I have a few questions that continue to roll around in my mind. I assume these questions will immediately put up some red flags---but they are true and honest questions that I have. I do realize that we all come into our Faith with cultural influences, and mine happen to be that I was raised an American---by very independent thinkers, so I confess I have had to work through some things in the area of submission and authority...so with that said...I truly want your advice. I am a peacemaker-- I want you to know that these are my personal questions---I do not want to EVER cause dissension in my church---I thought this might be a safe place to get some answers.
Where is the balance between submitting to the brotherhood---and submitted to the holy Spirit on a personal level?
Is there a difference between a church that has authoritative leadership and a church that boasts of the brotherhood making all decisions through majority vote, when in either case...man is running the show for the whole?
Is it possible to have a Church with high moral standards, possible even written standards that at the same time allows it's members to listen to the Holy Spirit on a individual basis? For example...if you had an opportunity to share the gospel with a person you were fishing with and they received the truth and the Holy spirit seemed to be leading you to baptize them in the lake right then and there just like the Ethiopian eunuch....should you be able to listen to the Holy Spirit with confidence that He speaks not only through a majority vote but also on an individual basis?
Does an over-focus on brotherhood and submission lead to lack of personal morality-personal standards-and result in squelching the Holy Spirit?
Is everyone so afraid of being labeled rebellious and individualistic that they ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit on an individual basis? How many times have I heard quoted.."Rebellion is as witchcraft"...and "No man should be and island"...or "If you leave the Church you will lose your umbrella of protection"...all these statements I believe to be true---but are they used properly ? Does the fear of being UN-submissive to our brotherhood in turn make us UN-submissive and dead to the Spirit?
Whooo---ok---those are honest questions...but they are not AT ALL intended to cause a movement for individualism. I just want some thoughts....some better understanding for a mennonite perspective... Maybe I even want to be put in my place????
Statistics: Posted by JJL — Mon Mar 04, 2013 1:38 pm