Comments on: Jim Belcher's "Third Way" for the Church http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church Kingdom People - Living on Earth as Citizens of Heaven Thu, 24 May 2012 20:05:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kevin Chen http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/#comment-5292 Kevin Chen Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:49:45 +0000 http://trevinwax.com/?p=4042#comment-5292 hey J.L. Schafer, can you email me at chenhkevin at gmail? I am really grateful for your book review on the Next Evangelicalism on amazon! thanks, Kevin hey J.L. Schafer,
can you email me at chenhkevin at gmail? I am really grateful for your book review on the Next Evangelicalism on amazon!

thanks,
Kevin

]]> By: J.L. Schafer http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/#comment-5291 J.L. Schafer Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:52:08 +0000 http://trevinwax.com/?p=4042#comment-5291 Nice review of Belcher's book. For me, the most poignant parts of the book were about worship styles. You make a good point about church membership. But I suspect that, in addition to the minimal requirements for church membership stated by Belcher, there is at least an implicit expectation that, if you hold strong beliefs about other issues, that you will remain tolerant and non-divisive. Without this "requirement" a church that seeks to be inclusive could not survive. Nice review of Belcher’s book. For me, the most poignant parts of the book were about worship styles. You make a good point about church membership. But I suspect that, in addition to the minimal requirements for church membership stated by Belcher, there is at least an implicit expectation that, if you hold strong beliefs about other issues, that you will remain tolerant and non-divisive. Without this “requirement” a church that seeks to be inclusive could not survive.

]]> By: Lue-Yee Tsang http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/#comment-5290 Lue-Yee Tsang Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:05:50 +0000 http://trevinwax.com/?p=4042#comment-5290 Regarding the low membership bar, isn’t this the reason we have clergy subscribe to more particular confessions of faith, e.g. the Three Forms of Unity, the Book of Concord, the Westminster Standards or the London Baptist Confession? It seems to me that the laypeople are there to be taught as well as to serve, and not everyone has to teach in the church. For this reason I think it’s enough for a church to say what it as a congregation, not as a number of individuals, is committed to practising (barring any biblically-convinced change of officially encoded practice), as long as everyone understands the importance of obeying authority as long as it isn’t forbidden by God. Regarding the low membership bar, isn’t this the reason we have clergy subscribe to more particular confessions of faith, e.g. the Three Forms of Unity, the Book of Concord, the Westminster Standards or the London Baptist Confession? It seems to me that the laypeople are there to be taught as well as to serve, and not everyone has to teach in the church.

For this reason I think it’s enough for a church to say what it as a congregation, not as a number of individuals, is committed to practising (barring any biblically-convinced change of officially encoded practice), as long as everyone understands the importance of obeying authority as long as it isn’t forbidden by God.

]]> By: Derek Bickerton http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/#comment-5289 Derek Bickerton Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:48:54 +0000 http://trevinwax.com/?p=4042#comment-5289 Trevin asks "why stop at the fourth century? Why not return to the first?" Well, the first has lessons too, but the importance of the fourth is that for the first time the true nature of Christian spirituality was sharply defined against the hierarchical. institutionalized Church. In other words, the same conflict that's playing out today! This is indeed a fascinating period, and I've tried to bring it to life in a novel, The Desert and the City, that's just published--anyone interested can learn about it at http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TheDesertandtheCity.html This is fiction but it's based on years of research, most of its characters were real-life persons, and the contrast between two ways of reacting to the Gospels is central to the story. Trevin asks “why stop at the fourth century? Why not return to the first?”

Well, the first has lessons too, but the importance of the fourth is that for the first time the true nature of Christian spirituality was sharply defined against the hierarchical. institutionalized Church. In other words, the same conflict that’s playing out today! This is indeed a fascinating period, and I’ve tried to bring it to life in a novel, The Desert and the City, that’s just published–anyone interested can learn about it at
http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TheDesertandtheCity.html
This is fiction but it’s based on years of research, most of its characters were real-life persons, and the contrast between two ways of reacting to the Gospels is central to the story.

]]> By: Trevin Wax http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/#comment-5288 Trevin Wax Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:13:15 +0000 http://trevinwax.com/?p=4042#comment-5288 Jon, Good point. I hadn't thought of it that way. It still seems like it's individualistic to let members of one church pick and choose regarding very important doctrines like baptism. Yet you're right. People pick and choose churches based on these doctrines too. Interesting. I'll have to think about which kind of individualism is better or more biblical. Jon,

Good point. I hadn’t thought of it that way.

It still seems like it’s individualistic to let members of one church pick and choose regarding very important doctrines like baptism. Yet you’re right. People pick and choose churches based on these doctrines too.

Interesting. I’ll have to think about which kind of individualism is better or more biblical.

]]> By: Chris http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/#comment-5287 Chris Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:01:22 +0000 http://trevinwax.com/?p=4042#comment-5287 Trevin, very helpful thoughts. I agree with you that this is must reading. I appreciate the questions your raise. Trevin, very helpful thoughts. I agree with you that this is must reading. I appreciate the questions your raise.

]]> By: Jon Bartlett http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2009/09/23/jim-belchers-third-way-for-the-church/#comment-5286 Jon Bartlett Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:23:36 +0000 http://trevinwax.com/?p=4042#comment-5286 "But setting the bar this low appears very invidualistic." Trevin, good review, but is the above the wrong way round? An individualistic believer probably goes to a church that thinks exactly like him because he is right and provides what he wants as a consumer. The opposite is someone who may have strong beliefs, but is prepared to worship with love and tolerance with those who think rather differently (but within the bounds of orthodoxy). They are thinking beyond themselves to the wider Christian family. I think this is what Jim Belcher is talking about??? “But setting the bar this low appears very invidualistic.”

Trevin, good review, but is the above the wrong way round?

An individualistic believer probably goes to a church that thinks exactly like him because he is right and provides what he wants as a consumer.

The opposite is someone who may have strong beliefs, but is prepared to worship with love and tolerance with those who think rather differently (but within the bounds of orthodoxy). They are thinking beyond themselves to the wider Christian family. I think this is what Jim Belcher is talking about???

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