Hank wrote in a comment (edited for typos and to expand abbreviations),
As you know, Jay, many of the articles here have been written in an attempt to point out the inconsistencies of “conservative” brethren who do “draw lines” (set boundaries) in terms of what other Christians believe, how they organize themselves, and in what ways they worship. Personally, I became involved in these discussions (blogs) after learning of bro. Todd Deaver’s book “Facing Our Failure.” For as already mentioned, while he did a fine job in pointing out said inconsistencies of brethren who do “draw lines of fellowship,” what he fails to see himself is that he (and everybody else), only has three options:
1. Be just like the conservatives you so regularly take to task. In other words, go ahead and reveal where your lines clearly are in every case (female elders, motocycle blessings services, Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, practicing homosexual church leaders, whatever). And then explain how you know the line is actually where you suggest it is in every case. And not by merely giving some subjective guidelines, but actual examples of beliefs and/or practices that are sinful to God. But then, you too would be just as inconsistent as the brethen you oppose and would be be forced to “face your own failure.”
2. Maintain the apparent progressive approach. In other words, refuse to ever actually say that to believe and /or practice “thus and such” (or, Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc., is against the will of God and therefore sinful). In essence, accept, embrace, and tolerate virtually every conceiveable false belief and/or practice. (So long as the people believing and/or practicing the sin honestly believe that they are pleasing God).
3. Place yourself somewhere betwixt the two. In other words, admit that a actual and specific belief and/or practice is contrary to the revealed will of God, but not pretend to know exactly how God will handle (judge) those who believe and/or practice the sin. Be willing to say you are not sure sometimes whether a certain person, or church has actually “gone too far” (crossed the line) in terms of wehther or not they can continue believing and/or prcaticing the thing and still be considered by God to be “walking in the light” (and saved). Of course, this position will end up having you encourage people to “play it safe” in many areas. The very thing progressives apparently hate to suggest. Continue reading
During the last few weeks, I’ve invited Wayne Jackson, who posts at the popular Christian Courier website, to come over here to discuss the Regulative Principle. He never responded.
Getting creative
John Mark Hicks suggests several possible approaches. He notes that there are several practical barriers. For example, most congregations simply don’t have room in their auditoriums, and most auditoriums have pews bolted to the floor.This forces us to be creative if we want to occasionally recapture the original feel and meaning of the Lord’s Supper.
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