I looked at the last post [“Which is the greater danger? Heresy or Blind Compliance”] and I had to say, “Let people make mistakes.” I completely agree with the concept of letting people take ownership of their faith even though they will and do make mistakes. And that ownership only happens when people learn for themselves. But that word “for” is a big one. It is “for themselves” not “by themselves.”
That means I don’t think it is helpful or responsible to let people wallow around in sloppy thinking or fall prey to deceptive thinking. It happens too easily.
I’m going to start sketching out a formula for what I try to do, and I hope others will add comments and ideas and raise up examples that others have come up with.
One – Pray – The is a holy process that God’s Spirit is involved with. It starts here, grows here and ends here.
Two – Scripture – Model a balanced approach to reading the Bible (primarily) and other writings.
Three – Vision – Supply vision for the purpose of faith and what it means to be a Christ follower in your context.
Four – Groups – Create and support opportunities for individualized learning and conversation. Give general guidance to these experiences, but don’t manage them.
Five – Service – Encourage and give opportunities to people to practice what they believe.
Six – Listen – Leaders learn from what the larger body is discerning. This allows the body to mature spiritually.
Start process over…
This was just a quick shot at the process… It is an inexact process and certainly full of holes. Help me with them. But then… maybe the holes are the faith part…
Precarious Pastor 