tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post6249985895393104782..comments2024-03-29T15:13:42.610+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: Church leaders tell Western Christians - "You're on your own!"Bruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-57756346433481043432020-03-18T03:11:06.513+00:002020-03-18T03:11:06.513+00:00The Orthodox Church, at least in America (OCA and ...The Orthodox Church, at least in America (OCA and Antiochian), has now reversed course and is falling in line and cancelling all services now, including the Liturgy (apart from private celebration by priest). It seems conceivable now that even Easter/Pascha might be cancelled for public health, if this goes on long enough. Disheartening, to put it mildly.<br /><br />The justification being put forth is to "do our part" to protect the community/others, framed as fulfilling our Christian duty to our neighbors.John Goeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00206464455510064541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-10109093513531490582020-03-17T00:37:38.508+00:002020-03-17T00:37:38.508+00:00Bruce - something had to happen. The demons were p...Bruce - something had to happen. The demons were pushing the Left to extremes with openly celebrating child abuse, every institute corrupt, etc. Maybe better now the later, or I assume God at least permitted it now for the greater purpose.<br /><br />I pray always for the end of the evils, but don’t know if this is the path or how it will come.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-45142830003949046712020-03-16T21:16:43.045+00:002020-03-16T21:16:43.045+00:00@Joe. Sure. It's almost as if it's too goo...@Joe. Sure. It's almost as if it's too good to last...Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-37397158731756672682020-03-16T20:37:28.910+00:002020-03-16T20:37:28.910+00:00Institutionalized schools and churches shut down, ...Institutionalized schools and churches shut down, don't have to go in to work, get to spend all day with the family, fewer deaths than the seasonal flu... not too bad, so far!Joehttps://m0k.ca/writing/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-74275338322681096912020-03-16T19:22:00.969+00:002020-03-16T19:22:00.969+00:00Do we have any historians among the readership who...Do we have any historians among the readership who could shed some light on the behaviour of church leaders during the bubonic plague epidemics of the 14th century?Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-17127262247600830062020-03-16T14:30:16.750+00:002020-03-16T14:30:16.750+00:00@Mike.
I have been preidcting that this kind of ...@Mike. <br /><br />I have been preidcting that this kind of thing would be coming for some time - but now it is here, albeit not recognised for what it is. You can see that if there is a preference for home sacrament meetings, this is a large step towards a major shrinkage of the church. The vast apparatus of CJCLDS solidaritiy based upon frequent meetings and social actrivities is likely to go - and the idea of teh church as People. When the secular state abolishes temple ceremonies, closes/ confiscates temples; that will be another major step. Perhaps, the church will ultimately become collections of individuals - each mostly reliant upon personal revelation. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-27032420712737759182020-03-16T13:19:16.156+00:002020-03-16T13:19:16.156+00:00Greetings Bruce: I want to post an update from a ...Greetings Bruce: I want to post an update from a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As you surely are aware, our church and temple services have been suspended. However, the function and purpose of the Church rolls on. Yesterday (Sunday), I held sacrament meeting (communion) in my home with my family and with one neighbor. My son-in-law and I both blessed and administered the bread and water. We sang hymns. My wife and daughter offered sermons. We closed with prayer. Many tears of gratitude and rejoicing were shed. I would dare say that it was the most powerful and spiritual sacrament meeting I have ever been a part of. Later in the day, our ward counsel, consisting of all of the leaders in our congregation, held a meeting using technology to discuss how our congregation is doing and what we as leaders need to do to help others. I heard from others that every single female in our ward was contacted and invited to participate in the sacrament by their neighbors or ministering brothers. It was a wonderful day. Priesthood keys are being used by living prophets. I feel confident our best days are ahead of us as a Church. Mike in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mike A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03874658590515694604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-72047092665604226072020-03-16T11:23:22.158+00:002020-03-16T11:23:22.158+00:00@JG - I get that impression too - but it emphasise...@JG - I get that impression too - but it emphasises my point; because that is an Eastern church. I believe the East has a different role and destiny (or more than one destiny). And I am of The West. <br /><br />Likewise, specific local instances of proper Christian behaviour in The West - such as Polish Roman Catholic Bishops - also empahsise my point; becuase it is top-down centralising rulership that is the primary problem: e.g. the Vatican. <br /><br />When specific local churches are right but the church-as-a-whole is wrong, we have already moved into the individually-responsible Christian way; when the individual Christian is evaluating and judging his leaders - not just striving to obey them. <br /><br />Our situation is that ultimate authority lies with each Christian, not with the church institution. Or, the 'mystical church' is found to oppose (or be orthogonal to) the institutional church; and the mystical church is not approximated by the physical structure of the institutional church, but is dispersed among individual Christians. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-50518823042805161442020-03-16T10:18:57.230+00:002020-03-16T10:18:57.230+00:00It might be mentioned that so far most/all branche...It might be mentioned that so far most/all branches of the Orthodox Church appear to be doing the right thing.John Goeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00206464455510064541noreply@blogger.com