Jesus Wants to Save Christians .2

2009 January 15

by Tyler

In the first part of the book Bell establishes God’s care for the oppressed by walking through the story of Israel from Cain to Solomon. He summarizes that theme by saying:

“God always hears the cry of the oppressed.

God cares about human suffering and the conditions that cause it.

God is searching for a body, a community of people to care for the things God cares about.

God gives power and blessing so that justice and righteousness will be upheld for those who are denied them.

This is what God is like. This is what God is about. This is who God is.

To forget this, to fail to hear the cry, to preserve prosperity at the expense of the powerless, is to miss what God has in mind.”

When I give those words time to sink in, they hurt. No they don’t just hurt, they make me want to give up. I see all the ways I have failed in doing the things God has called his people to do. When what I am doing has zero to do with what God cares about, it matters ZERO.

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http://www.aworshipfulheart.typepad.com janowen

Tyler, this ties in exactly with so much of what I’ve been asking myself lately……I’ll admit I’m struggling but not sure what to do about it exactly.
http://melindalgroth.blogspot.com/ Melinda Groth

While I agree that we can always improve in this area, I disagree that, “For too long the American church has been about feeding the hand that feeds itself.” Surely you would agree that our church, as well as the American Church at large, is full of examples of service and care. If you do not see that, I would love to chat with you more and highlight what I see. At first, I must admit that I found that comment very insulting. Then, as I thought about your words more, I find that I am delighted by them. It means that the attention has not been to spotlight or glorify the multitude of ways the Church has been serving (both corporately and individually). On the contrary. It means that it is being done quietly and humbly, without spotlight, as it should be.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Melinda-

The purpose behind that thought goes back to when I said that first and foremost a church should be about reaching the lost. My statement here is basically saying the church has scratched the back of the wrong people. Jesus didn’t come to save the righteous, he came to save the lost.
http://melindalgroth.blogspot.com/ Melinda Groth

Hmmm. Sounds like you are still saying the same thing, to me: “My statement here is basically saying the church has scratched the back of the wrong people.” It sounds like you are still making a very strong blanket statement that is not justified. Justify it. Make a case. Support your thesis. Otherwise, don’t say it.

I think that your good intentions are to be thought provoking and motivating. Am I right? If that is the case, I would venture to say that few people respond enthusiastically to being misjudged or stereo-typed. They also don’t respond well to having their good efforts and service disregarded…or character slandered. When making a blanket statement/generalization, the good gets thrown in with the bad.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

I’ve removed that last statement. My intention wasn’t to judge anyone, but rather to challenge. Sorry it came across that way. I respect Melinda’s opinion which is why I am removing it.