The best comment I've read, probably since I've started blogging.

From "The Dying Church"

Comments:

May, I, a virtual stranger to your congregation, weigh in on this debate? I have been following the discussion with some interest, and find myself unable to contain myself any longer.

While I am a born-again, Bible-believing Christian, it is precisely because of controversies such as this one, that I find myself reluctant to align myself with any so-called Mainline Denomination. It is also because of these arguments that unbelievers refrain from any involvement in "church" activities, and believers are leaving the organized institution in droves.

Sacred cows; those issues such as whether women should hold positions of leadership within the church; whether women should be required to wear hats; whether we allow contemporary music or restrict ourselves to the traditional hymns; whether we worship only in huge organized edifices or whether the store-front church is acceptable, and so many, many, more points of conflict, fall into the category of useless arguments mentioned by the Apostle Paul.

Even in his day, Paul had to contend with issues such as whether non-Jews should be circumcised or not. (And what was his answer? Galatians 2:16. "We are not Justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ... for by the works of the law shall no man be justified."

Without wanting to appear as though I am blown hither and yon by every cultural shift in the wind, I ask you: Where would we be today if our ideas of God's Will; our ideas of Worship; our perception of Truth, did not evolve with the changes in knowledge and understanding that come with exploring, and being open to, New Ideas?

I am not a scholar of Church History or doctrine, but if Martin Luther had not challenged the pre-conceived notions of the leaders of the church in his day, would we still be paying for Indulgences? Would the Gospel still only be under the proprietorship of the rich and elite?

Would we be able to sing "Amazing Grace", or would slavery still hold sway in most of the civilized world, if not for progressive thought? Not too long ago, people of colour were not thought of as humans, never mind being capable of being saved.

Women would still be barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, if we did not allow some progressive ideas to come of age in our culture -even in our church culture. I doubt very much that God had in mind the perpetual (virtual) enslavement of over half of His people when He inspired the apostle to write what he did concerning women in leadership.

What ever would we think today of such people as Aimee Temple McPherson;(correct spelling?)Kathryn Khulman; Catherine Marshall, to name but a few? Where would we be if Industry subscribed to the same old way of thinking? Would we have women like Mary Kaye; Martha Stewart; Belinda Stronach? What of Politics? Would we have women like Margaret Thatcher; Kim Cambell; Ghandi?

Did God intend for us to leave common sense at the door when we entered His Family? Or did he intend us to judge "secular" activities differently than religious ones?

I also doubt that the author of Hebrews was inspired to write "forsaking not the gathering of ourselves together" as a means of flogging the unchurched with the Law. It is good to gather together with like-minded believers; to worship God together; to share His Goodness and Mercy, but does "like-minded" mean we agree with everything someone else believes?

Surely we can agree that for some people, the Institutional Church is where it is at, but for some others, small groups are better. For some, Hymns are the only music worth listening to, but many young people today are so turned off by them, that there would be no way of ever reaching them were it not for Contemporary Christian Music. Some decry make-up, some of us need all the help we can get.

Listen, People. It is not HOW we come to the Lord, or where, it is that we come at all that is important. It isn't who leads us, it is that we are shown the Way. It isn't what we wear, it is that we are clothed in Righteousness. Paul Bunyan's way may not be mine, nor C.S. Lewis's. Maybe Tolkien reaches me.

By all means test the spirits against Scripture,
but please do not be so dogmatic that you limit entrance to the Kingdom to only those with whom you feel comfortable. God, throughout history, has chosen some very unlikely people to do His work: Moses for one, an ass for another. (Hey, there's hope for ME!) He has also chosen some very unlikely places as proving grounds: the desert, the wilderness, the filthy River Jordan.

I wonder how we would accept this guy as our Senior Pastor today? He persecuted Christians, even to the point of having them put to death. He spent many years in prison. He fought, or at least had a disagreement with, one of the men known to be closest to Jesus in his day, to the point of denying him the opportunity to serve on a very important missionary trip. The Apostle Paul was no angel, but became the fiercest and most influential defender of our Faith.

" They shall know we are Christians by our LOVE!!!"

Posted by Arthur at January 25, 2004 11:08 PM

The link is here.

There are a number of areas where I disagree a bit, but I can actually say 'Amen' and feel happy about it. Now that's refreshingly different.