Chart: A Seekers' Progression towards NT faith and practice

[Ernie]

This is a chart I have been working on to help my overseers understand the range of people I interact with on a weekly basis and to show the journey unbelievers take towards faith and commitment to Christ. I have not yet taken someone from #1 to #7, but I have probably helped seekers move from each number to the next higher number.

In this chart, the use of the term kingdom Christian refers to those who fit David Bercot's definition of this term.

By "Augustinian", I am referring to churches who functionally lean towards or favor these positions...
-Just War
-Two Governments – Political rulers should not rule the church and church rulers should not rule the state, however Christians are free to vote for those who use coercion/force and/or hold government offices that include coercion/force.
-The church as a “school for sinners” (vs. a “society for saints”)

Would you word anything in this chart differently?

https://churchplantersforum.org/wp-cont ... actice.pdf

[Soloist]

Maybe this isn't your intention but the way its set up practically lends to the idea that the Conservative Mennonite way is superior to somewhere like Charity or FOTW.

[RZehr]

Maybe this isn't your intention but the way its set up practically lends to the idea that the Conservative Mennonite way is superior to somewhere like Charity or FOTW.

Jah, vell?

[ohio jones]

Might want to ask FOTW to supply a descriptive label rather than giving them one that many of them wouldn't accept.

[Ernie]

Maybe this isn't your intention but the way its set up practically lends to the idea that the Conservative Mennonite way is superior to somewhere like Charity or FOTW.

I can understand why you come to that conclusion and I'm open to hearing suggestions for how to keep people from thinking that.

The chart is an explanation of why some seekers end up in plain churches (#6 & 7) but also why only few seekers join and stay.
I would like to see many thousands of people arrive at #5 and I think #5 is much more doable than #7 and even #6. However, there are very few fellowship options for #5. Ethnic Anabaptist churches that align with #5 don't stay there very long as they are typically headed in the direction of #4.

[Ernie]

Might want to ask FOTW to supply a descriptive label rather than giving them one that many of them wouldn't accept.

Most sociological writers don't ask people for their opinions but rather do the categorizations as it appears to them.

Now if I were publishing advertisements from various constituencies, I would ask them, "How would you like your listing to appear?"

The older I get, the more I am realizing how different our stated goals can be from our functional ones.

[Josh]

Might want to ask FOTW to supply a descriptive label rather than giving them one that many of them wouldn't accept.

Imagine asking Holdemans that...

[Josh]

Maybe this isn't your intention but the way its set up practically lends to the idea that the Conservative Mennonite way is superior to somewhere like Charity or FOTW.

I can understand why you come to that conclusion and I'm open to hearing suggestions for how to keep people from thinking that.

The chart is an explanation of why some seekers end up in plain churches (#6 & 7) but also why only few seekers join and stay.
I would like to see many thousands of people arrive at #5 and I think #5 is much more doable than #7 and even #6. However, there are very few fellowship options for #5. Ethnic Anabaptist churches that align with #5 don't stay there very long as they are typically headed in the direction of #4.

I would entirely agree with the statements in this chart, including reflecting on my own progression and observing the progression in my family's life who have moved in an Anabaptist direction.

[RZehr]

Maybe this isn't your intention but the way its set up practically lends to the idea that the Conservative Mennonite way is superior to somewhere like Charity or FOTW.

I can understand why you come to that conclusion and I'm open to hearing suggestions for how to keep people from thinking that.

I think it is pretty accurate.
I suppose one small way to change that appearance, might be to add a #8 category after the #7.

[Ernie]

I suppose one small way to change that appearance, might be to add a #8 category after the #7.

And what would #8 be?