tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113958.post115077731491804639..comments2023-04-12T06:03:45.813-05:00Comments on D-PLUM dot org: Not About Me!DARREN PLUMMER:http://www.blogger.com/profile/11388783503099318526noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28113958.post-1151017460714340362006-06-22T18:04:00.000-05:002006-06-22T18:04:00.000-05:00Hey old friend,I think you're confusing the purpos...Hey old friend,<BR/><BR/>I think you're confusing the <I>purpose</I> of the church (rather ONE of the purposes of the church) with the primary <I>function of the church</I>.<BR/><BR/>The church's primary mission is not evangelism, but to show forth the glory of God in a fallen world. That <I>includes</I> evangelism, but is not limited to it. It also includes loving oneanother in the body of Christ (John 13:34-35). Thus, all of the oneanother commands in scripture (pray for oneanother, spur oneanother on to good works, sing to oneanother in songs, hymns and spiritual songs, etc...) are all intended for the body of Christ, not outsiders. In fact, they only make sense in that context, since the non-Christian has no concept of these things, nor ability or a desire to please God (1 Cor. 2:14). The great commish also includes DISCIPLESHIP (not just conversion). Discipleship happens with disciples... not non-disciples. If you'd like to call this 'catering to ourselves', I'd say you misunderstand the nature of the church. <BR/><BR/>Soli Deo Gloria,<BR/>KerryBlackCalvinist aka G.R.A.C.E. Preechahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15932595078017549317noreply@blogger.com