Tuesday
Nov172009
The Church, where people are turned to God, or turned away...
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:28PM I found the following quote extremely challenging. I am acutely aware of the importance of the 'local Church' as a community to sustain and support believers. However, it is also intended to be place from which God's love is sent out into the world and communicated in tangible and accessible ways.
Today I met with a person who is doing incredible work in his local community, but he has not been into a Church since 2001 when his pastor had an affair with various women in the community, and one of the other pastors stole millions of Rand.
Indeed, this is the dichotomy of the Church community in the world... It strives for perfect love, but frequently it falls short. I still believe that the local Church is a central part of God's plan for the transformation of the world!
Here's the quote!
The Christian faith for most people is not communicated by doctrinal pronouncements ... but by what goes on in the church in its most local setting. It is here, in the church down the street, that people are caught up in the Gospel promise -- or are turned away.- James C. Fenhagen, from his book Mutual Ministry
Reader Comments (4)
Yes I know the pain "Professionals" in the church cause! I studied with many of them. The gopsel I did not hear then. Only inhouse politcs. Tis' samll wonder that I am still following Christ as I am.
What shall I say to all this " brothers! we are not professionals! we are sinners saved by grace, never more than that..
In Acts 2:24 we see a model for the Christian life that God wants us to follow "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers
So that brother although he has valid reasons not to go to that Church he is living in disobedience to God's revealed will and should find a Church that is living as Salt and light and that has a pure witness.
About the quote doctrine is not something that can be divorced from the Christian life. Doctrine after all is just another word for teaching, so all Churches are "Teaching" some are just teaching false things while others are "teaching" truth and we can differentiate by checking it to the word.
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Titus 1:9
Grant who saysy he went to a church that taught sound doctrine? there is an awful lot of hersy that passes for sound doctrine these days!
Reformed and Renewed in my 2nd point I was passing comment on the quote Dion made by James Fenhagen.
You misunderstood me. I said of that chap Dion mention that he did have a valid reason to leave that Church where gross immorality was accepted and not disciplined but it was not an excuse to not find a true Church.