Nov 13, 2008

Post-Denominational Denomination

We have reached a critical turning point in the life of the church in the Presbyterian. Things will never be the same. We as conservative evangelicals who affirm the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and the authority of scripture over our lives and those who disregard such essential tenets can no long co-exist in the same denomination as if nothing has changed.

The only way forward is for us to discern how we can be a church together. Although I do not know what that church likes, I can say with all certainty that it does not look like anything like the church and the denomination of today.

Many others and I have been looking at what this restructuring of the denominations might look like. And this morning I had a huge "A HA!" moment.

Martin Luther did not think through all the ramifications of what the protestant reformation would look like and be like. The more true statement is that the protestant reformation happened to him. The reformers did not know all the details and complexities. The details and complexities happened upon them as God's church happened upon them.

And I am completely at peace with that idea - that God will do what God needs to do. And our part in this journey is to continue doing what we've been called to do - make disciples of all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to help them become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. And as we do that, the reformation will happen upon us.

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