Date Posted:28/02/08 11:36:56am Author: Aardvark Subject: Re: running down other christians In reply to:
Peter Eveleigh
's message, "running down other christians" on 26/02/08 4:45:37pm
>
>>If Noel chooses such broad brush-strokes as
>>"namby-pamby" it's intended to provoke others
>>(including ourselves) to love and good works
>
>No, it really isn't. "Others" are not Noel's audience.
>His church is. Noel has always done this; compared us
>(the JA/JFC etc....zion, the kingdom of God etc) to
>other churches, who he calls wishy washy, namby pamby,
>compromising, backslidden, luke warm, sold-out,
>nominal, etc.....
>
>It is not about challenging christendom, but about
>saying how much better the JA is than all other
>churches, especially the established church.
>
>Canny members are aware of how bad this looks and they
>try to play it down; it is frankly embarrassing to
>them, as it seems to be to you Dave, to your credit.
>But you only have to listen to younger, more zealous
>or, frankly, not very bright members, to hear the true
>inference. They will confidently tell you that other
>christians are compromising, backslidden and not fully
>born again. And they will do it sure in the knowledge
>that they have Noel's authority on that.
>
>I am sorry, Dave, but it is self-righteousness, impure
>and simple.
Impure and simple. Neat phrase, can I use it?
But when I talk to Mick Temp and other leaders on a personal level(including Noel tho I've not spoken with him in years) I don't get that picture at all.
Yes, I agree that the young guns in the fellowship can mimic what Noel says in meetings, I've had to curb such enthusiasts myself, with Mick's blessing. We'll speak provokatively to keep ourselves striving to do love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) because growth of the individual is our aim, (growth in numbers is the fruit of that) and as I said before anyone from other churches who hears it is incidental. They may or may not be spurring one another on in their own fellowships, in their own ways. But anyone (JA or not) who's determined to remain spiritual babies, to NOT forgive, to NOT learn to love more, NOT take loving responsibilty and pull their weight is bound to be offended. Those offence-takers are the namby pambies. If the JA considered ourselves above that Noel would have no need to provoke us so.
What's important to me is to be better than me, for my fellowship to become better than itself, and this includes in our general attitude towards other churches.
One thing I'm glad about is that my household has built relationships with people in other local churches (who are in no way affiliated or likely to become such) tacittly aknowledgeing the value of other churches. A good example to our young guns I think.
