Please be informed that Jesus never spoke about a coming end of the world but of THE COMING
END OF ALL THE CHURCHES as he spoke about the coming end of the temples adorned with precious stones as written in Luke 21:5 -11 and those temples which will end has a teaching that Jesus warned us about that they (temples) will use to deceive many: In Luke 21:8 He replied: «Watch out that you are not deceived.
The irony is that similar books from people who have come from a different
end of the Church spectrum, such as Francis Spufford's recent Unapologetic (Faber), have been welcomed as a «breath of fresh air» by many evangelicals.
You thus approach the
east end of the church, where the whole Gospel drama is illustrated scene by scene, from the Annunciation of the birth of Christ to His Ascension.
For all that's said to the contrary, for the most part, both conservative and
liberal ends of the Church treat the Bible in exactly the same «pick»n' mix» way.
Gosh, I was there as a transsexual (male to female) with my wife, because my wife wanted to attend, because I enjoyed serving God and praying with people that hung around seeking God at
the end of the church.
Death of the old must precede birth of the new, and in that vein, we are witness to
the end of church as (predominantly) men have modified it.
These doctrines were justification by faith in Christ; sanctification / Spirit - baptism as a subsequent work of grace; divine healing as part of Christ's atonement; and the literal premillennial return of Christ at
the end of the church era.
I would strongly suggest that Alan Miller read Diana Butler Bass» new book «Christianity After Religion:
The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening.»
But death will not be
the end of the church, just as death was not the end of Jesus.
If this is
the end of the Church as we know it, what is the next step for Christians as a movement?
I've actually heard Christian educators say, «There's no point in having church school after Easter — we've come to
the end of the church year, and besides everyone is so busy!»
What would happen if we dropped the «es» from
the end of churches?
It will not be
the end of the church or the church's mission of healing in a bent and complex cosmos.
Did this cause for
the end of the church?
Perhaps
the end of the church as we know it today is not a bad thing:) That being said, the church, His church, will have no end.
I lined them all up and took a picture so we know what should go back in the container at
the end of church.
I forever remember the Silent Night hymn sung by candlelight at
the end of church, and I love carrying on this tradition with my family.