Disqus - Latest Comments for Ben Sternke

Re: Liturgical persistence and Ecclesial resistance

Ben Sternke — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:53:17 -0000

Geoff! I didn't know you wrote on this site. We met briefly at a 'Learning Commons' Fitch set up in Chicago a few months back. I don't have any resistance to your thesis - in fact I blogged about the very same question briefly last week, and I really think the two go together.

One of the main points of resistance I get when I talk about this, though, is that people say "Just doing liturgy by itself won't help," as though that's what I was advocating ;) So I like that you've emphasized the doing of liturgy with the understanding of it. Both are crucial.

Anyway, I look forward to the series you've promised, and the other comments that will come in.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Ben Sternke — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:50:53 -0000

Interesting that church-hoppers existed in Benedict's time, too. I find this to be the most challenging aspect of leading a church community. The unencumbered freedom to follow one's desires is assumed to be the highest good in our culture, and it's difficult to preach a gospel that is so antithetical to it.

We've been struggling to understand how to apply "stability" and "obedience" to our community without becoming a cult ;)

One of the ways we try to challenge "gyrovaguery" is by making our gatherings low-key and sustainable. They are very meaningful for those who are committed to the community, and intriguing (I hope) for those who aren't, but they definitely are not entertaining to watch. But we do struggle occasionally against the tendency for people to simply skip a gathering because they "felt like it." We're trying to instill a sense in our gatherings that we really need one another, that we don't "come to church" to be fed religious goods and services, but to be the visible Body of Christ, to encourage and edify one another, bringing our gifts to bear on the life of the community. It's definitely an uphill battle, though.

Good post, thanks. Provoked a lot of thought for me.

Re: Gyrovagues, Church-Shoppers, and Ecclesial Free Agents

Ben Sternke — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:50:53 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Ben Sternke — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:45:32 -0000

A review of the book from Ben Witherington (a NT scholar) calls into question whether good research has really been done. From his perspective there seems to be a lot of reliance on sources that agree with them, and an almost total ignorance of sources that challenge their views.

I'm not necessarily defending all church traditions, but they do seem to overstate their case, and use dubious historical method and scholarship to do so.

Re: Pagan Christianity?

Ben Sternke — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:45:32 -0000

Re: Going Public with my Privates, pt. 1

Ben Sternke — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:23:13 -0000

Hilarious and insightful. Thanks.

Re: Going Public with My Privates (part 1 of 3)

Ben Sternke — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:23:13 -0000

Hilarious and insightful. Thanks.

Re: go as poor among the poor…

Ben Sternke — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:13:11 -0000

Succinct and clarifying - the true "radical" kingdom option contrasted with the second-rate reductions on both sides. Thanks.

Re: go as poor among the poor…

Ben Sternke — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:13:11 -0000

Succinct and clarifying - the true "radical" kingdom option contrasted with the second-rate reductions on both sides. Thanks.