Quote:
Originally Posted by R. Scott Clark  Hi Bill,
Four things:
1. If someone has been abused they should complain to a higher/broader assembly. If their polity doesn't include that, then they should go somewhere it does it exist. If a congregation is abusive the question arises: is it really a true church? I've seen cases where people were in a sect and were abused.
2. People are obligated to join a true church. There is no excuse for not joining a true church. If a sect or congregation is impenitently abusive that is no ground for not uniting with a true church; one doesn't quit breathing because of air pollution. One finds a filter or clean air or some way to adapt.
3. We ought to be pastorally sensitive to and patient those who have been abused just as we would be so with a person who was in an abusive personal relationship. That person needs shelter, protection, care etc. It takes time to recover from such abuse. I understand that, but, at some point one has to unite with a congregation. One cannot be endlessly wandering. That would almost as bad for their souls as the abusive congregation was.
4. I'm trying to figure out Deo valente. Did you mean Deo volente?
rsc Quote:
Originally Posted by North Jersey Baptist Scott,
Excellent article. What do we make of those who refuse to submit to local church authority by not joining in membership? I wouldn't be so quick to jump on Cyprian's statement of "extra ecclesiam nulla salus" as indicative of every situation, but it certainly has ramifications for those who are more militant in their position against the church. One thing that wasn't brought up in the article are those who have been harmed, spiritually and emotionally, within a church. Sometimes people are hurting and find refusing church membership a means of protecting themselves. Perhaps that is a minority. I certainly have met my share of individuals who hop from church to church, replete with opinions, but no desire to submit to the leadership of the church and the clear teaching of scripture. About these Cyprian's statement may ring true. | |
Scott,
Thank you for pointing out the typo at the bottom of my signature. I had cut and paste it months ago from an article and assumed it was spelled correctly. It should be
deo volente, "God willing." I shall correct it.
I don't disagree with the three points you listed above. I'm glad you added your third point. While there is no good reason not to join with a true church, we must be sensitive to those who have been abused. Of course abuse is the opinion of those hold to it. For every individual who has been genuinely abused there is one who refuses to submit to the teachings of the church, and therefore Christ. My only caution is that we don't paint with too wide a brush. Other than that I think we are agreed.