But God is in the details. You gave many examples that show parallels between the military and the church. Good.
It would give a lot more credibility to your argument if you gave examples also that showed a keen sense of how the church is very different from the military.
For example, there should be someplace for every believer in the church, even while, say, undergoing a process of discipline.
Awesome!! This needs to be shared across the brotherhood. It should be viewed by elders, deacons, church staff, youth, ministers regardless of title, and the church body. My grandkids will have a church dramatically different from the ones of today. The biggest difference, if we don’t change our course, will be simply no churches to worship at. At the current rate of 2.5 per WEEK it will look like a spiritual ghost town in many counties and states. The days of open the doors and they will come have been over for the last 15 years. When our youth see the elders, deacons, and church body take all this seriously they will notice. They will question, they will decide if they too share that urgency. Are we going to offer zero spiritual food or junk food to our youth? If we give them spiritual junk food it will be the end of their walk with God. They face a formidable foe lurking everywhere in our society. They need even beg for our knowledge wisdom and drive. They want something tangible real and worthy to live for and a standard by which they can raise their own families. We must pass along our love for God and praise God and teach about what Gods way leads to. And then contrast it with others who choose to live for themselves. Spiritual food is needed for healthy minds and hearts. We can do this. We can at least stop the drain of our youth. I challenge every congregation with youth to adopt the age 20 challenge. A pledge to stem the losses and keep 90% of youth active in church till age 20. Pass it around and challenge your elders and congregations if they will accept the age 20 challenge.
Generally agreeing.
But God is in the details. You gave many examples that show parallels between the military and the church. Good.
It would give a lot more credibility to your argument if you gave examples also that showed a keen sense of how the church is very different from the military.
For example, there should be someplace for every believer in the church, even while, say, undergoing a process of discipline.
That’s not the case in the army.
Sure, but examining all the limits of the analogy is a bit beyond the scope of what I had in mind here
Granted.
But you always want a “To be sure…” paragraph.
Awesome!! This needs to be shared across the brotherhood. It should be viewed by elders, deacons, church staff, youth, ministers regardless of title, and the church body. My grandkids will have a church dramatically different from the ones of today. The biggest difference, if we don’t change our course, will be simply no churches to worship at. At the current rate of 2.5 per WEEK it will look like a spiritual ghost town in many counties and states. The days of open the doors and they will come have been over for the last 15 years. When our youth see the elders, deacons, and church body take all this seriously they will notice. They will question, they will decide if they too share that urgency. Are we going to offer zero spiritual food or junk food to our youth? If we give them spiritual junk food it will be the end of their walk with God. They face a formidable foe lurking everywhere in our society. They need even beg for our knowledge wisdom and drive. They want something tangible real and worthy to live for and a standard by which they can raise their own families. We must pass along our love for God and praise God and teach about what Gods way leads to. And then contrast it with others who choose to live for themselves. Spiritual food is needed for healthy minds and hearts. We can do this. We can at least stop the drain of our youth. I challenge every congregation with youth to adopt the age 20 challenge. A pledge to stem the losses and keep 90% of youth active in church till age 20. Pass it around and challenge your elders and congregations if they will accept the age 20 challenge.
Of course, it is kind of difficult to demand certain characteristics when the CiC does not show the example...
In shape and ready for action...
Honesty and honor...
Language and attitude...
Integrity and concern...
Kind of difficult to expect one thing from followers, and nothing from perceived role model.