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Sam
05-03-2012, 08:01 PM
This is an email I sent out to a lot of people back in January of this year. I've been thinking about some of the things that were said and I thought I would share this with AFF.


I believe in the Church -- God’s Church, the Body of Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ or whatever you may know it by. Jesus called it “My Church” and “the Church” and promised to “build up” or "edify" it. So Jesus Christ has a Church -- His Church -- and many of us are privileged to be a part of it. I’m tired of hearing people knock it, criticize it, or act like their tiny part of it is the whole thing. I’m tired of people thinking that it is irrelevant or that it is failing or losing the battle. I’m proud to be a part of it.



I saw some inspiring words on Facebook by a young pastor that I respect very highly. He ministers in California and I would like to pass his words on. He gave me permission to share this.



I still believe in a church where grace is real and not just a song, where Peter can deny Christ with vulgarities and his ministry still be received, even better than ever, just weeks later as the featured speaker the day the church was birthed. I still believe in a church that celebrates the meth addict, the single mom, and the pregnant teen even if the Luke 15 older brother is pissed off about it. I still believe in a church that can buck the trend of 90%+ of American church growth resulting from people changing churches, and instead, proclaim that, like Jesus, we are here not for the whole but for the sick. I still believe in a church that desires to make disciples, not republicans, and I still believe in a church that is a spiritual emergency room, not a business enterprise. I still believe in a church that will be raised up out of the culture rather than secluded from culture, and I'm absolutely convinced that "The Church" despite the fact that my most agonizing moments in life are a result of it, is the most wonderful living organism on the face of the earth. I refuse to believe in the word "hopeless". I refuse to believe in the word "Impossible." I refuse to believe that I cannot stand on the rock upon which Christ will build His Church, a church that impacts culture so much that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.

bbyrd009
05-03-2012, 08:21 PM
Amen.