I Love The Bride!

One last thought before the semester ends and we all head off to places far and wide for the summer break. I DO love the Church. She is God's chosen way of revealing His passionate love to people. She is His method of modelling the beauty of the relationship shared in the Trinity. She is His vehicle to gather a family who will someday join Him in a wonderfully prepared place. I love Her! I DO wish that the Church was more like His original idea. I DO wish that we were more focused on deepening relationships than on expanding programs. I DO wish that a hurting world was being made curious by our unselfish love for each other... curious enough to want to know the reason for our love and hope and joy.... curious enough to want to run to the Jesus that we profess to follow and fall humbly upon His free gift of grace. I DO wish!!!
Having spent these few weeks blogging together... trying to look inside the church and our own hearts... what do you wish for the church?
Thankyou for your participation... I am blessed! Doug

Orthodox Beliefs...Generous Heart!

In his book "A Generous Orthodoxy", Brian McClaren relates his own struggle dealing with the difficult issues facing the church. How do we find a balance between remaining truly biblical in our belief system (orthodoxy) while at the same time showing the love and kindness of Christ (generosity) to people that are so vastly different from ourselves? How did Jesus relate to the adulterous woman, the tax-cheater up in a tree, the multi-relationship woman at the well, the demon-possessed man, the street children, and the religious but uncompassionate leaders? If a gay person, or a divorced person, or a young woman who has had an abortion was seeking spiritual reality would they feel that your church was a safe place to begin that pilgrimage? What is sin? Is there a heirarchy of sins from God's perspective or is that a man-made idea? What does God require of me... "To DO justice... To LOVE kindness... To WALK humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). Please tell me how you deal with this struggle...