Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Debelak
It’s not about the THINGS and STRUCTURES of the Christian life. As soon as it is, I think we’ve closed ourselves off from the Lord’s multifarious wisdom and His varied grace.
I am not advocating individualistic Christians. I’d point folks who are questioning and seeing to John Meyer’s book before I offered my own thoughts as authoritative…
But, I think its important that we recognize the particular “structures” or “missions” of our “groups” as manifestations of leadings, rather than “missions” that, if we are part of a group, are commands to be followed so long as we wish to be “profitable” members of the group (not that this is what Meyer is saying, by any means).
I think that our traditional notions of “church” are normal manifestations of what our Lord wishes to lead us into. But if our focus is the “group” and its “projects,” we may not hear his voice in that occasion when His leading has a different scope………..
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I'm tracking just fine with you and I think we are on the same general page...thanks for the futher thoughts! I think the individual's relationship to the Lord is paramount, first and foremost, and our own discernment in the Lord needs to be keenly sharpened. WE need to hear the Shephard's voice and can and should. Scripture lays out plenty of "mission" for us as individuals and how we can impact others "in our group" (and in the body in general) with the giftings he has bestowed upon us to build up others and to bring Him glory. Programs and projects and "missions" will rise and fall, but the LORD himself remains constant, and because he has designed us for individual relationship, we shall continue to hear His voice -- through his Word, through others, through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. And to borrow from TJ, for that I am thankful!