Pillars that are Built to Last
I’m presently reading the book “Built to Last.” It’s one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. I’ll just be honest and say it is really shaping my worldview right now. In it we are presented with some of the greatest “visionary” companies created. I won’t go into it all, and I will probably blog on it more later, but one of the main points was that as an organization, “We must preserve our Core Values and Core Purposes while allowing fluid change in our Cultural & Operating Practices as well as our Specific Goals and Strategies.” Now that is not an exact quote, but it’s close.
So I’ve been thinking, in the church what are our CORE VAULES and CORE PURPOSES. To keep up the pillars theme what can we not change? These are mine … you may not agree … but that’s ok.
So I’ve been thinking, in the church what are our CORE VAULES and CORE PURPOSES. To keep up the pillars theme what can we not change? These are mine … you may not agree … but that’s ok.
1) The Oneness of God: The Trinity is the crux of our message really. There is one God somehow in three persons. Each person of the trinity is equally God, but is not the other person of the Trinity. I love the Greek word used to describe how the Trinity “dances with oneself.” BEEEE-UUUUU-TIIIII-FULLLLL. I will never compromise on this.
2) The Divinity of Jesus: While this seems like a no-brainer, I think I should put it up anyway. Christ was Fully man and Fully God. We can’t explain it or understand it but we must believe it and preach it. Within this I put that he literally died and literally and physically rose from the dead.
3) The Power/Personhood of the Spirit: Some have called the Holy Spirit the stepchild of the Trinity in American Evangelicalism. We don’t really talk about Him, nor do we even call Him a Him. We cannot survive or move without the indwelling of the Spirit. This includes guidance from Him, Healings, The Fuits of the Spirit (see how that works), and allowing Him to freely move in our lives and worship services.
4) The Wesleyan/Arminian Perspective: Sorry to all of my 5 pointer friends, but I can’t let this go. I totally believe that I have free will, and that God’s sovereignty does not over-rule that. I believe that I can only move towards God at his wooing, but that all are wooed. Also, that the Cross of Christ is more powerful than the choices of man. Adam Sinned … yes … we all have to deal with that. Christ died … now sin has to deal with that. I believe we can live above the drive to sin, not of ourselves but through the power of the Spirit of God (see above).
(Side note I have no reason to feel that we have to use the phrases “second definite work of grace” “Entirely sanctified” or other phrases that may not work or may be flawed. But that is for the next post.)
5) The Church is important: I realize that the Church is flawed and dirty. I realize that the Church has done much wrong in the “name” of God. I recognize many of my generation think it should be torn down …. I REFUSE. Barna’s Revolution is heresy. We can’t just abandon the institution that God set in place to be his people and Jesus said would be his body. In “Built to Last” Jim Colins says that we must be ready to
“Be prepared to kill, revise, or evolve and idea, but never give up on the company”
I think that is right on. The Church must and will live on!
So those are my five for now. There are others I’m sure and as soon as I post this I will think of them. Thoughts? Have I included ones I shouldn’t? Or leave out some that should be in? What are yours?
2) The Divinity of Jesus: While this seems like a no-brainer, I think I should put it up anyway. Christ was Fully man and Fully God. We can’t explain it or understand it but we must believe it and preach it. Within this I put that he literally died and literally and physically rose from the dead.
3) The Power/Personhood of the Spirit: Some have called the Holy Spirit the stepchild of the Trinity in American Evangelicalism. We don’t really talk about Him, nor do we even call Him a Him. We cannot survive or move without the indwelling of the Spirit. This includes guidance from Him, Healings, The Fuits of the Spirit (see how that works), and allowing Him to freely move in our lives and worship services.
4) The Wesleyan/Arminian Perspective: Sorry to all of my 5 pointer friends, but I can’t let this go. I totally believe that I have free will, and that God’s sovereignty does not over-rule that. I believe that I can only move towards God at his wooing, but that all are wooed. Also, that the Cross of Christ is more powerful than the choices of man. Adam Sinned … yes … we all have to deal with that. Christ died … now sin has to deal with that. I believe we can live above the drive to sin, not of ourselves but through the power of the Spirit of God (see above).
(Side note I have no reason to feel that we have to use the phrases “second definite work of grace” “Entirely sanctified” or other phrases that may not work or may be flawed. But that is for the next post.)
5) The Church is important: I realize that the Church is flawed and dirty. I realize that the Church has done much wrong in the “name” of God. I recognize many of my generation think it should be torn down …. I REFUSE. Barna’s Revolution is heresy. We can’t just abandon the institution that God set in place to be his people and Jesus said would be his body. In “Built to Last” Jim Colins says that we must be ready to
“Be prepared to kill, revise, or evolve and idea, but never give up on the company”
I think that is right on. The Church must and will live on!
So those are my five for now. There are others I’m sure and as soon as I post this I will think of them. Thoughts? Have I included ones I shouldn’t? Or leave out some that should be in? What are yours?
posted by Aaron at
6:11 AM
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