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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Divided Believers

Denominations are something that most Christians grew up with.  That is, they either grew up in a specific denomination or they knew that this difference called "Presbyterian" or "Methodist" existed.  I personally find that with people my age and younger, denominational awareness is declining but that is an entirely different discussion.  What I will discuss here is what role (if any) denominations should play in our lives as Christians.

It is inevitable that at some point we should come into contact with other Christians that have differing opinions of what doctrine is (I use the word doctrine to mean that which should be an inarguable point of conviction).  So when we encounter such a situation, how should we react?  More accurately, how do we react in reality?  Should doctrinal disputes get in the way of worshipping together?  Do these splits prohibit us from working together?  Do we look down on our brother/sister in Christ because of a difference in interpretation?  Do we give way to post-modern relativism?  I pose these questions as rhetorical knowing that, depending on the topic at hand, the answers will come easily sometimes and with more difficulty other times.

These are some of my thoughts right now.

On another note, we recently celebrated the marriage of two wonderful people:  Laura and David.  It was my first wedding in Mexico and despite the couple being American, I was told the wedding was very Mexican.  There were about 600 people in attendance!  I got to learn how to slaughter a cow for the feast (I will spare those pics for now), hosted the rehearsal dinner, and just enjoyed the busyness of it all.


[David and Laura eating cake]

Apart from that I have already begun to get ready to travel back to the US.  In about a month I will be traveling back to spend almost 2 months in the states doing fundraising, attending weddings, and generally making merry.  See you soon.

[Becky (flower girl) and I at the reception]

4 comments:

Matt S. said...

Stu -

Thanks for the update! The CG is lifting you up in prayer. Keep me in the know on what's going on. Oh, and for some reason the bottom half of your blog is showing up as wingdings on my computer....trying to confuse everybody?

Matt

Stu said...

Wow, sorry about the whole wingdings thing. Blogger was giving me a hard time yesterday and as I was trying to fix it, the internet died. So I hope it's all legible now.

Thanks for the prayers. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Eddie and Leeann Kelley said...

Oh, man Stuart, this is so good to talk to you. I just read Joseph and Elis's blog, and now yours...it helps me feel in touch just talking to you!

Eddie has your address somewhere,but not here...in a mountain village. I am in our daughters stick/mud house...with satelitte on palapa roof...fastest connection in Mexico!

Am really impressed by the ministry that Jay and Faith (son-in-law and daughter work with) it is called Alternative Missions. They currently have a ministry team here that are mental health professionals ministering to the missionaries...team dynamics, family issues, married people issues, missionary issues....it is so cool that the director of this ministry is caring more about the missionaries, than the ministry.

cool huh?

Thank you for your friendship, openess, and hosting the rehearsal dinner. how close will you be to Washingtn State when you get back to the states? you should bring some friends out to the whitewater and raft! love Leeann

oh, for pics and too many words check out the wedding blog http://heartsformexico.blogspot.com

Jeremy Williams said...

thanks for the update buddy