Becoming . . .
Some thoughts from the last reading we had in Underground Seminary from the book "Becoming Anabaptist"
"The meaning of church as a community is not limited simply to the free association of consenting adults after they recognize their parallel but individual experience of salvation. The reconciled relationship between individuals, made visible by their linkage in the church, is Godgiven - a product of grace. Religion is not simply the story of "my personal salvation and my religious history." Reconciliation between individuals belongs as much to the essence of salvation as does reconciliation to God: the two dimensions are inseperable."
" For too much of American Protestantismm, the existence of the church is not integral to salvation, but is a group of persons already saved, who in recognitiion of their salvation gather for mutual encouragement and inspiration."
posted by jen leonard @ 11:13 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
At first I wasn't sure what this passage really meant. And I may be interpreting it wrong. But after reading it a few times I get the feeling that it is saying that churches are just groups of people "already" saved who meet together for mutual support. The church I was a part of was constantly stressing the need to bring others to church to introduce them to Christ. Their were many out reaches held each year for this purpose. And I was not particularly comfortable with the constant stressing on telling others.
If anything I see the group who is trying to disassociate itself from the IC as a group of people already "saved" that get together to support each other and not necessararily to bring others to Jesus. Granted they tend to give more genuine support to each other (possibly because their group size is smaller) but I don't see much of what I would call witnessing to others. More of self contained units. In the IC church these small units also existed--for example the women's breakfast and Sunday school where you would form more personal relationships and more bonding and sharing would happen.
Mom
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