Comments on: Do We Need Church Organizations? http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/ A 501(c)(3) independent Christian non-profit dedicated to sharing the teachings of the First and Second Advents of Jesus Christ Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:41:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Richard http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-15444 Richard Fri, 29 May 2009 00:34:51 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-15444 A great old yard sale book called " christians without christ and non-christians with christ " says it all. What is missing in most is Love, geniune love for each other, to listen , to care, to understand. All that god created gives, the sun, the moon, trees etc... look at all the oil in the ground just for us humans, look at what the trees do for us, suck in carbon-monoxide and give us oxygen in return, look at a fruit tree with more fruit than we can eat, only us humans live for ourselfs and that must change. When we start to live for others and give from the giving source from within us then we will have found the purpose for living as a human. Thanks for listening--rich A great old yard sale book called ” christians without christ and non-christians with christ ” says it all.

What is missing in most is Love, geniune love for each other, to listen , to care, to understand.

All that god created gives, the sun, the moon, trees etc… look at all the oil in the ground just for us humans, look at what the trees do for us, suck in carbon-monoxide and give us oxygen in return, look at a fruit tree with more fruit than we can eat, only us humans live for ourselfs and that must change.

When we start to live for others and give from the giving source from within us then we will have found the purpose for living as a human.

Thanks for listening–rich

]]> By: David Bush http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-14213 David Bush Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:43:27 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-14213 Experiencing what the Spirit can do within the "house" church is very important to me as a teacher of the Spiritual Word. Encouraging the participation of individuals within this framework is helpful towards the growth of "all". I have dedicated my life to promoting His Church within individuals and first, within myself, Christ, the hope of Glory. "A great teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart". Swedenborg has done that through his writings by the Spirit. The Spirit does that through the Scriptures and most importantly in and through our reciprocal relationship to His. Experiencing what the Spirit can do within the “house” church is very important to me as a teacher of the Spiritual Word. Encouraging the participation of individuals within this framework is helpful towards the growth of “all”. I have dedicated my life to promoting His Church within individuals and first, within myself, Christ, the hope of Glory. “A great teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart”. Swedenborg has done that through his writings by the Spirit. The Spirit does that through the Scriptures and most importantly in and through our reciprocal relationship to His.

]]> By: Kurt http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-13973 Kurt Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:04:56 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-13973 Well said! Especially “I already have a father and a teacher, what I need now are neighbors and friends.” Building your life on a “doctrine” of in-group membership superiority certainly seems a poor substitute. But how do you change the pattern after two centuries of entrenched dominion (lay as much as clerical)? As far as I can see, starting over with a new Christian ecclesia, that has Jesus - and His charity - as its axiom, is the only realistic solution. That is certainly what the Project is working toward. Well said! Especially “I already have a father and a teacher, what I need now are neighbors and friends.” Building your life on a “doctrine” of in-group membership superiority certainly seems a poor substitute. But how do you change the pattern after two centuries of entrenched dominion (lay as much as clerical)? As far as I can see, starting over with a new Christian ecclesia, that has Jesus – and His charity – as its axiom, is the only realistic solution. That is certainly what the Project is working toward.

]]> By: Aaron Rogers http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-13951 Aaron Rogers Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:41:10 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-13951 I believe that every man has their own doctrine to live by and the creation of limits through religious dominion is the best way to destroy a person’s connection to the Holy Spirit. If I am going to accept the "holy ghost" by way of another man, I might as well be pentecostal. Any church organization should hold onto a foundation of charity - not doctrine (doctrine should be inherit in the demonstration of charity - ask John Chapman about that). I already have a father and a teacher, what I need now are neighbors and friends. I'm tired of getting the Fraternity or Secret Society vibe from religious organizations - The General Church is no exception. "I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." - Robert McCloskey I believe that every man has their own doctrine to live by and the creation of limits through religious dominion is the best way to destroy a person’s connection to the Holy Spirit. If I am going to accept the “holy ghost” by way of another man, I might as well be pentecostal. Any church organization should hold onto a foundation of charity – not doctrine (doctrine should be inherit in the demonstration of charity – ask John Chapman about that). I already have a father and a teacher, what I need now are neighbors and friends. I’m tired of getting the Fraternity or Secret Society vibe from religious organizations – The General Church is no exception.

“I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”
– Robert McCloskey

]]> By: Aresti http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-4961 Aresti Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:04:22 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-4961 I haven't read the entire article yet. It seems to be against church organisations, which I am by no means necessarily in favour of. However, I do think that an organisation based around Swedenborg will protect the publishing and deliverance of his books, whereas no organisation/church might not. So wether the church physical is useful or not, it does the service of protecting, I hope, swedenborg's books, and makes them available. I haven’t read the entire article yet. It seems to be against church organisations, which I am by no means necessarily in favour of. However, I do think that an organisation based around Swedenborg will protect the publishing and deliverance of his books, whereas no organisation/church might not. So wether the church physical is useful or not, it does the service of protecting, I hope, swedenborg’s books, and makes them available.

]]> By: Mark J. Seydel http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-2603 Mark J. Seydel Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:31:22 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-2603 I'm glad I came across this article. I was not aware of something called "Swedenborgian” churches. Very interesting stuff. I’m glad I came across this article. I was not aware of something called “Swedenborgian” churches.

Very interesting stuff.

]]> By: Stephen Koke http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/comment-page-1/#comment-268 Stephen Koke Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:31:12 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-268 I like the idea of churches not being authoritative monuments to multilayered organizations. Dogmatism in the New Church is not to be countenanced either, since Swedenborg championed insight-based religion as opposed to the very old tendency in churches to be faith-based. We still, in the Swedenborgian movement, have a noticeable number of old faith-based mindsets, all attributing everything to "Revelation", when Swedenborg championed judgment by a higher light that would result from regeneration, not church tradition alone. Church tradition is always to be re-examined so that the higher light can remain the source of spiritual intelligence. I like the idea of churches not being authoritative monuments to multilayered organizations. Dogmatism in the New Church is not to be countenanced either, since Swedenborg championed insight-based religion as opposed to the very old tendency in churches to be faith-based. We still, in the Swedenborgian movement, have a noticeable number of old faith-based mindsets, all attributing everything to “Revelation”, when Swedenborg championed judgment by a higher light that would result from regeneration, not church tradition alone. Church tradition is always to be re-examined so that the higher light can remain the source of spiritual intelligence.

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