tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581047259314187297.post892836666952174469..comments2023-11-17T09:22:32.786+03:00Comments on Circumpolar: Can Outsiders Counsel Insiders?Warrick Farahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00389839484261120626noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3581047259314187297.post-56104695140610587322011-05-10T15:21:48.012+03:002011-05-10T15:21:48.012+03:00I totally agree with you. Sometimes I get the impr...I totally agree with you. Sometimes I get the impression that we think: <br /><br /><b>Bibles + people who have no background in following Jesus = best church ever</b> <br /><br />If this is the case, it is a bizarre idea... totally foreign to the early Church. The New Testament shows deep relationships between sent-out ones and the churches/communities they planted. Their beliefs and forms must be consistent with the global body of Christ in key areas. Anything else is a cult. In fact, rather than the formula above, I think that most often:<br /><br /><b>Bibles + no relationships = cults</b><br /><br />That being said, I am not sure that is what the author is arguing for. It sounds like he is saying once they are mature and have leaders, we should recognize their leaders as equals. As brothers, not as children. This means allowing them to make decisions... including what their identity is and how they live it out and who they are influenced by.<br /><br />I like the way Schreiter puts it in saying that the missionaries are like the connectors between the local churches and the global Church. We have the responsibility to guide (not push) them in a direction that is not at odds with the global Church AND we have a responsibility to let them figure out how the Gospel speaks to their specific context AND we have responsibility to bring their application of the Gospel in their context to bear on the global Church as well. We are kind of in the middle helping each side to inform the other.<br /><br />Well, I hope my thoughts are coherent. Now it's time for the second cup of coffee!!<br /><br />Peace.Tim Heraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01166544834759414786noreply@blogger.com