I have become aware that a resent post on www.PLT1.com has stirred up a bit of feeling amongst those who hold a strong belief in the church. Now I can see why this might happen. So I wanted to respond to what was written.

I think this will have to be in two parts as there is so much to respond to. This first post will be about the first half of Lord_Riff_Raff’s post. Then latter I will get on to the rest of what was said.

Now as most of you know I have done a bit of study in this area being that I’m in the last semester of my Degree at Bible College of New Zealand. So I think it might be safe to say that I can respond to it.

I have to say that most of the first half is well, right. You don’t have to talk to many Christians to find out that they could not really tell you the Theological difference between a Baptist and a Anglican church. The main reason why some one goes to a specific church is the feel of it. Weather it is friendly, if they feel welcomed, the worship style, and so on. I think the major thing that Lord_Riff_Raff has missed is that most people these days would not see them self’s as Anglican or Baptist they see them self’s as Christian.

But this dose not make it acceptable that people don’t actually understand what their church believes. I see membership to a church as vital. This is for a whole host of reasons. Being able to identify your self with a common group of people who can offer support and advice is one of the main roles of the church.

But why don’t people understand some fundamentals of their faith? Lord_Riff_Raff has used the example of adult and child baptism. Now this should at least cause some thought to be provoked. But as Lord_Riff_Raff pointed out it doesn’t for the most part. I think one of the problems is people are just to lazy to spend a bit of time reading and finding out these things. Gone are the days of 1st century Christianity where it took 3 years to become a member of the church and you would have to know all this backwards. But I also don’t think this would be the answer, or could it? I think we can look at the church leadership for some answers. As are they teaching us or talking to us about these important issues?

Now about that little pretty graph. I have to say that its kinda right. You would find the red sector in most church’s. But isn’t that what is meant to be in a church. If you had everyone with all the knowledge and belief then how would that make it a journey of Faith? It also would raise the question of growth in your church. The diverse nature of the church is what makes it so great. If you were all the same it would make it boring.

But yes from this point growth must occur. It can never say still. We should all ways be in discussion with each other to extend our understanding for what we hold so true to ourselves. This leads into the second half of Lord_Riff_Raff post. Which I will write on soon.

The Role of the Church and the Bible.

From Random Thoughts From a 21 Year Old