Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Well I think Christians on Campus is great, they do good work there. No one is going to "deep waters and oblivion". It's an appropriate name, they are, truly, "Christians on Campus". Anyway this is not a denomination but an organization or ministry and there's nothing against taking a name with that. The issue is with taking names for Christ's own Bride, much like you would be upset if your wife called herself someone else. But if your wife has her own particular business, or ministry, she can call that whatever she likes.
This is about distinguishing between who we are and what we do (ministry). When we say " I am a Lutheran Christian", we are giving ourself another name, we are identifying ourselves by that name. But if we say "my ministry is called Faith Alone Ministries", this is okay, this is what we do, not who we are.
It is more than just taking names. It is the whole man-made organizational structure that goes with it. It is about not holding onto Christ alone.
|
So there are human organizations, with names, and hierarchies, and that is okay. But the Bride and the Body of Christ are mystical, universal, and shouldn't take names. Okay, got it. Thanks.
What is concerning about this particular effort, here, is that the man-made ministries, supposedly serving the church, are actually usurping the church. The "no names" was merely a ruse to get the flock to divide, then the ministry took over. Supposedly the man-made, named organizations are furthering the church, but in actuality the church is set on by these vampires who drain its very life.
If you go to one of the local churches, so-called, where are the youth? Gone. They have two choices, either to serve the ministry or go in the world. None of them are left. (Now in your geography this may be different, I am speaking of my observations).
The only assurance that the ministry was serving the church and not vice-versa was the assurance of the minister, whom we trusted as sufficiently transformed as to be good on his word. He was not. As he told one of the brothers on the phone, who was wondering where the tens (hundreds?) of thousands of dollars had gone, invested in a company run by Neer-do-well Son #1, "Now you have lost your virginity".
As I said, I see the "names" issue as a shell game to confuse and separate the sheep, whence they become ready prey.