Comments on: Equipping the Saints: What We Must Expect…and When http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/08/equipping-the-saints-what-we-must-expect-and-when.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:28:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Equipping the Saints: Blessed Are the Educated, For They Shall Know God | Cerulean Sanctumhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/08/equipping-the-saints-what-we-must-expect-and-when.html#comment-45691 Equipping the Saints: Blessed Are the Educated, For They Shall Know God | Cerulean Sanctum Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:24:43 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1270#comment-45691 [...] I believe such a church as Faith Fellowship is possible—but only if you and I are serious about discipleship. As I noted, I’ve left much out of this discussion of this hypothetical church, but the fact remains: We Christians have got to start someplace, and I believe this is a good start, especially when coupled with the ideas I presented in a previous post in this series, “Equipping the Saints: What We Must Expect...and When.” [...] [...] I believe such a church as Faith Fellowship is possible—but only if you and I are serious about discipleship. As I noted, I’ve left much out of this discussion of this hypothetical church, but the fact remains: We Christians have got to start someplace, and I believe this is a good start, especially when coupled with the ideas I presented in a previous post in this series, “Equipping the Saints: What We Must Expect…and When.” [...]

]]> By: Travis Seitlerhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/08/equipping-the-saints-what-we-must-expect-and-when.html#comment-45683 Travis Seitler Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:01:33 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1270#comment-45683 Dan,For the most part, I'm on board with you here.However...<em>"If someone believes God strongly enough,"</em>What if they do, but God (for his own reasons) doesn't choose to train them up according to <em>your</em> plan? Who are people likely to hold responsible in that event--the God on whose miracles we were depending, or the person who had no inherent ability to perform according to your expectations?You might answer one way, but there's a tendency (when words like "we <strong>must</strong> expect" are tossed about) for those who hop on the bandwagon to answer the other way.And when that happens, we now have a group that's busy snapping all the bruised reeds they can find.There are goals to aim for, and there are ultimatums. The thing that makes me uncomfortable with what you've said here is that it's perfectly packaged for the latter use.<em>(Please keep in mind who's writing this comment: when I was six years old, I spent time on my back stoop eagerly trying to host a Bible study for the neighborhood kids, KJV in hand. I'm well aware of what God can do, but I'm just as well aware of the fact that He is not bound by our presumptive demands. And unless you can show me a command in the Scriptures to do anything you've mentioned on the timetable you've mentioned, that's exactly what this appears to be.)</em> Dan,

For the most part, I’m on board with you here.

However…

“If someone believes God strongly enough,”

What if they do, but God (for his own reasons) doesn’t choose to train them up according to your plan? Who are people likely to hold responsible in that event–the God on whose miracles we were depending, or the person who had no inherent ability to perform according to your expectations?

You might answer one way, but there’s a tendency (when words like “we must expect” are tossed about) for those who hop on the bandwagon to answer the other way.

And when that happens, we now have a group that’s busy snapping all the bruised reeds they can find.

There are goals to aim for, and there are ultimatums. The thing that makes me uncomfortable with what you’ve said here is that it’s perfectly packaged for the latter use.

(Please keep in mind who’s writing this comment: when I was six years old, I spent time on my back stoop eagerly trying to host a Bible study for the neighborhood kids, KJV in hand. I’m well aware of what God can do, but I’m just as well aware of the fact that He is not bound by our presumptive demands. And unless you can show me a command in the Scriptures to do anything you’ve mentioned on the timetable you’ve mentioned, that’s exactly what this appears to be.)

]]> By: Eskimezhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/08/equipping-the-saints-what-we-must-expect-and-when.html#comment-45569 Eskimez Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:48:41 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1270#comment-45569 The so-called "church" does not know how to cleanse itself from defilements of flesh and spirit because entry into the heavenlies which Jesus freed for us is not on the agenda sufficiently in most pastor's notebooks. The "pastor" is often (not always) a controller and manipulator who hasn't entered in to spiritual truths beyond the level he teaches (controls) from and restricts people into. Best to ditch the lot of it and take God at His word and listen to the Holy Spirit lead into ALL truth, and move up a bit into what Jesus died to give us as new creatures in Himself. The so-called “church” does not know how to cleanse itself from defilements of flesh and spirit because entry into the heavenlies which Jesus freed for us is not on the agenda sufficiently in most pastor’s notebooks. The “pastor” is often (not always) a controller and manipulator who hasn’t entered in to spiritual truths beyond the level he teaches (controls) from and restricts people into. Best to ditch the lot of it and take God at His word and listen to the Holy Spirit lead into ALL truth, and move up a bit into what Jesus died to give us as new creatures in Himself.

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