http://oneinjesus.info/2010/03/dialogue-with-cougan-the-plan-of-salvation-part-4-acceptance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dialogue-with-cougan-the-plan-of-salvation-part-4-acceptance Thu, 24 May 2012 22:51:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://oneinjesus.info/2010/03/dialogue-with-cougan-the-plan-of-salvation-part-4-acceptance/#comment-13239 Aaron Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:44:14 +0000 http://oneinjesus.info/?p=9328#comment-13239 Yes, and that's really what it comes down to. No Church of Christ, who loudly proclaims to do everything only as the first century church did, actually does (no other church commonly does either, denominational or otherwise, so don't feel too bad). Call it a pattern or a description or whatever you want, no church even remotely does what's described in 1 Corinthians 14. That's why that section of the Bible tends to be avoided. It's extremely hard to interpret and apply in a way that's compatible with all the traditions we're shackled with (buildings, paid preachers, legalism, etc.). And so you only ever hear about the parts that are taken out of context because they sound like laws for all time. And if we face the fact that we haven't followed the pattern, the reaction will be to say that grace covers those who have sincerely assembled and worshiped and followed the scriptures as best as they understood. Yes, and that's really what it comes down to. No Church of Christ, who loudly proclaims to do everything only as the first century church did, actually does (no other church commonly does either, denominational or otherwise, so don't feel too bad). Call it a pattern or a description or whatever you want, no church even remotely does what's described in 1 Corinthians 14. That's why that section of the Bible tends to be avoided. It's extremely hard to interpret and apply in a way that's compatible with all the traditions we're shackled with (buildings, paid preachers, legalism, etc.). And so you only ever hear about the parts that are taken out of context because they sound like laws for all time. And if we face the fact that we haven't followed the pattern, the reaction will be to say that grace covers those who have sincerely assembled and worshiped and followed the scriptures as best as they understood.

]]> http://oneinjesus.info/2010/03/dialogue-with-cougan-the-plan-of-salvation-part-4-acceptance/#comment-13238 Ray Downen Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:40:57 +0000 http://oneinjesus.info/?p=9328#comment-13238 Jay is right as usual. He looks at the matter of unity in Christ from the standpoint of those who have added an ungodly law against musical instruments, and appeals to these folks to accept as brothers we folks who weren't troubled by unscriptural laws in the first place. How right he is! We ought to recognize our unity! But we can be united only by the lawyers not attempting to impose their human laws! If asked, I would admit that there's no law against Christians meeting for worship. There's also no law calling for us TO meet for worship. I wish we would obey Paul's exhortation to meet (1 Corinthians 14) for mutual edification. If we did so we could avoid having a band playing and a show going on in our assemblies. For we'd be seeking to edify one another--each of us. And there's no need for a professional orator or song leader in such settings. Yes? Jay is right as usual. He looks at the matter of unity in Christ from the standpoint of those who have added an ungodly law against musical instruments, and appeals to these folks to accept as brothers we folks who weren't troubled by unscriptural laws in the first place. How right he is! We ought to recognize our unity! But we can be united only by the lawyers not attempting to impose their human laws! If asked, I would admit that there's no law against Christians meeting for worship. There's also no law calling for us TO meet for worship. I wish we would obey Paul's exhortation to meet (1 Corinthians 14) for mutual edification. If we did so we could avoid having a band playing and a show going on in our assemblies. For we'd be seeking to edify one another–each of us. And there's no need for a professional orator or song leader in such settings. Yes?

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