Casey
Puritan Board Junior
I came to know the Lord through the ministry of a para-church Christian campus organization. Since then, I have come to the conclusion that para-church organizations (such as the one I was previously a member of) often attempt to do what the church is supposed to do.
Basically, they fill the shoes of the church, and without accountability to the church, and within the unity of radically short doctrinal statements, conduct their business as though they were a church! (i.e., sometimes baptizing new converts, administering the Lord's Supper, conducting elaborate evangelism programs, and hiring "evangelists," etc.)
While I pray for the group I was a part of (and get their prayer letters, etc.), I am still nevertheless somewhat unhappy with their lack of church-connection. When I first joined, I was never instructed to join a church (and didn't for at least a year). When I did join, it was under my own initiative. So, something as basic as instructing new converts to join churches . . well, that apparently wasn't important enough to stress. Beyond that, these organizations often conduct their business with little or no interest in the visible church.
I am not surprised that a majority of college-age Christians who participated in such an organization wants to join a church with "praise & worship music" style singing -- and far value this "aesthetic" and subjective aspect of the church as more important than basic doctrine. Women-led coed Bible studies (in fact, the organization I was a part of greatly encouraged women leadership) are often very common . . even when "able-bodied" and willing men would liked to have lead. Well, you get my idea here.
Anyway, I wanted to ask about something. Certainly the largest campus ministries are not church-oriented. I know about the PCA's Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), and while I don't know too much about it, it seems to be so much more attractive to me -- seeing as how campus staff are trained and ordained (yes?) ministers of the Gospel. But now, the question: How many of you are members of churches that have some form of ministry on a university campus, and of what sort? A Bible study lead by your pastor or an elder? A car-pooling service just to help students attend your church?
Lord willing, when I graduate, I hope to be called to a church near a university (of course, I will go wherever he calls me!) so that I could minister on the campus . . I'd like to hear some ideas of how the church is ministering on campuses.
(I couldn't decide between placing this here or in the Ecclesiology thread.)
Basically, they fill the shoes of the church, and without accountability to the church, and within the unity of radically short doctrinal statements, conduct their business as though they were a church! (i.e., sometimes baptizing new converts, administering the Lord's Supper, conducting elaborate evangelism programs, and hiring "evangelists," etc.)
While I pray for the group I was a part of (and get their prayer letters, etc.), I am still nevertheless somewhat unhappy with their lack of church-connection. When I first joined, I was never instructed to join a church (and didn't for at least a year). When I did join, it was under my own initiative. So, something as basic as instructing new converts to join churches . . well, that apparently wasn't important enough to stress. Beyond that, these organizations often conduct their business with little or no interest in the visible church.
I am not surprised that a majority of college-age Christians who participated in such an organization wants to join a church with "praise & worship music" style singing -- and far value this "aesthetic" and subjective aspect of the church as more important than basic doctrine. Women-led coed Bible studies (in fact, the organization I was a part of greatly encouraged women leadership) are often very common . . even when "able-bodied" and willing men would liked to have lead. Well, you get my idea here.
Anyway, I wanted to ask about something. Certainly the largest campus ministries are not church-oriented. I know about the PCA's Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), and while I don't know too much about it, it seems to be so much more attractive to me -- seeing as how campus staff are trained and ordained (yes?) ministers of the Gospel. But now, the question: How many of you are members of churches that have some form of ministry on a university campus, and of what sort? A Bible study lead by your pastor or an elder? A car-pooling service just to help students attend your church?
Lord willing, when I graduate, I hope to be called to a church near a university (of course, I will go wherever he calls me!) so that I could minister on the campus . . I'd like to hear some ideas of how the church is ministering on campuses.
(I couldn't decide between placing this here or in the Ecclesiology thread.)