Preaching to the choir?
 

I have been bouncing this around.... I know we are told to take this Gospel to the Nations. But there is also another mentality of 'keeping it in the church'.....just being a rock in my church, and when those 'come' who the Lord has 'called' to come.....I wil be there in my church....getting strong, and able to 'be strong' for others. (I do not know quite how to say this thought exactly) Has anyone else been dealing with similar issues?
I have been somewhat 'riding the fence' with this....I feel that I might be called for ministry outside my church.....and I wrestle with feelings that, in doing so, I am leaning to becoming somewhat of a '5th wheel'.
Should we 'explore' our differences.....things that we might have uniquely in common with many outside of our chuch?.....identify with people in hopes that our presence among them could be an influence for the Lord?

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

Heck ya. We are called to put our ship to sea. The true Church manifests in the understanding and compassion we demonstrate to those who need it, surely moreso even than preaching?

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

I am in agreement with byrd.

There are people who are in need of a "more excellent way". If you feel the need to go out into the world to share the gospel, it may be the Lord prodding you to do so.

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

We are most certainly called to "GO". However, I believe that this has to be under the umbrella of our pastor and godly leadership in our lives. There is nothing wrong with Going and it is what we are commanded to do. It is the emboldened part that concerns me somewhat about your post. Many ships have sunk while trying to slide in and go along with another group hoping that God might use them within that group to bring about soemthing better. Just be cautious and give heed to every warning of the Spirit as well as every prompting of the same.

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

Undertaken in the proper spirit, you can only grow from it, and your church.

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

I have heard a man say this very thing. However, even though he claims that he is 'progressively winning them' I have met the people he and his wife attend church with, and they are not changed by his influence. He has not truly effected anything, and has been proven to compromise on the rigor of his message so that he will not actually lose influence.

I believe in going as well. However, that means being willing to speak to everyone you meet, and not being ashamed of the Gospel. I have witnessed to 'Christians', gays, witches, atheists, agnostics, and others. I have also received a variety of responses. However, I have gone and attempted to spread the message of Jesus Christ to those that I can.

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

Jay,

How do we know that he hasn't effected anything?

1 Corinthians 3:1-10
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

I'd like to encourage many who feel a given call not to faint if they don't see "results". You may be called to plant, or to water. You may NEVER see the fruits of your ministry until you enter Heaven's glory. Little is much... when God is in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A_jMCEYgUY

Lastly, Jay, can you elaborate on what you mean be this individual being proven to "compromise on the rigor of his message"? I think this could be valuable for those who might feel like this original poster.

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

A fun exercise is to go thru the Gospels and find out how many times Jesus was in church. And, on the rare occasion he WAS in church, what was he doing? Things like throwing out money changers, preaching to the hypocrites in the pews, healing people on the Sabbath, destroying traditions, etc.......most of His time was spent OUTSIDE the four walls of the church, going to where the sinners were - not sending invitations for them to come inside the church where He was.

Just a thought.

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Preaching to the choir?
 

Ahh yes, church.


"Church. Church. Church. I am going to church. Church is loooonnnnngggg! Do I put 'church' on my head? Do I?"

<As all the UC's clap in delight!>