Thursday
Oct092003
'not much different from the Kiwanis'
Thursday, October 9, 2003 at 4:49PM This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"
The .Plan had this quote and the italicized comment below.Many churches have a superficial idea (and experience) of community. Christian community is easily mistaken for mere cordiality, courtesy, or sociability. It easily becomes least-common- denominator "fellowship," not much different from the Kiwanis or a neighborhood potluck. Often so-called Christian community is marked by nothing that is specifically Christian and nothing that challenges the values of surrounding pagan society. --Shepard K. Authentic Fellowship. Christianity Today, October 7, 2003CT has had a recent spate of good articles related to ecclesial matters. What's up?
Reader Comments (7)
Don't you think true fellowship goes beyond learning Christian theology and apologetics?
"Often so-called Christian community is marked by nothing that is specifically Christian and nothing that challenges the values of surrounding pagan society" I think what the church needs to do is first of all challenge the people that are in the church. There are so many people sitting in church who have it all very compartmentalized. They do the church thing, go home and carry on with everything else. Then they come back to church the next Sunday and do it all over again. I love it when I'm challenged from the pulpit. I hunger for that. When I'm challenged on my walk with God, and what am I doing with my faith. Worship Christ, walk with Christ, work for Christ. When we are really doing that without compromise, that's when God shows up. I have a long way to go, but that's been my experience over these last 2 years. God is so faithful but we need to get rid of the barriers that prevent God from really working in us. I believe that is what people need to be challenged on. If church leaders would desire to instill a passion in their people to really hunger after God, and if the people then develop that hunger, I believe it would naturally flow that the surrounding pagan community would see the difference. The church could then boldly challenge the world around us. If ever there was a time to really hunger after God, to show the world what is so desperately needed, a return to God. Problem is there are too many on the fence churches not wanting to challenge the people about their own sin and selfishness, just giving the people what they want to hear.
Darryl, c'mon man. You're insuating a conclusion about what I said which is unfounded in my comment. Of course Fellowship involves more than talking about our doctrine BUT talking about GOD's Word, our studies in it and the Doctrine which separates us from the world should be part of our fellowshipping. I was relating my experiences that the depth of many Christians' fellowship is shallow. The conversations are superficial and non committal and most of all seem to avoid all doctrine and theology. Fortunately, this is not true of my local church but I have noticed this trend in the greater church communuity.
I totally agree with this. I am overwhelmed today at the amount of Christians that don't want to engage in dialogue or extensive, detailed study of the doctrines of what we believe. I find that most Christians are barely existing on spiritual milk and are easily swayed by culture, and other world views because Christians today don't know what they believe or why they believe it. I think churches today need to encourage more than superficial fellowship. Pastors need to put more of an emphasis on Christian theology and apologetics.
Well Jacob, c'mon man, Darryl merely asked you a question. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. How do you know for certain that you weren't insinuating a conclusion that was unfounded in Darryl's question? Smacks of judgmentalism don't you think? Maybe Darryl was asking an honest question simply probing to test for balance between the intellectual and relational sides of fellowship.
Brenna, perhaps I should have left out the "C'mon" bit. Seems that Darryl, didn't like it as he hasn't had a followup comment. Sorry about that. The point I was trying to make is that afterall the common doctrine we share as believers is our BASIS for fellowship, yet we seem to avoid talking about it at seemingly all costs. Doctrine and theology gets a really bad rap these days.
Yeah you're right Jacob. Without the truth our foundations crumble, our fellowship is misguided and our worship is idolatrous. We must continue steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine, breaking of bread, fellowship and prayers.