Comments on: Being the Body: How to Forge Real Community, Part 4 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/11/being-the-body-how-to-forge-real-community-part-4.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:37:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Cerulean Sanctum » Being the Body: How to Forge Real Community, Part 5 (Conclusion)http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/11/being-the-body-how-to-forge-real-community-part-4.html#comment-24358 Cerulean Sanctum » Being the Body: How to Forge Real Community, Part 5 (Conclusion) Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:21:08 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/11/being-the-body-how-to-forge-real-community-part-4.html#comment-24358 [...] Being the Body: How to Forge Real Community, Part 4 [...] [...] Being the Body: How to Forge Real Community, Part 4 [...]

]]> By: David Rigginshttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/11/being-the-body-how-to-forge-real-community-part-4.html#comment-9820 David Riggins Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:26:07 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/11/being-the-body-how-to-forge-real-community-part-4.html#comment-9820 I think one of the reasons there is not a unified curriculum is that there is a seperation between "teachers" and "congregation". As a congregation of believers, we are all teachers of one another, with varying levels of responsibility: Family, Elders, one another... Taken as a whole, what is learned by the parents is taken home and taught by example and instruction, to the children. Unfortunately, because we have Sunday School and Wednesday night Bible Study and Awana and Boys Brigade and all the other replacements for parental responsibility, the role of example and instruction on a daily basis in the home tends to be lost. I think one of the reasons there is not a unified curriculum is that there is a seperation between “teachers” and “congregation”. As a congregation of believers, we are all teachers of one another, with varying levels of responsibility: Family, Elders, one another… Taken as a whole, what is learned by the parents is taken home and taught by example and instruction, to the children. Unfortunately, because we have Sunday School and Wednesday night Bible Study and Awana and Boys Brigade and all the other replacements for parental responsibility, the role of example and instruction on a daily basis in the home tends to be lost.

]]> By: Dan Edelenhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/11/being-the-body-how-to-forge-real-community-part-4.html#comment-9806 Dan Edelen Fri, 03 Nov 2006 05:41:44 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/11/being-the-body-how-to-forge-real-community-part-4.html#comment-9806 Eric, The Holy Spirit DOES change us, but one of the ways He does it is by practicing what we already know. I firmly believe you can teach people godly practices. Paul tells people to imitate him as he imitates the Lord. That's what I'm talking about here. Our problems in this regard will always go back to the sentiment that we have to let everyone grow at his or her own pace as the Spirit sees fit. The older I get, the less I see that as being true IN ALL THINGS. Yes, some things you can't teach a person. You can't teach someone to be empathetic. He has to learn that the hard way. But many of the things we teach in Christian discipleship CAN be taught in that "imitate me as I imitate Christ" way. But we're not teaching those things. I believe you can teach someone to serve. I think a servant heart can be developed by serving alongside people who have been there and know how to serve. I also think the Holy Spirit moves in people when they get that opportunity to learn. I'm not calling for replacing the Holy Spirit with techniques; we need to discern the difference and know what to teach and what to cultivate. My mother was an astonishingly good servant. I think much of my concern for others came from her example. But in the same way, I know that whatever she taught me also has the Holy Spirit's fire in it, and He's teaching me how to apply what my mother taught me. This isn't an either/or issue, but it can be made into one if we allow it. Eric,

The Holy Spirit DOES change us, but one of the ways He does it is by practicing what we already know. I firmly believe you can teach people godly practices. Paul tells people to imitate him as he imitates the Lord. That’s what I’m talking about here.

Our problems in this regard will always go back to the sentiment that we have to let everyone grow at his or her own pace as the Spirit sees fit. The older I get, the less I see that as being true IN ALL THINGS. Yes, some things you can’t teach a person. You can’t teach someone to be empathetic. He has to learn that the hard way. But many of the things we teach in Christian discipleship CAN be taught in that “imitate me as I imitate Christ” way. But we’re not teaching those things.

I believe you can teach someone to serve. I think a servant heart can be developed by serving alongside people who have been there and know how to serve. I also think the Holy Spirit moves in people when they get that opportunity to learn. I’m not calling for replacing the Holy Spirit with techniques; we need to discern the difference and know what to teach and what to cultivate.

My mother was an astonishingly good servant. I think much of my concern for others came from her example. But in the same way, I know that whatever she taught me also has the Holy Spirit’s fire in it, and He’s teaching me how to apply what my mother taught me.

This isn’t an either/or issue, but it can be made into one if we allow it.

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