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[[topics_collection_ii|| Topics Collection ii ]]
======Orientation 5 - Christian Community ...======
Saturday, July 17, 2010. What should Christian community be like? Where should
I go? Is there some guidance with respect to the choice of community or church
which I should do? Where should I go?
There are many Christian churches in this world. And there are sometimes
questions how to understand the existence of so many different churches. Also,
people ask where to go. And there are some people who give very particular
or sometimes even strong advice: "go here and no where else!" Or: "do not go there!"
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**What church should I choose?**
I do not want to give you an answer of the type mentioned above. I will not
recommend a particular church as "the best" one. I do not think that is the right
way to approach the question.
But we need to be aware that there are many Christians today, which have their
clear and definite answer: "go here or there". This is the case for catholic
leaders as well as for evangelicals. For me these people are brothers
and sisters in the Lord. But I do not believe that there is a best or only
church today.
There are just many of them arising from human questions and human decisions on
how to live with the Lord. Humans interact with the Lord, and make decisions. And
that can and has lead to separations and to different churches.
Historically, there are the orthodox churches of Europe's east, the roman catholic
church, the protestant churches, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Anglican, free
evangelical, pentecostal, charismatic, brethren etc etc. All of them try to find
their way with the Lord. Some use more "rules", others less. Some are more secular
than others, some put emphasis on the feelings and the spirit, others on teaching,
some on their special "apostolic" leadership structure.
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**Go where you come closer to the Lord**
I think that the key purpose of church is to bring us closer to the Lord Jesus,
to God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. You should go to the church which
leads you personally closer to the Lord. Here, close to the Lord, you will be
able to live and change, to love and to live in truth, to help others and to
be taken into the fresh life which Jesus is giving to us. Close to the Lord you
will also be close to other people! But be awake: coming close to the Lord
will be a path with both sunshine and rain and thunder!!
The questions of Christian community are not easy. But we may ask God for wisdom - and he will
help us to understand. Deep love, even if there is a different understanding
of important parts of doctrine, will guide us. Love puts appreciation first, even
if we have a different insight into what we observe as the truth.
We need to keep in mind the words of Jesus: "I am the truth". It is him, who
will guide us.
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