But e
ssentially, the argument against promoting Worship to first status and relegating Evangelism to the secondary position ignored Scripture and argued from our own historical documents rather than from Scripture. An emotive tactic, but not one calculated to do anything about clarifying biblical priorities.In subsequent postings, I'll provide some of my own biblical arguments that Worship is clearly a priority over Evangelism. I'll invite comments in advance as to how you think I'll argue this case.
And in the end, I'll even argue that there's an even more compelling number-one priority that transcends even Worship or Evangelism as the church's chief priority. What do you think I'll see as the most elemental priority of the church?
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I would never have interpreted those two purposes as prioritized in the first place. I just saw it as a list of priorities. Maybe bullets would have been more appropriate than numbers.
ReplyDeleteThat's always a possibility; however, even with loving God and loving your neighbor, two non-negotiables nevertheless have a priority. Love of God is first, and love of neighbor is second.
ReplyDeleteThe results, as I see it, have been concluded - at least for this Council. This means, I think, that we need to put a PERIOD on it and then re-submit at a later date if it is important. Further discussion could be viewed as failure to submit to authority. In other words, I think it is fine to have and even offer opinion, but never ok to promote and cause division.
ReplyDeleteI don't see discussing the biblical merits of a position as promoting and causing division. Indeed, only dictators think that way.
ReplyDeleteAnd a church never has the authority to put a period after it's own human doctrinal statements as long as there's any biblical argument that they could be stated and/or followed in a more biblical fashion.
No time to read all the comments right now...headed off to teach a class but am looking forward to following the discussion here. I missed most of the business sessions in Florida and didn't hear the discussion on this one.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing to come to my mind is "the chief end of man is to know God and to enjoy Him forever." But, then again, I don't think we've ever voted on the Westminster Confession and its part in the General Council.
Ruthie: I don't think anyone would have found a quotation from the WCF very persuasive at an Assemblies of God General Council. But then, I didn't find quotation from our own documents very persuasive, when the AG historical documents were quoted in place of a biblical argument.
ReplyDeleteYou ever think it might be a case of theological "pole vaulting over mouse turds?" Really, for your rank and file person who loves God, do they really need that kind of maxim? How about both/and rather than either/or; this is good but this is best.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I am quite surprised to see this priority as an AG position. It seems my experience within the Assemblies seems to be this emphasis "but wait for the power from on high, and then you shall be my witnesses" meaning (and as Ive heard it preached from many pulpits) receive "the power" indicating relationship, baptism of H.S., close encounter with God, etc; before, preceding evangelism...I in fact, do endorse this order, just not as an excuse to sit in "blessing" without sacrifice, or evangelism...I also see this emphasized in the time and investment Jesus had with his disciples before they were sent out; also I Peter 3:15.
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