Are There Other Paradigms?
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Permalink Reply by Shaliach on -
ameyn..searching the scriptures daily, wise advice. On some doctrines we're obviously firm and unwavering such as salvation by grace through faith in Yeshua/Jesus alone etc..., but like you, I find the longer I live and walk with Him, the more I realize that I don't know everything I thought I knew! May He continue to be the Lamp to our feet and the Light to out path.
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Permalink Reply by Dominique Robinson on -
Well put, I agree
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Permalink Reply by Rod on -
Rewriting a bit more clearly: We have it that we believe in the paradigm of the Organic Church and not of the Institutional Church, In other words we have the concept that some can understand and some can't. But can we understand everything we think we should? A Jehovah Witness, a Seventh Day Adventist, A Mormon, a Christian Scientist all may have beliefs that may seem strange to our own brand of Christianity. And of course some of them may or may not be unBiblical in their doctrines but the point I'm trying to make is that there may be different that other believers have that are different from our own concepts but actually right. Where were we before we accepted the concept of simple church? But one believer somewhere may have a significant belief that is Biblical and right and you might think they are wrong, we continue to grow in grace and knowledge daily. We are especially apt to ear if your Simple church is made up of mostly former believers of what ever group you came out of. So....so we should be careful praying that God opens our minds and searching the scriptures daily.
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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Kaster on -
I think the difference is whether or not we are, in fact, born again believers in Jesus Christ, rather than "former believers of whatever group" we came out of. What we believe and who we believe it about makes a lot of difference. As Shaliach mentioned, there are some essentials that simply cannot be compromised but, as I understand it, the differences in the organic/house/simple church "paradigm" has to do with how we actually live out our salvation and the doctrines of the Word of God in community with other believers and how we related to one another in that community, as opposed to how we related, or not, in the institutional church (mostly "not" because of the hierarchial structure that prevented the biblical model from being practiced), but all still based on the Word of God.
I am not going to have a basis for fellowship with a Mormon the same way I will fellowship with a born again believer because the entire basis of belief is different. Mormons do not believe in the God of the Bible. Do we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, pray for them, witness to them, absolutely, but I am not going to seek to win them to organic/house/simple church apart from them actually being born again. Salvation must come first. That has to be the common denominator, which isn't there with the cults you mentioned. Even with others such as Catholics and their works-dependent salvation, or other traditional mainline denominations, all these are simply labels and factions which have developed that may or may not be preaching the same Gospel as that preached by Jesus Christ and the Apostles. .
So it is really important that I am firmly grounded in the Word of God so that I won't be tempted to think that a Mormon simply has a different "paradigm" from me when they actually have a totally different belief system in a totally different god.
We can have differences in beliefs with other born-again believers when it comes to non-essentials, but we need to be careful that those we call believers are truly believers in the same sense. True biblical Christianity is the only religion that is not based on works. Even in the Old Testament salvation was by faith (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.) not by sacrifices, but many Christians believe that salvation in the O.T. was by the sacrificial system of the Law. The bible is clear that the Law did not save but only showed us our need for salvation. And now that the Messiah has come, He has fulfilled the law. This is not a "paradigm" but the truth.
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Permalink Reply by Shaliach on
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Great point. There does seem to be an infection of sorts among some...the teaching that the "god" of other religions is the same as ours which is an absolute error. Our rabbi just spoke on this last week! Religions such as mormonism, Catholicism, etc...have teachings that contrast the Bible. It's an unequal yoke no matter what religion it is. If it doesn't line up with the Word, it's invalid. A great falling away and outbreaks of false teachings are sure to become rampant as we near His coming. We must be on guard and watching, studying to show ourselves approved and guarding our hearts against deceptive teachings, certainly not yoking up!
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Permalink Reply by robert gilbert on -
i am guilty of being from somewhere else. i still am.
i think we are called to be a cast of unity. networking is a next step towards larger unity. maintaining autonomy as powerful networks begin to grow is another challenge. giving up our people and letting go with the turn of the seasons is our call. house churches is the chance to grow, and then disperse and grow again.
i think there will be modified models. i think there is room for small bodies within major bodies as well as lone bodies outside the major bodies. unity is what is important. we are all in Christ. i think there is the importance of simple understanding of the essentials over non-essentials. cole's DNA model and many other simple models which point towards the essentials are important.
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Permalink Reply by John Bennett on
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There is only one model. God's model as He has prescribed in the Holy Scriptures. WE may have partial understanding of His ways, but HE never has two ways that contradict each other. You cannot believe that salvation is of works AND salvation is of grace. This is called insanity. Likewise God is "not the author of confusion." God will never contradict Himself. Therefore ALL His truth, which is wrapped up in Jesus (Col 2:3) will always agree with every part of ALL His truth.
Sorry about the CAPS, I get excited and sometimes too forceful. If we accept that there are multiple models for gathering, then we look no different than the denominations who pick and choose and divide and separate because we believe our way is God's way no matter how well the other group shows us a contradiction in it
Therefore, there will be only one way of gathering to the Lord Jesus, but on our journey to understand it, we will believe two or more contradictory elements of the whole way of gathering from time to time. That is part of why we MUST gather, to help each other grow in understanding through correction and teaching from multiple sources. There is a pattern, there is a template, but even more, there is only one way, His way.
I ever endeavor to only hold to those beliefs that continue to be in full agreement with the scriptures AND, strangley to some, in full agreement with all my other beliefs. If one single belief about any one single topic fails to agree with ALL my currently understood and believed topics, then I MUST discard it to the shelf of future understanding.
If one does not have this form of belief, then one will probably collect a mixed set of contradictory beliefs (this is usually referred to as institutional teaching - ha) that will continue to confuse the mind and cause the heart to be tossed to and fro. Let's discard, what I call, those contradictory beliefs, those religious, biased, stubborn beliefs that we hold, and simplify our faith to one pure diamond, even if that diamond has to become very small, it is still a diamond, pure and unbreakable. I would rather have a tiny diamond of a belief that is unshakable because the Lord taught me AND because I can see and understand the pure, agreeable pattern of it all, than a mountain of sand. He desires to show us the secrets of the Kingdom, the meanings of the parables, the deep things of God.
With this in mind, "Gathering to the Lord" has only one model. Part of that model includes an understanding of the verses Mat 18:15-20. "In His Name" is the critical phrase to understand. I believe that it is the "Cornerstone" of our understanding of what it means to "Gather unto Him." I can go on if some desire, otherwise please comment. I really never know how people will receive what I have to offer from Him as best as I know how.
Please let me know if I am in error in any way. I want to grow in understanding Him and His Way.
one of many whom Jesus loves forever,
john
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