| Subject: The Kingdom, Inc. |
Author:
Micah John
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Date Posted: 10:53:52 03/22/02 Fri
I would concur with all of the previous posts (well written as always, Bill) and think that all of us have different areas that are important to us as individuals & Christians, not that I'm right and you're wrong...
I would, however, like to discuss one thing. AK, you stated that "it is not only a personal, individual phenomenon." Now I know that it all depends on how you classify "the Kingdom", but I would argue that if anything, the kindgom is about a person (singular) not a group. Consider this -- politicans have been working to "better government" for years and it almost always seems that the status quo is the grand result of all the time and efforts. Why? People, employees, the workers, managers, the unelected officials.
To tie that to the Church -- Jesus didn't spend his time working with the disciples as a group laying out spreadsheets and flowcharts on "Kingdom Building" (any ever-popluar evangelical word!!! I must apologize for the use.) because he was the leader. Instead, he called out, met, taught, etc... each disciple as an individual. As much as we hate it, the Church is nothing more than the sum of the many parts. I wish that magically, once you walked in the doors or became a member, polictics and theology all came into perfect view. But we all agree, this isn't the case.
This is why, as Adam said, it is ok to be "carefully critical" in the church. The old addage of "one rotten apple can spoil the bunch" applies here. Paul was quick to write that it was encouraged to rid the church of people that taught falsehood under the veil of being Christians themselves. "Grace!" some will cry, or "Judge not or you too shall be judged, and the measure you use will be measured back to you." However, handling this issue is no different than any other major decision we should make -- carefully and wisely diciding by using the intuition and knowedge that God has given each of us.
-MJH
(that reminds me -- Bill, I need to ask you to leave the group based on your last post..... kidding)
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