Comments for Slow Boat from Adramyttium http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com Paul traveled on a boat from Adramyttium against the wind in Acts 27. I feel like that quite often. Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:23:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on We enter the Tunnel…I see nothing… by sdjones http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/12/10/we-enter-the-tunneli-see-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-12 sdjones Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:23:06 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/12/10/we-enter-the-tunneli-see-nothing/#comment-12 Hi Gordon, Thank you. I couldn't agree with you more, which is why, as I get closer to the end of seminary, the small church or house church seems so much more likely to engender true community, God willing. In the early days of Congregationalism (I am one of those), when a church got too big for the pastor to know everyone in the church - a decision based completely on the capability of the pastor - the church split. I think the Baptists did a similar thing, but you would know more about that than I. To that end, I wonder if we are way too big to be congregational in our polity. So to answer your question, no I don't think we can deal with it in Biblical ways for exactly the reasons you say. The problem of course is that everyone believes they can and are, but it just keeps getting worse. Does it work at your church in Texas, which I know is a nice size for communal sensibilities in the Christian sense? Peace! Seth Hi Gordon,
Thank you. I couldn’t agree with you more, which is why, as I get closer to the end of seminary, the small church or house church seems so much more likely to engender true community, God willing. In the early days of Congregationalism (I am one of those), when a church got too big for the pastor to know everyone in the church – a decision based completely on the capability of the pastor – the church split. I think the Baptists did a similar thing, but you would know more about that than I. To that end, I wonder if we are way too big to be congregational in our polity. So to answer your question, no I don’t think we can deal with it in Biblical ways for exactly the reasons you say. The problem of course is that everyone believes they can and are, but it just keeps getting worse. Does it work at your church in Texas, which I know is a nice size for communal sensibilities in the Christian sense?
Peace!
Seth

]]> Comment on We enter the Tunnel…I see nothing… by gordon123 http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/12/10/we-enter-the-tunneli-see-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-10 gordon123 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:38:24 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/12/10/we-enter-the-tunneli-see-nothing/#comment-10 Dear Seth, I'm a pastor of 20 years. 18 of them in one place. I want to suggest that this situation brings up another important question. Can any organization of 2000 deal with a crisis in the Biblical ways you describe? Those methods assume real community, meaning everyone in the community knows each other. Once you get too big for that, there are no New Testament models for conflict that are easily applicable. And even if there were, there are so many people in a church that size. If 5% of them refuse to follow a Biblical model (assuming you could even agree on it), then they can cause a train wreck, so to speak. And the truth is, in reality, only 5% of a church that size even know what a Biblical model is. Dear Seth,

I’m a pastor of 20 years. 18 of them in one place. I want to suggest that this situation brings up another important question. Can any organization of 2000 deal with a crisis in the Biblical ways you describe? Those methods assume real community, meaning everyone in the community knows each other. Once you get too big for that, there are no New Testament models for conflict that are easily applicable.

And even if there were, there are so many people in a church that size. If 5% of them refuse to follow a Biblical model (assuming you could even agree on it), then they can cause a train wreck, so to speak. And the truth is, in reality, only 5% of a church that size even know what a Biblical model is.

]]> Comment on Church Train Wreck by We enter the Tunnel...I see nothing... : Slow Boat from Adramyttium http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/comment-page-1/#comment-9 We enter the Tunnel...I see nothing... : Slow Boat from Adramyttium Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:18:54 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/#comment-9 [...] Slow Boat from Adramyttium Paul traveled on a boat from Adramyttium against the wind in Acts 27. I feel like that quite often. « Church Train Wreck [...] [...] Slow Boat from Adramyttium Paul traveled on a boat from Adramyttium against the wind in Acts 27. I feel like that quite often. « Church Train Wreck [...]

]]> Comment on Church Train Wreck by danbelieves http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/comment-page-1/#comment-8 danbelieves Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:36:41 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/#comment-8 Seth, My prayers go out to you! It is amazing that we look at the church and think that it should be different. The fact is that it is full of flawed people, and really the only difference between people in the church and people in the world is that we count on Jesus to account for our flaws. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that the people actually act any differently. I even sometimes wonder if this is representative of their level of faith though. Many people today really do not understand what it REALLY means to be a Christian, and church is often little more than a social club. I am new to your blog, but like how you think. I'll add you to my blogroll at "management by God". And will read more often. I'd love to hear more about how this stuff turns out. Gob bless, Dan Seth,
My prayers go out to you! It is amazing that we look at the church and think that it should be different. The fact is that it is full of flawed people, and really the only difference between people in the church and people in the world is that we count on Jesus to account for our flaws. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean that the people actually act any differently.

