Présentation et objectifs du site
"Make up your mind", in other words : "build your own opinion"
The Individual
The human being has been created to the image of God. He has been created free. Free to obey or to disobey God. This is already quite an undertaking!
Nevertheless, the mark of the fall and the coming of sin into this world is the loss of liberty. In order to build one's own opinion, and to live it fully, it simply takes a choice. But, and this is the syndrom of the fall, one does not know choosing any longer. In order to become able choosing, one needs to make the experience of a minimum of liberty. However today, one is inclined to belive that some Christians are taking refuge in churches avoiding all kinds of choice... all kinds of responsibility taking... in short, an attempt to be free not to be free anymore!
1.
The Church
The Church
Everybody knows it : Christ is coming back soon. Beside the day and the hour, it is a certainty. Unfortunately, certainty of such an importance may sometimes be lived witout any worry.
By the light of the Scriptures, it is very clear that Christ will not be coming back at a time when the Church would be triumphant. Even the small faithful remnant will be exhausted. Christ will not be coming back mainly because of the high rate of paganism on Earth. He will be coming back because apostasy and the mystery of iniquity will reach a climax. Well, but apostasy is not linked to any heathen fact, but rather to the unfaithful Church.
No need of being a big sociologist to understand the principle of apostasy : it never acts from below (the Church' members), but always from the top (the Church' leaders).
We will never cease to encourage prayer and intercession in favour of those who are in charge of Church' leading (all denominations are included), for they constitute the main target for seductions' winds and heresies nowadays.
2.
Missions
Missions
We are living in a crucial time where Missions must not remain an institution, but become a way of life again. Many missionary organizations are presently questionning themselves :
How can we keep on coping like that? How can we get rid of this guilty paternalism? How can we create interest from the pastors? How can we tell the truth to the Western donors about the Mission field's realities? How better respect the potential and the personality of our expatriates?
All this is stirring up a lot of dust, but also the question of tha past failures, even some very stubbord spirits of taboo.
3.
Christian government in general
Spiritual Government
This web site intends to encourage the Christian not to forsake his assembly, his pastor or his elders, whatever the situation. Keeping his eyes closed without making anything is not a solution. Opening them and wrecking everything around neither. Confrontation in a genuine dialog (even if ferm) is the only testimony of a mature Christian. This testifies that he has been able of a personal opinion. Instead of being pushed, either to sleep. or to revolt, by the main part of the flock, this Christian is skilled to get a clear idea of the situation and to take all the responsibilities God has placed upon him.
This can be simply named "communication". He, who cuts it or flees away from it, tacitly confesses his inner dyfunctionning.
The big challenge for the leaders and the members as well : how can I keep pure the dignity God has put within me? how can I keep it active and awake in order not to suffer wrong leadership? (James 4:5-7)
Reto Arcioni
45 years old, married to Johanne, 3 children : Séphora, Jérémie and Joakim.
Professional occupations up to now : semi-professionnalism in volleyball, artist-painter, sports' teacher, drawing/painting teacher, graphic artist, designer, carpenter, pastor and missionnary (5 and a half year in Cameroon : principalship then nationalization of a Bible College, seminars and training for pastors and leaders, technical advisor for strategies and Church' management, Ethics of Ministry, ethnic reconciliation, settlement of a partnership between the Swiss mission and the Cameroonian Church).
Pastoral ordination in 1998. Pastoral ordination dissertation : The Spiritual Abuse, a banana skin for all Church' leader (Lausanne, April-May 1998).
P.S.
This presentation is willingly incomplete. I would be delighted to receive emails from you : reactions, remarks and other healthy questions. This web site focuses on constructive exchanges. Moreover, a forum will be open very soon.
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