Comments on: Dan Wilt on why we can’t give up on the institution http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/2008/10/02/dan-wilt-on-why-we-cant-give-up-on-the-institution/ politics ~ theology ~ life ~ fart jokes Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:47:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Geoff http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/2008/10/02/dan-wilt-on-why-we-cant-give-up-on-the-institution/comment-page-1/#comment-13714 Geoff Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:48:24 +0000 http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/?p=640#comment-13714 Thanks for you comments Jill - I'd like to respond to a couple of the things you've raised. Firstly, my post unfortunately sacrificed a little clarity in the interests of brevity. So when I said "it felt like I was just beating up my best friend, with his hands tied and a blindfold over his eyes" - I'm not necessarily describing a loyalty to the institution - but I do feel loyalty to the vast majority of Christians who are still a part of that institution. I firmly believe that shaking up the church has to revolve around bringing as much of the institutional people with you as possible. Even if that makes it harder, and takes a lot longer. And so what I was trying to articulate was that this book left me feeling less loving towards the institutional church, and mostly just aggressive. I doubt this was Frank's intention, and I'll be interested to see what's in "Re-imagining Church". Thanks for you comments Jill – I’d like to respond to a couple of the things you’ve raised. Firstly, my post unfortunately sacrificed a little clarity in the interests of brevity. So when I said “it felt like I was just beating up my best friend, with his hands tied and a blindfold over his eyes” – I’m not necessarily describing a loyalty to the institution – but I do feel loyalty to the vast majority of Christians who are still a part of that institution. I firmly believe that shaking up the church has to revolve around bringing as much of the institutional people with you as possible. Even if that makes it harder, and takes a lot longer.

And so what I was trying to articulate was that this book left me feeling less loving towards the institutional church, and mostly just aggressive. I doubt this was Frank’s intention, and I’ll be interested to see what’s in “Re-imagining Church”.

]]> By: Jill http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/2008/10/02/dan-wilt-on-why-we-cant-give-up-on-the-institution/comment-page-1/#comment-13711 Jill Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:17:24 +0000 http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/?p=640#comment-13711 I think it's precisely BECAUSE of love for the Church and love for Christ Himself that "Pagan" was written. We shouldn't feel bad about being disloyal to an institution. God loves the Church, but He is certainly not married to its nonbiblical practices and rituals. Our "best friend" is not a system, but the living breathing Christ Who wants to be the true Head of His Church. If a system is preventing us from fully following our Lord, we need to have the courage to set it aside and move forward in pursuing Him. Also, if you want to catch a glimpse of what the Church CAN be, check out the sequel to “Pagan Christianity?” that is out now. It’s called “Reimagining Church”. It picks up where “Pagan Christianity” left off and continues the conversation. (“Pagan Christianity” was never meant to be a stand alone book; it’s part one of the conversation.) “Reimagining Church” is endorsed by Leonard Sweet, Shane Claiborne, Alan Hirsch, and many others. You can read a sample chapter at http://www.ReimaginingChurch.org. It’s also available on Amazon.com. Frank is also blogging now at http://frankviola.wordpress.com/ . I think it’s precisely BECAUSE of love for the Church and love for Christ Himself that “Pagan” was written. We shouldn’t feel bad about being disloyal to an institution. God loves the Church, but He is certainly not married to its nonbiblical practices and rituals.

Our “best friend” is not a system, but the living breathing Christ Who wants to be the true Head of His Church. If a system is preventing us from fully following our Lord, we need to have the courage to set it aside and move forward in pursuing Him.

Also, if you want to catch a glimpse of what the Church CAN be, check out the sequel to “Pagan Christianity?” that is out now. It’s called “Reimagining Church”. It picks up where “Pagan Christianity” left off and continues the conversation. (“Pagan Christianity” was never meant to be a stand alone book; it’s part one of the conversation.) “Reimagining Church” is endorsed by Leonard Sweet, Shane Claiborne, Alan Hirsch, and many others. You can read a sample chapter at http://www.ReimaginingChurch.org. It’s also available on Amazon.com. Frank is also blogging now at http://frankviola.wordpress.com/ .

]]> By: rick http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/2008/10/02/dan-wilt-on-why-we-cant-give-up-on-the-institution/comment-page-1/#comment-13709 rick Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:40:26 +0000 http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/?p=640#comment-13709 yep yep

]]> By: scott http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/2008/10/02/dan-wilt-on-why-we-cant-give-up-on-the-institution/comment-page-1/#comment-13708 scott Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:19:16 +0000 http://www.geoffreport.com/wp/?p=640#comment-13708 nice one geoff. nice one geoff.

]]>