Great post! Just found your blog and I appreciate the content. I also am encouraged by your profile (I too am an adult father who is an undergraduate, albeit at a state school with a major in phil.) Your post reminds me of a quote from St. Augustine: "In essentials unity, in doubtful things liberty, and in all things charity". Keep it up!
Great thoughts, especially on the "second step in avoiding going overboard..." Major on the majors! However, what is the best way to communicate that important standard (Truth) to the postmodern world?
In Christ,
Rick
Great blog, and excellent post! This is an issue that has intrigued me for some time. Growing up as a "non-denominational" Christian I, at about the age of 20, began to look into the current state of the church with it's many denominations. In the process, I found that my doctrinal views would classify me most accurately as Reformed, and I have no problem accepting such a label. But I also learned to appreciate the differences, themselves, because they are mostly the result of people worshipping in, what they view, is the most biblical way. I attend, and have been priveledged to assume a teachiing role in, a non-denominational church with a very doctrinally diverse congregation. I have considered finding a church that suits me better, but can't get over the feeling that I can be both used and taught more by God by staying where not everybody agrees with me. Disagreements do occur, and debates sometimes commence, but the cool thing is that it forces you to think about doctrine, instead of just taking it for granted. Iron sharpens iron.
Lately, however, one question has been foremost in my mind and I would love some input. I have recently taught studies on the books of James and Philippians, both of which contain numerous and passionate pleas for unity in the church, and have had to re-think my views on the current state of the church to an extent. The dillemma is that I honestly don't think it's possible for the church, in it's present state, to achieve the level of unity that the Apostles James and Paul so vehemently demand. I know we have the tendency to limit the scope of these imperatives to our own, specific body of believers, but isn't this a cop-out? Is it justifiable for us to be so flippant about something which God considers so serious? Let me know what you think.
Oh for the days of the ecumenical councils.
I think the key with unity is to recognize that the church is already unified. Spiritually speaking, we're seated with Christ around the throne of God. Spiritually speaking, our daily lives are the worship of God that we are doing as we gather our lives around God's throne. We are unified spiritually. What we ought to do is seek for our lives and our congregations to reflect that better, within our sphere of influence.
As for the post itself, most of the times I've seen people contrast knowing about God and knowing God it's not to justify anti-intellectualism but to counter the problem of just learning truths about God. The statement is usually that we shouldn't just know about God but should seek to know God in a deeply personal way. That's exactly the right thing to say sometimes. It's when we mistake that for this other idea that we shouldn't seek to learn about God and meditate on what's true of God that we run into problems.
To Ty:
I think you are right in your assessment that Christian unity needs to go beyond denominational bounds. I think, though, that there is much groundwork that must be laid before we have true unity with our Christian brothers and sisters. I think we should strive to do what we can to encourage the first steps toward unity (with the orthodox, of course).
Commenting by HaloScan
