Earlier this month, Pinakidion asked "What have we learned?" I mean, about 3 years ago the trouble that had been brewing for a while came to a head and the world changed in the ICOC. So, what has it taught me?
I've thought about that off and on for a while, even before pinakidion asked. Here's my list, for now anyway:
- The Kingdom of God has nothing to do with denominational or organizational boundaries.
- Unquestioning and blind obedience is not discipleship.
- The great commission is not the greatest commandment.
- God did not create me to simply be an evangelism machine.
- We should have been engaging the broader Christian community, not seeking to assimilate them.
- I need not be afraid of the truth.
- The ICOC was built on a rich spiritual history that we pretty much ignored.
- Jesus is far more liberal than I gave him credit for.
- We were - I was - appallingly arrogant about what I thought I knew and who I thought I was.
- God cares far more about the wounded, broken and bruised than we did.
- The purpose of baptism is forgiveness of sins, not to tell me who's in and who's out
- Diversity of opinion is very healthy.
- If we want to be blind, we can be blind.
- Self deception is amazingly easy to achieve.
- There's a time to sound the trumpet. Even then, it's very hard to do.
I'm sure there's more, but that's good for now. I think that's a good question for all of us in the ICOC, and potentially educational. I wonder what many folks in positions of leadership and influence have learned?
Sometimes I wish I could go back in time to change things. I immagined the other day being in a former leaders staff meeting and challenging him on his conduct. I figured I could muster the boldness but I don't know if I could get past the teaching that you never questioned authority and needed to be obedient. It is easy to forget the ICOC sociatal pressures....and praise God it can be.
There are a lot of us learning these principles, Douglas ... not just ICOC folks; not just CoC folks. Lots of us.
They are good things to learn.
And your phrasing of them (especially about "the great commission" and "the greatest commandment") is making me wonder why we ever thought our priority was to convert people first and love them later if we have time.
Wouldn't it be a lot easier for us if we put first what Jesus put first?
"Diversity of opinion is very healthy."
That's a capital V in very there my brother. All of your points are spot on, because I understand the history behind them. Jesus wasn't liberal, but liberating. We no longer are bound by the Mosaic Law and the Livitical Law. The Law of Christ "outlaws" the law, and it in itself is purley the mercy of God expressed in us through Christ and our "obedience" in Love. Hence, liberating. So, yes, I had to understand that point better, but if what I have typed out here is not what you mean, I'm eager to understand you greatly.
I think that life under the McKean/Coleman/Bonhoffer understand of scripture application and the "Spiritualization" of scripture builds a faux religion, that although I was converted in such a way, can be quite harmful. In one way, many, many people have found Christ through baptism, repentance, and confession in the ICOC, and I mean many; but yet the ability to mature in an environtment that only allows ones faith to grow to the extent of ones ability to perform (evangilism, baptisms, attendance, etc.) cab be harmful to the undiscipline, ill, elderly, and immature.
"why we ever thought our priority was to convert people first and love them later if we have time."
What a great way to express our folly!
One thing I learned is that God is always at work. We are not at this point today by accident. God was working and he is still working. We are a work in progress. We want things fixed (to our liking) overnight. But God is patient. And he is able.
Wise words, Alan. Thanks.
The last three years have taught me the following:
-That my faith has been abused and I need help to have a healthy faith.
-That my faith was in Jesus and I still need to keep my faith in Jesus.
-That I need to have a solid understanding of hermanuetics and strive to understand my faith.
-That understanding of scriptures has nothing to do with how forceful or charismatic a person is or title they have.
-That my walk with God should be central in my life.
-That I should not let personalities cloud my understanding of God's will.
-That religious leaders can be sincerely wrong.