Comments on: Tradition Four http://www.themattscott.com/2008/11/14/tradition-four/ ramblings-theology-my thoughts Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:02:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tradition Five | themattscott http://www.themattscott.com/2008/11/14/tradition-four/comment-page-1/#comment-859 Tradition Five | themattscott Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:35:42 +0000 http://www.themattscott.com/?p=172#comment-859 [...] Comments Matt on Tradition FourTheresa Seeber on Tradition FourAndrew Martin on Tradition FourTheresa Seeber on Tradition [...] [...] Comments Matt on Tradition FourTheresa Seeber on Tradition FourAndrew Martin on Tradition FourTheresa Seeber on Tradition [...]

]]> By: Matt http://www.themattscott.com/2008/11/14/tradition-four/comment-page-1/#comment-858 Matt Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:18:10 +0000 http://www.themattscott.com/?p=172#comment-858 @Andrew: <i>long may the emerging community eschew the trappings of organizations.</i> I'll toast to that. I agree, the para-church is a valuable asset, and hope that they continue to make themselves available to the church as a whole. @Theresa: Thanks for stopping in, I hear you on the defense of the EC and the human desire to critique those who do not agree. To a certain extent, however, we must speak up, the question is how are we voicing our belief. I'll openly admit that I have, at times, spoken out in a way that is both detrimental to myself and to those which I was directing my comments. Something to always be mindful of. @Andrew: long may the emerging community eschew the trappings of organizations.
I’ll toast to that.
I agree, the para-church is a valuable asset, and hope that they continue to make themselves available to the church as a whole.

@Theresa: Thanks for stopping in, I hear you on the defense of the EC and the human desire to critique those who do not agree. To a certain extent, however, we must speak up, the question is how are we voicing our belief. I’ll openly admit that I have, at times, spoken out in a way that is both detrimental to myself and to those which I was directing my comments. Something to always be mindful of.

]]> By: Theresa Seeber http://www.themattscott.com/2008/11/14/tradition-four/comment-page-1/#comment-834 Theresa Seeber Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:15:16 +0000 http://www.themattscott.com/?p=172#comment-834 Andrew, I would like for you to visit my site. My name is a link to it. I love your writing here. Beautiful. And your comment, "Maybe desiring a voice is unnecessary; maybe seeking to be able to refute others’ misinformation is counter-productive," made me first think of my drive to defend all things emergent early in my journey. I have since calmed and settled, but I remember the frustration of trying to tell people they were misinformed - not about the Bible even, but with EC itself. It then made me think of the temptation as an emergent Christian to tell people they have been misinformed about the Bible. That too is not my role. (Although that role rightfully belongs to some whom God chooses.... Prophecy is not dead.) It finally made me think of my friends' and critics' (many are both somehow lol) desire to show me how they think I am being misinformed. Interesting. Either way, it is as you said: counterproductive. Also, I am quite glad there is not one figure-head leader or mindset in EC. It would go against EC's greater purpose to have either one. How beautiful and complex is our loving God! Peace Andrew, I would like for you to visit my site. My name is a link to it. I love your writing here. Beautiful. And your comment, “Maybe desiring a voice is unnecessary; maybe seeking to be able to refute others’ misinformation is counter-productive,” made me first think of my drive to defend all things emergent early in my journey. I have since calmed and settled, but I remember the frustration of trying to tell people they were misinformed – not about the Bible even, but with EC itself. It then made me think of the temptation as an emergent Christian to tell people they have been misinformed about the Bible. That too is not my role. (Although that role rightfully belongs to some whom God chooses…. Prophecy is not dead.) It finally made me think of my friends’ and critics’ (many are both somehow lol) desire to show me how they think I am being misinformed. Interesting. Either way, it is as you said: counterproductive.

Also, I am quite glad there is not one figure-head leader or mindset in EC. It would go against EC’s greater purpose to have either one. How beautiful and complex is our loving God!

Peace

]]> By: Andrew Martin http://www.themattscott.com/2008/11/14/tradition-four/comment-page-1/#comment-833 Andrew Martin Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:40:12 +0000 http://www.themattscott.com/?p=172#comment-833 The tradition I grew up in had no centre to exercise control. Assemblies had to be autonomous because there was no alternative. Yes, there were various resource groups - missional, mostly, but also magazines, the occasional conference, and so on - but they wouldn't presume any special authority outside their role. They existed to serve the assembly, never the other way around. Just as there's great merit in having a diversity of leadership locally, so too there's much merit in having a range of those para-assembly (!?) organisations - lest one of them become the de facto denomination centre. Maybe we need people to speak for us; maybe we need a mouthpiece. Maybe we do not: maybe the way of the Kingdom is to accept the worldly weakness which comes from not having a figurehead (single person or national committee). Maybe desiring a voice is unnecessary; maybe seeking to be able to refute others' misinformation is counter-productive. People like to criticize emerging/emergent things because there isn't a `proper' denomination, there isn't a leader, there isn't a single basis of faith or fellowship. That's <i>their</i> problem: long may the emerging community eschew the trappings of organizations. The tradition I grew up in had no centre to exercise control. Assemblies had to be autonomous because there was no alternative. Yes, there were various resource groups – missional, mostly, but also magazines, the occasional conference, and so on – but they wouldn’t presume any special authority outside their role. They existed to serve the assembly, never the other way around.

Just as there’s great merit in having a diversity of leadership locally, so too there’s much merit in having a range of those para-assembly (!?) organisations – lest one of them become the de facto denomination centre. Maybe we need people to speak for us; maybe we need a mouthpiece. Maybe we do not: maybe the way of the Kingdom is to accept the worldly weakness which comes from not having a figurehead (single person or national committee). Maybe desiring a voice is unnecessary; maybe seeking to be able to refute others’ misinformation is counter-productive.

People like to criticize emerging/emergent things because there isn’t a `proper’ denomination, there isn’t a leader, there isn’t a single basis of faith or fellowship. That’s their problem: long may the emerging community eschew the trappings of organizations.

]]> By: Theresa Seeber http://www.themattscott.com/2008/11/14/tradition-four/comment-page-1/#comment-830 Theresa Seeber Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:13:50 +0000 http://www.themattscott.com/?p=172#comment-830 I appreciate your committment to only use the term church when referring to the greater group that is the followers of Jesus. Yes, we are the church. And I like the way you talk about the autonomy of the various sects of the church. Yes, it is so valuable to have a group like EV who respects our differences, and seeks to be a resource to those of us who seek Christ, without demanding of us a set of values they feel are the holiest. EV is so awesome in that way. I love it. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your committment to only use the term church when referring to the greater group that is the followers of Jesus. Yes, we are the church. And I like the way you talk about the autonomy of the various sects of the church. Yes, it is so valuable to have a group like EV who respects our differences, and seeks to be a resource to those of us who seek Christ, without demanding of us a set of values they feel are the holiest. EV is so awesome in that way. I love it. Thanks for sharing.

]]>