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Friday, September 12, 2014

New Wine and Old Wineskins


The changes that are being forced on the church today are parts of a new reformation, a new rethinking of the nature of the church, and how it has used its authority. When the falsehoods are exposed, parts of the church dig in and hold fast to the old ways, and parts of the church listen and consider and change.

I read a statement by Anne Graham Lott, Billy Grahams daughter on enduring cruelty as she attempted to use her preaching gift. Being forced to speak from the floor and not behind the pulpit, having rows of men in the audience turn their backs on her as she began to speak. And these folks are convinced they speak for God and their view of how scripture allows them to do this.

Years ago I had a friend who was female, exeptionally gifted at planning and getting people organized and moving in unity. Her immature husband left her for a fling, and she continued to run her own business. She has remarried, worked in very responsible jobs, and I recently found out she was training for ministry in a denomination that encourages the gifts of women.

I am proud of her and kind of sad that her gifts were not allowed to blossom in the church with the older worldview. A Jesus molded and shaped spirituality would not have taken so long and hurt so many over truths set in place long ago in the radical message of Christ who broke down the walls of separation.

5 comments:

Janet Smith said...

I am very happy to attend a most atypical Church of Christ congregation. Two years ago we opened the worship to women. It has work out very well.

kc bob said...

I am always glad to see dialog about changes in worship traditions. That said, I think that even the new reformers are not always open to to ideas that fall outside of their own new traditions.

Don Hendricks said...

The issues that face evangelical history touch many other areas, and my own studies have me ready for reconsideration of how we have handled scripture and tradition.

Its a growing crowd of hopeful believers.

Don Hendricks said...

The issues that face evangelical history touch many other areas, and my own studies have me ready for reconsideration of how we have handled scripture and tradition.

Its a growing crowd of hopeful believers.

kc bob said...

"hopeful believers"

I like that. So much theology seems to embrace a different message.