Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Ritchie  A question you need to ask Perg, is whether or not these things may "by good and necessary consequence be deduced from Scripture", and thus divinely ordained? If these things may be legitimately deduced from Scripture, then they are not innovations. |
I agree with Daniel. This is a good point.
Innovations in society regarding methods and technology are inevitable and not necessarily evil unless the innovation consists in altering God's word for the sake of "better" results.
Case in point: innovating who can and cannot be lawfully ordained in order to start churches with greater speed. The intention appears noble, but God's word always trumps our plans and intentions. Saul lost the kingdom due to such "good" intentions.
The Methodists Circuit Riders of the 19th century were an
innovation credited with the greatest success in expanding the church into the new western frontier in America. They would travel door to door and simply appoint anyone to office of minister and thus start churches with out going through the "slow and rigid" ordination processes required by the reformed churches. Yes churches sprang up faster but do the results justify the non-biblical innovation?
I am always amazed at how the broad evangelical church justify all their innovations such as drama, puppet shows, in-service starbucks, etc. with the amount of people they reach or convert.
The altar call was an innovation that also had great "results" and still does today.
So it depends on the innovation. God's word does not need innovated and no matter how well intentioned the "sacrifice" and how many people appear to be converted as a result and how many churches started, God's word stands and He will rightly judge such innovations and use whatever sinful means He deems to accomplish His good purposes.