DISQUS

JeremyDScott · 7 months ago

The growth of the rate of access to information is indeed mind-boggling. Continues to make us dumb too. I found an article entitled "Is Google Making Us Stupider?" a while ago and unfortunately, it in great part describes me: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google

And I still have yet to finish this whole flash video, but it's a good assessment/explanation of a bigger problem than the "wealth" of information due to globalization - that of the declining access to resources in the world: http://www.storyofstuff.com

Rev. Vaughn W. Thurston-Cox · 7 months ago

Is the Church larger than us? Most certainly. As a Free Methodist serving within a United Methodist context I have experienced ministry in an entirely different kind of scale. The North Michigan Conference does not match even 10% of the total churches of the West Michigan Conference despite its greater area. does this mean the conversation we raise as North Michigan Free Methodists are somehow more trivial than those of the West Michigan Conference. I don't think so.

These conversations shape who we are, and therefore our shared ministry within the world. Our conversations shape people.

We only make ourselves trivial when our conversations turn to utterly inward that we no longer connect missionally with the world

While not a Nazarene, much less an emerging Nazarene, I do believe these sort of conversations to be important to the unfolding of the holiness of the tradition in the twenty-first century. We only become irrelevant if we fail to meet others within the contexts of their own colorless lives.

Josh · 6 months ago

Brian, that's a great video. I think it is helpful in showing that our world is inexorably changing. The huge question for us as Christian leaders is: "How do we help the Church and our churches change faithfully?" This question underrides your post.
I agree that we must be intensely local, and I agree that our connection with the global community can be (and maybe should be) primarily through a few other local communities around the globe. For example, our local church is trying to focus our international missional involvement on one community/church in a long term partnership. One core point of our vision is global change through local action.
However, I think part of our responsibility is to the Church and not only to our church. It seems unfaithful to me to withdraw from the denominational discussions - even if some would like to push us out of the discussion. The world is changing. The Church is changing, for good or ill. We have an obligation to do our best to help us change faithfully. This necessitates speaking out.
One specific cost of not speaking out is that the various agents for change around Nazarene-dom can feel isolated and pushed down by the status quo, and some of them will actually be pushed down by people who cannot see the possibilities of change until they see the reality that similar change is already happening - even if in small pockets - in various places around the globe.

rwmattingly · 4 months ago

The world we live in is, and has alway been in a constant state of change, even in the time of Christ. God changes not, He is the same today, tomorrow, and yes, yesterday. My Bible is the same as the day I was born and just as relevant. So, whats your point!

Josh · 4 months ago

Well, you are right that the Bible doesn't change. It is a fixed text. And you are also right on target that God is always faithful. However, our world is in a state of "rapid discontinuous change." (I've you've never heard that phrase before, google it. It's well worth investigating.) The church always changes, but it changes the most during times of "rapid discontinuous change" (e.g. the reformation). The big questions for us are ...
How do we change faithfully?
How do we carry forward the unchangables in a deeply changing context?
How do we faithfully identify the unchangables?

rwmattingly · 4 months ago

Psalm 62:1-12
I am not a changing Christian, but a growing one. 1 Peter 2:1
I did google "rapid discontinuous change" and dor you check out www.persecution.com and see the real battle for our faith today! Your emergent church I believe will be part of this persecution coming to America. We don't need to change the Church, we are the Church! We just need to live it.

rwmattingly · 4 months ago

Sounds to me like you are in a huge state of discontent with the Church,
umh! I will pray for you to give this to the Lord.
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care your care Him; for He careth for you.
*"Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is
God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (*1 Thess.
5:16–18<http://www.biblestudytools.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=1th+5:16-18&version=nas>
*).*
**Peace of Christ my friend!
Roy

rwmattingly · 4 months ago

Sorry, Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

rwmattingly · 4 months ago

Dude, my Lord is bigger than the tiny God you speak of, He is bigger than technology, man, He is the creator of it! The Church is not a mere building, the Church is all the born again believers in Jesus Christ. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph.6:12 Where are you coming up with your theology, surely not from the Word of God!