I am grateful to Victoria Penny for sharing this article with us:The 'Perils of Wannabe Cool' Christianity Also please consider the following:A continual source of great spiritual encouragement to me is found in a book penned by Maurice Robert's, The Thought of God.   In the chapter, The Fellowship of the Saints, he gives us helpful reminders in seeking authenticity in the fellowship of Christ.He states there are five hinderances to authentic christian fellowship:1.  Fellowship is not improved by the presence of believers who never attempt to talk about the truths of religion.2.  Fellowship is not enhanced by believers who have only one stringed...

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The short answer to this question is emphatically, yes! We are called to join our hearts, minds, voices, and gifts together as one local body in Jesus Christ.  This requires the identification of, even the counting of, individuals among a local church, so people are known by name and shepherded thoughtfully and consistently by church leaders.  Taking membership classes and making formal vows publicly, enables a local church to be on the "same page" in terms of it profession and confession of faith in Christ.  Formal membership classes also foster the preaching and teaching of the Gospel with consistency and...

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Jesus prayed the following words, in the presence of his disciples, before his sacrificial death:  “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and  not one of them has been lost except  the son of destruction,  that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.  I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world,  just as I...

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Is the term which has been used for quite some time to talk about the occasion of dress for dinner or a business meeting.  For men this “usually” means slacks with some kind of button down collared shirt. Others think this term should include a tie without a coat, or a coat without a tie.  It simply coveys the ideas of dress being less than formal and more than casual.  As for women, I have no comment. For the application of this term to them could possibly be undefinable this side of glory.  As many of you well know, my...

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The terms traditional and contemporary can be as elusive and confusing as the people who use them.  They are loaded terms which more often than not emphasize preference over content.  Terms must always be defined by those who use them, and in the place they are being used.  Experience may be helpful in avoiding future mistakes, but they are often vague memories.  This is to say, our experiences are not ultimate conclusions.  They may be good experiences or bad ones, but they are not “the gospel truth”.  You have heard others say over and over, “at my last church we...

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