New Church in the Hood
I heard tonight about a new church plant in Jefferson City so I checked out the website to see what it was about. I was hopeful. Although I’m on staff at another church, there are more than enough people to love and serve in this community and a lot of different styles and communities are needed to honor the diversity that exists among believers and unChristians. I’m not a believer in mega-churches so I’m grateful for other churches and faith communities. However, I do have a desire to have more faith communities that, in my opinion, represent God with humility, mystery, and grace and that create a faith community that is about grace and dignity for all and the unique G0d-given gifts that they bring to the table. That is why I was disappointed to see these statements listed under their “What We Believe” category:
- We are not liberals who embrace culture without discernment and compromise the distinctives of the gospel.
- We are not egalitarians and do believe that men should head their homes and male elders should lead their churches with masculine love like Jesus.
- We are not relativists and do gladly embrace Scripture as our highest authority above such things as culture, experience, philosophy, and other forms of revelation.
- We are not Universalists and do believe that many people will spend eternity in the torments of hell as the Bible teaches.
- We are not evangelical feminists and do believe that God reveals Himself as a Father and is to be honored by the names He reveals to us without apology.
- We are not embarrassed by the bloody death of Jesus and do believe He died as a substitute for the sins of His people in selfless love.
Sigh…..
5 Comments
Jamie
Ugghh! I wish this church the best but I think they are going to have a tough time reaching people in Jeff City, Mo. Maybe not.
Daniel
Whoa! Honestly, I didn’t even know about complementarianism until a couple years ago when I started at a conservative Christian college… I was astonished that they purposefully did not allow women to teach in the Bible department. I was vocal with my astonishment and got branded as a “liberal, egalitarian, feminist”… Oops! I guess they should add this one to their list:
“We are NOT living in the 21st century…”
Amber
Wow. While some of those may be okay beliefs, they are kind of strongly worded. As a woman in the ministry, it makes me sad to know that there are still so many who would deny women the opportunity to serve God as He desires.
Genie
Wonder how and who they plan to share God’s love with? Seems like their statements of what they are against pretty well eliminates a whole lot of folks!! Makes me wonder what Gospel distinctives they are referring to? I keep reading my Bible and just can’t find they barriers they put up–not in Jesus’ life and ministry!
Jennifer
Sigh indeed. Guess I may as well give up, as women apparently aren’t welcome in this version of God’s kingdom