tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post8211474539334562383..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: Frank Viola's Reimagining Church-- Part TwoBen Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-89174426426763779592008-09-09T10:24:00.000-07:002008-09-09T10:24:00.000-07:00Ben,In regards to how emotions and the Lord's Supp...Ben,<BR/><BR/>In regards to how emotions and the Lord's Supper interact, I think there is often the assumption that somber = reverent. Of course if one is happy at a funeral then that is inappropriate. But likewise if one is somber at wedding then they truly aren't participating in the joy of the celebration. Reverence is shown by responding appropriately to the given situation. The Lord's supper is complex emotionally. True, we are saints that sin, and we need to be contrite. But we also are being presented with covenantal promises which should be cause celebration. Is there one emotion that is truly reverent? I question that.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01556869210865254547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-31932911206194248942008-09-09T00:28:00.000-07:002008-09-09T00:28:00.000-07:00Dear Dr Witherington, As always, you home in with ...Dear Dr Witherington, <BR/><BR/>As always, you home in with very incisive points. <BR/><BR/>I'm not at all ready to abandon the traditional church building although I do agree with you that small groups are an integral part of the believer's growth and edification. <BR/><BR/>I am somewhat wary, however, of mega churches with 5,000 to 10,000 in attendance every weekend. It's very easy to mistake numbers and grand building complexes as evidence of spiritual growth and real discipleship. Having said that, they typically have very strong small group focus, and that's where the group intimacy in fellowship and edification comes in. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps I'm too biased in viewing mega-churches coming from a 'traditional' small town Methodist church with about 500 in attendance. Admittedly, we were slower in realizing the benefits of small groups and moving in that ministry until fairly recently. <BR/><BR/>I haven't read Frank's book, but from your reviews he does rather seem to overstate the relationship within the Trinity and between Christ and the Church beyond what Scripture bears out. <BR/><BR/>Blessings, <BR/>KeithBethelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05288501753378078724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-10710893208383985872008-09-07T13:41:00.000-07:002008-09-07T13:41:00.000-07:00Dr BW3,Thanks for mentioning the cultural aspects ...Dr BW3,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for mentioning the cultural aspects of the Home Church Movement. I find that no one else is talking about the fact that the "Reimagining Church" crowd is overwhelmingly white and middle class. If this is a movement that is truly from God - a revolution no less as it has been called - then shouldn't African-Americans, Africans, Latinos and Asian Americans be flocking to house churches? You don't see that. I live and pastor in an overwhelmingly ethnic area and I can't name one house church in our entire area. My point is that it seems to be just a hip movement for bored white Christians. Also, I get sick and tired of hearing how the house church is flourishing in China as if that should be our model. Thank God for the work taking place in the underground church in China, but if you talk to any missionary they will tell you that there is all kind of heresy spreading like wildfire among the house churches in China because there aren't many biblically qualified leaders who are leading the house churches. The bottom line for me is that I don't think you can call something a revolution or even a genuine movement of God when it only affects a small portion of American church culture.Chris McMillanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16075368741329903413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-13753226581638409192008-09-07T07:17:00.000-07:002008-09-07T07:17:00.000-07:00Ben,Wonderful post and thoughts.I think this is th...Ben,<BR/>Wonderful post and thoughts.<BR/>I think this is the longest post I have ever seen on a blog.<BR/>Way to go!<BR/>Keep up the great work you do.<BR/>God bless you in ways you have never thought or imagined.preachermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922837614859997243noreply@blogger.com