Some thoughts and struggles I still have:

1. In the New Testament, the roles of prophet, teacher, apostle, pastor, and leader are functions not titles.
2. Members of the body of Christ are not to be ruled over or "held accountable" by the clergy.
3. The system of professional church™ staff has more to do with comfort, good salaries, compensation packages, and furthering of professional clout than the building of the Kingdom of God or calling.
5. The church™ has become success and image centered at the expense of being Christ centered.
6. Church™ buildings generally come at the expense of using money to help those in need.
7. The teaching on the tithe in the Church™ today is incorrect at best....manipulative, abusive, and perverted at worst. This is based on two primary conclusions: 1) the tithe in the Scripture was meant for those without inheritance: the poor, widows, orphans, foreigners, and the Levites. 2.) It has become a modern indulgence which allows the church consumer to pay someone else to do the work of Christ.
8. The reading of Scripture, prayer, and the Sacraments have become tools of control.
posted by Jimmy at 9:08 AM | |