Walk to Emmaus

Doctrinal differences are not addressed, because it isn;t about the window dressing issues. Communion is shared by intinction, and the talks center around grace and Christian life and action.

There is time for personal reflective prayer; I've never seen a labyrinth at a Walk, though they are very effective meditation tools.

 

Doctrine is a window dressing issue?

 

Doctrine beyond belief in Christ is, yes. What's more important than that? Anything?

 

What is your definition of "window dressing"? Every definition I find either does not fit or suggests that you are once again speaking against the Bible.

window dressing (a showy misrepresentation intended to conceal something unpleasant) (Source: WordNet) ​

win·dow-dress·ing also win·dow dress·ing (wĭn'dō-drĕs'ĭng)
n.

1. Decorative exhibition of retail merchandise in store windows.
Goods and trimmings used in such displays.
2. A means of improving appearances or creating a falsely favorable impression: “The realignment … may be more window dressing than a substantive change in how the company does business” (Connie Guglielmo).(Source: Answers.com)​

Noun: window dressing 'window'dresing
A showy misrepresentation intended to conceal something unpleasant (Source: Wordweb)​

win·dow-dress·ing also win·dow dress·ing (wĭn'dō-drěs'ĭng)
n.

1. Decorative exhibition of retail merchandise in store windows.
Goods and trimmings used in such displays.
2. A means of improving appearances or creating a falsely favorable impression: "The realignment ... may be more window dressing than a substantive change in how the company does business" (Connie Guglielmo). (Source: American Heritage)​

 

Oh, sorry. I don't mean "window dressing" as in covering up. Perhaps a better phrase would be "theological bric-a-brack." You know, just stuff.

 

There is certainly more to the Christian life than just believing in Christ.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Titus 2:6-15
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The Catholic Christ becomes a piece of bread and is continually sacrificed for the sins of the world. The bible says He was once sacrificed and is sitting at the right hand of the Father. But that difference aside, in what way is this experience going enable one to live soberly, righteously and godly? Is it more than just an emotional high? I have had experiences that have left me dumbstruck, but once the feeling is gone, I have to get back to learning how to live my life every day. Were supposed to be looking for the appearing of Jesus Christ, not hiding in an upper room waiting for the wind to blow.

 

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*sigh*

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TP: This is probably no new news to you, but I see where ‘Rufus’ is coming from, as I used to be like him. Myself being raised a fundamentalist, we shunned ‘round table’ type discussions. Our Sunday school wasn’t ‘school’, but another preaching sermon and there were no participating in any outside church event that wasn’t sanctioned by the ‘church’. See…we relied on being told ‘what to think’ and events where discussions took place, encouraged questions and which encouraged people to learn how to think and that was a dangerous thing.

Evangelism is great at introducing one to Christ, but evangelism really lacks in developing ones walk.

I’ve been attending a Methodist Church these past two years, I have taken Disciple II and III, Alpha and a Through the Scriptures class and I had to start taking a Disciple I at a local Methodist Church while a Baptist, just to kick my spiritual life into another gear.

 

Just as Christ said per John 6

Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all. It would be something else if the Church were to claim Christ does die again, but the Church doesn’t make that claim. Through Christ’s intercessory ministry in heaven and through the Catholic Mass and the Greek Divine Liturgy, Jesus continues to offer himself to his Father as a living sacrifice, and Christ does so in what the Church specifically states is "an unbloody manner", one that does not involve a new crucifixion. Hence Christ’s depiction by John in Revelation as a ‘…Lamb that looks as if it’s been slain…’

 

And you go to what kind of church? There is no bloodless sacrifice in the bible that will cleanse us from sin. But this is surely getting off topic.

 

That's very interesting, because in the Alabama, Living Waters, and Birmingham communities we took communion by intinction (take a piece of bread, di it in the grape juice, and eat). I had no idea that other communities did it differently.

 

We did ours the same way.

 

Hey, did you all sing the Jesus song too?

 

Oh, yes. I E minor, D, C, and that diminished chord I can never remember the name of (I'm self-taught, can't read music). Oh, the chairs I've stood on while playing that song...

 

I love that song, was at Emmaus about 7 years ago and still sing that song sometimes.