Ministry in a Multi-Cultural and Unchurched Society

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Mi n i s t r y i n a Mu l t i -Cu l tura l and Unchur ched Soc i et y

Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs . Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998, p. 147]).

3. Tozer’s claim is literally true when it comes to theology: “Nothing new matters” in terms of Christian faith.

4. The Church felt its role was to guard the apostles’s deposit not to invent new meanings on the old story.

C. The Great Tradition recognized that no decision important to Christian faith and practice occurred separate from the authority of the Church.

1. Cyprian’s church oriented statement: “Can he have God as his Father, before he has had the church for his mother?”

Cyprian urbanized: “If the Church ain’t yo’ mama, God ain’t yo’ daddy!”

“The one ark of Noah was a type of the one church” (Cyprian, c. 250 [cf. David W. Bercot, ed. A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs . Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998, p. 150]).

2. The Church in its true and apostolic representation was the interpreter of the Bible, a book which mediates the message of Christ through the Church.

3. God has raised up undershepherds to guard the flock of God: bishops, priests (elders), and deacons.

4. God has raised up gifted persons to ensure the edification of his Church to full maturity in Christ, Eph. 4.9-15.