Comments on: Preparing to make the leap http://churchless.net/2009/02/preparing-to-make-the-leap/ We're not in Christendom anymore, Toto! Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:20:15 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Dave http://churchless.net/2009/02/preparing-to-make-the-leap/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Dave Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:29:29 +0000 http://postcongregational.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-130 Your friend sounds like he is still living in the Old Testament reality where sacred days,buildings,worship, priesthood,tithe is dressed up in New Testament language instead of simply following Jesus. As such, it is difficult for him to find life in the shadows which is all those concepts were in the Old Testment. I hope your next conversation goes well... Your friend sounds like he is still living in the Old Testament reality where sacred days,buildings,worship, priesthood,tithe is dressed up in New Testament language instead of simply following Jesus. As such, it is difficult for him to find life in the shadows which is all those concepts were in the Old Testment. I hope your next conversation goes well…

]]> By: admin http://churchless.net/2009/02/preparing-to-make-the-leap/comment-page-1/#comment-129 admin Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:17:09 +0000 http://postcongregational.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-129 You know, I'm probably gonna have to change my vocabulary quite a bit, like my use of the phrase "having church" which is based more on an IC understanding than a biblical one. We don't really "have church," do we? We are the church, the bride of Christ, His body! Yesterday, a friend asked me, "When you leave the IC and get together with other Christians on a more informal basis, are ya'll gonna worship?" Now this guy has been a pastor for years, so I asked him, "What do you mean by worship? When does the Bible say we should worship God?" When I put it like that, he immediately responded, "Twenty-four seven!" See, he knows in his heart that what the IC does on a Sunday is unsupported by Scripture. He wants to get together again and talk about this stuff some more. He said, "You're making a lot of sense and I agree with most of what you're saying, but I have a lot of unanswered questions." And I'm thinking God's already at work in his heart, but if not at least he'll understand my decision a little better. You know, I’m probably gonna have to change my vocabulary quite a bit, like my use of the phrase “having church” which is based more on an IC understanding than a biblical one. We don’t really “have church,” do we? We are the church, the bride of Christ, His body!

Yesterday, a friend asked me, “When you leave the IC and get together with other Christians on a more informal basis, are ya’ll gonna worship?” Now this guy has been a pastor for years, so I asked him, “What do you mean by worship? When does the Bible say we should worship God?” When I put it like that, he immediately responded, “Twenty-four seven!” See, he knows in his heart that what the IC does on a Sunday is unsupported by Scripture. He wants to get together again and talk about this stuff some more. He said, “You’re making a lot of sense and I agree with most of what you’re saying, but I have a lot of unanswered questions.” And I’m thinking God’s already at work in his heart, but if not at least he’ll understand my decision a little better.

]]> By: Dave http://churchless.net/2009/02/preparing-to-make-the-leap/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Dave Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:41:24 +0000 http://postcongregational.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-128 I left the IC several years ago like you are preparing to do. Your Waffle House conversation reminds me of many I've had at Shoneys. Too many Christians in the IC beome "legalists" without even knowing it. They wouldn't understand how you could have been having church since you walked in there (Waffle House). I left the IC several years ago like you are preparing to do. Your Waffle House conversation reminds me of many I’ve had at Shoneys. Too many Christians in the IC beome “legalists” without even knowing it. They wouldn’t understand how you could have been having church since you walked in there (Waffle House).

]]> By: admin http://churchless.net/2009/02/preparing-to-make-the-leap/comment-page-1/#comment-127 admin Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:11:54 +0000 http://postcongregational.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-127 I had breakfast in Waffle House last Sunday morning and started a conversation with my waitress, a professing Christian who had been through so many personal tragedies including physical abuse and divorce. She also told me about feeling snubbed at just about every church she attended because "I'm white trash and I only work at Waffle House." Then she asked me, "What church do you go to?" I told her, "I don't go to church anymore." This confession followed my admission to being an ordained clergyman and former missionary, so she looked shocked and said, "Oh, really?" So I suggested we start a new church: The Church at Waffle House. She loved the idea, "Yeah! We can just have church right here!" To which I smiled and said, "We've been having church since I walked in here!" I had breakfast in Waffle House last Sunday morning and started a conversation with my waitress, a professing Christian who had been through so many personal tragedies including physical abuse and divorce. She also told me about feeling snubbed at just about every church she attended because “I’m white trash and I only work at Waffle House.” Then she asked me, “What church do you go to?” I told her, “I don’t go to church anymore.” This confession followed my admission to being an ordained clergyman and former missionary, so she looked shocked and said, “Oh, really?” So I suggested we start a new church: The Church at Waffle House. She loved the idea, “Yeah! We can just have church right here!” To which I smiled and said, “We’ve been having church since I walked in here!”

]]> By: Jeromy http://churchless.net/2009/02/preparing-to-make-the-leap/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Jeromy Fri, 20 Feb 2009 04:18:34 +0000 http://postcongregational.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-126 This might just be the best and most healing leap of your life, as well as the most difficult and soul stretching one. At least, it was for me... This might just be the best and most healing leap of your life, as well as the most difficult and soul stretching one. At least, it was for me…

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