But some become established, because they serve the needs of the Church in changing circumstances. It is important to acknowledge the inevitability of development, while recognizing that this can lead to divisions.
Author: Paul Avis
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 9780567521026
Category: Religion
Page: 186
View: 779
This timely book, which arises out of consultations under the auspices of the Centre for the Study of the Christian Church, examines the Church of England's decision to ordain women to the priesthood and to make pastoral provision for those opposed. It attempts to discover and define the theological principles underlying both the ordination of women and the determination of the Church to maintain communion when these developments provoke fundamental disagreements.
ed. Paths to Unity: Explorations in Ecumenical Method. London: Church House Publishing, 2004. ———. “Reception: Towards an Anglican Understanding.” In Seeking the Truth of Change in the Church: Reception, Communion, and the Ordination of ...
Author: Jeffrey W. Driver
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 9781630871703
Category: Religion
Page: 184
View: 444
At an international level, Anglicanism has almost no mandating or juridical power. Stresses and threats of division over issues such as human sexuality have resulted in moves to enhance the Communion's central structures and instruments. However, it is becoming clear that there is little likelihood of substantial change in this direction succeeding, at least in the medium term. The challenge for Anglicanism is to make a "polity of persuasion" work more effectively. This volume seeks to identify some trends and shifts of emphasis in Anglican ecclesiology to serve that end. Jeffrey Driver argues that there is more at stake in such an exercise than Anglican unity. In an ever-shrinking, pluralist, and conflicted world, where oneness is often forced by dominance, the People of God are called to model something different. The injunction of Jesus, "it is not so among you," challenged his followers to use power and live in community in a way that contrasted with what occurred "among the Gentiles" (Mark 10:41-45). This is why the sometimes tedious debates about authority and structure in the Anglican Communion could actually matter--because they might have something to say about being human in community, about sharing power and coexisting, about living interdependently on a tiny and increasingly stressed planet. The Anglican experiment in dispersed authority, for all its grief, could be a powerful gift.
In fact, when I asked a priest-professor from a Catholic seminary recently about what the church might look like ... Some people, of course, have difficulty understanding the importance and relevance of change in seeking the truth.
Author: Debra Meyers
Publisher: Lexington Books
ISBN: 9781793604927
Category: Religion
Page: 269
View: 273
This volume explores the historical, theological, sociological, and ethical dimensions of the current issues threatening the two thousand-year-old Roman Catholic Church. The interdisciplinary analysis contained within the volume exposes the destructive convictions and actions of the Roman Catholic clergy that has produced the current institutional crisis while suggesting options for moving forward. Documenting the cases that constitute the many crises currently surrounding Catholicism, the volume aims to provide clarity and conscience. At the same time, with a constructive vision of an ethics and religious practice rooted in integrity and transparency, the authors offer a path towards holistic and holy reformation by and for Catholics.
This is not an accusation but an honest statement of what I have observed through the past forty years of seeking the truth. Herein lies one of the reasons, I believe, change is needed in the church. The church seems to have been ...
Author: Gary Nicks
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 9781635256512
Category: Religion
Page: 246
View: 196
Have you ever questioned the teachings of the church? Do they make sense to you? When there are teachings you don't understand, have you ever been told, "Just take it on faith, brother?" I have! This was not acceptable to me. If God wants us to know him and his son, Jesus Christ, and the Word of God is his communication to us, then we as individuals should be able to study his Word and understand it. However, I believe that we are in the unfortunate time for the church in which the prophecy of the Apostle Paul has come to its fulfillment: For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4) This book presents many of the questions I had in my quest for truth. It addresses some of the most egregious doctrines that lead people away from understanding God's plan and how they are to fi t into it. In order to effectively seek God, you must ask questions. Why? Mainly because it is just as easy to believe a lie as it is the truth. Remember John 4:23-24: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
In the church we have modified our beliefs to adapt to the changing time, thus in our evolvement, we have progressed ... and developed to appease humans, instead of always seeking the Truth of God and walking in the ways of the Kingdom.
Author: Riaan Engelbrecht
Publisher: Riaan Engelbrecht
ISBN:
Category: Religion
Page: 232
View: 757
Galatians 5 makes it clear what are the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace and self-control. Take note we are dealing here with the fruits of the Spirit, not our spirit. So we can only develop and carry such fruit when we allow God to abide and work in us. Therefore, we have to “live in the Spirit”, meaning walking in the Spirit who produces such fruit. This volume of work has been prompted for the simple reason that the church seems to be neglecting the need to equip disciples who reflect and manifest the character of God. We have become too obsessed with creating a feel-good Church, gifts, signs and wonders, yet ignoring the importance of character. It should be stressed we cannot generate such good fruits that produce moral and godly living on our own, therefore, we need to abide in God to bear much fruit. We need to earnestly cultivate a character that glorifies and exalts God, so that the world may know we are disciples of God because of the fruit we carry.
With a willing mind and attitude that you need to change, God will help teach you His way and give you wisdom. ... God's word is only contradictory because people justify a single verse instead of seeking the truth.
