This is a slightly incoherant rant.
It is not the responsibility of the church to feed you or to nurture your spiritual growth. That responsibility is your own. You want solid food, but can barely stomach the milk that has already been given to you.
The church’s responsibility is to reach the lost for Christ, and that means going out to where they are, not being lazy and trying to get them to come in where we are. Be a missionary or get out of the way.
September 8, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I understand why you are frustrated…I really do…but don’t over correct here.
Because, the church’s responsibility is also your spiritual growth. Although you are the primary responsibility for your own growth…the church is responsible as well.
Take a look at some of these verses:
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Ephesians 4:11-12
Notice that in this, is included the primary office in the church, the pastor and teacher. What are they to do? Edify, or build up and equip the church, for the work of service. The work of service is a myriad of things, but we do see here that the church’s work is to definitely build up those it has been charged with.
Also.
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:1-3
Shepherding involves many things, and onen of those is for the elders to help in the maturation process of those allotted to their charge by being their examples. This is why elders are to be above reproach, etc. So, the congregants can look to their shepherd as the example, as their shepherds look to Christ as their example.
Lastly:
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17
The leaders, the elders…namely of the church, are to watch over your souls. Not only are they to watch over your soul, they will give an account.
Based on just these three different places, which there are many more, the church is responsible for the spiritual growth of its people that have been given to them by God.
Although reaching the lost is one reason for the church of Christ, it is not the only reason.
So, I think you have “over corrected” here and missed a part of Christ’s mission for his church.
Please, though, correct me if need be if I mis-read you.
Hope this finds you well.
September 8, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Seth, Of course but what Don is saying is this: Don’t ignore your own growth, not do any mission and then get mad because the message was not moralism…. The church is a mission organization and people grow in Jesus when they are following Jesus. Your growth is your responsibility in that sense.
What Don is saying is don’t be a leach, be a part of the plan of God, be a part of God’s mission. It is a bit of sarcasm he is employing because
September 8, 2008 at 2:14 pm
we don’t separate discipleship and mission…if you are a disciple you are on mission…I as a pastor then spend my time coaching and teaching and caring for fellow missionaries….but if you are a butt head who grew up in church, wants you own way, wants 12 step program messages and don’t like unbelievers….then we have nothing for you… Make sense?
September 8, 2008 at 2:37 pm
that makes more sense.
Just wanted to bring Don back some from his statements. They seemed over the top at first glance. If what you say, is what he is trying to say…makes better sense.
September 8, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Dave pretty much hit it. A bit frustrated with some i s’pose.
September 8, 2008 at 7:08 pm
You know, i guess tired with them would be a better way of saying it.
September 9, 2008 at 8:43 am
Don I agree that some people just want to leech and are still drinking spiritual milk even though they have been a Christian for a long time. I agree that it is not our job to feed them, it is our job to teach them how to feed themselves.
September 9, 2008 at 9:42 am
Word to the mikey V
September 9, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I think the problem is that some people think they need the “12 step program,” when they really need Jesus. We do find real spiritual nourishment in the church, because we have people around us to build us up and encourage us in the mission. Too many times, though, people are looking for the wrong things.
September 10, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I think to clarify we should say it like this: At CrossWinds we will feed you, we will put out a feast for you we will give you the pure meat of Jesus…but if you want something else and refuse to eat we will brush of our sandals…We will give you the food…but we can not chew for you.
D
September 10, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Word
hahahahaha
September 10, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Dave, i have come to the conclusion that you must have dusty feet
September 16, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Now that your site is civilized, I guess I’ll add you to my blog roll.