tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post9105867881821252358..comments2023-06-28T11:56:24.073-04:00Comments on The Lamb's War: We Are Not In Charge AnymoreMicah Baleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849915973708989620noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-64247223115540691022011-01-10T16:19:01.669-05:002011-01-10T16:19:01.669-05:00@Alice Thanks for sharing your journey with Christ...@Alice Thanks for sharing your journey with Christ in letting go of your own will and strength and giving yourself over to God's plan for your life and the community where God has placed you.<br /><br />@Michael It's important to remember, especially for those of us who are particularly concerned for the work of evangelism, that even the Great Commission can turn into an ego trip. Christ's Kingdom comes in unexpected ways, and we shouldn't assume that the growth that Christ sends us will fit into our preconceived plans.<br /><br />@Wess Thanks for the piece by Yoder! I'll give it a look!<br /><br />@Valerie Thanks for pointing out that we should not hide behind a false sense of "faithfulness" as a way of getting out of our responsibility to act, and to do so in ways that have a beneficial effect on our community, society and planet. While the Church should to avoid arrogance, we surely don't want to slip into quietistic disempowerment! <br /><br />Thank you for helping hold these tensions together.<br /><br />@Diane and @Jim Thanks!<br /><br />@Raye Thanks for sharing those beautiful lines, Raye. I hope that we can walk together under the cross.<br /><br />@Karen Thanks for sharing your experience with this struggle. I am glad to know that this post has spoken to the condition of others.Micah Baleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06849915973708989620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-79042510652977765582011-01-09T14:37:46.381-05:002011-01-09T14:37:46.381-05:00I enjoyed this post very much. I have not been muc...I enjoyed this post very much. I have not been much involved with churches but it spoke to my recent understanding of how often I have tried to be in control of things that aren't in my control. I've tried to "obtain certain outcomes" as you put it to the point where I'm a hair's breadth from outright manipulating others. I stop asking "what is right to do" and concentrate on what will "be effective". In the process I find myself stepping on other people's free will and interfering with God's will for them. I find myself doing what is hateful to me unto others. It was a real shock when God showed me this side of myself and the fear(s) that fuel it... but I was grateful for it.<br /><br />Thanks for this postKarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275905007280375167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-57438816392369946522011-01-07T16:33:46.558-05:002011-01-07T16:33:46.558-05:00Thanks again, Micah. Perhaps there is good reason...Thanks again, Micah. Perhaps there is good reason that one song I continually play and sing is Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross....<br /><br />Jesus, keep me near the cross; <br /> there a precious fountain, <br /> free to all, a healing stream, <br /> flows from Calvary's mountain. <br /><br />Near the cross! O Lamb of God, <br /> bring its scenes before me; <br /> help me walk from day to day <br /> with its shadow o'er me. <br /><br />Perhaps it is because I need to learn this, to know it in my bones, to live it.Rayenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-67446860873957416672011-01-07T15:42:16.657-05:002011-01-07T15:42:16.657-05:00Micah, beautifully said.
Thanks,
JimMicah, beautifully said. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />JimJim714https://www.blogger.com/profile/06135451195351824085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-32882655583373668992011-01-07T14:58:51.651-05:002011-01-07T14:58:51.651-05:00Micah,
This post speaks my mind.Micah,<br /><br />This post speaks my mind.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12396312339372162866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-18180697535373792952011-01-07T13:57:09.439-05:002011-01-07T13:57:09.439-05:00I ultimately agree with what you are saying and th...I ultimately agree with what you are saying and think that Michael summarized well in reminding us of the impossibility of selling God. <br /><br />Alternately, there is a temptation for religious institutions (and, in fact, all non-profits) to abandon any sense of accountability and judgment of effectiveness. Just because we cannot measure our success by how many "souls are saved" does not mean that we cannot set goals (finding new community events to participate in, honestly adhering to our decision-making practices, using good accounting practices to manage endowments, evaluating educational programs in terms of their impact).<br /><br />We need to recognize what belongs to God, and recognize that the problem is how we define effectiveness. Then we can give up the guilt or triumph we feel about successes or failures that had little to do with us, and enjoy the genuine feeling of accomplishment when we (with the inspiration and help of God) have completed a task well.<br /><br />Valerie HurwitzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-44524664452829812032011-01-07T10:48:36.938-05:002011-01-07T10:48:36.938-05:00Micah - along the lines of effectiveness read Yode...Micah - along the lines of effectiveness read Yoder's "Patience as Method." It's brilliant and something that is continually playing in the back of my head now. http://theology.nd.edu/people/research/yoder-john/documents/PATIENCE.pdfAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05386944067721486993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-82862829632664520052011-01-07T10:42:50.160-05:002011-01-07T10:42:50.160-05:00Also, when we focus on marketing we forget the imp...Also, when we focus on marketing we forget the impossibility of selling God. We end up marketing even more marketing, which does nothing but frustrates the customer.<br /><br />Thank you for this thoughtful reminder that we need say with John the Baptizer: "May I decrease so Christ may increase".<br /><br />Thank you also for the thoughtful reminder that we are trying to live the Christian life -- so we still need God to transform our lives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37106751.post-22716715331025905652011-01-07T10:22:49.023-05:002011-01-07T10:22:49.023-05:00Thanks for this Micah. I have this sense as well. ...Thanks for this Micah. I have this sense as well. The battleground so often for me is my willingness to not be in charge, to actually rely on God, to accept the help. I think this is the place where God's grace and power can reach us, if we are willing to trust and wait, even in our own weakness and ignorance. <br />I know that when I have been able to find that point of difficulty and trust God in it, ask for more help with it, to trust God's own grace and power coming through with the answer - huge changes seems to happen for me.Alice Y.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16267449289432878102noreply@blogger.com