Thoughts from another time...
I was reading an old journal that I had and came upon this entry from May 11/2002.
Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about suck things"
There is so much in this world to draw our minds away from righteousness. Sin and impurtiy flood the media as rain does a storm drain after a heavy rainfall. But the Christian is called to dwell on the noble, the lovely, the excellent, pure, praiseworthy; not the sesspool of filth that bombards our minds each day. Sometimes I think that the life of a monk - seclusion and isolation - is a better way to go, it would be so much easier...
Then reality hits me in the face. True Christianity is not hidden behind the walls of a monastary, but lived in the streets of our cities. It is part of the real world. With seclusion not an option, the Christian needs to take care each day to watch what he or she puts into his mind; intentionally choose what they dwell on, choose what they talk about, choose the words they speak. They need to search after righteousness with all of their being.
Funny when I wrote this I was thinking about true Christianity being outside the walls of the monastary and in the city streets... Have our churches become monastaries where we can live our faith secluded and isolated from "the world"...true Christian belongs outside the walls of the monastary and in the city streets.
4 comments:
You're going places with this...and I expect that you're taking me with you. There's a movement in YA that has been lingering for some time now. It's a great thought and I'll even go further in saying that the impact of this concept has gripped the hearts of most of the people who have heard it... however, the longer it remains a thought provoking concept and fails to be lived out, the longer we go not living as a genuine "organic" church. Anyone else getting this feeling?
totally. I think we need to be able to find that balance between the two. Yes, you are right, we cannot seclude ourselfs, and expect to be rewarded, but there are definatly times when we need to be inside the walls. I think we need to have a place, like the church, to be able to come to, to seek refuge and restoration when we need it.
Like you said jon, ministry in the church is great and all, but that is us serving people who COME TO US. When are we gunna get up and GO TO THEM?! I hope what I just said made sence...it did in my head. haha
Ian, you made great sense, and you are absolutely right saying we need a place like the church to find refuge and restoration.
Living an authentic Christian life should be a difficult endevor, one that leaves us broken and bloody. One where we find ourselves limping back to the loving fellowship of our FAMILY to be cared for, encouraged, supported...then before we get too comfortable, experience the gentle push back out the door to again love others to the point of being broken again.
It seems to be what Jesus calls us to...and it is actually a little bit of what we are going to be talking about tonight at YA!
Agreed, balance is key. But if we're honest with ourselves, I think most of us are not remotely close to spending too much time out in the world. If we spend our entire youth and young adult lives locked away in our castle with the drawbridge up, how are we going to engage and connect with anyone outside of our little sub-culture? Once you lose that ability, I don't imagine it's very easy to get it back. That's why I love the direction that YA seems to be headed, and I'm really hoping I can be part of it in some way next year.
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