Comments on: My Hope for What the Church Will Be, Part 1 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/08/my-hope-for-what-the-church-will-be-part-1.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Tue, 22 May 2012 03:53:34 +0000 hourly 1 By: David Rigginshttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/08/my-hope-for-what-the-church-will-be-part-1.html#comment-5347 David Riggins Fri, 18 Aug 2006 20:09:57 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/08/my-hope-for-what-the-church-will-be-part-1.html#comment-5347 Is it? I know that the enemy <em>will be</em> defeated, but right now he is alive and well, and killing churches left and right. Just read the letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation and ponder that not one of those churches exist today, and their geographic location is now a muslim dominated country that has no appreciable Christian population. The reasons for their failures are spelled out in Revelation, and the one that speaks loudest to me is "You have forgotten your first love." Dan is presenting a very good comparison: a group of people who are excited about an activity and want to share it with others. Again. What happened? Is it? I know that the enemy will be defeated, but right now he is alive and well, and killing churches left and right. Just read the letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation and ponder that not one of those churches exist today, and their geographic location is now a muslim dominated country that has no appreciable Christian population. The reasons for their failures are spelled out in Revelation, and the one that speaks loudest to me is “You have forgotten your first love.” Dan is presenting a very good comparison: a group of people who are excited about an activity and want to share it with others.

Again. What happened?

]]> By: Jeff Hnatiohttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/08/my-hope-for-what-the-church-will-be-part-1.html#comment-5306 Jeff Hnatio Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:40:59 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/08/my-hope-for-what-the-church-will-be-part-1.html#comment-5306 Dan, There's definitely a link between this and the "either/or" post. It's tough to be welcoming and genuinely interested in new people when church is just a social event and people are not experiencing the mighty power of the Lord and living as "extremists" for Christ. I'm part of a young adults group at my church and overall there is a strong group of men and women with a real passion to live as extremists for Christ. Of course, our group still has a long way to go (including myself!). And there are plenty of folks who I don't think have yet counted the cost of following Christ. Because we're not all of one purpose and one heart, our outreach and hospitality isn't always what it could be. I do see the Lord working though and it's exciting to imagine our group offering the kind of welcome you describe. I've really come to see the importance of hospitality for Christians. Nothing humbles me more than when a non-believer reaches out to me with love/hospitality in a way that makes me ask myself why I would not have been as loving if our situations were reversed. Dan,

There’s definitely a link between this and the “either/or” post. It’s tough to be welcoming and genuinely interested in new people when church is just a social event and people are not experiencing the mighty power of the Lord and living as “extremists” for Christ.

I’m part of a young adults group at my church and overall there is a strong group of men and women with a real passion to live as extremists for Christ. Of course, our group still has a long way to go (including myself!). And there are plenty of folks who I don’t think have yet counted the cost of following Christ. Because we’re not all of one purpose and one heart, our outreach and hospitality isn’t always what it could be. I do see the Lord working though and it’s exciting to imagine our group offering the kind of welcome you describe.

I’ve really come to see the importance of hospitality for Christians. Nothing humbles me more than when a non-believer reaches out to me with love/hospitality in a way that makes me ask myself why I would not have been as loving if our situations were reversed.

]]> By: Peytonhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/08/my-hope-for-what-the-church-will-be-part-1.html#comment-5304 Peyton Fri, 18 Aug 2006 02:52:23 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2006/08/my-hope-for-what-the-church-will-be-part-1.html#comment-5304 <blockquote>You can probably see where I'm heading, so I'll just say it: Wouldn't it be great if all our churches in America were like this?</blockquote> Dan, the biggest difference between geocacheing and church is this: nobody is upset by geocacheing, but church has enemies! and specifically, an enemy. <br /> But the enemy is defeated!

You can probably see where I’m heading, so I’ll just say it:

Wouldn’t it be great if all our churches in America were like this?

Dan, the biggest difference between geocacheing and church is this: nobody is upset by geocacheing, but church has enemies! and specifically, an enemy.

But the enemy is defeated!

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