Comments on: A New Decade of Growth http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/ by Matthew Morine Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:16:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rusty http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33975 Rusty Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:34:10 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33975 This is a link to the Christian Chronicles article on this http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158685~Church_in_America_marked_by_decline This is a link to the Christian Chronicles article on this

http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158685~Church_in_America_marked_by_decline

]]> By: K. Rex Butts http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33901 K. Rex Butts Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:44:28 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33901 Sonny, I guess I should qualify what I mean. I have no doubt that Jesus was concerned that we know, for example, that he and the Father are one. Likewise, I have no doubt that Jesus was concerned that we know God has and is coming in judgment. However, with 2,000 years of Christian history in our rearview mirror, we have seen Christians enter into the most dogmatic disputes over the finer points of the doctrine of the Trinity to what the Apostle Paul meant by "election" to what sort of millenia are we living in (pre, post, a-millenial, etc...). Some of these disputes have led to confessing Christians killing other confessing Christians. So when I say Jesus was more concerned with right practice than right doctrine, I am not trying to claim that Jesus was not concerned with having an appropriate belief but I am saying that I find it hard to believe Jesus would have his followers getting caught up in many of these doctrinal disputes to the degree that Christians have in the past...especially when our position leads outright unethical/immoral treatment of others. You may yet not agree with me (and that is fine) but I hope that further explains what I meant in my ealier comment. Grace and peace, Rex Sonny,

I guess I should qualify what I mean. I have no doubt that Jesus was concerned that we know, for example, that he and the Father are one. Likewise, I have no doubt that Jesus was concerned that we know God has and is coming in judgment. However, with 2,000 years of Christian history in our rearview mirror, we have seen Christians enter into the most dogmatic disputes over the finer points of the doctrine of the Trinity to what the Apostle Paul meant by “election” to what sort of millenia are we living in (pre, post, a-millenial, etc…). Some of these disputes have led to confessing Christians killing other confessing Christians. So when I say Jesus was more concerned with right practice than right doctrine, I am not trying to claim that Jesus was not concerned with having an appropriate belief but I am saying that I find it hard to believe Jesus would have his followers getting caught up in many of these doctrinal disputes to the degree that Christians have in the past…especially when our position leads outright unethical/immoral treatment of others.

You may yet not agree with me (and that is fine) but I hope that further explains what I meant in my ealier comment.

Grace and peace,

Rex

]]> By: Sonny Owens http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33883 Sonny Owens Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:09:52 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33883 Rex I really agree with you on many things but. (There is that but word again) I do not see Jesus more concerned about right practice over right doctrine. Why can't they go together. Leave either off and your off balance. Strive for both. Seek to the full stature of the fullness of Christ. For sure the brethren I am around have emphasized doctrine/teaching and have become slack on morality/ethics. It has gotten us in a mess. I want to see God's church grow. I want to be part of a growing congregation and I know that I am much of the reason it isn't growing. I must strive for excellence in Christ and help lead others to it also. Good post good thoughts. Matthew how is singing during your giving P. M.? Just wondering. Give some other ideas on P.M. Where I am at we need progressiveness. Not liberal theology but we need to progress in faith, love, good deeds in Jesus name, etc. Rex I really agree with you on many things but. (There is that but word again) I do not see Jesus more concerned about right practice over right doctrine. Why can’t they go together. Leave either off and your off balance. Strive for both. Seek to the full stature of the fullness of Christ. For sure the brethren I am around have emphasized doctrine/teaching and have become slack on morality/ethics. It has gotten us in a mess. I want to see God’s church grow. I want to be part of a growing congregation and I know that I am much of the reason it isn’t growing. I must strive for excellence in Christ and help lead others to it also. Good post good thoughts. Matthew how is singing during your giving P. M.? Just wondering. Give some other ideas on P.M. Where I am at we need progressiveness. Not liberal theology but we need to progress in faith, love, good deeds in Jesus name, etc.

]]> By: K. Rex Butts http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33824 K. Rex Butts Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:12:54 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33824 There went another comment in the spam folder. There went another comment in the spam folder.

]]> By: K. Rex Butts http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33823 K. Rex Butts Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:12:14 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33823 Sonny brings up an interesting dilema regarding morality (and I would add ethics) going south. If we are willing to give any hearing to books like "Unchristian" or "They Like Jesus but not the Church" then we must summarize that somewhere along the way, Christians became preoccupied with getting their "orthodox" right while ignoring "orthopraxy." The result is that it has become acceptable to be a Christian and yet remain comfortable with greed, increased sexual licentiousnes, violence (especially in defense of the state) - the absence of love for neighbor and enemy, judgmentalism, and so on. The bottom line is that there are too many Christians who confess that Jesus is Lord but live as though he is not...that is, they functionally deny their confession. While this problem is wider than the CoC, I believe our own fellowship is suffering from this problem as well and it is certainly very difficult to convince the world that Jesus is Lord if we do not live under his Lordship. And we need to remember that while there is a place for orthodoxy, Jesus seemed more concerned about right practice over right doctrine. So if we were to properly restore a sound moral/ethical foundation for our practice in the CoC (and beyond) it would not only lead us to take seriously abstaining from immoral/unethical practices but, as Jesus so passionately lived, engaging in the very self-sacrificial servanthood practices that are at the very heart of being a true disciple of Jesus. Then perhaps the world would see a sermon and not just hear one. Grace and peace, Rex Sonny brings up an interesting dilema regarding morality (and I would add ethics) going south. If we are willing to give any hearing to books like “Unchristian” or “They Like Jesus but not the Church” then we must summarize that somewhere along the way, Christians became preoccupied with getting their “orthodox” right while ignoring “orthopraxy.” The result is that it has become acceptable to be a Christian and yet remain comfortable with greed, increased sexual licentiousnes, violence (especially in defense of the state) – the absence of love for neighbor and enemy, judgmentalism, and so on.

