other gift of God to the church, the Bible? Actually, about five years ago we did visit one of those "less-orderly" churches, where there was a praise-and-worship band with the drums and guitar and all of that dynamic stuff (not bad in itself, just setting the scene). The congragation was quite excited about it all. Then the pastor came out in his mustard-yellow jacket and began to display his Bible, alternately lifting it up in the air and clutching it to his chest, and yet never quite managing to open it. He did speak, however, about all the great things that God was planning on doing in the church, how God was really moving and shaking things. The service ended with the congregation taking money out of their wallets and rushing to place it in a huge, mountainous pile on the altar as the whole escapade was accompanied by the band. I know that this is a rather extreme example, but every one of the people who regularly attend that church were completely convinced of "the Spirit working" that Sunday morning. That is the problem when we forget the fact that the Holy Spirit primarily works through the proclamation of the message of Scripture. Divorce the Word from the service and there IS no service. The issue I have with such churches is whether my interpretation is inerrant or not, but whether or not the teachers of the church participate in the hiding of God's own message from the congregation. --Joe! |