Author: Timothy Santos
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 9781640792562
Category: Religion
Page: 404
View: 536
The book is a topical commentary and Bible reference based on the Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments. After the introduction, the first section explains the Messiah's purpose and focuses on the foundations for salvation through the Messiah. The second section focuses on emotional topics and how they affect your relationship with the Messiah. The root of many emotional issues is caused by bitterness, so the causes of bitterness and forgiveness are explained in simple terms easily understood by the reader and how they affect salvation. Next the reader explores love, compassion mercy, pride and humility and how they affect their relationship with God. Digging deeper into the emotional issues the reader learns God's definition for lust and purity of heart. The next section deals with the intangible issues in the reader's life. This includes faith, sanctification, repentance and the importance of total surrender to God. The holy Spirit is explained in detail with an emphasis on His purpose for you. Section four covers some of the symbolism in the Bible and tries to help the reader see things from the cultural view of Jesus time. The desire is to help the reader understand how symbolism points to salvation and the importance of events symbolically. Section five covers almost all the parables of Jesus found in the Gospels. The parables are grouped into broad categories including: "The Kingdom of God," "Service and Obedience," "Prayer," "Humility," "God's Love," "Jesus Return," and "God's Values." The parables are explained in detail using the cultural setting of Jesus time. Section six is a brief overview of biblical history and Israel's history. The next section begins with a discussion about the rapture at Christ's second coming. The various points of view are discussed. Then the anti-Christ and False Prophet are explained. Revelation is covered extensively, but not by analyzing the symbolism. The first article is "Don't fear the book of Revelation," followed by "Revelation: The real Message," These articles explain the purpose and message for Revelation and try to remove the fear factor that most people feel. The final section is designed to challenge your thinking and bring you closer to God.
I write today to tell you that I'm no longer seeking, because on December 3rd, I found God. Though many argue that churches that change in order to become culturally relevant water down the truth making it easier to believe, ...
Author: Brad Powell
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 9781418552695
Category: Religion
Page: 320
View: 546
The church is the hope of the world when it's working right...and therein lies the problem. Most aren't. This has led both Christians and non-Christians to give up on the church entirely; it has led many others to give up on all existing churches-and maybe even start new ones. But all church can and should be transitioned to a new life. A church is never beyond hope. This book will provide principles and practices that can lead to a resurrection of any church, in any setting. It will provide the inspiration and information needed to lead a church successfully through the necessary changes of tradition and culture without compromising God's timeless truth. When this happens, the church will once again be what God intended...the hope of the world.
I had never really attended church before and I never, ever assumed Iwould become a Christian. ... Looking back on it, I can feel when and where the change from searching for knowledge to searching for Truth came to be.
Author: Janet Bartholomew
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 9781465317858
Category: Religion
Page: 357
View: 704
Does God Care? is a collection of true stories from around the world dealing with personal experiences with God. Bartholomew begins the collection with her own story and then presents over 80 other accounts sent to her from people eager to share their experiences. The stories present many different ways in which God touched an individual's life and led them to Him. The stories submitted in the book deal with overcoming drug or alcohol addiction, being healed or experiencing a medical miracle. Others who wrote to Bartholomew tell of religious conversions or simple expressions of their deep love for God and how grateful they are to have experienced His love toward them and for the blessings they received. Bartholomews own experiences are related first. One story she relates how God provided for her and her daughter when they experienced car trouble in the middle of nowhere in during the night. Bartholomew also writes of her near death experience as she went into the hospital for what was supposed to be routine outpatient surgery. As a result of the problematic surgery she experienced physical, emotional and financial hardships. She explains that her faith, as well as her church and family supplied her with strength she needed throughout her struggles. Perhaps some of the most dramatic stories included in this collection deal with an individuals ability to overcome problems with substance abuse. In "Spiritual Advisor" the reader is introduced to a young lady who found herself addicted to both drugs and alcohol. With God's help, as well as instruction from her spiritual advisor and support from friends, she has been able to achieve a year of sobriety. She has also decided to fully dedicate he life to Christ. Another writer from New York relates her experiences with the Bowery Mission Women's Center. The Center helped her to overcome a lifelong addiction to drugs and showed her that God was the solution to her problems. Dan Cross presents a life story of how he overcame alcoholism and suicide attempts, but is now a Minister and assists others who face the same battles he fought. Also included are stories describing miraculous occurrences. Jim Wilds of Alaska, tells how he was able, with Gods help, to survive falling into an icy river and fighting -60 degree wind chills. James Hewitt tells of his encounter with God in a train yard. His car, though the gearshift was in drive, moved in reverse out of the way of two oncoming train cars. As a result of this incident and the audible conversation he says he had with God, Hewitt immediately stopped drinking and smoking pot. He is how a pastor and considers starting his own church. More ordinary encounters with God are also included among the stories. One story relates how God used a simple sunset to capture one persons attention and helped refocus his mind to what was important in life. One man relates how he was not able to find true contentment until he turned his life and his talents over to God, even though he was financially successful and had archived what he thought he wanted from life. Many stories of healing are included throughout this collection. In this category are accounts of overcoming medical conditions such as anorexia, hearing loss, diabetes and cancer. In each case the healed person expresses their deep love and appreciation for God and His presence in their adversity...
The Christian adult teacher who seeks to lead adults into the riches of God's truth will acknowledge the fact that the Holy ... The rationale for change in the church is rooted to the nature of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of liberty.
Author: Kenneth O. Gangel
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN: 9781441231758
Category: Religion
Page: 360
View: 936
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