Sunday, June 8, 2008

A word from House Church

One of the unintended consequences of conventional churches and their focus to grow is the subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, message that unreached people are targets that need to be “reached” and “brought in.”

I heard the atheist, Matt Caspar (Jim and Caspar Go to Church), speak at a conference and describe how he asked his new Christian friend, “Am I your friend or your project?” His question reflects the way Christians have gone about relating to the world around them and the perception that unChristians have as a result.

On the one hand, there is the reality that the Father’s heart is broken for children who are separated from Him. This is central to a Biblical worldview in which Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost, invites us to join Him in the missional adventure of taking His good news and compassion to a broken, truly-lost world. God is not simply a God on a mission, He is a missional God at His very loving core.

However, when this message is coupled with an organized church’s “vision to grow”, it is so easy for our passion to love and bless people to take on a religious, weighty sense of performance"
Posted by Michael at 1:38 PM

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Quote of the Day


Michael Farand

A Reminder of God's Charge

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:6-9 NIV

Disclaimer

Inasmuch as I have no expectations of ever winning a Pulitzer Prize for my writings, nor a Noble Peace Prize for my contributions to society, the writing I post here on my blog are simply an attempt to be honest about the views and values that I hold personally, and are in no way an attempt to articulate or make simple commentary on views and/or values of others.Therefore, if my comments seem skewed, tainted, skeptical or cynical, they are in fact my comments, and should not be otherwise interpreted.