Comments on: Why Don’t We Hear About The Kingdom? http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:13:53 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Bill http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5032 Bill Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:28:05 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5032 <p>Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, Will also cry himself and not be heard. (Proverbs 21:13). </p> Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, Will also cry himself and not be heard. (Proverbs 21:13).

]]> By: susan http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5031 susan Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:04:44 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5031 <p>I appreciate everything about this post and the comments.  Living in a place where there are few visibly poor people, that same avenue of outreach can seem daunting.  People here are ‘spiritually’ poor - it is hard to reach out to a community that feels all it’s needs are met(in the physical sense). <br /> Thus, Compassion has been a great outlet to teach our girls about the girls we sponsor and why it makes a difference. </p> I appreciate everything about this post and the comments.  Living in a place where there are few visibly poor people, that same avenue of outreach can seem daunting.  People here are ‘spiritually’ poor – it is hard to reach out to a community that feels all it’s needs are met(in the physical sense).

Thus, Compassion has been a great outlet to teach our girls about the girls we sponsor and why it makes a difference.

]]> By: Fred McKinnon http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5030 Fred McKinnon Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:13:55 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5030 <p>Shaun, <br /> Great post.  Didn’t Jesus teach us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, here on earth, as it is in heaven”. </p> <p> I just discovered “Blog Action Day”, coming up 10/15 ... this year it’s on poverty.  I’ve registered, and will be mentioning it today, and linking there, and to your entry here. </p> <p> For the Kingdom, <br /> Fred McKinnon <br /> <a href="http://www.fredmckinnon.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.fredmckinnon.com</a> <br /> <a href="http://www.theworshipcommunity.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.theworshipcommunity.com</a> </p> Shaun,

Great post.  Didn’t Jesus teach us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, here on earth, as it is in heaven”.

I just discovered “Blog Action Day”, coming up 10/15 … this year it’s on poverty.  I’ve registered, and will be mentioning it today, and linking there, and to your entry here.

For the Kingdom,

Fred McKinnon

http://www.fredmckinnon.com

http://www.theworshipcommunity.com

]]> By: Phil Wilson http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5029 Phil Wilson Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:43:52 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5029 <p>I thought your answer Wednesday night was great, and this one adds very nicely to it. Thanks for a great night. </p> I thought your answer Wednesday night was great, and this one adds very nicely to it. Thanks for a great night.

]]> By: Grovesfan http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5028 Grovesfan Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:20:21 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5028 <p>If you know me at all (and I think at least you do of those here Shaun), you know I’m a huge advocate of Compassion and the poor in general.  Our oldest son is preparing to serve in the mission field in Zambia next spring.  I don’t think the church in general is doing enough to be THE CHURCH where the poor are concerned.  Yes, there are many, many churches doing a heck of a lot, but there’s always more to be done; that’s for sure.  </p> <p> I would caution however that it should never be an “either/or” choice.  I’m NOT implying that it is in the situations here either (no hate mail please!).  </p> <p> While we should and could certainly be doing more to demonstrate the kingdom here on earth and to carry out Christ’s commands, etc. wherever He leads; we cannot do it at the expense of sharing the gospel.  </p> <p> If we as Christians do not share the gospel intently and intentionally at EVERY opportunity, then it will be harder to get the church to care, feed and clothe the poor; or anyone else for that matter. </p> <p> A very interesting movie I watched showed this very well.  It’s called “Time Changer.” It’s about a seminary professor that is submitting work to his fellows for publication.  Parts of the work are challenged by one of them as not being strong enough and clear enough on the authority of God.  This challenger is mostly seen by the others as “past his prime”, etc.  He challenges this younger man to really seek Biblical authority in EVERYTHING he does and then, using a “time machine,” sends him ahead in time 100 years.  </p> <p> This man, besides seeing a very different culture (cars, movies, etc.) he becomes very aware that a huge shift has occurred.  While there are plenty of rules, etc. the AUTHORITY with which they are given has been lost.  Example:  a child steals this man’s hot dog.  When he catches her, he tells her it’s wrong to steal.  She asks him why.  He doesn’t say “because you’ll get in trouble.” Rather he says “because God says it’s wrong. Jesus is our authority and example in all we do.” She had no idea WHO Jesus was.  </p> <p> He saw for himself how in the name of “freedom from religion,” the authority of Christ had been removed from society.  Because the authority was gone, so was the joy that comes from obedience to Christ and His commands. </p> <p> I may not be explaining it very well (not my strong sight), but suffice it to say that if we don’t have the gospel first and foremost, then nothing else Christ taught matters.  All of what He taught, in one way or another, is matters of the heart.  If our heart’s don’t belong to Him nothing will. </p> <p> Beth </p> If you know me at all (and I think at least you do of those here Shaun), you know I’m a huge advocate of Compassion and the poor in general.  Our oldest son is preparing to serve in the mission field in Zambia next spring.  I don’t think the church in general is doing enough to be THE CHURCH where the poor are concerned.  Yes, there are many, many churches doing a heck of a lot, but there’s always more to be done; that’s for sure. 

