the truth is that i really think my faith life will always be lacking if i am not in a community of other christians. i believe that it is not enough to be faithful on one's one - one must be answerable to GOD. isolation encourages the arrogant presumption that one is doing all one can already. confrontation with other christians creates a situation where people can call me out when i'm not doing enough - or doing too much. moreover, it keeps me in conversation. even if i don't like the conversation, i believe it is good for me. i understand your frustration. there are a lot of christians who don't act very christian. but i do believe it is good for me to submit myself to the observation and judgement of a community of them, even if i don't completely agree with them. i think the danger of my own arrogance unchecked is much more perilous to my soul. i trust God, but i don't trust myself. i am too familiar with my own tendencies to err.
i am flattered that you think i "might" fall into that category. i think i'd be good at it, myself. the reasons i don't get ordained are a)i believe in ordination by the Holy Spirit and i think it suffices b)i feel a strong call to ministry with people who have been wounded by the church, and i feel that if i were ordained it would be a barrier to my reaching those people and c) i have too much of a problem with authority. my motives are not pure.
with movies: yeah, i think my willing suspension of disbelief is a bit too willing. i buy into a concept or characters and i just wind up feeling...too sensitive. i can't see horror movies at all. they have to REALLY be worth it.
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Date: 2008-03-24 03:43 pm (UTC)i understand your frustration. there are a lot of christians who don't act very christian. but i do believe it is good for me to submit myself to the observation and judgement of a community of them, even if i don't completely agree with them. i think the danger of my own arrogance unchecked is much more perilous to my soul. i trust God, but i don't trust myself. i am too familiar with my own tendencies to err.
i am flattered that you think i "might" fall into that category. i think i'd be good at it, myself. the reasons i don't get ordained are a)i believe in ordination by the Holy Spirit and i think it suffices b)i feel a strong call to ministry with people who have been wounded by the church, and i feel that if i were ordained it would be a barrier to my reaching those people and c) i have too much of a problem with authority.
my motives are not pure.
with movies: yeah, i think my willing suspension of disbelief is a bit too willing. i buy into a concept or characters and i just wind up feeling...too sensitive. i can't see horror movies at all. they have to REALLY be worth it.