I have enjoyed reading, and have learned much, from this series, Jeffrey, and I do believe this 12th offering, with its many questions and challenges, is my favorite. I am sorry that you have experienced hostility from within the ranks of the denomination… Jesus said there would be persecution but it’s so painful when it occurs between and among disciples. Keep up the good work. P.S. I had to look up “seppuku” !
I agree with your analysis that the church more often reflects the marks of its surrounding culture rather than being the salt and the light unto the world. In addition to chasing after the things of this world, many of our modern church practices can also be traced back to the pagan culture that surrounded the early churches, especially from the post-apostolic period forward. We assume that these church practices were instituted by the apostles, but many of these now common practices were drawn from either the Old Covenant or Greco-Roman culture. You may already be familiar with it, but there’s a book entitled Pagan Christianity, co-authored by Frank Viola and George Barna that well documents the source of many of these extra-Biblical practices. While some of these are neutral, others serve as a hindrance to the full ability of the Church to advance the Kingdom of God. The more egregious practices were corrected due to the Protestant reformation, but there are still some that need correction to enable the Church to live up to its full potential as the mature stature of Christ.
I have enjoyed reading, and have learned much, from this series, Jeffrey, and I do believe this 12th offering, with its many questions and challenges, is my favorite. I am sorry that you have experienced hostility from within the ranks of the denomination… Jesus said there would be persecution but it’s so painful when it occurs between and among disciples. Keep up the good work. P.S. I had to look up “seppuku” !
I agree with your analysis that the church more often reflects the marks of its surrounding culture rather than being the salt and the light unto the world. In addition to chasing after the things of this world, many of our modern church practices can also be traced back to the pagan culture that surrounded the early churches, especially from the post-apostolic period forward. We assume that these church practices were instituted by the apostles, but many of these now common practices were drawn from either the Old Covenant or Greco-Roman culture. You may already be familiar with it, but there’s a book entitled Pagan Christianity, co-authored by Frank Viola and George Barna that well documents the source of many of these extra-Biblical practices. While some of these are neutral, others serve as a hindrance to the full ability of the Church to advance the Kingdom of God. The more egregious practices were corrected due to the Protestant reformation, but there are still some that need correction to enable the Church to live up to its full potential as the mature stature of Christ.
Jeremiah Burroughs.....nice! Great read!