Instructions on Church in the New Testament?

For a long time I used to think that Jesus and the apostles never laid out specific instructions on how to do church. Recently I’m beginning to learn that perhaps they did, but it’s so different from what we have today that I couldn’t see it. Jesus and the apostles never lay out an order of worship, style of music to be used, times that services are to be held, various ministry programs to have, lists of minister/pastor/preacher/priest positions and job descriptions to be filled, ways and frequency to take communion, baptism, liturgies, etc. Basically, since all churches have these things but just disagree on some of the details, I was looking for instructions along these lines, in order to try to figure out which church’s way of doing Continue reading →

Job Searching: Employment Agencies and Job Fairs

Yesterday morning I went in to an employment agency that has had job openings listed. They say that they have interviews every weekday morning at 9:00 a.m. I had wanted and intended to go in previously, but have a hard time getting up and being ready that early. Since they supposedly had interviews for these openings everyday, I figured there would probably just be a person or two on any particular day. I found the place and went in. The receptionist gave me a stack of paperwork to fill out then directed me to the application room. I was a bit startled when I entered to find a dozen people in a small room. I quickly began to feel like we were just being herded through like cattle. A person came in and gave orders, er- I mean directions. Continue reading →

Anabaptists

I found this article on the website of a local Mennonite Church. It seems to me to be a good, interesting and well written introduction to the history of Anabaptists and the reformation. Anabaptists means re-baptizers, and comes from the fact that the Anabaptists held that a person had to choose to be a follower of Christ, it was not something that one was born into. This was in opposition to the normative idea held since the time that Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire. When that event happened, a person basically became a Christian merely by living in a Roman land. Anyhow, you really ought to read the article. I respect the Anabaptists and think that the beliefs I hold are probably closer to theirs than any Continue reading →

What is the Alternative to Institutional Church?

A question was recently posed as a comment on my review of Pagan Christianity?. I decided to answer the question here as a separate blog post.

Shawn asks, “I’ve added [“Pagan Christianity?”] and “Reimagining Church” to my reading list. What are your thoughts on what we should do? Since clearly church isn’t done this way, how do we change things?”

This is an excellent question. Pagan Christianity? alludes to the alternative a bit, and that’s really the whole topic of Reimagining Church, which I haven’t finished reading yet.

Basically what is put forth is that the church is and should be organic—a living organism. A typical meeting of Christians should allow everyone to share and be lead by the Holy Spirit. In order for this to be Continue reading →

Book Review: Pagan Christianity?

WARNING!: This is a most important book that most christians shouldn’t read. If you have your faith and beliefs all figured out, feel confident in the truth and enjoy being involved in your church, then don’t read this book! If you happen to be a pastor or on staff at a church and value your life, then definitely DON’T READ THIS BOOK!!! It’s not that you will be more in danger of being killed, but you will almost certainly have your conscious challenged and possibly have your life turned upside down because of it.

Seriously, I’m warning you. This is like Neo meeting Morpheus for the first time in The Matrix. This is a red pill vs. blue pill moment. If you have any doubts, stop reading this blog, don’t read this book, don’t read anything Continue reading →

Conflict and Confrontation

I think I’ve blogged along these lines before, but it doesn’t hurt to revisit. A while ago, some things that someone was doing were annoying me. I thought about this a bit and recognized a couple of things. Usually when this happens, the natural reaction is to start acting like a jerk towards the person and/or start bad-mouthing the person to other people. Neither of these actions are right, and I’ve learned from past experience that often times the person doesn’t realize that they are doing anything to bug you. In other words, a person does something and you believe it ought to be as obvious to them as it is to you that they are doing something wrong. So you start acting like a jerk. Meanwhile, the person very well may be clueless as to Continue reading →

Links Page

I’ve just created a links page on the site. I’ve made links to just three places. They are some of the best stuff I’ve run across on the web, and I believe that it would really be worth your while to check them out.

How the Music Industry Is Killing Itself

It’s so frustrating to be both a music fan and involved in this industry.
“Between the lawsuits, DMCA takedown notices and crippling web radio fees, you’d be forgiven for thinking the music industry is designed solely to stop you from listening to music.

And sad though it may seem, it doesn’t look like the music industry will be satisfied until it has firmly knotted the noose and taken a last suicidal leap to its final resting place in the history of bad ideas.”

I Want to be Like Steve

As mentioned, I had to go to the Post Office the other day. One of the employees working there I remember seeing a couple of times before. He stuck in my mind because he seems to have one of the coolest attitudes of anyone I’ve met. It’s a bit hard to describe perhaps, but the best way I can think to put it is that he is really good natured. When he helps you out, he is quite friendly and courteous, and has a smile on his face. He comes across in such a way that it just makes you smile and brightens your day. I don’t get the impression that he’s just a really happy person, it’s more like he seems to have a good perspective. It’s like he’s saying, “I’ll go through all of the pretenses of up most concern, but in the end, it’s just the Continue reading →