There would be positives. But there would be negatives as well. "Come out of the world and be ye separate" and all that.
I think it's still possible to be a witness to the world even though you live in isolation. I mean if you think about it we already do that to a large extent. For most OPs their fellowship circle is pretty small and exists pretty much solely of other OPs.
Even if you did live in a community with other believers you'd still have to work, shop, and do all the things you do if you live in a regular neighborhood.
Don't see much difference really.
As far as the Amish go, they're very much a witness everywhere they go. You know them when you see them and you know what they stand for.
True, but how many people are won to the Amish lifestyle because of their isolation? None that I know of.
I never read anywhere in the scripture where the early church lived in a cloistered community. I read where they went "Everywhere" preaching the gospel and converting people to the APostolic faith.
I think the Biblical method of soulwinning is that we work regular jobs with sinners, shop at regular grocery stores with sinners, live in regular neighborhoods with sinners, and through our daily interaction with sinners we win them to CHrist.
If anyone can show me differently in scripture, I'd be happy to reconsider......
__________________ "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"
Actually, sports bars usually have the very best chicken wings..... My brother in law even got to eat at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo New York.
The first time I was taken to a sports bar was while I was on deputation as a missionary. I was especially surprised because this individual held a very high position in the UPCI.
A little Labatts ... um er.... wine is good for the stomach.....
There used to be a restaurant in Bangor, Maine that was famous for its hotdogs steamed in beer. I never had one, but often wondered what one would taste like.
In an effort to demonstrate absurdity via the absurd, I mirrored the concepts, rhetoric, and possibly the attitude that I saw in TB's post, and pushed the questioning in the other direction. You might even say I parodied it.
For this, I receive your post regarding drama, grouchiness, judgmentalism, and irrationality.
Why does TB's post not get the same treatment? All the same elements were there?
Ahhhhh, never mind, I already know the answer!
You're blaming my post for your bad attitude? I often say to our congregation that attitudes are a lot like toothpaste, when squeezed what's inside comes out.
I can't see how anything I said in my post could be considered a bad attitude or absurd. I wasn't arguing against standards, I was only making an observation that spans 34 years of ministry.
I believe the Christian life is an "insulated" life, not an "isolated" life. Holiness is unto the Lord. Scripture teaches us that it is our love that impacts the world. That love is disseminated by the presence of the Holy Spirit we have received.
God intends that we live a separated life, but it has much more to do with attitudes, spirit, deeds, etc, than it does a person's appearance, although I believe we are responsibile to practice modesty. When we won't even fellowship with other Pentecostals who don't share our personal convictions on standard issues that is isolation. Insulated Christians don't fear contamination from the world.
If this board is a reflection of the OPs in general then I believe my observation is correct regarding the preoccupation with outward standards of separation. How often have we seen a thread about what deeds of love OPs are doing in the name of Jesus Christ, which is given more emphasis in Scripture than outward adornments as a measure of one's spirituality?
True, but how many people are won to the Amish lifestyle because of their isolation? None that I know of.
I never read anywhere in the scripture where the early church lived in a cloistered community. I read where they went "Everywhere" preaching the gospel and converting people to the APostolic faith.
I think the Biblical method of soulwinning is that we work regular jobs with sinners, shop at regular grocery stores with sinners, live in regular neighborhoods with sinners, and through our daily interaction with sinners we win them to CHrist.
If anyone can show me differently in scripture, I'd be happy to reconsider......
Not won through isolation - no. Won through "witness". You can witness when you're out of your more isolated environment and that can happen in more than one way.
Do you know that many people are impressed with the Amish lifestyle and how they are willing to be different and take a stand for what they believe? Doesn't mean that people are ready to become Amish but their lifestyle does send a message.
The Jews were separate but they did make believers out of pagans and heathens. They lived in their own communities and lived very separate and "different" lifestyles.
Even the early Acts believers had everything in common and lived in community but I'm sure they worked outside their communities and they definitely had a huge impact on their towns and cities.
So there. Have I made a strong enough case yet? And I haven't even BEGUN to talk about the other benefits of living in our own communities. Hehe.
__________________ Smiles & Blessings.... ~Felicity Welsh~ (surname courtesy of Jim Yohe)
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