I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me
What do you think of when you here this phrase? What would you say is the one true church? Can you elaborate on it a little bit? What does it look like? How is it organized? What is it made up of? What does it do?
I've been a little overwhelmed lately at how confused a lot of class books, sermons, and so on, get when they talk about the "one true church."
It seems to me that most Christians, when pressed, know what the "one" church is. But once many start discussing denominationalism, authority, and a bunch of other things, they start to have an altogether different concept in mind.
I guess, in this post, I'm both inquiring and trying to make a point. Can you guess what that point is?
The best way I can think to explain it at the moment would be.. The 'one true church' is not a building, is not a title, or a sign out in the front yard. It's not a membership to a church building. Christ himself is the one true church in which we are joined into through his gospel, and the obedience of His truth, and which 'membership' requires our continuance and participation therein.
Some brethren define the "one true church" as the non-denominational non-institutional never-reformed-but-always-restored Church of Christ.
(And they can't use instrumental music either.)
The phrase "one true church" is never used anywhere in scripture to my knowledge though. I think its remarkable the attitude that goes around that God will judge groups rather than individuals.
If you ever get the chance, there is a lecture that was given back in 82 or 83 (its the Romans lectureship, but I forget which year) by Michael Schmidt called "The Sins of Being Right". I think he has an excellent amount of insight to offer on this subject.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Dominic. A sectarian attitude in regards to the church is something that has bothered me for a long time and I'm sensitive to it. Just always ask the question, "How can I best help people to understand/change?"
Any time we (meaning human beings) start using formal terms not found in the Bible for religious discussion/teaching, it makes me uncomfortable.
This isn't one that I've thought about before (of course, I don't recall hearing it all that much recently either).
Hmm...I suppose one problem with the phrase is that it may betray an institutional attitude toward "the church." It goes back to the penchant man seems to have for reducing everything to simple categories, rather than exercising more difficult moral judgment (i.e. making a "list" of "qualifications" for elders); in this case we want to be able to categorize individuals (or groups?) as either members of a denomination (an unreal church? a false church?) or as part of the "one true church."
They are the ones God has made perfect through His Son, and their names are enrolled in Heaven. They are known as, "The assembly of the firstborn ones."
The "one true church" is the called out body of the saved. Salvation does not reside in a building where people do all the right things and say the right things like "we are the only ones with the truth". The called out body is made up of individuals who have given their hearts to God, love Jesus by keeping His commands and love their neighbors as themselves.
Spilt Grape Juice is eye-opening, but rather negative. His next book, "Unbroken Bread," is where he starts from a clean slate about what the church should be like.
I can't speak for what others do or don't understand...and I HATE to project a weakness on brethren...speaking for myself, when I hear the phrase "one true church" i think of Jesus Christ, and everybody who has been "put on Christ" through Baptism...ie, everybody who is a part of his church, his body...the saved.
As I've been in search of a new outdoor hobby (kayak fishing isn't viable when its as cold as it is), I've been looking into hunting (I just don't think sitting over a hole in the cold hoping a fish bites is for me). Particularly migratory birds, grouse, and other small game. Anyone else have any tips or fun stories?
I've never hunted a thing or a time in my life. I've never even shot a bird with a BB gun. But when I've spent all day studying in our house or someone else's house, I need to spend some time outdoors enjoying God's other revelation!
I have no hunting comment. Only this: you should be consistent with your signature. Sometimes you sign your blogs, sometimes you don't. My suggestion is that you don't. But if you do, at least do it every time. Ok? Ok. :-P
Well every form of hunting you can imagine is the biggest hobby there is in this state. Though I've never gone myself, I'm probably one of the few who hasn't. :P Though, it seems deer hunting and some other non-flighty forms are more popular. I don't know anyone personally who hunts birds. Plus I'm not familiar with our hunting laws... Sorry, but good luck with your new interest!
I don't have any hunting tips sorry. But you could ask Robert or Dad. They have been hunting birds. Robert goes hunting with our Papa sometimes so like I said ask Robert.
