tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910176972063784178.post8620254615346407193..comments2020-07-12T10:25:12.533-07:00Comments on The Prostrate Calvinist: Leaving a Local ChurchStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620667690413411133noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910176972063784178.post-28824468304663926572010-08-06T17:17:29.185-07:002010-08-06T17:17:29.185-07:00Good point, Russell, but I think the relationship ...Good point, Russell, but I think the relationship with "church-hopping" and "they are all not of us" may be stronger than we often think.<br /><br />BK, had the Spirit left carnal Corinth? What about the "foolish" and "bewitched" Galatians? We must take care not to confuse a disobedient church with a non-church. Jesus is the One who makes a church a church (cf. Eph 2:11-23), not their fruitfulness. I think Calvin is helpful here (which would surprise many). See <a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/Page_2289.html" rel="nofollow">Institutes IV.1.10ff</a>.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620667690413411133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910176972063784178.post-48726501048300478142010-07-29T21:31:05.615-07:002010-07-29T21:31:05.615-07:00What about a church that is absent of fruit? Shou...What about a church that is absent of fruit? Should fruit be included in the definition of a Church? Many churches have wonderful doctrinal statements, strong mission statement, absent of outward sin... but are perhaps out of "step" with what the Spirit desires for them? Is a church still a church if it hasn't baptized anyone in a decade? Is a church still a church if there is no discipleship, nobody growing in the Lord, nor following the Great Commission? Many churches continues to look to the past to defend their existence ... but I wonder, is is still a church because it "used" to do Biblical things? What about simply asking the question.. "Is it worth leaving a church when the Spirit has clearly left the church"?BK Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11964839198672438041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910176972063784178.post-32051305108888653672010-07-26T20:10:21.457-07:002010-07-26T20:10:21.457-07:00Good things to think about in the post. Not sure ...Good things to think about in the post. Not sure about the verse selection leading into it.<br /><br />Seems a stretch to link a choice about which Christian church to attend and manifesting antichrist by denying Jesus.Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09896749252259621633noreply@blogger.com