For those of you who think online church is not a threat to real, incarnational ministry, check this out: http://gnli.christianpost.com/video/chuch-online-in-philadelphia-lifefilm-3607. Then re-read my critique of online "church" at http://gnli.christianpost.com/video/chuch-online-in-philadelphia-lifefilm-3607, and my discussion of 7 church ministry models at http://www.retrochristianity.org/2012/02/13/7-church-ministry-models-from-ideal-to-awful/.
In the onslaught of docetic "anti-church," we need to arm ourselves.
Thanks, Matthew, for the link.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
A Balanced Critique of Multi-Site Churches
Carl Trueman offers an insightful critique of multi-site churches in his blog post, "Multisite, the Poker Tell and the Importance of Presence."
His insights reinforce my conclusion in "7 Chuch Ministry Models from Ideal to Awful" that the multi-site model is too far from the idea to be regarded as acceptable.
His insights reinforce my conclusion in "7 Chuch Ministry Models from Ideal to Awful" that the multi-site model is too far from the idea to be regarded as acceptable.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Does Your Church Have Deaconesses? Should It?
It's a discussion I dodged in RetroChristianity but promised to treat (at least lightly) at www.retrochristianity.com. With the help of one of my interns, Kymberli Allen, we've presented the biblical and historical case for the office of deaconesses in the local church.
Read the evidence and arguments here. Then just accept the fact that your "children's ministry directors," "executive assistants," "women's minister," and other women on staff at your church are, in fact, simply "deaconesses." (Either that, or we're just as guilty of inventing new church offices as the earliest Christians were who established the office of deaconesses...)
Read the evidence and arguments here. Then just accept the fact that your "children's ministry directors," "executive assistants," "women's minister," and other women on staff at your church are, in fact, simply "deaconesses." (Either that, or we're just as guilty of inventing new church offices as the earliest Christians were who established the office of deaconesses...)
Monday, April 02, 2012
My Accordion and My Christian Life (Part 1)
Since taking up the accordion almost a year ago, I began noticing intriguing parallels between my poor, junky accordion and the Christian life—at least my Christian life. At the risk of disappointing my regular readers and embarrassing everybody named “Svigel,” I plan on periodically peppering my otherwise serious (and sometimes severe) essays on biblical, theological, and historical themes with several parallels between my accordion and my Christian life.
Read the first installment now at www.retrochristianity.com . . .
Read the first installment now at www.retrochristianity.com . . .
Friday, March 30, 2012
Defense of a Weekly Observance of the Lord's Supper
I just posted a defense of weekly Communion at www.retrochristianity.com. You can also access the essay alone here. Many of my essays are matters of personal opinion, or analylsis without clear direction... This isn't one of them. The fact is, there are few things in the history of worship clearer than the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper.
I know the essay is a long one, but that's because I wanted to cover most of the bases on this issue, including seven common objections. I want it to be useful for studying, discussing, and teaching this subject. I encourage you to pass it on to others who need to be challenged.
As many of you know, a restoration of this central element of authentic Christian worship is a top priority for RetroChristianity.
I know the essay is a long one, but that's because I wanted to cover most of the bases on this issue, including seven common objections. I want it to be useful for studying, discussing, and teaching this subject. I encourage you to pass it on to others who need to be challenged.
As many of you know, a restoration of this central element of authentic Christian worship is a top priority for RetroChristianity.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
A Critique of Typical Adult Sunday School Posted
Just posted an essay at RetroChristianity.com entitled, "'By This Time You Ought to Be Teachers': A Critique of Adult Sunday School." It has been a long time in the making.
In Hebrew 5:12, the author castigated his readers who had been believers for twenty-plus years because by that time they should have been teachers. I’m concerned that many of our Bible-believing churches—my own included—have failed to graduate their long-time believers from the status of student to that of teacher. Instead, they have institutionalized a model of adult Sunday school designed to perpetuate a nursery of needy spiritual children without transitioning them into responsible, mature, and productive spiritual adults.
I make four suggestions for changing our adult education strategies to better reflect the biblical emphasis on discipleship rather than the cultural emphasis on personal enrichment.
I know this essay challenges long-standing tradition in many of our evangelical churches, but hear me out before you strike back.
And if you think I make some fair critiques, pass it on...
In Hebrew 5:12, the author castigated his readers who had been believers for twenty-plus years because by that time they should have been teachers. I’m concerned that many of our Bible-believing churches—my own included—have failed to graduate their long-time believers from the status of student to that of teacher. Instead, they have institutionalized a model of adult Sunday school designed to perpetuate a nursery of needy spiritual children without transitioning them into responsible, mature, and productive spiritual adults.
I make four suggestions for changing our adult education strategies to better reflect the biblical emphasis on discipleship rather than the cultural emphasis on personal enrichment.
I know this essay challenges long-standing tradition in many of our evangelical churches, but hear me out before you strike back.
And if you think I make some fair critiques, pass it on...
Friday, March 23, 2012
Leaving Little church but Staying in Big CHURCH?
Professor and blogger Marc Cortez points us to a few online pieces addressing the issue of leaving church. Some of this frustrates me (and will frustrate you), but you need to know how people are thinking. One of the bloggers' sharp separation of the local church and universal Church reveals a typical false ecclesiology that comes nowhere near a biblically, historically, and theologically grounded view of the church universal (which is really made up of all of the local churches as a meta-community of communities). In any case, those of you familiar with my RetroClesiology know my concerns here, but you all need to see the effects of the typical unhealthy dualistic approach to the local and universal church relationship. See intros and links on Marc Cortez's site at http://marccortez.com/2012/03/22/15-reasons-i-leftstayed-in-the-church/#more-12385.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)