Your Con #1 JT. Why is any of that the church's job and not the parents?
Well the church should be backing up what the parents teach the kids at home. But often times the parents are trying to back up at home what the church teaches. It can make it difficult on the parents, at times, when the church is saying one thing as the 'voice of God' and the parents are trying to teach them differently. Example, when I was growing up all I and others heard in church about sex is how sinful it is. Abstain and it is damnable, etc. While this in true in the context of premarital sexual relations it is not true while done in marriage. My friends in my age group there were all taught this way. About 10 of us have strong marriages because our parents fought against the teaching that sex=sin and taught us that it is a God appointed thing. About 15 of my friends that were not taught like us have failed marriages or at the least very bad marriages do to these reasons.
I agree the parents are the best teachers of these things, but if the church were to take a proactive approach on these topics, money, sex, family life, etc. then it will make it easier, I believe, on the youth once they are married. The church spends a lifetime teaching kids and people how bad sex is and not teaching about money and how one should raise their kids. But, in 2-3 months of marriage counselling they church tries to reteach them and they have to try and relearn a lifetime of teaching. I think it would make it a MUCH easier transition from single life to married life if the church was proactive as opposed to reactive, because often the church is reactive. They try to stop the bleeding in pastor counsel 5 years into marriage and the damage is done. JMHO
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"If we don't learn to live together we're gonna die alone"
Jack Shephard.
Well the church should be backing up what the parents teach the kids at home. But often times the parents are trying to back up at home what the church teaches. It can make it difficult on the parents, at times, when the church is saying one thing as the 'voice of God' and the parents are trying to teach them differently. Example, when I was growing up all I and others heard in church about sex is how sinful it is. Abstain and it is damnable, etc. While this in true in the context of premarital sexual relations it is not true while done in marriage. My friends in my age group there were all taught this way. About 10 of us have strong marriages because our parents fought against the teaching that sex=sin and taught us that it is a God appointed thing. About 15 of my friends that were not taught like us have failed marriages or at the least very bad marriages do to these reasons.
I agree the parents are the best teachers of these things, but if the church were to take a proactive approach on these topics, money, sex, family life, etc. then it will make it easier, I believe, on the youth once they are married. The church spends a lifetime teaching kids and people how bad sex is and not teaching about money and how one should raise their kids. But, in 2-3 months of marriage counselling they church tries to reteach them and they have to try and relearn a lifetime of teaching. I think it would make it a MUCH easier transition from single life to married life if the church was proactive as opposed to reactive, because often the church is reactive. They try to stop the bleeding in pastor counsel 5 years into marriage and the damage is done. JMHO
Do you think many times kids hear things from the pulpit they don't hear at home on these subjects, biblically I mean? The parents and the church should equip kids to live in this world, especially now.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Do you think many times kids hear things from the pulpit they don't hear at home on these subjects, biblically I mean? The parents and the church should equip kids to live in this world, especially now.
I think that it should go hand in hand, but from what I have experienced is that often times they don't. It is not limited to these topics either, but these are where the church should begin to focus on. This can really help to firm up marriges in our movement. A lot of mainstream non-denominal churches already do this. They are seeing good results. Some of them teach often on these topics.
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"If we don't learn to live together we're gonna die alone"
Jack Shephard.
I believe we interpret the Bible's core doctrines very well. We place proper emphasis on salvation and discipleship. Our services truly are "Spirit-filled."
Con:
We balk at taking away from the Word, but we are the world's worst at adding to it. We are not community-service oriented. We are kingdom builders, but not God's kingdom. We find new and unique ways of keeping people out instead of being the gatherers God called us to be.
Thought maybe we could have some edifying discussion here, and maybe brainstorm some answers to better the body of Christ.
Part 1
What do you see as positives of the Apostolic church in general??
What do you think we can do to make it even better??
Part 2
What do you see as negatives of the Apostolic church in general??
What do you think we can do to turn around these negatives and improve it??
Here is the pitch!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pastor Poster
Pro:
I believe we interpret the Bible's core doctrines very well. We place proper emphasis on salvation and discipleship. Our services truly are "Spirit-filled."
Con:
We balk at taking away from the Word, but we are the world's worst at adding to it. We are not community-service oriented. We are kingdom builders, but not God's kingdom. We find new and unique ways of keeping people out instead of being the gatherers God called us to be.
Here is a drive way back to centerfield. Warning track to the wall it's a home run!
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"If we don't learn to live together we're gonna die alone"
Jack Shephard.
I think these questions beg to be asked. Do the Pro's out weigh the Con's? Do they balance each other out or does a bad Con out weight a good Pro?
What do you all think?
As for me I think that Con's far out weigh the Pro's. I am not saying there are more Con's which there could be, but I think that anything negative does greater damage to our name and our movement than the Pro's help push us forward. JMO
__________________
"If we don't learn to live together we're gonna die alone"
Jack Shephard.
I believe we interpret the Bible's core doctrines very well. We place proper emphasis on salvation and discipleship. Our services truly are "Spirit-filled."
Con:
We balk at taking away from the Word, but we are the world's worst at adding to it. We are not community-service oriented. We are kingdom builders, but not God's kingdom. We find new and unique ways of keeping people out instead of being the gatherers God called us to be.
Well said, PP.
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
Pro
History.
However you cut it, you cant get where you are going unless you know where you've been.
the Apostolic church has a fantastic history that has given us something special in all the world.
Con
History.
What was it Satchel Page said? Don't look back, something might be gaining on you!
Its a good bit of advice. At times we tend to desire our history to be our present and our future. It is impossible. It also turns us from being productive and forward thinking to insular and insecure.
IMHO Apostolics are neck deep in a paradigm shift. We are no longer a movement but we are not yet a real denomination.... but we are headed there.
What we better be able to do, is make that transition without losing our identity and our doctrine.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
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