Friday, June 27, 2014

This is the age of the conference and study group—people talking about what they know they should be doing. In a subtle way, talking about something becomes an excuse for not doing it. This new bolt-hole of the conference and study group is not confined to the local congregation. It is a painful fact of life in the central structures of the churches. We have a welter of reports, commissions, surveys, liaison bodies, and so on. They have the appearance of progressive thinking and readiness to face change, combined with the function of being delaying devices. They are the sacraments of current Christianity, and its dilemma.

Outreach is a move from power structures to meekness structures, and, in spite of the fact that Christians believe that it is the meek who shall inherit the earth, they show (as in the ecumenical movement) a distinct reluctance to relinquish power-structure thinking.

... Gavin Reid (b. 1934), The Gagging of God, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1969, p. 91 (see the book; see also Col. 2:8-10; Eccl. 12:12; Matt. 7:21; 12:46-50; Luke 6:46-49; 11:27-28; John 5:39-40; 13:17; Rom. 2:13; Jas. 1:22; 4:17; 1 John 2:3; more at Body of Christ, Church, Congregation, Ecumenical, Meekness, Power, Sacrament)

 
Compilation Copyright, 1996-2024, by Robert McAnally Adams,
        Curator, Christian Quotation of the Day,
        with Robert Douglas, principal contributor
Logo image Copyright 1996 by Shay Barsabe, of “Simple GIFs”, by kind permission.
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Last updated: 01/17/17

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