Comments on Christian Unity: Early Church History Seminar

PPS Earlier I said I didn't understand the separat...

2008-10-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

PPS Earlier I said I didn't understand the separatists.
But as time goes on, especially recently my heart is more scared of the worldliness in our "mainstream" culture/media which filters into the current attitudes of most of America today. Sure you can turn off the TV, but then what about the billboard I saw of 2 women for Remy Martin Cognac?With the caption "Things could get Interesting".
I think I spoke too soon wondering why people separate.As a mother I started studying the Amish, mennonites too. Yet I felt their evangelism was compromised by their separatism.
But perhaps either because I have been getting closer to God or maybe because I finally gave birth a baby girl, I feel a fear for my children's future if we don't draw up some lines now. I want them to live in a world of purity, not sexuality. I mean I don't want feed them to the wolves.

Two couples here went down and came back encourage...

2008-10-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

Two couples here went down and came back encouraged. One brother mentioned David's challenge to our churches, but didn't go into much detail. Thanks for your reporting on it.

oops-- forgot a question:> PPS Are you considering...

2008-09-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

oops-- forgot a question:

> PPS Are you considering getting
> baptized 2 more times?

No. Matt 28 does say in the name of the father, son, and Holy Spirit, which I presume is where the three times comes from. But Acts 2 only says in the name of Jesus. So it seems to me that once is valid, and three times might also be valid (if that is what Jesus meant in Matt 28).

I think David's main point is that he doesn't think we should be parsing those things so legalistically anyway. We certainly do have a tendency in that direction.

Hi Robin,I think the separatist question would be ...

2008-09-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hi Robin,

I think the separatist question would be an interesting topic to explore. I've done a bit of reading on the roots of the Mennonites, Amish, Quakers, etc. When you look at what their ancestors suffered under the state churches in Europe, you can understand a bit better how they came to be as separate as they are today.

I did not get to meet you but I think I saw you.I ...

2008-09-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

I did not get to meet you but I think I saw you.
I too really enjoyed Bercot's talks.
It did give me a lot to think about. I had wanted
to ask him what he thought of headcovering, but he answered it without prompting.
After doing much research on the internet this week, I am seriously considering it. (i was glad to read your 2 cents on your blog too).
I feel encouraged to love my brother and challenged to not slip into the old church mindset, that we are the only ones going to heaven. My father and stepmother while catholic, serve the poor, invite the mentally ill to their holiday parties and give all they can to people, I appreciate the idea, of going to church with them (when visiting), and then you might get a leg into a discussion of how things are different, but not getting into a fight or feeling so torn that I must convert them immediately. Also I appreciate Bercots challenge to love people into Christ and not beat them over the head with bible. I think we could work on loving people and being warm (I think at one time we used to be better at it, however contrived it might have been).
Anyways, look forward to keeping up with your blog.
YSIC at NRCOC.
PS I would like to read a thread on your thoughts about separatists (i.e. the amish or biblical agrarians)? Even after reading about their biblical reasoning I can't seem to wrap my brain around how that is Jesus like? From what I can tell the early christians were out in the world and yes they had a tight fellowship, but they were out in the world. As I recall in Will the Real Heretic (not sure which version), he spoke of how when the plagues came, families would throw their own members on the streets but the christians would scoop them up.
How could they have done this if they were separatists? Thanks!
PPS Are you considering getting baptized 2 more times?
-Robin

Phil,I was delighted to meet you also. We've comm...

2008-09-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

Phil,

I was delighted to meet you also. We've communicated online for a couple of years or so, and finally we meet!

Anyway, I was glad that Doug and the others didn't get into a debate with David. My impression was that Doug was in agreement with David to a greater degree than he said publicly.

It was a privilege to meet face to face with you a...

2008-09-27T04:37:00.000-07:00

It was a privilege to meet face to face with you at the conference. Douglas took time to encourage us not to take an easy route of accepting / rejecting everything we had heard, but to carefully consider and experiment, keeping the good and rejecting the bad.

Phil

It was good to meet you also!I'm looking forward t...

2008-09-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

It was good to meet you also!

I'm looking forward to receiving my DVD so I can hear that last message.

It was great finally meeting you in person, Alan. ...

2008-09-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

It was great finally meeting you in person, Alan. Good review. On Sunday morning, David added more buzz to our conversations as he presented some of his take on living set apart from the world. He talked about wealth, materialism, employment, media entertainment, war and military service, politics and voting, and modesty and clothing. I imagine members are returning to their states and countries this week with a lot to reflect on.