Running away from the challenge
Submitted by Forgiven on September 19 2000 18:56:13
In reply to The Heavenist correction submitted by Splash! on September 19 2000 04:52:21
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I must admit to a degree of anger at your response to my challenge - it looks to me like a cop out, running away from the issue that I've gnawing at. Although I would describe myself as an evangelical, I tend to find myself in conflict with the party line on a lot of details because I look hard at what the bible actually says, rather than taking the received wisdom that comes out of most pulpits; focusing on certain passages and avoiding others, a pattern of spirituality is imposed that lacks the true freedom of the children of God. This is by no means a thoeretical discussion: the easy response for those who have pastoral leadership over us and know that we are BLs is to take the easy way, and heavily restrict our access to boys. This is a response of fear - but one which we must understand and work with to achieve the position where they cope with the reality that God's way may well not be to close off this way of ministry for us, but rather to establish safeguards so that there will be no problems. But it is reflected in wider areas of the response of evangelicals to the world; it is sadly true that most evangelical church buildings are BORING - little or no creativity has gone into their design and building, and as a result they proclaim a monochrome and boring God. Which is fine for the proportion of the population that has no time for creativity, but for those who find something of God in a wide variety of artistic expression, presents a block to their finding God in that environment. Again, consider the pattern of Old Testament worship - exciting, colourful, magnificent. It is one of the challenges of the Orthodox churches to the rest of us (cue our Dirk Gently): question - what should worship look like? Hint - what does the worship of heaven as reported in the bible look like. Conclusion - consider the passages describing heavenly worship (e.g. Is 6). I'm thinking as I write here, but I always find it interesting to work like that. I look forward to seeing where we go on this! |
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