I went and saw my Dad preach today. It was great. It was the first time he's done it in a while. It's also the first time I've been back to an Anglican Church for a few years. I really enjoyed it. The guys that wrote the prayer book really did a great job. I still remember many of the prayers/creed/etc but they really stirred up a lot of emotion in me.
Plus I enjoyed the sermon. Dad used the old T, new T and gospel readings and tied them in a practical and interesting way. I liked it especially cause I've been a little starved for good sermons at my current Church recently. Plus he's my dad so I'm a little biased.
He asked who do you listen to? Family, friends, the media, etc were some of the responses. We are surrounded by voices, all trying to move us in different directions. Who do we listen to? As christians we would say Jesus and his teachings through the bible. But how can we trust that voice over others? Once again he asked for examples and they could be split up into 2 categories - personal experience and the apostolic witness or the witness of history (i.e. the bible).
Who do you listen to? And why? I think I listen to Jesus first and I spose Gandhi, whose also been a big influence on me. My family as well have always been a big influence.
There's lots more that I'd love to relate but I can't do any of it justice. It tied in well with much of what I've been contemplating over the last few months. I've resolved to visit an anglican Church regularly, maybe monthly I think. I also did the music for them which was good fun. It was all hymns and older songs, and one darling lady came up afterwards and said she loved my playing and singing, even though she'd never really liked the guitar before. :)
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Yeah traditional stuff is cool, I think. I know that the whole Hillsong/big church scene has really taken off and people dig it and that's cool, but I still have a soft spot for the smaller, traditional things. Worked at a Catholic school for awhile and although I don't agree with Catholicism 100% (then again I don't necessarily 100% agree with everything the churches that I currently go to say - I guess if you go around waiting to agree with everything 100%, you'll quite possibly be waiting a very long time), their tradition/art/commitment to social justice/hospitality/ritual/old church buildings/history/liturgy, etc. is beautiful in so many ways.
I try to listen to Jesus (although I can be stubborn and think I need to learn to surrender stuff to God more - it's a work in progress). I think that through praying and stuff we can discern whether it is Jesus speaking to us, or us trying to project our own views onto Jesus :)
Couldn't agree more (there's the brown nosing!). Agreeing 100% is boring. There's no challenge when you agree with everyone.
Since I've been going to a Church of Christ I have discovered a couple of theological points that I disagree with. I've had serveral people say I should just go back to an anglican church but where's the fun in just being with people who agree with you?
I really enjoy the traditional too. Being an anglican and having gone to catholic schools I'm used to it but there's lots of great stuff to be got out of it.
And traditional doesn't mean it has to be restrictive/oppressive or not current either ;)
"Couldn't agree more (there's the brown nosing!). Agreeing 100% is boring"
Hehe was the contradiction between the first sentence of that quote and the second one deliberate? I sometimes can't tell when you're joking.
I take it that baptism is one theological point you disagree on? My parents are currently attending a Church of Christ and my dad doesn't really agree with having to get re-dunked. He was baptised as a baby (probably a sprinkling rather than a dunking - not that I think it really matters either way) and for him, that's enough. He doesn't feel the need to do it again (he's Dutch, btw and identifies as Protestant - was raised in Dutch Free Reformed but has been to other denominations for many years now).
What kinds of other stuff do you disagree with theologically? (reaches for can opener :))
Lol just want to correct something from that last post. The one circumstance where I think it *does* matter if you are dunked or sprinkled is if you're a baby :) Dunking not recommended.
Peace out!
Nothing like a bit of well placed cynicism :). I'm very sarcastic in real life, but it doesn't translate well onto the internet. I'm a lot less funny in real life too.
Baptism is the main one I disagree with. I was baptised when I was 6, and I wasn't happy that I hadn't been basptised before then. It was a pouring. But I'm not allowed to become a member because I'm not "baptised". I've been told by church members that the day will come when I will want to obey Jesus' command to be baptised ;) Strikes me it's a little in our "small god" box.
Other stuff is less important than this. We have had an emphasis recently on how prosperous God makes christians and how faith is a requirement for healing and such, all of which I think need to be dealt with very carefully. But these are probly more the specific church rather than COC doctrine. I also don't like the rejection of a lot of the more traditional aspects (like the prayer book for example), and there doesn't seem to be a creed or what we believe in as a church.
I really like that it's not comfortable for me and it challenges me to explore what I really believe, whether it's in disagreement with my friends and church or not.
There's more to be said but I'm a little brain dead after volleyball ;).
"and there doesn't seem to be a creed or what we believe in as a church."
I doubt you WILL find a creed either! Church of Christ the denomination started as the 'church without creeds'. They were sick of 'creeds' and wanted to get back to the bible (well, their interpretation of it;))
Statements of faith are a little more allowed these days, but many, more 'traditional' C of C's still refuse to have them as well.
"I really like that it's not comfortable for me and it challenges me to explore what I really believe, whether it's in disagreement with my friends and church or not."
I know the feeling! For me its going from contemporary, traditional C of C to a more pentecostal/charismatic C of C (its really only a C of C in name). And BOY is THAT a challenging mix! BUT it is good, it really does force me to grapple with the issues and work out what I really believe.
Heya Middo. Yeah one thing I don't like is that there seems to be a bit of pressure to
1. Get excited
2. express yourself more charismatically
Now I don't have issue with either of these but I do have a problem with pressuring people into it. I also believe that the word and Jesus' teaching are exciting and should be what we get excited about, but it sometimes seems to me it's getting excited for exciteds sake.
I've experieced a little of this recently, let us know how it is for you.
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