The bottom line is that there are too many Christians who confess that Jesus is Lord but live as though he is not…that is, they functionally deny their confession. While this problem is wider than the CoC, I believe our own fellowship is suffering from this problem as well and it is certainly very difficult to convince the world that Jesus is Lord if we do not live under his Lordship. And we need to remember that while there is a place for orthodoxy, Jesus seemed more concerned about right practice over right doctrine. So if we were to properly restore a sound moral/ethical foundation for our practice in the CoC (and beyond) it would not only lead us to take seriously abstaining from immoral/unethical practices but, as Jesus so passionately lived, engaging in the very self-sacrificial servanthood practices that are at the very heart of being a true disciple of Jesus. Then perhaps the world would see a sermon and not just hear one.

Grace and peace,

Rex

]]> By: Matthew http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33820 Matthew Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:12:48 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33820 Thanks for letting me know Rex. Sonny, I hate hearing stuff like that. It is going to happen, but I think you are right on, it takes a community to raise a child. John, one is that we sing during the giving. No big deal to me, but might be to some. Thanks for letting me know Rex. Sonny, I hate hearing stuff like that. It is going to happen, but I think you are right on, it takes a community to raise a child. John, one is that we sing during the giving. No big deal to me, but might be to some.

]]> By: Sonny Owens http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33769 Sonny Owens Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:10:09 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33769 Matthew I certainly believe we are declining in membership, Can you give me where this was reported. As I was reading this I was also talking to a mother where I preach. She was telling me that her 22 yr old single daughter was seeing a married man. This young lady has been a good girl but now taken a wrong turn. Our morality in the C of C has gone south. Last week one of our teen girls was caught in a car with beer. These kids come forward at the assemble but nothing good happens. They are not changing their lives. Honestly their shepherds and I have failed in leading them. Theology is intact but morality is gone. I am praying and preaching and working for a new decade of growth & change. God give increase or come and get us Matthew I certainly believe we are declining in membership, Can you give me where this was reported. As I was reading this I was also talking to a mother where I preach. She was telling me that her 22 yr old single daughter was seeing a married man. This young lady has been a good girl but now taken a wrong turn. Our morality in the C of C has gone south. Last week one of our teen girls was caught in a car with beer. These kids come forward at the assemble but nothing good happens. They are not changing their lives. Honestly their shepherds and I have failed in leading them. Theology is intact but morality is gone. I am praying and preaching and working for a new decade of growth & change. God give increase or come and get us

]]> By: K. Rex Butts http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33757 K. Rex Butts Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:42:53 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33757 It looks like another comment was sent to the spam folder. It looks like another comment was sent to the spam folder.

]]> By: K. Rex Butts http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33751 K. Rex Butts Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:31:05 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33751 The Churches of Christ may be in a growth decline BUT that does not mean that the church, the universal body of Christ, is in decline. As for the former mentioned group, I still believe it has a future but I also believe this future only exist as much as it is willing to be about kingdom business rather than the self preservation of itself (which seems to have occupied too much of our history of late). Grace and peace, Rex The Churches of Christ may be in a growth decline BUT that does not mean that the church, the universal body of Christ, is in decline. As for the former mentioned group, I still believe it has a future but I also believe this future only exist as much as it is willing to be about kingdom business rather than the self preservation of itself (which seems to have occupied too much of our history of late).

Grace and peace,

Rex

]]> By: Tweets that mention A New Decade of Growth | Musings on Spiritual Matters -- Topsy.com http://www.matthewmorine.com/church-news/a-new-decade-of-growth/964/comment-page-1/#comment-33750 Tweets that mention A New Decade of Growth | Musings on Spiritual Matters -- Topsy.com Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:21:34 +0000 http://www.matthewmorine.com/?p=964#comment-33750 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matthew Morine, SoloGospel. SoloGospel said: A New Decade of Growth: As the last decade was ending up, it was reported that there was a decline ... http://bit.ly/7nAycx matthewmorine - [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matthew Morine, SoloGospel. SoloGospel said: A New Decade of Growth: As the last decade was ending up, it was reported that there was a decline … http://bit.ly/7nAycx matthewmorine – [...]

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