I've gone hunting quite a lot. My dad and I went frequently when I was younger, and I've done a variety of things. If you're just starting, bird hunting will definately be more up your alley. You'll get to move around a lot more, and it's also more social. Up there you'll probably have, what?, quail, pheasant, grouse, doves, and snipe? You'll need a resident licence and then a shotgun. :) Probably a hunter saftey license as well (in most states). If you have an specific questions, feel free to ask.
Waterfowl are a TON of fun to hunt. But finding public land that's actually decent will probably take some work. I'm sure there are alot of online resources though for all of that sort of stuff, but the best thing is just going to be going out and scouting things for yourself. That and learning how to shoot. ;-)
3" is perfectly fine for duck/teal/snipe, etc. 3 1/2" is better for geese but not necessary unless they're flying high--which if it's cloudy they won't be.
A lot of people I work with are game fowl hunters. It isn't easy when you aren't in the actual migratory path because you have to try and time your trips to the dakotas when the birds are in. Also, the dog training is pretty time consuming (although fulfilling from what I can see)
Jen and I have been prepping each other for thanksgiving scrabble at my family's house.
Tonight I got my best game of 483, individual score of 98, non-bingo score of 81, and average of 32. Let's just hope I can get that lucky against my mom... Jen is constantly improving as well. She just had two bingos in one game for her first time. :)
I never knew scrabble was so fun. I used to just struggle to put whatever my biggest word was and thought that was all there was to it. I've learned there's so much more to the game than that. It's not Chess... but since Jen will actually play me regularly at this, it'll have to do! Any other scrabble players out there?
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Anyone ever see any music for this old John Newton hymn or any hymnals that have it? I recently came across it and love the words:
Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior's name
He has hushed the law's loud thunder
He has quenched Mt. Sinai's flame
Let us love the Lord who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God
Let us wonder grace and justice
Join and point to mercy's store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He who washed us with his blood
He who washed us with his blood
He who washed us with his blood
Has secured our way to God
Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
He has washed us with his blood
He has washed us with his blood
He has washed us with his blood
He has washed us with his blood
He will bring us home to God
I'm not the best at Scrabble, but I do thoroughly enjoy it. Unfortunately, I'm as far south as you can get without going to Florida. (I checked, and I am in fact further south than Tampa.
Not Lectures. I have a music convention at the end of that week. And my students need me more than they need a substitute. But I AM trying to come out for the musical and to see folks for a few days then...
ah man I forgot about scrabble. I'm horrible at the game in the first place (I should probably learn the rules/tricks...), but playing against your mom and watching Anthony and her compete like they do is intimidating! Great, now I'm scared. ;)
I love scrabble, though no one ever wants to play with me. My grandma is hardcore about playing it and made me memorize all the words beginning with the letter "Q" that don't require a "U" afterwards. Qat, Qaid, etc.
awesome! just be prepared to be destroyed... lol, kidding.. I'm sort of in his shoes is about the 'bingo' thing.. i wonder if i don't know some of the rules? hmm.
LOVE scrabble but Jeremy isn't all that thrilled with it. Plus we don't actually own the game :( i put a bunch of games on our registry and no one seemed to get the hint lol
Oh... that's an old song? I assumed it was new! There was a little girl in the group that got to me them and she gave them a Captain Crunch box to sign ;)
well I don't mean that they actually SHOULD count more... even though I don't agree completely with this war or anything like that, it really disgusts me that the military who have volunteered to fight for our freedom may not even be allowed to let their votes count, even though it wasn't their faults that the ballots didn't get to them in time. Thats just really sickens me.
Did Stanford even run in this election? I haven't heard anything about him at all!
But yeah.. hopefully after this the Republicans will actually be CONSERVATIVE again instead of a slightly not-so-left-wing as the democrat running against him. lol
I'm not entirely sure. I've heard both sides about that. I forget the huge percentage of the military that was actually for McCain, though. But now it's probably doubtful they could turn their state around to give McCain what he needed last night.
have you heard much about Chuck Baldwin? I've heard from word of mouth a lot of great things concerning what he stood for and such, but he was also one I didn't even hear of until the elections were nearly over..
