The 10 Commandments of Progressive Christianity

Chapter 7 - Meeting Actual Needs is More Important than Maintaining Institutions

What is the function/role/responsibility of the Church? What are the horizontal and vertical responsibilites? Is it to solve societies ills?

Who sets the ‘ethos’ of the Church?

Do you feel that ‘all churches’ have forsaken their core values? Has the Church forsaken it’s core value? What is the Church’s core value?

“It is only possible to maintain the delusion of institutional purity by remaining willfully ignorant of the many ways religions have forsaken their core values” -Gulley, If the Church Were Christian , p.124

Fair statement? Why or why not?

Is the Church fallible? Why or why not?

“Unfortunately, it seems to be a common trait among humans and the institutions we create to ignore our flaws even as those failings cripple our ability to function and grow.” -Ibid, p.125

Does the Church’s flaws and failings inhibit it’s ability to function and grow?

Is the Church a human construct or of God origin? Does Acts 2:42-47 have any bearing on our answer?

What did Jesus mean when He said, “on this rock I will build My church”? Mt 16:18

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In Gulley’s opinion, too many chuches are run as “Fortune 500” companies worried about their “stock price” (Kruger, p.36). Would you agree or disagree? Why?

In your opinion is the church valuable or dispensible? Why? How does Hebrews 10:25-27 apply? Or does it?

“I don’t for a moment believe Jesus intended to start a new religious institution. But I do believe the principles he articulated, summarized in the Sermon on the Mount, would greatly enliven the institution that arose from his life and witness.” -Gulley, Ibid, p.126-127

Agree od disagree? Why?

“Congregations are like people; unless they are in crisis, they change their patterns and habits slowly.” -Ibid, p.132-133

Agree or disagree? Why?

Is the Church a means or an end?

“A the end of the day, it is important to remember that while the institutional church is important to us, Jesus appeared to give it little thought. Though the church eventually became the means by which the story and witness of Jesus spread, neither its genesis nor continuance seemed a priority to him. Time after time, meeting human needs took center stage in his life and ministry. …To be a follower of Jesus is to choose, at every ethical crossroads, to serve people above structures.” -Ibid, p.137

Do you agree with Gulley’s assessment of Jesus’ view of the church or disagree? Why?

If the Church is of no importance to Jesus, why are the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation written to the Church about it’s actions, or lack of? Why the concentration? Why the warnings? Why the encouragment?

Why do the apostles address the ‘churches’ in various cities at the beginning of their letters, if the church is not important?