One Way

There is a great conversation taking place on TerryStorch.com. Terry wrote about Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point and how it relates to Fellowship Church, and churches in general. This provoked some critical comments and some interesting responses which are worth reading.

Or are they?

In all honesty, I don't know if they are. I would love to read a serious, honest, heartfelt conversation between those who believe and those who do not. Struggles, hurts, questions, frustrations, and disappointments matched with love, hope, and grace. That is a truly worthwhile conversation.

This is most assuredly not that conversation. This is simply the criticisms of believers by believers. Obviously there is a healthy place for debate, but the people who provoked this intense conversation are not friendly, curious, questioning or open-minded. They have come for one purpose, to judge and criticize what by nearly every measure has been an incredible move of God. The fact that fellow Christians would so freely attack other churches without humility is an unfortunate example to the many readers who are outside of the faith.

As I wrote a few months ago:

I think most outsiders would be surprised to discover how much fun churches have criticizing other churches. I've found over my brief four years in ministry that every church must battle against one thing constantly - arrogance. Most churches are clear on two things: the inerrant truth of scripture and, a close second, the inerrant method of presenting it.

There is only one Way, one Truth, and one Life. There are many ways to do church.

Comments

[phil crissman]

I'd have to agree with you when you ask the question "Or are they [worth reading]?" Some of the comments certainly were, and even now that the discussion is likely all wound up, I found myself sucked into the "leave your 2 cents" vortex, and added another.

But for sure, this was not a conversation of people looking to persuade or be persuaded. Like most conversations of the sort, at best it is, "I disagree, and here's why... and furthermore...!" Is that good or bad? I don't know.

I do think that we need to avoid terms like "post-modern" which mean so many things to so many people that they practically mean nothing at all (you know, like "scalable enterprise solution" :-) ).

True story (which somehow seems related, to me): on a plane to Tulsa one time, I was reading a book (E.W.Kenyon, if I dare admit it :-) ), and wound up talking to the person next to me about the Bible, Christianity and so forth; all sparked by the innocuous, "What are you reading?" Unfortunately, I blundered. When asked, what did I believe, I responded, "Well, the Bible...."

That was it. End of the conversation. Why? I realized later that by saying that, I had just told her, not that I believed the Bible, but 'whatever it is that *she* thought the Bible said'; which may not be the same thing at all!

It's hard to have conversations when you're talking about different things.

[Deck]

Brian,
How do you understand 1 Corinthians 5:12-13? The circumstances were definitely different.

Deck

[Tally]

:)

Yes Brian. I'm curious. How do you understand verses in I Corinthians (that speak to a particular church about accepting and even bragging about a man sleeping with his fathers wife) as it relates to the dialogue on Terry's blog where (what appear to be) bitter people want to argue with their brothers (and your friends) in ministry as well as attack your church and wor)? I'm curious as to hou you will relat the two as well.

:)

[Deck]

I'll post the Scripture references in question. I'm not sure if Tally skipped the distinction I made regarding the differing circumstances or the potential to post such a sarcastic comment was too unbearable for her/him. I find the comments highly unproductive.

I'm not responsible for what the outsiders do, but don't we have some responsibility for those within our community of believers? God decides on the outsiders, but we need to decide when our brothers and sisters are out of line and, if necessary, clean house.
(The Message)

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."
(ESV)

Deck

[Tally]

I both understood and couldn't resist.

I am honestly interested however to know how we'd apply those verses here Deck. In the case you site we have a church that is boasting while having an apparently well known situation going on where a man is sleeping with his fathers mother.

Some other factors to consider:
- This was an Apostle speaking to elders of a church.
- This was not elders/attendees from one local body correcting elders of another.
- I'd also wonder if we'd agree that sleeping with a father's wife (possibly mother) is a little different than disagreeing with methods of seeing people bow the knee to Christ.

Are we to believe that having sex with someone's mother is remotely similar to what Fellowship Church does on a weekly/daily basis?

If you have another example it may better illustrate your point. My honest question is "Is this the verse used as justification for what's being done via blogs, denominational magazines and lecture halls around the country to those who use less-fundamental methods within their local churches?"

I suppose another question is "How is missions is done? Does your organization approve of using the culture's language? Does your organization approve of dressing in a similar or acceptable style to fit the culture? (take Kenya or Sudan for example) If the culture is heavy into music or dance do you allow missionaries working with them to incorporate any of that into the services or do those who are saved have to give that up? Some missionaries use needs to attract people to the ministry such as basic reading and writing classes or feeding programs that provide meals to attendees.

I'm honestly trying to understand why our brothers on the other side of this proverbial isle have such problems with ministries that take into consideration the principles many denominations have used overseas for generations.

[Deck]

Tally,
I withdraw my usage of 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 in making my point. You had a point on the third factor. Poor example.

Thanks.