I was just curious as to how many people out there are intentionally building relationships with unbelievers? Better yet, how many are genuinely loving sinners as Jesus did and spending time with them where they are at? It seems the traditional, fundamental church in many ways is focusing on how to keep "out of the world" at the expense of going to where the people are and loving them into the kingdom! We seem to be intent on praying or wishing them into our building rather than loving them into the kingdom like Jesus did! Curious to what hear what you think!
hey pij, I get to do this on an almost daily basis. I get to shine the light in the darkest places, if there is any such thing...isn't it all dark? lol.But it's not about doing...it's about being. Not doing church in the park, being the church in the park. So many talk of stopping attending a traditional church, with a building, a pastor, church checkbooks, etc. But then they go start one in their homes and doing mostly the same thing after a while. Nothing wrong with traditional or home churches in the least! But so many are so upset and get so frustrated with their pastor(s), their elders, the lack of love for the homeless, or the affluence, or the choir robes, or the color of the carpet in the foyer...and so they leave and start or join something somewhere else.I tell people that move around alot because of problems with people or work or church...It doesn't matter if you move away and start all over because in 2 or 3 or 4 months you're going to wind up with the same problems because one thing remains constant, no matter where you go...there you are.It's an interesting thing being the church and then having the church wonder what to do with a ministry that hangs out with 'those' people. Many times we forget that such were some of us.But then there's the sheep that are coming that need to be cared for and watched over . But the flip side of the same coin is what about leaving the 99 and going after the 1.More later. Thanks for posting this. Been thinking about this alot in the last year.
_________________Josh
I don't make it a habit of hanging around with or socializing with these people, but if God places one in my path "and I will know" I will plant some seeds and let God do the watering. We should Love everyone equally but it is different to Love someone and then hang around with them, If I hang around with someone that cusses like a sailor for a month, I will probably be doing the same, so I choose not to hang around with them and just pray for them. It's tough sometimes especially for me because I am a very friendly person that likes to talk to everyone and it's easy for me to get caught up into a friendship so I really have to be careful about everyone I come across in my travels. So bottom line what do we do? well I will tell you what I do is I listen to God to give me instructions on what to do and if I heard wrong or it was not supposed to be the Lord will bring me out of it, I just feel personally that God would rather for me to make some sort of effort sometimes than none at all and if I make a wrong decision well he knows my heart.
_________________Bill
It seems the traditional, fundamental church in many ways is focusing on how to keep "out of the world" at the expense of going to where the people are and loving them into the kingdom!
I would be mortified and ashamed to be a part of any church that turns people away because they aren't dressed right, or look like they might a disruption to the services. That's not Christ's spirit at all, but is the spirit of the Pharisees who knew the Devil as their father.It's not perfect
I think the problem is we are still expecting to "bring sinners" to our church to get them saved, which I'm not against but I can't think of one example where Jesus invited someone to the synagogue. What I do read is that the religous were angry with him for drinking wine and eating with the outcasts of society. Saturday nights restaurants and bars are filled with people. Who is reaching them? "The Son of man cam eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children." Matthew 11:19 KJV
pij wrote: Saturday nights restaurants and bars are filled with people. Who is reaching them?
"Jesus never went anywhere he wasn't invited to go". And when he went He preached the gospel using alot of different object lessons, parables and teachings. He never lost sight of the ultimate mark which was the Kingdom of Heaven. Reaching into the lives of the lost and having fellowship with them is 2 totally different things.Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father in Heaven.
_________________D.Miller
Hi Bro. Josh,
It doesn't matter if you move away and start all over because in 2 or 3 or 4 months you're going to wind up with the same problems because one thing remains constant, no matter where you go...there you are.
It's an interesting thing being the church and then having the church wonder what to do with a ministry that hangs out with 'those' people. Many times we forget that such were some of us.
_________________Robert Wurtz II
It's not perfect (what church is?), but there's no doubt that our pastor, his staff, and the members are people who love sinners
