Not 100% convinced
Submitted by Forgiven on July 1 2001 19:04:59
In reply to Push!!... submitted by Andy on July 1 2001 17:25:07
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it is notable that the biblical examples that we are shown have people praying for things and they happen; they are told why they are doing things; they are told why things are happening. There is a danger that when the rock doesn't move, it is because we heard God wrong, not because we are to strengthen our muscles by shoving at it. The streets of our towns in England are filled with closed churches, which people have struggled to keep alive. They can quote scripture about 'the gates of hell will not overcome it' but there is it - a closed church. By contrast I've heard recently of two churches which voluntarily closed and joined up with others, rather than keep going when their ministry was achieving nothing of value. My point in all this is that we need to be incredibly careful if we persist in a particular ministry path where there are no signs of success and we are at the limit of ability to cope (cf Lk 13 v.6-9, Mt 10 v14,15). I'd want to hear some very clear evidences about why you believe this is what God wants you to do. A general biblical phrase or interpretation isn't enough - it must be something more than that. But if it is, then I endorse Andy's 'Push' - indeed it was a helpful reminder to me that my present situation is of God arranging, and I shouldn't be whinging so much (it's a lot more pleasant Continental's by the sound of it, though the issue is one of lack of active ministry, rather than a surfeit). |
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