tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17607953.post2729429785773650594..comments2024-02-16T05:21:44.106-05:00Comments on Central Ohio Emergent Cohort: WTH!Greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18424867889611784610noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17607953.post-45609976771970767422014-03-02T17:52:57.395-05:002014-03-02T17:52:57.395-05:00I agree that we need to have an agreed common grou...I agree that we need to have an agreed common ground. whether that is community or something more I think it needs to be discussed. The cohort has been around for quite a few years and it grows and changes. The discussion my not yield very many physical changes in the group or set up but will help make things clearer. <br />Lately I've heard some differing opinions on what the group is and what people want out of it. Which is good, we are all different individuals. <br /><br />Yes, let's start the conversation via posts verses a meeting because usually we are missing someone on any given Sunday and this is a topic we need everyone a part of if they want to be. Are you guy ok with that?<br /><br />PS; By no means is anyone in our group a wet blanket! We probably have a lot more similarities - and differences than we let on. The ideal for me for this group is that we would care enough about individuals to be honest about our thoughts and struggles, listen humbly and ask clarifying questions respectfully. I would also love that through these meetings I would feel closer to God whether it be that I am accepting a deeper Truth than before or because I'm wrestling with Him with something. <br />Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04269534963857212750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17607953.post-50779016481941538292014-03-01T10:57:47.271-05:002014-03-01T10:57:47.271-05:00In regards to "context," I would say tha...In regards to "context," I would say that the context has been and should continue to be "Community." This has been our strength and our focus as a group for several years. When Community is the context, the focus is on hearing each other's voices, asking questions openly and with respect for the other's experience, convictions and doubts. This is the foundational context for any conversation about any topic, or any engagement around a meal, Communion, or service activity. In Community we learn about each other, how our faith has changed and is changing right now. The purpose of meeting in Community is not to reach an agreed upon Truth, Doctrine or other "context," - because in reality, when that purpose is sought, Community breaks apart (i.e., American denominationalism). The purpose is to grow in our faith together, engage with one another, to be challenged by one another, and to try to live more like Jesus - together. <br /><br />With that being said, Scot I so much appreciate your words, your presence, and your differing opinion on this issue and any number of issues. You frequently remind us that at the heart of Christianity is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, an encounter that changes your life. Your voice is one of many colorful voices in the cohort, now and over the years we have gathered together. In my opinion, hearing those different voices in the context of Community is not a futile exercise, but is the contemporary expression of the Emerging Church.Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15222273525666828338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17607953.post-79826678252735177492014-02-28T19:06:44.009-05:002014-02-28T19:06:44.009-05:00Hey Scott and Jacqui thanks for posting about this...Hey Scott and Jacqui thanks for posting about this issue. I agree it got a bit weird last Sunday. I don't want to just gab or complain and I don't want to be defensive or unable to hear other views.<br /><br />For me personally I would like the cohort to be a place where everyone can share openly their thoughts, doubts, and beliefs, and not be judged. I do think it is appropriate to push back and challenge each other.<br /><br />However I also don't think we can have a shared context. I don't want to agree with everyone. We can still discuss things without a shared context though. I still would like to hear how you came to your views on hell - the scriptures and personal experiences that lead you to that.<br /><br />You asked me about what my views on hell were based on, and I tried to give you a bit of my context and background. I grew up with the traditional view and began to question it and it caused me to also question things like the authority of scripture. So if you are looking to start with the Bible and some shared agreement on Scriptural validity or authority then that won't be helpful necessarily.<br />Zack Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03683922561050379794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17607953.post-83535554379815882372014-02-28T16:27:25.019-05:002014-02-28T16:27:25.019-05:00Also, I didn't want this to get lost in the le...Also, I didn't want this to get lost in the lengthy post, but I'm going to respond to your questions about this weekend's gathering in a new post for the sake of clarity.Jacquihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09719969455216999611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17607953.post-12407749738352231582014-02-28T16:26:16.720-05:002014-02-28T16:26:16.720-05:00Scot,
Even though I unfortunately had to leave e...Scot, <br /><br />Even though I unfortunately had to leave early, I'm sure you're not the only one who has been feeling things are less than resolved (if it's even possible to "resolve" an issue like the one tackled in the film). <br /><br />That being said, I'm not sure it's any more possible, or maybe even necessary to come to a common ground on these issues. I think I understand where you're coming from here, and that as a group, our variances in belief probably extend way beyond this one issue. For me, the question of context i then "is that okay?" <br /><br />For me, it's no problem. I don't expect that we all come to a common ground of understanding. I think that's pretty unlikely, given the nature of the group. In my experience there's a fair amount of variance among belief in churches, where the whole idea is that people of like beliefs come together. And this group was organized by a bunch of people who didn't feel like their beliefs honestly fit in any of those pre-established places. So I'm not surprised that we've got a wide range of perspectives on this one. In fact, it was my understanding that one of the hallmarks of this group is that it has never established a set common statement of belief or faith and has tried very intentionally at times not to do so.<br /><br />But I also think for most of us these variances are part of a much larger system of belief. Not just thoughts on heaven and hell, so not only is a discussion on hashing those things out going to be hard work...it's going to take a long time. If ten of us with ten differing theologies sat down to try to hash things out, that's one hefty (and exhausting) conversation. So I'm not sure it's something we can set out to do as a topic. I think those things are the kinds of things that just get worked out and worked through by doing life as a community. <br /><br />That being said, I do think we can be more intentional about how we communicate our assumptions and how we interact over our differences as things come up. And yes, that will be hard work. <br /><br />Just throwing this out as a suggestion, but since this is likely a much more far reaching topic than heaven and hell, maybe we could start a new blog post with a few specific questions and allow for time for anyone to respond with their thoughts/beliefs/assumptions and begin the conversation that way. In that case, people have ample space and time to more fully explain their position than otherwise may happen in a discussion format. This doesn't have to be a cop out, of course, to avoid actually talking about it. Just a way to get the conversation started. Thoughts on that?Jacquihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09719969455216999611noreply@blogger.com