IntenseDebate - anotherjimmoore

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Leaving church before ... · 3 replies · +3 points

We humans respond to architecture as much as any other art form. I accept the orthodxy that the Church in this age lives in everyone of us. But I do see buildings as an expresssion or physical utterance of what a particular part of that body is about. It seems like a lot of American Christians would be happy if all we leave behind us is worn out sofas and dirty coffee mugs.

Raw, what I'm saying is there is room for it all. You don't have to be sad about how much money is spent. We serve a God who would cover the ground with gold if he chose to do so. Do your thing exuberantly. Encourage your friends to do theirs just as exuberantly. The Kingdom has come! Enjoy it and let the Holy Spirit lead as He chooses. I'll bet one day we see that God was doing all things in all directions at all times and we just didn't know it.

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Leaving church before ... · 4 replies · +2 points

So how would you deal with Haggai where God exhorts his followers to "finish the building"?

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,' says the LORD. 'You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?' declares the LORD Almighty. 'Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.'"

Look what you described is what I want too - and what I get to do at my megachurch - but I have to push back when Christians criticize each other over their church choices. From biblical prophesy and orthodox tradition it is very clear that God's bride is meant to restore, build, create beauty and spaces of worship both physical and emotional.

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Leaving church before ... · 0 replies · +3 points

I think that would be great but historically even that was rather remarkable. Within 30 years Paul was exhorting the rich to give in the same way the poor did.

Recently a pastor (of a megachurch) suggested that he and the elders were considering getting rid of insurance and using the funds to care for the needy and trusting each other to care for their needs. Even in this very mature church that got serious push back. I think that's why God loves generosity so much. It really is so hard.

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Leaving church before ... · 3 replies · +1 points

Tam, you called mega-churches a weird phenomenon. You said they defeat everything about what church is about. I haven't said anything negative about any particular worship choice. So how am I pushing my ideas on you by defending what you are attacking?

Just so you know, I assume that you aren't doing "it" wrong but I do worry about your willingness to attack a brother.

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Leaving church before ... · 2 replies · +1 points

That's good since every single church in the New Testiment was completely disfunctional in one way or another. The more things change the more they stay the same. I find a lot of comfort in the fact that today's church is no more or less messed up than the 1st century chruch.

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Leaving church before ... · 12 replies · 0 points

"I'm not big on anything that's billed as exciting, dynamic, relevant etc." I understand what you mean, but honestly, is there anything about following Jesus that isn't exciting, dynamic and relevant? Isn't the opposite of exciting, dynamic and relevant boring, static and irrelevant? I know you don't like that either. So I'm guessing you like exciting, dynamic and relevant as long as it isn't "billed" that way, right?

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Leaving church before ... · 6 replies · +5 points

How about "numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand"? If you don't like "mega" you're really going to hate heaven. God's really into mega...

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - The rarest church musi... · 0 replies · +1 points

If you want to make a music director mad call them a "worship leader." They hate that. ;)

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Me & CNN. · 0 replies · +1 points

You know, my take away from the comments section is just how hard it is for a Christian to say anything pursuasive to such a muddled and confused world. Jon, one of the things this blog does really well is identify the Christian culture we all live in and encourage us to strip those cultures (because there are many) away from the Biblical Gospel of Jesus. In spite of your skill people still get confused, angry and dismissive. That's why words, no matter how well spoken or loving, just don't change lives. Loving acts is the only way we can penitrate the miasma.

15 years ago @ Stuff Christians Like ... - Having our ideas stole... · 0 replies · +2 points

thats not even good theology!

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