Dave Doran gives us more concerning the fragmentation and death of the fundamentalist movement as such. There is a good deal of truth to his observations concerning the lack of unifying goals and the center of biblical focus for Christian unity and ministry.
He concludes:
The center of God’s will for this dispensation is in the local church (1 Tim 3:15). That’s where the unity of the Spirit is to be preserved in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). The local church has been charged with the task of carrying out the Great Commission (since baptizing is an ordinance of the church). The movement that ought to matter most to us is one that aims to plant churches that will reproduce in every place where the name of Christ has not been named, and that movement must spring from local churches in order to be biblical. Sign me up for that movement.
I once met a preacher who told me that he wasn’t much for going to conferences and getting known. He just preferred to stay home and “hoe corn” (he pastored in the Midwest).
So in light of this non-movement movement sentiment, I wonders:
- Will brother Dave cease accepting speaking engagements at conferences and just keep himself busy in his own local church?
- Will he cease to submit articles for publication in nationally circulated magazines and papers?
- Will he resign from boards of non-local church institutions on which he may serve? Or even from boards of any institutions other than his own local church?
I am up late. These questions trouble my sleep.
So we don’t have to wonder:
1. I didn’t say that there is no place for conferences, but that they aren’t the answer. To the degree that they advance the things mentioned in the last paragraph, I will, as allowed, participate for my own edification and, hopefully, of others.
2. Not sure how this relates to my concern, but the answer is no. If I can be of help to pastors and local churches through publications, then I’d love to do that as the Lord allows.
3. I am not on the board of any organizations outside of my local church. I’ve been turning those down for almost 20 years and plan to keep doing so.
Hope you can sleep better tonight knowing the answers to this very important questions.
hi Dave,
Thanks for your insominiac cures. I wasn’t being too serious about those questions, since I pretty well knew the answers. They just seemed to be a bit of an off the wall possible conclusion from your post. As I said, I do agree with most of your observations in the post. I am sincere when I say that! I think it helps clarify some things about the current state of affairs.
Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Dave,
Just in case you check back. I agreed with what you wrote. It’s how I practice too.
I need to make a clarification. I have turned down most opportunities to serve on board type things, but I did serve, in the 1990s, briefly on the board of the IFBAM (an association of church’s here in MI) and held an office with the AACCS (in connection with our seminary). I agreed to both because I felt they had direct connection to my present ministry. I didn’t want to give the impression, which I think I did, that I have never served on a board. I have turned down most opportunities to do so and presently do not serve on any.
Kent, this is probably the area where we are closest to each other–our independence. How’s that for irony.