tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post4867613263381672740..comments2023-10-11T03:54:58.698-06:00Comments on Randall Friesen: Simple ChurchRandall Friesenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04112919973262687369noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-30397346982267036092007-09-08T04:00:25.000-06:002007-09-08T04:00:25.000-06:00The is a distinction between simple and unsophisti...The is a distinction between simple and unsophisticated, between complex and fully functional. I shall think about this.Tonihttp://tertl.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-1232139078676842712007-09-08T07:33:33.000-06:002007-09-08T07:33:33.000-06:00Excellent post. I will pray and think, think and ...Excellent post. I will pray and think, think and pray. This could be a large discussion...<br><br>Thank you, good food for thought.<br><br>DougDoug Robertsonhttp://www.dougrobertson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-50767412248797227972007-09-08T10:58:16.000-06:002007-09-08T10:58:16.000-06:00I think a simple church is a church where the gosp...I think a simple church is a church where the gospel comes before all else. Where people can live with a crappy sound system (or what have you) because the gospel is preached, and when the gospel is preached Christ is present.<br><br>So I will say Randall that a simple church is a church that is able to be content with just the presence of Christ and no bells and whistles.Greg Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-68618338476808850552007-09-08T17:07:30.000-06:002007-09-08T17:07:30.000-06:00Is it possible for us to be simple as a church; to...Is it possible for us to be simple as a church; to respond to needs of individuals within the group – like watching the unpacking of the TV and responding to that need in an appropriate way? Do we have the freedom to respond to situations or do we have to work through organizational structures in order to initiate a response? Can we improvise, act spontaneously, set aside protocols where they are not appropriate in order to meet people’s needs? <br><br>If we have a huge diversity of programs in order to attract people to our “church†and we drive ourselves crazy trying to keep them going so that we look big and important, we will soon lose our ability to respond to anything as mundane as an individual in need. <br><br>So, I guess we could go back to really simple – no sermon, no songs, no classes – just sharing God’s word, praying and breaking bread. I think I could do that. But would it be better or just another style? And would this “simpler†style make Christ more accessible to the communities we live in or less so? <br><br>Maybe, like Phillips, we just need to be deliberate in what we choose to expend our energy on, making sure it fits in with what our real goals should be; then concentrate on doing that well.Lineahttp://linealanoie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-23337915234368331462007-09-09T07:30:08.000-06:002007-09-09T07:30:08.000-06:00What if the issue isn't "simple" vs ...What if the issue isn't "simple" vs "complex" (i.e. type of structure/system) ,but something along the lines of obedience. For some, obedience looks like a very complex structure, and for others, it is a very simple structure with few technological / musical systems.Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-91720621690222947672007-09-09T11:13:28.000-06:002007-09-09T11:13:28.000-06:00Have you ever read Harry Blamire's book from 1...Have you ever read Harry Blamire's book from 1963 called The Chrisitian Mind? Although it is a bit dated (as in more modern than postmodern), the section on mechanization mentality and his differentiation between function (what a machine does) and purpose (is what persons have) could have some bearing on the search for the Simple Church and how we lost that aspect over the past centuries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-27122276709180469412007-09-10T05:32:45.000-06:002007-09-10T05:32:45.000-06:00My brother was chewing my ear recently about the t...My brother was chewing my ear recently about the trend from DIY to DIFM (do it for me). He runs a big company in Australia that sells household items, so it's a practical issue for him. Simplicity can up in the discussion because people want an item to do the limited range of tasks they want from it quickly and easily.<br><br>We can see this mapped out in things like the iPod, becaus they are not multi-task objects. A few musician friends of mine have recently abandoned complex DAW rigs for much simpler configurations for the same reason - they want to just record and play quickly and easily.<br><br>But, church is never simple in this sense - well not unless we adopt a cathedral approach that is. Church will always have a layer of complexity because it responds to different human issues.<br><br>Of course, the other side of DIFM is simple laziness. Sometimes we just *want* other people to do stuff for us...fernando A Groshttp://www.fernandogros.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-15666345809364605072007-09-10T11:13:56.000-06:002007-09-10T11:13:56.000-06:00Hey, those are some good though provoking response...Hey, those are some good though provoking responses. And all over the place, including a book to check out.<br><br>Actually you made me thing of the subject in ways I hadn't even thought through yet. Good on ya.<br><br>The significance of obedience, the distinction between simple and unsophisticated, worship styles, just the gospel. Indeed, it probably isn't a simple thing, as in black and white is simple.<br><br>I like the fact that there are different ways to accomplish the same kinds of things that we do as church.<br><br>For instance, in another church that I served at, we didn't have the money to hire an individual to work with the youth, so the adults took on the work themselves. They formed relationships with the youth and participated in their lives, which in the end worked really well.<br><br>There are different ways to be the church, I guess my concern with a post like this is just that sometimes we make things so complex and I don't know why.<br><br>Do we think we will attract more people who like many activities? Will they think the complex ministries have more value than just a couple of people hanging out together in Christ's name?<br><br><br>It's a good one for me to keep working through.Randallhttp://randallfriesen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3520413.post-66363595899334528392007-09-10T17:14:06.000-06:002007-09-10T17:14:06.000-06:00I like the idea of simple church, in the sense of ...I like the idea of simple church, in the sense of the Shakers' "tis a gift to be simple". Just as long as it doesn't become "dumbed down" church.Phil Lhttp://philloseth.canoreply@blogger.com