There is a willingness in the church to think outside of the box now, to experiment in new ways to minister, especially in the face of dominant secularism -- the new ism of society and cultures along with the present shortages of candidates to the clergy. Some of this change is due to necessity and some is simply feeling out what works in a world with a new ( historically new) and ingrained way of thinking and being. Much more than before new ways of doing things are due to other than clergy doing them presently out of necessity. Lay ministers are doing more work in the church now than ever before. For example clergy are doing less funerals than previously the case and tradition. Lay ministers and deacons are doing them more and more... etc...
Thats an interesting point of view. This makes me wonder just how much tradition is actually setup in what was historically new at the time?
The Catholic church was created in the third century ad, so that was a lot of time from the infant first century Jewish cultured church to the third century Hellenistic period....thats a lot of cultural change and that could always present problems in understanding the original intent of scriptures.
Churches of all denominations change from their beginnings to some extent. More than others as I can't see the Baptists ever getting rid of baptizing.
Some Churches do have women preachers that never had them in the past.
Getting back to the OP, I wonder if if has something to do with some of the child abuse cases? It could be the Pope figures they are losing out on a lot of very qualified clergy.
Churches of all denominations change from their beginnings to some extent. More than others as I can't see the Baptists ever getting rid of baptizing.
Some Churches do have women preachers that never had them in the past.
Getting back to the OP, I wonder if if has something to do with some of the child abuse cases? It could be the Pope figures they are losing out on a lot of very qualified clergy.
Celibacy is a works related thing like fasting or wearing long sleeve shirts in the summertime as a way of self-repentance.
I guess if one can pull it off it may make one "something" but I'm not sure what. Irritable at the very least.
I would agree that short term sacrifices would be OK but not long term ones.
Except that wearing long-sleeved shirts doesn't contradict your second-strongest built-in human instinct. Fasting isn't comparable unless you make it permanent.
In Christ there is neither clergy nor laity.
We are all born again residents...in a house built by One.
Ok... and I'm willing to micro and macro manage in tongues, but we are called to testify...as a house. So who has the last word on the order of interpretation and worship, on testimony?
And who serves the poor and who serves the rich that are poorer after the feasts?
Is it common in medicine that a nurse is to over rule the doctor. And the doctor is he to lord it over those to be served? Who advocates for the sick?
I think the house's assembly is needful of a president... so that as all testify to God it falls orderly on those being ministered to.