Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
"the church in <locality>" is not just what we call ourselves but a description of who we are. I agree with you that what others call themselves doesn't change who they are. But it does build up unnecessary walls and barriers between them and other Christians, in a sort of "identity crisis".
Let me explain using your duck and chicken analogy.
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I like your analogy. But it's important again to realize by ducks we mean "churches" not "Christians." All churches are part of the city church. None has a higher status nor standing.
There is another part of the analogy. Those are the ducks that call themselves ducks and claim to be be the only true ducks (let's call them "uber-ducks"), and claim because the other ducks don't call themselves ducks they are not really ducks. These uber-ducks also do not really recognize any other ducks even if they just call themselves ducks until those ducks agree to follow the uber-duck leader and agree to read and publish only the uber-duck leader's quacks. These uber-ducks also insist that all ducks who are truly ducks only quack a certain way. Any ducks who do not conform are declared to be false ducks. Uber-ducks also never cooperate or meet with with other ducks unless it serves some ulterior motive.
Obviously, in this analogy, the uber-ducks are LCM churches.
Recall again in this analogy that "ducks" are churches, not believers.