tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post6657205190956472409..comments2024-03-28T00:58:29.445-04:00Comments on Ponderings on a Faith Journey: What is a Minimalist Understanding of Church Membership?Robert Cornwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-75966750635982998722012-02-16T21:15:58.705-05:002012-02-16T21:15:58.705-05:00I rather like the "belong-behave-believe"...I rather like the "belong-behave-believe", and not just for it mnemonic qualities. It seems to me to encapsulate people's encounters with Jesus in the Gospels. At each station the previous quality/ies find greater maturation. <br /><br />Jesus welcomes everyone; he calls all of us to follow him, and those first steps however, faltering are an evidence of grace working within. The point where the disciple reaches that confession of faith -that Jesus is indeed the Messiah is trans-formative for the believer. And it is the substance upon which he established his church -making it therefore evidence for membership.<br /><br />As for the rest, "Behavior" is well trodden theological soil. It is necessary, though alone it is insufficient for salvation, its potential-its fulfillment is found in sanctification.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00585947079073673091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-84021392709184871732012-02-16T16:00:21.813-05:002012-02-16T16:00:21.813-05:00Makes me think of my question to Mr. Khan last nig...Makes me think of my question to Mr. Khan last night, what draws you into and keeps committed to your faith tradition? What kindles within you a passion about your faith?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.com