Would’t it be nice to be in a local church where . . .
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the pastor preached expositionally or exegetically most of the time
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the pastor understood sound principles of hermeneutics so as not to moralize the text so you wouldn’t hear sermons like how Jesus can “calm the storms of your life” and how God and help you “slay your own giants”
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the pastor understood sound principles of hermeneutics so that he would know better than to preach on Prov. 29:18 thinking it had something to do with building a new building
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the pastor understood sound principles of hermeneutics and theology so that he would know better than to preach on 2 Chron. 7:14 every July 4th thinking it had something to do with America
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the pastor understood sound principles of hermeneutics and theology so as not to preach on Mal. 3:8-10 thinking it had something to do with the New Testament church
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the pastor was clear enough on the gospel not to invite people to “give their lives to Jesus” or “ask Jesus to come into their hearts”
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the people knew enough about hermeneutics not to invoke Matt. 18:20 thinking it had something to do with gathering for worship and Bible study
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the people knew enough about hermeneutics not to invoke Ps. 118:24 thinking it had something to do with gathering together today
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the people knew enough about hermeneutics and theology not to invoke Is. 55:8-9 thinking it had something to do with God’s logic vs. human logic
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the people knew enough theology not to call the building the “house of God”
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the people knew enough theology not to call the auditorium a sanctuary
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the people knew enough theology not to call the front of the auditorium an altar
In light of my earlier blog, I don’t want to leave the impression that all of my implied complaints above are necessarily directed at the church we recently left.
I would like to add that a pastor needs to appreciate Circle of Dust.
Also, don’t forget that a pastor should know enough not to tell people to “loose their donkeys for Jesus.” Whatever the heck that means.
We need to get together and talk seriously about staring a church. How about it?
I would also like to add that the pastor need not be constrained by years of traditional acceptance of these sorts of things and expected to toe the same line if he wants to keep his paycheck!
And the Circle of Dust thing.
Wow…. I loved it. I think almost everyone of those things has bugged the “heck” out of me!
Thanks for thinking alike.
Sean
Thanks Sean! It’s comforting to know that there are others out there who agree and care about such things. But I’m afraid we’re a minority.
Dude, I grew up getting taught most of the stuff on your list. Richard, I’ve been telling you that you need to at least visit a Church of Christ or an Independent Christian Church. We’re not ALL hardcore pelagians. My friend Jeff Walling has been pastoring the Providence Rd Church of Christ there in Matthews for over ten years and doing an outstanding job. Like you he has a terrific sense of humor. The two of you should at least meet and have coffee or something. See their home page: http://prcoc.org/Default.asp?page=185 or Jeff’s page: http://prcoc.org/Walling.htm –Charlie
Hi I’d love to know all your perspectives on the things you listed. It seems I don’t know the better perspectives on these. Could you send me if you can?
Thanks for the inquiry. I think I’ll write another blog entry (or several) and go through each point and give my perspective on it.
Good enough. I also like to know how you think of so called traditional interpretation. Are they all invalid? How much does one need to know God’s word? Is every child or childlike adult able to figure out without sophisticated expertises with the illumination of the Holy Spirit? I like simplistic and to the point interpretation without making things too ivory tower like. Why have we have the “wrong” understandings in the past…? I am looking forward to reading your entries. Blessings!