 |
| Vancouver 2017 |
An acquaintance attempting to start an advanced theology/philosophy ministry at church
Non-exhaustive
Today, an acquaintance friend at church mentioned to me his desire (as a Christian intellectual) to find people within our church plant, willing to commit to an advanced study series on a secondary theological issues, not from the sermon. His topic is Islam.
This acquaintance friend has also mentioned this on occasions months ago. I opined today (non-exhaustively) that although advanced study is good within the Church, and our church, it is going to be very difficult to find committed participants. I suggested he consider multi-church and online.
The people that attend church weekly or less than weekly will often not be willing to commit to further church activity.
The people that attend church several times a week, such as myself (2-3 times) will often be time limited due to church work, paid work and family commitments.
I, for example, attend our church weekly, I assist with a couple of ministries and teaching when requested; I also attend a weekly bible study (Sorry, I prefer the generic term), and also attempt to attend one of our sponsoring churches, which I am member of, on Saturdays, if I am not booked.
My church events and work, plus my website (s) ministry has me with limited time and energy for additional and advanced church study groups. As I informed this acquaintance friend, I am already writing during the week in regard to advanced theological, philosophical and biblical issues, on this website and especially Dr. Russell Norman Murray. This website presents a lighter version of the same type of material. Lighter mainly as in less documented.
I may write in regard to a certain topic, from time to time, for years. Live and learn...
The larger churches and ministries gain support. Smaller, theological and philosophical ministries, not so much.
There is also the problem of intellectual laziness. In a sense this is reasonable, as people, including myself are often too busy to engage mentally with certain ministries.
But on the other hand, sometimes intellectual laziness is an excuse for intellectual dismal, as in (paraphrased) 'I do not know this person or this ministry and therefore I shall not support it'. Well, you could prayerfully take some time and ponder over the person and ministry and find out if support is required as opposed to assuming it is not.
By the way, that type of dismissal is also often an issue with Christian dating (Sorry, I just had to).
I also reason there is a clique mentality in which certain ministries only wish to support people they reason are like them. A lot like them.
I have a had two local friend's wish to begin a Christian philosophy cafe, and I raised the same negative objections. It is very difficult to get such a venture off the ground without a lot of series ministry clout.
For me, at this time, I am concentrating on my paid work, my website ministry and working within (typical) church ministries.