I would caution however that it should never be an “either/or” choice.  I’m NOT implying that it is in the situations here either (no hate mail please!). 

While we should and could certainly be doing more to demonstrate the kingdom here on earth and to carry out Christ’s commands, etc. wherever He leads; we cannot do it at the expense of sharing the gospel. 

If we as Christians do not share the gospel intently and intentionally at EVERY opportunity, then it will be harder to get the church to care, feed and clothe the poor; or anyone else for that matter.

A very interesting movie I watched showed this very well.  It’s called “Time Changer.” It’s about a seminary professor that is submitting work to his fellows for publication.  Parts of the work are challenged by one of them as not being strong enough and clear enough on the authority of God.  This challenger is mostly seen by the others as “past his prime”, etc.  He challenges this younger man to really seek Biblical authority in EVERYTHING he does and then, using a “time machine,” sends him ahead in time 100 years. 

This man, besides seeing a very different culture (cars, movies, etc.) he becomes very aware that a huge shift has occurred.  While there are plenty of rules, etc. the AUTHORITY with which they are given has been lost.  Example:  a child steals this man’s hot dog.  When he catches her, he tells her it’s wrong to steal.  She asks him why.  He doesn’t say “because you’ll get in trouble.” Rather he says “because God says it’s wrong. Jesus is our authority and example in all we do.” She had no idea WHO Jesus was. 

He saw for himself how in the name of “freedom from religion,” the authority of Christ had been removed from society.  Because the authority was gone, so was the joy that comes from obedience to Christ and His commands.

I may not be explaining it very well (not my strong sight), but suffice it to say that if we don’t have the gospel first and foremost, then nothing else Christ taught matters.  All of what He taught, in one way or another, is matters of the heart.  If our heart’s don’t belong to Him nothing will.

Beth

]]> By: Shaun Groves http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5027 Shaun Groves Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:06:49 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5027 <p>AWESOME!  Thanks for telling that story, TIA. </p> AWESOME!  Thanks for telling that story, TIA.

]]> By: Texas in Africa http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5026 Texas in Africa Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:49:09 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5026 <p>One encouraging story I know of - there’s a megachurch in the Minneapolis area that has a partnership with a hospital in a city in the Congo where I do research.  I met the pastor over there a few years ago and asked what they were doing.  He said, “Well, it’s our church’s 50th anniversary, and we’re growing, and we need a new building, so we raised the money for that.  But we decided that since it’s our jubilee anniversary, we should give that money away to mission projects all over the world.” Long story short, they donated the only machine in the region that can do appropriate blood counts for HIV/AIDS patients (which is hundreds of thousands of dollars), and constructed a building where Congolese doctors can receive training and other community outreach work can be done - by local Christians.  That, to me, is what church should be.  And it seems that God is still able to work just fine in the building they already had. </p> One encouraging story I know of – there’s a megachurch in the Minneapolis area that has a partnership with a hospital in a city in the Congo where I do research.  I met the pastor over there a few years ago and asked what they were doing.  He said, “Well, it’s our church’s 50th anniversary, and we’re growing, and we need a new building, so we raised the money for that.  But we decided that since it’s our jubilee anniversary, we should give that money away to mission projects all over the world.” Long story short, they donated the only machine in the region that can do appropriate blood counts for HIV/AIDS patients (which is hundreds of thousands of dollars), and constructed a building where Congolese doctors can receive training and other community outreach work can be done – by local Christians.  That, to me, is what church should be.  And it seems that God is still able to work just fine in the building they already had.

