Eddie Walker

I found out this last week that my grandfather has congestive heart failure. This is really bad news to say the least. However, my point-of-view on this issue has led me to be at complete peace with this. The man is really old and has lived well. My only disappointment in all of this is that I did not get to know him better. Anyways, I thought of something that I consider to be rather ironic in the modern day Protestant church. (Warning: This is not an attack). As far as I know, (so correct me if I am wrong), the Reformation, in part, dealt with the issue of the priest dispensing spiritual goods and services to a congregation that did not have the opportunity to read and understand God's Word. Therefore, the priest had a monopoly on what he could and would dispense to his congregation. Luther felt that it was necessary for the congregates to have an opportunity to dive into God's Word on their own. This would provide the congregate a chance for spiritual growth with out the intermediate of the priest. In our Modern day Protestant church I see a parallel with the Catholic system that it was "protesting" against. Here in our churches, we have a pastor that stands behind the pulpit dispensing spiritual goods and services to its congregates. A sea of congregates that still don't read God's Word. Unfortunately, this is a result of laziness, busyness, whatever, rather than a lack of opportunity. Just a little irony that I noticed. Anyways, in talking with Jason Evans this week I reached a new little epiphany concerning a blessing that seems to be inherent when living in community. We were discussing leadership roles and different giftings with which God has blessed us. When living in community it seems as though there is less of an opportunity for a figure-head to emerge amidst God's people. (Again this is not an attack) However, within the Modern day institutional church a figure head is present and seems to take much of the glory for the direction and vision of the church. This can occur without it being intentional. I believe this to be a result of one man standing at the pulpit talking week after week. It only follows that the congregation will look to that individual as one that is spiritually elite. Within that breeds a congregation that feels spiritually inept unless they are in some sort of leadership role. (This is a great generalization). I simply use this to demonstrate the great strength of living as a community of believers. I have noticed within the community that I reside, that there is little to no opportunity for one individual to emerge as the figure head. This is because as we live life together we get a much better opportunity to experience an array of giftings with which God has blessed each of us. When we don't live life as a community we miss out on all that God wants to reveal to us concerning His creative nature within each of our individual lives. As a result of living in community I realize many of my weaknesses as a believer (I think that this occurs for all those living in community, again a generalization) and this birth's a humility within God's people that is truly amazing. I think that too often believer's have a narrow scope of how God works and the variety of ways that He can work through us. I was raised in a church that sought out God's movement in people's lives through a few ways...teaching, preaching, evangelism, etc. These are the traditional ways in which I was taught to see the fruits of the Spirit. I was shown four fruits and learned them well...apple, orange, peach, and avocado. When I was shown a grape I did not know what it was, when I was shown a banana I tossed it aside. Concerning personal events in my life... I have had many Cathartic Burning Rituals... this consists of me throwing all of my old homework from junior high (I have been saving this stuff for no particular reason, I think my Mom told me once that I would want to keep this crap). This has been really healthy for me... I want to minimize all of my possessions before moving to Ohio. Besides I am nostalgic to a fault. I want to seldom reflect on the days of my life because God keeps me occupied with gladness of heart. (That last line is my modification of Ecclesiastes 5:20 so that it applies specifically to me). P.S. I write these blogs in haste and I seldom (pretty much never proofread), if clarification is needed please post a comment and I will write specifically to that issue. Thanks all.

posted by Unknown @ 5:41 PM