I’m interested in establishing a non-traditional, gospel
based, spiritual fellowship that will be open, welcoming, inclusive, liberal,
progressive, committed, sincere, profound, engaging, challenging, rewarding,
supportive, nurturing, enlightening, inspiring, empowering, and participatory.
By gospel I mean the universal brotherhood of all
humanity – one for all and all for one – in the service of the Father Almighty;
the Source, Centre, and Destiny of all things, meanings, values, and beings.
I see the traditions out there, hard at work – ministers tending their
flocks, singing songs of praise and generally doing their thing but I have yet
to find one that feels like HOME. I
understand each to their own when it comes to communal religious worship but I have
yet to find a fellowship that I could feel a part of, where I could let my
guard down, be my self, and enjoy communion with my brethren. I know and
believe that we are all one family under God but it is true that birds of a
feather flock together and, I guess, I’m looking for my flock.
I am devoted to the Master and his cause but I don’t personally
subscribe to many of the teachings of the traditions and that creates
challenges. It appears to me that the world of Christendom is subdivided up
into various communities whose borders are defined by their respective creeds, and
who have made salvation and passage into communion dependent upon the
willingness of the prospective member to subscribe to their particular variation
of their respective creeds; a salvation by right beliefs sort of thing. This issue
is further compounded by the tendency of some to externalise their identities.
They identify themselves with their creed, code, and cult, and consequently confuse
the rejection of some or all of their creed, code, and cult, as somehow a rejection
of them and I don’t want to be
hurting anyone’s feelings. I just want to sit down, break the bread of
spiritual inspiration and share it with my fellows.
I enjoy the company of the followers of Jesus, regardless of their
beliefs, but I personally find the atonement doctrine revolting and the call to
the hatred
and condemnation of homosexuality despicable. If some Christian thinks I’ve
just bought a one way ticket to eternal damnation for espousing such opinions,
that’s cool too – whatever floats your boat buddy but that’s the sort of thing that
creates serious challenges to communion, that and the dreadful worship music
that get played in contemporary churches. Don’t get me wrong, I love music; I’m
a musician myself but some of the tunes belted out in the churches are like
needles in my ears. I just can’t handle them.
So I’m caught on two things: the demand for conformity of beliefs and
having to endure [what is for me] terrible music. I understand there’s no accounting
for taste. Some like heavy metal, some like country, others classical and
opera, and yet others love contemporary Christian worship music. Not me, sorry
about that. I will gladly concede that some of the tunes are great, Rich
Mullins and other spring to mind but overall
quality is pretty low. Maybe one of you good people will educate me.
I’ve got a few like minded friends here in Galway. We have a little
fellowship [at least one of which really, really, loves worship music] and I’m
wondering if there are any other like-minded souls out there that would be
interested in setting something up?
For more on the subject check out this link
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