Eric Carpenter has some helpful thoughts on starting from a blank slate. HT to Dave Black.
I agree that the New Testament needs to be our litmus test, but can we go back to it with a blank slate?
I think that is impossible.
To have a blank slate means having no New Testament, because part of the same process that caused bad traditions to accrue to the church's account was the same process witch necessitated the development of a New Testament in the first place. So, though I think that we need to seriously consider what the Bible actually says on many ideas, we must remember that the New Testament was written to people who were failing to obey its precepts. Then, over centuries, it was compiled to test the preaching and behavior of people who were by that time not even close to the simple organizational structure hinted at in its pages. I'm not trying to justify sin, I'm trying to say that the New Testament is designed by God and the church itself to work in any context! This is great news.
So, what I'm saying is that I agree with Eric Carpenter, regardless of what else is seen in a blank slate church there will be:
I agree that the New Testament needs to be our litmus test, but can we go back to it with a blank slate?
I think that is impossible.
To have a blank slate means having no New Testament, because part of the same process that caused bad traditions to accrue to the church's account was the same process witch necessitated the development of a New Testament in the first place. So, though I think that we need to seriously consider what the Bible actually says on many ideas, we must remember that the New Testament was written to people who were failing to obey its precepts. Then, over centuries, it was compiled to test the preaching and behavior of people who were by that time not even close to the simple organizational structure hinted at in its pages. I'm not trying to justify sin, I'm trying to say that the New Testament is designed by God and the church itself to work in any context! This is great news.
So, what I'm saying is that I agree with Eric Carpenter, regardless of what else is seen in a blank slate church there will be:
"We'd see a gracious God who has called out a people for himself from all nations, tribes, and tongues.
We'd see a sacrificial and risen Lord who has given us an example of loving servitude to follow.
We'd see a live-giving Spirit who empowers us today to do amazing things for him.
We'd see a church focused on glorifying God in all things.
We'd see a simple model of church life.
We'd see all of the church sharing life together, caring for one another, meeting each others' needs, and impacting society for the good.
We'd see a church where everyone ministers, everyone participates, everyone has authority, and all look to Christ as their head.
We'd see a church that struggles with sin issues such as disunity, immorality, and pride.
We'd see a church that gathers in an informal fashion for the edification of the body.
We'd see a church that proclaims the gospel as part of normal life.
I'm sure we'd see many other things as well.
What we wouldn't see is a perfect church. Saints back then struggled with many of the same things that we struggle with today. In fact, most of the epistles were written at least in part to deal with specific problems that were occurring in the churches.
What we can see in scripture is general principles, patterns, and practices of church life. We can see what the apostles approved of and what they didn't. We can see how the church lived life together and how they engaged society."
