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Post by Giller on May 1, 2019 9:44:49 GMT -5
We often times hear phrases such as formal dead religion, which does exist, and there is total truth to that.
And then we hear things said like, we need to have informal gatherings, everything has to be informal and so on.
But is formalism in every way wrong? And is informalism always right?
Here are definitions of these words:
(Oxford dictionaries)
(for·mal
[ˈfôrməl]
ADJECTIVE
done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette; suitable for or constituting an official or important situation or occasion.)
(Oxford dictionaries)
(in·for·mal
[inˈfôrməl]
ADJECTIVE
having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style, manner, or nature. ) "an informal atmosphere" )
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PG4Him
Senior Member
Essay Moderator
Posts: 3,570
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Post by PG4Him on May 1, 2019 9:54:18 GMT -5
It depends on how we use the words formal and informal. Is it based on external material things like formal dress, formal vocabulary, formal party planning, etc? Or is it based on intangible things — formal clubs, formal social rules, and formal schedules?
For me personally, when I speak of informal gatherings, I don’t mean it’s okay to show up in a tank top chewing bubble gum. I mean the gatherings are spontaneous, not ruled by a strict schedule, and can happen anywhere, not only in a big brick building. I don’t think fellowship is limited to reporting to a building at the assigned time every Sunday morning.
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Post by Giller on May 1, 2019 12:07:43 GMT -5
I think fellowship can happen any time as well, and not just one day a week.
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Post by Giller on May 1, 2019 12:09:43 GMT -5
I think there are times things are spontaneous, and other times they are not always spontaneous, and both can be of God.
It all depends on many factors of course.
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Post by Giller on May 1, 2019 12:43:06 GMT -5
I think there can be too much formalism, and also there can be too much informalism.
Too much formalism that the Holy Spirit has no room to move, too much informalism that things get out of control.
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Post by Giller on May 1, 2019 12:46:48 GMT -5
When I think of too much formalism, I tend to think of many of the historical churches, when I think of too much informalism, I tend to think of many of the different movements, such as vineyard, and many of the seeker sensitive churches.
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Post by Giller on May 1, 2019 13:23:02 GMT -5
There are some people who go through great panic, if things are not always spontaneous, or if things are not always formal, and I have seen this to some degree.
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Post by John on May 5, 2019 12:10:47 GMT -5
I think there can be too much formalism, and also there can be too much informalism. Too much formalism that the Holy Spirit has no room to move, too much informalism that things get out of control. There needs to be order, but I agree that you can take it too far. Just follow Biblical guidelines.
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Post by Giller on May 8, 2019 1:56:10 GMT -5
I think there can be too much formalism, and also there can be too much informalism. Too much formalism that the Holy Spirit has no room to move, too much informalism that things get out of control. There needs to be order, but I agree that you can take it too far. Just follow Biblical guidelines.
Agree totally, and when a person takes things too far, it effects them, and they expect things to always be done in a certain way, and in some cases they could end up disfellowshipping you because it was not always spontaneous at every moment, or not planned for every moment. And I personally like spontaneity. And like you said we need to follow biblical guidelines.
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Post by John on May 8, 2019 5:07:03 GMT -5
There needs to be order, but I agree that you can take it too far. Just follow Biblical guidelines.
Agree totally, and when a person takes things too far, it effects them, and they expect things to always be done in a certain way, and in some cases they could end up disfellowshipping you because it was not always spontaneous at every moment, or not planned for every moment. And I personally like spontaneity. And like you said we need to follow biblical guidelines. I have seen cases where churches were too set in following a program, and there was no room for the Spirit to move, and I have seen cases where someone in the church did something disruptive at an inappropriate time. I have never seen anyone disfellowshipped for anything regarding something like that. In extreme cases, the Pastor might have to have a talk with a person that was out of order on a regular basis.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 9:27:45 GMT -5
Formality puts burdens on people. It is not freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. What I have noticed in churches often is that the more of the Holy Spirit is present the more relaxed and informal it is there.
There are various things that we are instructed in the bible, but I do not see formality and formalism as being among them. We are told to be holy, to dress modestly, and not expensively....and there are things said about the simplicity of the gospel. The early church simply broke bread from house to house. You don't need formality and fancy clothes to meet with the Lord together, to worship in song and to pray and minister the word. Can't help but notice that the world loves formality and ceremony...it all strikes me as having to do with pride of life. In places where the Holy Spirit is not present, formality and ceremony often comes into the vacuum as a way of hiding the nakedness there.
On the flip side it is possible to make informality a matter of spiritual pride and self-conscious self-righteousness as well. That is not simplicity either. Jesus said to take no thought about certain things....that to me is simplicity...we should just be at home in our own Father's house and make no issue out of it either way.
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Post by Giller on May 8, 2019 10:00:39 GMT -5
Agree totally, and when a person takes things too far, it effects them, and they expect things to always be done in a certain way, and in some cases they could end up disfellowshipping you because it was not always spontaneous at every moment, or not planned for every moment. And I personally like spontaneity. And like you said we need to follow biblical guidelines. I have seen cases where churches were too set in following a program, and there was no room for the Spirit to move, and I have seen cases where someone in the church did something disruptive at an inappropriate time. I have never seen anyone disfellowshipped for anything regarding something like that. In extreme cases, the Pastor might have to have a talk with a person that was out of order on a regular basis.
What I am saying by disfellowshipping, I am not saying disfellowshipping a person, but rather them separating themselves from you, because things were not done exactly the way they expected.
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Post by Giller on May 8, 2019 23:16:13 GMT -5
And yes there was a real life specific thing that happened, to were a certain person broke fellowship with certain people in Christ, which is related to our issue , but I do not want to get into that situation, just want to leave it as private.
Which is what I feel I should do , in this situation.
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on May 9, 2019 0:33:48 GMT -5
And yes there was a real life specific thing that happened, to were a certain person broke fellowship with certain people in Christ, which is related to our issue , but I do not want to get into that situation, just want to leave it as private. Which is what I feel I should do , in this situation. on this website or in your life?
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Post by Giller on May 9, 2019 0:38:54 GMT -5
Life, which people here would not know this person.
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