Comments on: Critiquing His Bride http://prayeramedic.com/2009/09/critiquing-his-bride/ A web-based missional intercessory prayer and resource-equipping ministry Sun, 20 Mar 2011 03:45:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Daniel http://prayeramedic.com/2009/09/critiquing-his-bride/comment-page-1/#comment-896 Daniel Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:56:04 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=899#comment-896 this list is interesting... basically it's just pitting one set of stereotypes against another, and in the end doesn't address any of the real issues or problems dealing with the "institutional" church... I guess that's not surprising, because when you talk to most people who are very defensive of their religious institutions, they do often tend to try and deflect real conversation by characterizing any "criticisms" as petty or selfishly-motivated. Even using that word "criticisms" is a way of characterizing in a negative way... "Criticisms"? I thought we were to hold up everything according to the standard of God's word? Overall, I think this list (and probably the entire book from which it comes) really attests to what we have encountered anecdotally, that people within "the I.C." tend to lump together everyone who is "outside the box". Many people have no concept of the distinctions between those who are of the "emergent" strain, (who dig liturgy, the arts, etc.), and the social action folks (whom he characterizes as trying to "bring the world together in peace and love") and finally those who are simply trying to be obediant to what the Bible actually teaches. (and we don't hear a single response to the many, many legitimate biblical objections to the I.C. in this list, do we...?) I wish I was at the point where I no longer chaffed at things like: "<i>They want church unity and decry all our denominations, but fail to see the irony in the fact that they have left to do their own thing because they can’t find a single church that can satisfy them</i>." but I'm not there yet.... "Do their own thing!?!" Jesus, give me patience! this list is interesting… basically it’s just pitting one set of stereotypes against another, and in the end doesn’t address any of the real issues or problems dealing with the “institutional” church…

I guess that’s not surprising, because when you talk to most people who are very defensive of their religious institutions, they do often tend to try and deflect real conversation by characterizing any “criticisms” as petty or selfishly-motivated. Even using that word “criticisms” is a way of characterizing in a negative way… “Criticisms”? I thought we were to hold up everything according to the standard of God’s word?

Overall, I think this list (and probably the entire book from which it comes) really attests to what we have encountered anecdotally, that people within “the I.C.” tend to lump together everyone who is “outside the box”. Many people have no concept of the distinctions between those who are of the “emergent” strain, (who dig liturgy, the arts, etc.), and the social action folks (whom he characterizes as trying to “bring the world together in peace and love”) and finally those who are simply trying to be obediant to what the Bible actually teaches. (and we don’t hear a single response to the many, many legitimate biblical objections to the I.C. in this list, do we…?)

I wish I was at the point where I no longer chaffed at things like: “They want church unity and decry all our denominations, but fail to see the irony in the fact that they have left to do their own thing because they can’t find a single church that can satisfy them.” but I’m not there yet….

“Do their own thing!?!” Jesus, give me patience!

]]> By: jWinters http://prayeramedic.com/2009/09/critiquing-his-bride/comment-page-1/#comment-895 jWinters Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:46:15 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=899#comment-895 The tension here reminds me a lot of Frank Viola's two interviews on the Neue podcast. Perhaps if we're humble enough, both institutional and non-institutional folks will see that it's not enough to follow an institutional or non-institutional model but that we need Christ in both, and that we need Christ if we are ever to see a different model that is neither. in Christ, jW The tension here reminds me a lot of Frank Viola’s two interviews on the Neue podcast. Perhaps if we’re humble enough, both institutional and non-institutional folks will see that it’s not enough to follow an institutional or non-institutional model but that we need Christ in both, and that we need Christ if we are ever to see a different model that is neither.

in Christ,
jW

]]> By: Kathy http://prayeramedic.com/2009/09/critiquing-his-bride/comment-page-1/#comment-894 Kathy Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:09:57 +0000 http://prayeramedic.com/?p=899#comment-894 Just commented on facebook to you that his criticisms and responses sound like your way of thinking about the church. What do you think of what he had to say? How does he address these issues in the book? I'll be interested to hear more about what you read. Just commented on facebook to you that his criticisms and responses sound like your way of thinking about the church. What do you think of what he had to say? How does he address these issues in the book? I’ll be interested to hear more about what you read.

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