Alright I've something to say that might not be popular.
When discussing churches, please... please... do not use "liberal" and "conservative" when talking about comparing NI to Institutional coC. Ugh.
1) To blanketly assume is just abusurd. I've been to about 40 coC in my life, probably 20 of each type. I can tell you that there are liberal and conservative on each side. As example, the mainline coC in Mississippi are FAR more conservative than the NI coC in Nashville.
2) Liberal Vs. Conservative is NOT the issue, people. While they can sort of be used as a barometer as to how right a church is, it's not always or often the case! A church can be as "conservative" as it can be in coC standards but be faaar from biblical. A church can be "liberal" and be closer to the bible in many things than a stuffy church clinging to manmade tradition.
I feel I can talk about this since I have been a member of both chruches and all 4 main mindsets. NI people... the fastest way to run off someone really seeking is to flap your gums about mainline people being "liberals". Just zip it. Yes, teach them the issues where we differ from mainline churches. Yes, be examples. But let your actions, and God's word sway, not name calling.
And frankly, being NI and "teaching right" won't cut it. You can "teach right" all the time, but if you have no love, you're just blowing hot air. Frankly, the NI coC could take huge lessons from our mainline/institutional friends on how to love our church brothers and sisters. Yes, love without truth is just plain wrong. I also don't think we should be social clubs. But this isn't an either/or exam. If you examine yourself and see yourself resembing either a nazi or a hippie, I dare say a change in behavior and mindset would help.
I write this as much to remind myself as to maybe wake up the NI community. We need to have both parts of the equation to be "right".
I have been around the c o C now for the last 3 years and I am not 100% sure that your (not clearly stated statement) that NI "teaches right" is true. Like you also said, I think the true church is somewhere in the middle between the left and right sides. I being not taught all the traditions have found error on both sides of the c o C. And I remind all that Jesus want us to be united in the garden when He prayed. So I see the left and the right as being dividings of the church Jesus did not want devided. To me that is a sin I would rather not have to face before God.
I agree completely that we lack love. Love for the brethren, love for the lost, love for God. I really enjoy Powers Ferry (although a lot of NI call us "libeal") because we do focus more on love and forgiveness more than any other congregation I've ever worshiped with.
OK this is a serious question. I really have always wondered about this both in NI and I coCs. The elders are the leaders of the local congregation, right? So... why don't they do the public teaching? I know how some apostles came to teach churches and sometimes even stayed for years, but what happened when those men left? Isn't having just one man teach setting up danger in more than one way? Elders must be good teachers by very definition. I see a call in the bible for evangelists, but I see that as a call for every Christian to do such, not just one man. Thoughts would be appreciated.
Where I attend, the elders are all in the teaching rotation. And I've heard most of them preach, too. Except for the eldest one who has health problems...but he speaks up in class.
The NT talks about teachers and preachers. The apostles were not the only preachers/evangelists. The Elders are to be able to teach but does that mean preach every Sunday or is that talking about daily teaching?
May light fall upon you
Lead you to your home
May I not look on you
Take you for my own
Fair light fell upon you
All our dark dreams cannot have
First light in a new room
If the first site that I went to
Doesn't feel right, doesn't feel new
Feels just like today
And on that day
What can I go by?
When I can't take
to make this go back
I waited so long to see it go bad
"New Room" Chavez
Yes, it's a "happy song". I'm in a pretty good mood. I love fresh starts.
