Comments on: You’re Growing? Well, She’s Dying. http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/ Carlos Whittaker's Weblog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:29:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Kirk http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-266204 Kirk Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:06:46 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-266204 I believe that in part it is a question of fruit. The church and the Church should be representative of the health and nature of its individual parts. If they are healthy and bearing fruit then the church will be healthy and bearing fruit. A healthy organism grows and reproduces. If a church is not seeing the fruit of the Gospel, redeemed souls, then I think it's time to do something different. We weren't placed here for the healthy, but for the sick. Who are we here for? Are we cultivating an offensive on the gates of Hell under the power of Christ with a priesthood of believers that are going out into the world as ministers of the Gospel? Are people waiting on their church to do the job for them while they stay home? If the church is made up of mostly civilians when we're in a war, then something must change. I don't think the Church has any uninvolved. One last question I've been challenged with recently: What is the Church? How does scripture define it? Not history, not tradition, not common sense or practice, but God. I believe that in part it is a question of fruit. The church and the Church should be representative of the health and nature of its individual parts. If they are healthy and bearing fruit then the church will be healthy and bearing fruit. A healthy organism grows and reproduces. If a church is not seeing the fruit of the Gospel, redeemed souls, then I think it's time to do something different. We weren't placed here for the healthy, but for the sick. Who are we here for?

Are we cultivating an offensive on the gates of Hell under the power of Christ with a priesthood of believers that are going out into the world as ministers of the Gospel? Are people waiting on their church to do the job for them while they stay home? If the church is made up of mostly civilians when we're in a war, then something must change. I don't think the Church has any uninvolved.

One last question I've been challenged with recently: What is the Church? How does scripture define it? Not history, not tradition, not common sense or practice, but God.

]]> By: Tim http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-263288 Tim Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:53:57 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-263288 The Divine Commodity points out the white elephant in the room. Every Christian should read it, then they should tell every other American Christian that they know to read it. Skye will help you see how American culture has sculpted your faith, and how the church is modeling consumerism above Christ. The Divine Commodity points out the white elephant in the room. Every Christian should read it, then they should tell every other American Christian that they know to read it. Skye will help you see how American culture has sculpted your faith, and how the church is modeling consumerism above Christ.

]]> By: The Change, Pt3 - The Peace - jamesridgers.com http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262953 The Change, Pt3 - The Peace - jamesridgers.com Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:22:06 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262953 [...] assuming we know what to do and how to “fix” things (as evidenced by the recent “ZOMG! THE CHUCH IZ DYING!!1!1!” thread over at Ragamuffin Soul, amongst other examples). The fact is that when something [...] [...] assuming we know what to do and how to “fix” things (as evidenced by the recent “ZOMG! THE CHUCH IZ DYING!!1!1!” thread over at Ragamuffin Soul, amongst other examples). The fact is that when something [...]

]]> By: Art_Good http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262766 Art_Good Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:37:35 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262766 Yeah, it was an over generalization... you are obviously the exception to the rule (I mean that sincerely). If you are, as you say, a "prayer warrior" then let me challenge you to pray, pray, pray for your pastor. Have his back on your knees. Talk to God about him, and never talk about him to anyone else. Pray that God's vision for the church is made clear to him, and that nothing stands in the way of it being carried out. I agree - don't let anyone kick you out - just be sure to be a HELP and not a HINDRANCE. It's not about you. Yeah, it was an over generalization… you are obviously the exception to the rule (I mean that sincerely).

If you are, as you say, a "prayer warrior" then let me challenge you to pray, pray, pray for your pastor. Have his back on your knees. Talk to God about him, and never talk about him to anyone else. Pray that God's vision for the church is made clear to him, and that nothing stands in the way of it being carried out.

I agree – don't let anyone kick you out – just be sure to be a HELP and not a HINDRANCE. It's not about you.

]]> By: Alexsandra http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262753 Alexsandra Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:25:23 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262753 ""IMHO, everyone over 40 should be kicked out of church - they don't need it anymore, and they are good for just about nothing."" Maybe this is just me.... In my 20s I was job focused, in my 30s and 40s I was family focused. Now I turned 50 this year and I am a prayer warrior. Can't get enough of the Word of God. I've got time for Him now. And I'm not arrogant enough to think I've got all the answers. I won't let anyone kick me out of the church. ""IMHO, everyone over 40 should be kicked out of church – they don't need it anymore, and they are good for just about nothing.""
Maybe this is just me….
In my 20s I was job focused, in my 30s and 40s I was family focused.
Now I turned 50 this year and I am a prayer warrior. Can't get enough of the Word of God. I've got time for Him now. And I'm not arrogant enough to think I've got all the answers.
I won't let anyone kick me out of the church.

]]> By: Jim http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262744 Jim Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:13:06 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262744 True...true...Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry<br />From: IntenseDebate Notifications True…true…Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications

]]> By: mrsDeb http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262741 mrsDeb Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:40:07 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262741 In the past 15 years I've watched at least 3 major churches in the urban Seattle area completely die... one historic building is now a Buddhist temple. Unfortunately, what happens in the hood is still invisible to the greater PNW. In the past 15 years I've watched at least 3 major churches in the urban Seattle area completely die… one historic building is now a Buddhist temple.

Unfortunately, what happens in the hood is still invisible to the greater PNW.

]]> By: fixin2 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262732 fixin2 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:18:45 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262732 Thanks Art and los! This is AmandaSims' husband, Paul; the artist formerly known as towncrier86! Thanks Art and los! This is AmandaSims' husband, Paul; the artist formerly known as towncrier86!

]]> By: Michelle George http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262703 Michelle George Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:12:23 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262703 I'm reading "Pagan Christianity" by Barna and Viola at the moment...if what they are saying is true...then I'd say it started back about 400AD I'm reading "Pagan Christianity" by Barna and Viola at the moment…if what they are saying is true…then I'd say it started back about 400AD

]]> By: S http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2009/03/youre-growing-well-shes-dying/#comment-262702 S Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:05:12 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=7157#comment-262702 Would it be such a horrible thing if the church as we knew it died? I contend no. Sometimes, like with the current economic situation, you have to let go and build something new. We, as the church and Church, have excluded and we have created communities that are isolated. When did we become so focused on our personal relationship with God. When did we make the focus on belief in strict dogma more important than offering grace. I believe that some churches get it, but many do not. I am certainly not perfect and live a good portion of my life trying to be comfortable. I believe that we must go back to sitting with the tax collectors and the prostitutes. We must focus more on people's basic needs. We must offer, without condition, God's love. Otherwise, we will become the next Roman Empire. Would it be such a horrible thing if the church as we knew it died? I contend no. Sometimes, like with the current economic situation, you have to let go and build something new.

We, as the church and Church, have excluded and we have created communities that are isolated. When did we become so focused on our personal relationship with God. When did we make the focus on belief in strict dogma more important than offering grace. I believe that some churches get it, but many do not. I am certainly not perfect and live a good portion of my life trying to be comfortable.

I believe that we must go back to sitting with the tax collectors and the prostitutes. We must focus more on people’s basic needs. We must offer, without condition, God’s love. Otherwise, we will become the next Roman Empire.

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