I am reading a book that includes the following sentence, "David, they have all the trappings of the church. The only thing they are missing is the heart of Christ." How would you describe/define "the heart of Christ"?
Wanting what Jesus wants, loving what he loves. Listening to what God is calling them to do, rather than just going ahead and doing the "right" things (based on tradition, experience, reason, Bible study, feelings, expert opinions, etc.) Hearing God's voice and guidance together as a group.
That's a great description. Thanks, Kel. (And it doesn't really line up with what the author was getting at, which was bugging me. A lot of things bug me about this book. I'm working on a review now.)
oh yes, I'm with Kelly. but I suspect the book was probably aiming for something more specific - like there's something specific that is what's in his heart and they're missing it. Some might say love, compassion, that sort of thing. Others will say evangelism. We humans like to pin things down...
well, according to the book, it's definitely evangelism. you're not really following God if you're not planning on evangelizing the heathen in far away countries.
unless you happen to be a christian living in one of those heathen countries. then you don't have to travel anywhere. you just should be evangelizing your neighbors.
to be honest, the author's requirement for movement is a little confusing. in one chapter he's adamant that you don't have to move to be an evangelist. in another chapter he says you're totally screwing up if you're not moving to where the heathens are in those foreign countries... unless of course you're saving locals who will then go and save the heathen.
and the sad thing is, that people who talk like that can put people off evangelism - when you've got all that pressure put on you, when you're told you're not a good enough Christian unless you're actively doing it, well, when I was in that sort of church I got to the point where I'd cringe every time I heard the e-word, which was pretty crazy considering I came there with a real passion to tell people about Jesus.
and the other danger is that it causes people to do it for the wrong reasons - wanting to please your pastor or to get people to stop pestering you or to look good in the eyes of the others in the congregation.
the thing is, evangelism really is something Jesus is very passionate about, but he's not standing there with a baseball bat and bashing people over their heads if they're not actively, deliberately engaging in it; and he does have a unique calling for each person.
jesus is also passionate that we love one another and that we work together and worship together and worship period and ... there's so many other things that are important. jesus didn't say, "they will know you are my disciples by how well you save everyone." yes, there's a mandate to go to the ends of the earth, but there's also a mandate to live the gospel, not just cram it down people's throats.
Wanting what Jesus wants, loving what he loves. Listening to what God is calling them to do, rather than just going ahead and doing the "right" things (based on tradition, experience, reason, Bible study, feelings, expert opinions, etc.) Hearing God's voice and guidance together as a group.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great description. Thanks, Kel. (And it doesn't really line up with what the author was getting at, which was bugging me. A lot of things bug me about this book. I'm working on a review now.)
ReplyDeleteI think weavingmajor nailed it. Nothing to add.
ReplyDeleteoh yes, I'm with Kelly. but I suspect the book was probably aiming for something more specific - like there's something specific that is what's in his heart and they're missing it. Some might say love, compassion, that sort of thing. Others will say evangelism. We humans like to pin things down...
ReplyDeletewell, according to the book, it's definitely evangelism. you're not really following God if you're not planning on evangelizing the heathen in far away countries.
ReplyDeleteunless you happen to be a christian living in one of those heathen countries. then you don't have to travel anywhere. you just should be evangelizing your neighbors.
to be honest, the author's requirement for movement is a little confusing. in one chapter he's adamant that you don't have to move to be an evangelist. in another chapter he says you're totally screwing up if you're not moving to where the heathens are in those foreign countries... unless of course you're saving locals who will then go and save the heathen.
*sigh* there's a lot of that about :(
ReplyDeleteand the sad thing is, that people who talk like that can put people off evangelism - when you've got all that pressure put on you, when you're told you're not a good enough Christian unless you're actively doing it, well, when I was in that sort of church I got to the point where I'd cringe every time I heard the e-word, which was pretty crazy considering I came there with a real passion to tell people about Jesus.
and the other danger is that it causes people to do it for the wrong reasons - wanting to please your pastor or to get people to stop pestering you or to look good in the eyes of the others in the congregation.
the thing is, evangelism really is something Jesus is very passionate about, but he's not standing there with a baseball bat and bashing people over their heads if they're not actively, deliberately engaging in it; and he does have a unique calling for each person.
jesus is also passionate that we love one another and that we work together and worship together and worship period and ... there's so many other things that are important. jesus didn't say, "they will know you are my disciples by how well you save everyone." yes, there's a mandate to go to the ends of the earth, but there's also a mandate to live the gospel, not just cram it down people's throats.
ReplyDeleteyes, that's exactly it. evangelism is one of the things he is passionate about - an important one, but only one of them.
ReplyDelete