Tuesday, March 1, 2011

What's the Least I Can Believe - the myths

The main myth, I think, is that we check our brains at the church door and just think what we are told to think, without needing to understand why, or perhaps without being able to understand the applications in our own life and ministries.

Last Sunday, a member of our group expressed a frustration with the study book because the author does not come down strongly on one side of a controversial issue, and we discussed ways that members of the PC(USA) have confronted differences of belief on some of those issues.

The Westminster Confession says: "God alone is Lord of the conscience, and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are, in any thing, contrary to His Word; or beside it, if matters of faith, or worship. So that, to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commands, out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience: and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also." (20:2)

How, then, are we to form beliefs about controversial matters? How do we discern God's will?

What are some other issues about which we might not hold the same opinions? Have you come from a denomination with a different position than that "officially" held by the PC(USA)? Do you know how that denomination's governing body arrived at that position?

This week, let's finish up talking about the myths (which run through chapter 9 or 10 — I don't have my book in front of me), and then let's talk about the ways the congregational of a community church like ours can be a strong Christian presence in the community without agreeing on topics about which our beliefs may be deep and passionate.