Comments on: Can’t We Do Better?

By: FJ

FJ — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:26:28 +0000

In a word… wow! Pat – I SO appreciate this message and the overall perspective you bring. I have personally been caught on both sides of the pendulum and I honestly didn’t know anyone out there (besides me) thought a this type of approach was even feasible. Thank you.

By: Adonis

Adonis — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:58:31 +0000

Well said brother!!!!

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:14:54 +0000

I am SO unmoved by “doing” church.
I am SO over big buildings.
I SO dislike large congregations.
I SO wish church staffs were not so expansive.
I am SO in love my large(and growing) congregation, my favorite people are my numerous pastors/elders/office people, I am SO thankful we have a big building for to cram them. The problem is many have a “Christianismized”world view instead of a Biblical one; and they do not even know it. They don’t know the difference. They have not thought about it. Teach people the Scriptures AND how to Think. Whenever I learn how to Think, maybe I can challenge someone else to do the same.

By: Becca

Becca — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:32:12 +0000

Dad, as you already know, I am SO on board with this!! Even in the church I attend now, I hate the way the music is done and the whole atmosphere of the church culture, but I go there because the church with the music and culture that attracted me taught a man-centered theology. (In that everything came back to man, instead of God and His glory.) Christ was so clear when He said “be IN the world, not of it”- I believe that the first part is as much a command as the second. Look at the social pattern of the disciples, sent out not to redeem the righteous, but the lost. Paul quotes several of the most famous philosophers and poets of his day- my point is that I would bet that Paul knew way more about the culture he was trying to reach than the average modern believer knows about their own. Paul didn’t consider interaction with contemporary texts and ideas to be a sin- it was part of what made him a credible speaker on Mars Hill, so much so that he was invited back to speak again. And modern believers seem to forget that there is NOTHING new under the sun. The lies of today are the lies of biblical times, just remodeled, repackaged, and remarketed. And that is why, I believe, we are ineffective in today’s culture: because we are not engaged in the culture enough to identify and see beyond the shiny new packaging of the same old lies. We are intimidated by the culture because we’ve somehow bought into the idea that contemporary culture presents a bigger and badder threat to truth that any other before it. This is just one result of the ignorance that pervades our churches- not just ignorance of Scripture and theology, but of history in general. (I know I’m hugely guilty in this category). Knowing the truth means you are secure, and with your anchor firmly planted in the Knowledge of God, you are free and obligated to wisely venture into the realms of human knowledge so that you will be prepared, not just to give a defense for the hope that is in you, but to give a defense that your audience can understand and to which they can relate. Anyway, I’ll stop now…

By: gospel music » Can't We Do Better?

gospel music » Can't We Do Better? — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:55:36 +0000

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