Comments on: Driving a Stake Through the Heart of “Christian” Nihilism http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/03/driving-a-stake-through-the-heart-of-christian-nihilism.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:25:09 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jim N http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/03/driving-a-stake-through-the-heart-of-christian-nihilism.html#comment-43946 Jim N Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:06:11 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1164#comment-43946 Amen! I have been saying this for the last five years in the church that I pastor. We have around one hundred people in attendance each week, and I would love nothing more than the worship time to be overrun with people sharing what God has been doing in their lives. They can talk freely about how bad things are, and how bad things are going to get, however coaxing them to cross into sharing what God is doing is nigh unto impossible. Thankfully, we have had a few people (just recent additions) begin sharing. Its our most powerful witness, when we share the story of our journey. And if we could just have people realize that God brought us together as a family, not to fill the pews or the collection plate, or for that matter to make nice music --- but to be there for each other, lifting and sharing all things with each other, the changes we would see occur would blow our minds. Thanks Dan as always! Shalom! jim Amen! I have been saying this for the last five years in the church that I pastor. We have around one hundred people in attendance each week, and I would love nothing more than the worship time to be overrun with people sharing what God has been doing in their lives. They can talk freely about how bad things are, and how bad things are going to get, however coaxing them to cross into sharing what God is doing is nigh unto impossible. Thankfully, we have had a few people (just recent additions) begin sharing.

Its our most powerful witness, when we share the story of our journey. And if we could just have people realize that God brought us together as a family, not to fill the pews or the collection plate, or for that matter to make nice music — but to be there for each other, lifting and sharing all things with each other, the changes we would see occur would blow our minds.

Thanks Dan as always!
Shalom!
jim

]]> By: SJLC http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/03/driving-a-stake-through-the-heart-of-christian-nihilism.html#comment-43941 SJLC Sat, 07 Mar 2009 06:25:51 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1164#comment-43941 Our wills *should* be converging towards God's will, but lots of us are not properly tuned into what God wants, so we ask for all the wrong things and get discouraged when our prayers are thus so ineffective. My question is never whether God <i>can</i> do a particular thing, such as healing someone of "terminal" cancer or renewing the world economy, but whether he <i>wants</i> to... In the case of Joshua and Caleb, God had <i>promised</i> them victory over the Canaanites, so it was right for them to expect it. If God told us modern Christians that He was going to give us some specific victory, we would be idiots not to expect it to happen. In contrast, I have no idea what He wants to do about modern events, except that He certainly doesn't want us to participate in the corruption and injustice. Suppose we are the last generation (not saying we are, but we don't know that we aren't), then the societal corruption and injustice is going to be allowed to increase until the very end and we will become outcasts -- all part of the plan. I have no idea what He wants to do about the health or financial situation of any particular person (including myself); it will be whatever is best in the long term, but can easily be what is most painful in the short term. If my parents had listened to my wishes as a child, I would never have gotten any shots or blood tests or teeth pulled or worn braces... of course they didn't give in, and God doesn't give in when we ask for the wrong things because we don't know any better. Without enough maturity to hear the Spirit prompting in one direction or another, how can I pray for anything specific with confidence that it is what God wants?? Our wills *should* be converging towards God’s will, but lots of us are not properly tuned into what God wants, so we ask for all the wrong things and get discouraged when our prayers are thus so ineffective. My question is never whether God can do a particular thing, such as healing someone of “terminal” cancer or renewing the world economy, but whether he wants to…

In the case of Joshua and Caleb, God had promised them victory over the Canaanites, so it was right for them to expect it. If God told us modern Christians that He was going to give us some specific victory, we would be idiots not to expect it to happen.

In contrast, I have no idea what He wants to do about modern events, except that He certainly doesn’t want us to participate in the corruption and injustice. Suppose we are the last generation (not saying we are, but we don’t know that we aren’t), then the societal corruption and injustice is going to be allowed to increase until the very end and we will become outcasts — all part of the plan.

I have no idea what He wants to do about the health or financial situation of any particular person (including myself); it will be whatever is best in the long term, but can easily be what is most painful in the short term. If my parents had listened to my wishes as a child, I would never have gotten any shots or blood tests or teeth pulled or worn braces… of course they didn’t give in, and God doesn’t give in when we ask for the wrong things because we don’t know any better.

Without enough maturity to hear the Spirit prompting in one direction or another, how can I pray for anything specific with confidence that it is what God wants??

]]> By: e. barrett http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/03/driving-a-stake-through-the-heart-of-christian-nihilism.html#comment-43921 e. barrett Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:01 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1164#comment-43921 Thanks for the encouraging post. I recenly realized that I've started to develop a belief that while God can do anything he chooses, I'm afraid he won't intervene when I need help (at least not in the way I want). When I read the Bible I'm struck by the fact that the closer you get to God, the more likely you are to have bad things happen to you. John the Baptist knew Jesus before he was born, yet he was still beheaded. He even got a personal plea to Jesus, and Jesus didn't "save" him from a beheading. If I'm honest with myself, that's what I'm afraid of. That I'll move close to God, then be crucified. It seems like I have a lot more work to do in wanting to do God's will isntead of my own. Thanks for the encouraging post. I recenly realized that I’ve started to develop a belief that while God can do anything he chooses, I’m afraid he won’t intervene when I need help (at least not in the way I want).

When I read the Bible I’m struck by the fact that the closer you get to God, the more likely you are to have bad things happen to you. John the Baptist knew Jesus before he was born, yet he was still beheaded. He even got a personal plea to Jesus, and Jesus didn’t “save” him from a beheading.

If I’m honest with myself, that’s what I’m afraid of. That I’ll move close to God, then be crucified.

It seems like I have a lot more work to do in wanting to do God’s will isntead of my own.

]]> By: diana http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/03/driving-a-stake-through-the-heart-of-christian-nihilism.html#comment-43919 diana Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:36:28 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1164#comment-43919 Dan, it was good for me to read this this morning. I think that the Lord has opened my eyes to the fact that my dear husband is not really saved and that I really need to spend time in prayer for him. It is hard to see in my minds eye how my husband could change and his heart to be softened but it is not impossible with our Lord! This was perfect timing to read this post. Thanks and Lord bless Diana Dan, it was good for me to read this this morning. I think that the Lord has opened my eyes to the fact that my dear husband is not really saved and that I really need to spend time in prayer for him. It is hard to see in my minds eye how my husband could change and his heart to be softened but it is not impossible with our Lord!
This was perfect timing to read this post.
Thanks and Lord bless
Diana

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