]]> By: Charles McFatter http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5025 Charles McFatter Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:27:27 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5025 <p>While Michigan may currently have the highest unemployment rate in the country, it is still below 10%. Thus I doubt it is an all time high.  I’ll wager it was higher at the end of the Carter administration and certainly it was higher during the depression.  That said: <br /> I guess I have been lucky.  I have only briefly been a member of a church which did not have a food closet and a benevolent fund and a Sunday set aside as “Bread Basket Sunday” (or something similar).  That brief membership was in a very conservative and fundamentalist Baptist church.  My point is that there are benevolent churches out there.  My advice would be that if yours isn’t either change it from within or change churches. <br /> Charlie Mac </p> While Michigan may currently have the highest unemployment rate in the country, it is still below 10%. Thus I doubt it is an all time high.  I’ll wager it was higher at the end of the Carter administration and certainly it was higher during the depression.  That said:

I guess I have been lucky.  I have only briefly been a member of a church which did not have a food closet and a benevolent fund and a Sunday set aside as “Bread Basket Sunday” (or something similar).  That brief membership was in a very conservative and fundamentalist Baptist church.  My point is that there are benevolent churches out there.  My advice would be that if yours isn’t either change it from within or change churches.

Charlie Mac

]]> By: Shaun Groves http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5024 Shaun Groves Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:19:53 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5024 <p>It’s hard to tell a prophet from a pain in the ass.  I’m not so sure about the prophetic thing, but thanks for the encouragement anyway. </p> <p> There are LOADS of churches and pastors caring about and for the poor which is why most of the posts I do about church and poverty are complimentary - highlighting the good examples out there.  Thanks for sharing your good stories with us here too, everybody. </p> It’s hard to tell a prophet from a pain in the ass.  I’m not so sure about the prophetic thing, but thanks for the encouragement anyway.

There are LOADS of churches and pastors caring about and for the poor which is why most of the posts I do about church and poverty are complimentary – highlighting the good examples out there.  Thanks for sharing your good stories with us here too, everybody.

]]> By: Jared http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5023 Jared Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:16:17 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/08/why-dont-we-hear-about-the-kingdom/#comment-5023 <p>I am grateful to be a part of a church community that values giving and service. We have recently decided to dedicate 60% of our budget to local and foreign missions (50% to local and foreign efforts to feed, heal, clothe, and train, and 10% to other gospel-centered church plants and ministries). We’ll be “living” on 40% of our offerings, and we’re excited about it. </p> <p> I actually think more and more pastors are talking about the poor and about the kingdom, but I obviously don’t have the exposure to as many and as often as you do, Shaun, so I admit my perception may be skewed. </p> <p> I’m thankful for your ministry. It’s the biblical kind of prophetic the evangelical church needs. </p> I am grateful to be a part of a church community that values giving and service. We have recently decided to dedicate 60% of our budget to local and foreign missions (50% to local and foreign efforts to feed, heal, clothe, and train, and 10% to other gospel-centered church plants and ministries). We’ll be “living” on 40% of our offerings, and we’re excited about it.

I actually think more and more pastors are talking about the poor and about the kingdom, but I obviously don’t have the exposure to as many and as often as you do, Shaun, so I admit my perception may be skewed.

I’m thankful for your ministry. It’s the biblical kind of prophetic the evangelical church needs.

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