I even sometimes wonder if this is representative of their level of faith though. Many people today really do not understand what it REALLY means to be a Christian, and church is often little more than a social club.

I am new to your blog, but like how you think. I’ll add you to my blogroll at “management by God”. And will read more often. I’d love to hear more about how this stuff turns out.

Gob bless,
Dan

]]> Comment on Church Train Wreck by HighCallingBlogs.com http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/comment-page-1/#comment-7 HighCallingBlogs.com Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:46:55 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/#comment-7 [...] Two weeks ago, the senior pastor of my church asked me to preach on Christ the King Sunday (Nov 25th). I was thrilled that he asked and also surprised. One week ago, that pastor resigned immediately from the church. Now factions are forming and what was an opportunity to simply preach to a happy Thanksgiving crowd of families rejoined for the holidays has become an opportunity to be a prophetic voice in the midst of chaos. What a colossal mess…Click here to read more. [...] [...] Two weeks ago, the senior pastor of my church asked me to preach on Christ the King Sunday (Nov 25th). I was thrilled that he asked and also surprised. One week ago, that pastor resigned immediately from the church. Now factions are forming and what was an opportunity to simply preach to a happy Thanksgiving crowd of families rejoined for the holidays has become an opportunity to be a prophetic voice in the midst of chaos. What a colossal mess…Click here to read more. [...]

]]> Comment on Church Train Wreck by real live preacher http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/comment-page-1/#comment-6 real live preacher Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:42:09 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/11/21/church-train-wreck/#comment-6 Seth, sorry to hear the news. Prayed for you and your church tonight. Hope the sermon goes well. Seth, sorry to hear the news. Prayed for you and your church tonight. Hope the sermon goes well.

]]> Comment on Knowing what you thought you didn’t know when others knew… by real live preacher http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/11/06/knowing-what-you-thought-you-didnt-know-when-others-knew/comment-page-1/#comment-5 real live preacher Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:56:53 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/11/06/knowing-what-you-thought-you-didnt-know-when-others-knew/#comment-5 I resonate with your struggle on whether or not your faith will be propositional and physical. Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy. I mean, there are not clear answers and I resist anyone who makes this an all-or-nothing proposal, as though you have to be one or the other. I like anyone who is thinking in these ways. I resonate with your struggle on whether or not your faith will be propositional and physical. Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy. I mean, there are not clear answers and I resist anyone who makes this an all-or-nothing proposal, as though you have to be one or the other. I like anyone who is thinking in these ways.

]]> Comment on High strangeness by mgoodyear http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/10/11/hello-world/comment-page-1/#comment-4 mgoodyear Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:11:24 +0000 #comment-4 Seth, awesome. One of the challenges we face at TheHighCalling.org is elevating all professions without devaluing professional pastors (or clergy or preachers or whatever label you prefer). God calls people to that work too. Which is to say, blog about being in seminary if you like. Let us know what you learn about business from the Bible. As someone who has been in both worlds, you could be a kind of translator for the two sides. Seth, awesome. One of the challenges we face at TheHighCalling.org is elevating all professions without devaluing professional pastors (or clergy or preachers or whatever label you prefer).

God calls people to that work too.

Which is to say, blog about being in seminary if you like. Let us know what you learn about business from the Bible. As someone who has been in both worlds, you could be a kind of translator for the two sides.

]]> Comment on The Great Crossing between Doubt and Faith by real live preacher http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/10/16/the-great-crossing-between-doubt-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-3 real live preacher Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:37:50 +0000 http://highcallingblogs.com/sethdjones/2007/10/16/the-great-crossing-between-doubt-and-faith/#comment-3 Hey Seth, Well, you and I are in the same boat. Some people have to slog through doubt and unbelief. I like Thomas' commitment. He may have needed to see Jesus in the flesh, but notice he was still around with the others a week later so that he got what he needed. Hey Seth,

Well, you and I are in the same boat. Some people have to slog through doubt and unbelief. I like Thomas’ commitment. He may have needed to see Jesus in the flesh, but notice he was still around with the others a week later so that he got what he needed.

]]> Comment on High strangeness by real live preacher http://sethdjones.highcallingblogs.com/2007/10/11/hello-world/comment-page-1/#comment-2 real live preacher Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:11:17 +0000 #comment-2 SD, welcome to the network. We're just getting things off the ground and building a list of the bloggers who have signed up. Would you mind sending me an email? That way I can have your email address. SD, welcome to the network. We’re just getting things off the ground and building a list of the bloggers who have signed up. Would you mind sending me an email? That way I can have your email address.

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