Posted on 01/16/2007 8:00:22 AM PST by cowboyfan88
PING TO THE TRUTH HURTS!
Her biggest theological issue seemed to be: "Do pets go to heaven?" Her answer was "Absolutely yes!" because heaven wouldn't be fun without dogs and kitties.
I'm currently searching for a new church (of course).
A female pastor is currently a definite deal-killer in my quest for a new church.
Is the church meant to change the world? Those of us approaching this from the POV of Postmillennialism and the Reformation would say yes, the blood of Christ is capable of redeeming everything affected by the Fall, flowing outward from the repentant/obedient soul, compounded by the number of repentant/obedient souls, effecting a progressive change in culture and politics and art and everything produced by man. In fact, some believe that the Bible gives us guidelines in how to behave, as redeemed individuals, in each of these areas. Can a man repent of his old behavior, unless he has a new set of behaviors to substitute for them? And what should he expect from those new behaviors?
Many (but not all) approaching this from other POVs, especially Scofield-flavored Dispensational Premillennialism would say no, leave the culture alone. The culture will not (cannot?) be redeemed by anything - including a wholesale repentance and conversion of the population - other than the physical return of Christ. "You don't polish the brass on a sinking ship!" said evangelist Dwight L. Moody. If your theology teaches that Christians shouldn't "polish the brass on a sinking ship", you will probably discount or avoid altogether other ship-related disciplines as hull & sail repair, mastering sea-sickness, and simple navigation. Which is all fine and good, if you don't expect anyone to have an impact beyond making more converts, who themselves have no impact beyond making more converts, and so on.
In short, can we expect Christians to have a "biblical worldview", if we simultaneously tell them that they won't be having any lasting impact on that world anyway?
No matter what denomination your church is it is very important that it have a good religious education program based on Scripture. It should be available from K- Highschool and include adult classes. It should be emphasized that a parents responsibility for their child's religious education does not begin and end with Sunday church attendance.
The enemy has many tools. We can not afford to hand him even more.
Nope. The woman he referred to didn't have wacky ideas because she's female. Women as equally as capable of studying and believing the Bible as men. :-)
Alex, I think you make some good points. I have done a lot of reading in the post-millennial community of late, and have enjoyed it. I am not fully committed to this point of view yet, but I do understand the inherent problems with complaining about the lack of a Biblical worldview whilst telling the congregation that it will make no difference anyway.
I agree that her ideas are not based on her being a woman. I never said that women are unable to study and believe the Bible. However, according to Scripture, they are not to be in positions of authority over men in the church.
The religion of the natural man.
Scofield-flavored Dispensational Premillennialism would say no, leave the culture alone. The culture will not (cannot?) be redeemed by anything - including a wholesale repentance and conversion of the population - other than the physical return of Christ.
I am one of those, and I think, for me, you have mischaracterized our position. What you have stated does not at all represent our perspective.
But, let's not get into this...the author's point is much broader than that - a biblical worldview sees the entire world, economics, history, ethics, family, community - you name it, from a biblical perspective. In other words, how does God see it. It is not just evangelism, it is a biblical perspective on my job, my recreation, my friendships...everything I do, from God's perspective, and how can I do what I do to His glory.
No, they are not.
Please provide Scriptural support for women taking positions of authority over men in the church.
Thanks. Wasn't trying to start an argument, just pointing out that IMO different starting points will produce different results.
...the author's point is much broader than that - a biblical worldview sees the entire world, economics, history, ethics, family, community - you name it, from a biblical perspective. In other words, how does God see it. It is not just evangelism, it is a biblical perspective on my job, my recreation, my friendships...everything I do, from God's perspective, and how can I do what I do to His glory.
I agree entirely. My intention here is to point out that not everyone holds to the same "biblical perspective", thus they don't agree with certain behaviors or beliefs that contradict that perspective, and thus they believe that others don't have a perspective at all.
Case in point: I'm a postmil. I don't believe we're in the last generation, nor do I believe that subcutaneous banking chips/barcodes on the hands/social security numbers etc are necc. evil and should be stopped at all costs (I may object to them on other biblical grounds, but not on the basis of premil interpretations of prophecy). And I guarantee that statement will be enough for some to brand my own "Biblical worldview" as being misled (at best), if not openly satanic and antisemitic (at worst).
All I'm saying is that there's no consensus among Christians (Protestants, Evangelicals, Catholics, and Orthodox) about what that worldview looks like or what it's demands are. To suggest that Christians should hold to a certain worldview is to assume that they already hold to a certain understanding of the Bible.
I happen to think my "biblical worldview" is the correct one (I'm sure some will emphatically disagree with me), but we all think that about our own views. And naturally, I think/hope that others should share my views, thus I make efforts great and small to persuade them to change their minds. Why would I (or anyone) hold a view that we simultaneously think is incorrect or deficient? Why would I (or anyone) change our minds, unless we discover otherwise?
Translation:
Only 9% agree with Barna and his wordings.
If you're checking out new churches anyway, you may give an Orthodox church a try some Sunday.
http://www.scoba.us/directory/
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