Comment Highlights for Week of June 19, 2011
As I mentioned in the first post in this series, I want to highlight some of the comments that have been left on my blog posts during the past week. Hopefully, this will give more visibility to some of the reasons that I love blogging – dialog and interaction.
This is part of the comment that Hutch left on my post “Reply: Hypothetical Situation… what do you think?“:
1. a) The gospel of Christ, who He is and what He did through His life and on the cross. b) That those who are in Christ are indwelt by the Counselor/Holy Spirit/Spirit of Christ who will teach them, lead them into all truth and bring to remembrance all that Jesus said. c) What Jesus commanded/taught-love God, neighbor, brother and enemy etc. d) That they are gifted by the Holy Spirit to build each other up and teach each other as led by the Holy Spirit. e) How to listen to Christ and hear from Him through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
Jen left this comment on my post “Did someone forget to pass the offering plate?“:
So, as a recovering church book keeper this is a subject that still brings me sadness, anger, and grief.
For 4 years I worked at a church that spent over 90% internally; I saw things that greatly troubled me. When I would bring them to the attention of our administrative pastor, I was told “that’s just ministry”. Finally, I could take it no more; I put in my resignation and started attending a home church/home fellowship.
God has revolutionized how we tithe; it may be a waitress who is a single mom that we give $20 to on a $20 bill. It may be buying fair trade cerified food, clothing, whatever. It may be helping a homeless person, or whatever.
Anyways, my heart still breaks over the self absorption of many churches in America. This is a great blog post for all of us to ponder.
Here is part of the comment that Aussie John left on my post “Refusing to trust what we think we understand“:
Thank you for bringing this matter to the fore.
You state the popular understanding of faith most excellently, “Today, many have reduced faith to a series of statements or a theological doctrine. Christians often trust what they can explain or codify. In other words, they are leaning on their own theological understanding. They create a faith that is reasonable and logical.”
The faith, of which you speak, is a work of God in us. We cannot generate faith in ourselves!
Finally, Jon left this comment on my post “Practical Steps Toward Missional Living“:
Great stuff! Thanks for the tangibles…the missional conversation often lacks in the practicals.