Some timely words from the archive…
In spite of the bleakness of the news,
Somewhere this week, lives were miraculously saved.
Somewhere this week, many lives of hopelessness and addiction were turned inside out.
Somewhere this week, weary hearts were revived.
Somewhere this week, a prayer drought turned into a prayer flood.
Somewhere this week, those who hated became those who Loved and were Loved.
All by the power of the name of Jesus.
And somewhere this week, and in too many other weeks in the past, people went public to find fault and nitpick.
Christian people.
What is the matter with us?
Have we not heard?…
"John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your Name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.” Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use My Name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut Me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally.”—Mark 9:38-41, Message
Suit-and-tie...blue jeans and t-shirts...(or, somewhere in between)…guitars, drums and multimedia...musty but much-loved hymnal and bulletin...make it mega-sized or even multi-sited...keep it intimate, in a living room, even. There is no right way to do Church other than this: let the Gospel and no other gospel be proclaimed, let its Subject and Author be worshiped deeply, and let the overflow be Life-giving. The rest is just packaging meant to connect with and help bring someone else Home that you or I couldn’t reach...
(Photo:denverpost.com)
...We're all prone to be taste-testers of anything not in "our group." How much better to cheer on the Kingdom’s advance in all its flavors.
"You may find hundreds of faultfinders among professed Christians; but all their criticism will not lead one solitary soul to Christ."
- Dwight L. Moody
No comments:
Post a Comment