Comments on: TICFITB #20 — Changing the World http://www.brittmooney.com/2006/12/ticfitb-20-changing-the-world/ Just another WordPress site Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:01:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Britt Mooney http://www.brittmooney.com/2006/12/ticfitb-20-changing-the-world/#comment-147 Britt Mooney Sun, 17 Dec 2006 21:59:00 +0000 http://www.brittmooney.com/2006/12/ticfitb-20-changing-the-world/#comment-147 Good balance, there, Derek. You defined it well. Christ wept (and died) for Jerusalem, but He also knew that despite His own self-sacrifice, the way would be found by only a few. He knew that some would hear and some would not, "to those with ears to hear ..." The way is always narrow. Just because over 90% of Americans claim to be Christians cannot change that fact. <br/><br/>We are to give of ourselves in hope that some will be granted repentance, as Paul describes in Romans. We give ourselves for all but realize that only a few will truly repent and believe. The seed falls on all kinds of ground, but only one kind of ground leads to life. <br/><br/>Like you said, the great comission is only met when led and guided by the One who comissioned it. That takes the Spirit inside of us following the Father through the Son. We are only the vessel sharing in the work and then the glory.<br/><br/>More to my point, though, is when we try to have this temporary world reflect eternal truths it is not capable of reflecting ... yet. Only the Church is capable of that expression because we are of another world.<br/><br/>peace. Good balance, there, Derek. You defined it well. Christ wept (and died) for Jerusalem, but He also knew that despite His own self-sacrifice, the way would be found by only a few. He knew that some would hear and some would not, “to those with ears to hear …” The way is always narrow. Just because over 90% of Americans claim to be Christians cannot change that fact.

We are to give of ourselves in hope that some will be granted repentance, as Paul describes in Romans. We give ourselves for all but realize that only a few will truly repent and believe. The seed falls on all kinds of ground, but only one kind of ground leads to life.

Like you said, the great comission is only met when led and guided by the One who comissioned it. That takes the Spirit inside of us following the Father through the Son. We are only the vessel sharing in the work and then the glory.

More to my point, though, is when we try to have this temporary world reflect eternal truths it is not capable of reflecting … yet. Only the Church is capable of that expression because we are of another world.

peace.

]]> By: Derek http://www.brittmooney.com/2006/12/ticfitb-20-changing-the-world/#comment-146 Derek Sun, 17 Dec 2006 15:58:00 +0000 http://www.brittmooney.com/2006/12/ticfitb-20-changing-the-world/#comment-146 Awesome series. It should be made into a book (or at least a large section of a book).<br/><br/>I'm somewhat torn on this one. Maybe this is part of the conventional church side of me that won't die, but Jesus did weep for Jerusalem. I don't think that we should fool ourselves and believe that we can save everyone - the state of the world portrayed in Revelation makes that clear. But having a heart to reach every tribe, every tongue, and every nation is clearly Biblical.<br/><br/>Clearly, I think the key is to follow the Spirit's leading, and do the work that He has called us to do. We don't need to worry so much about being terribly busy. If God wants to redeem the entire world through us, He can. But only if we are obedient, and only if we are following His call. And perhaps that is yet another reason why we need grace - the task that God originally had designed Israel for, and that falls onto us, requires an obedience so great that we are completely unable do it. Awesome series. It should be made into a book (or at least a large section of a book).

I’m somewhat torn on this one. Maybe this is part of the conventional church side of me that won’t die, but Jesus did weep for Jerusalem. I don’t think that we should fool ourselves and believe that we can save everyone – the state of the world portrayed in Revelation makes that clear. But having a heart to reach every tribe, every tongue, and every nation is clearly Biblical.

Clearly, I think the key is to follow the Spirit’s leading, and do the work that He has called us to do. We don’t need to worry so much about being terribly busy. If God wants to redeem the entire world through us, He can. But only if we are obedient, and only if we are following His call. And perhaps that is yet another reason why we need grace – the task that God originally had designed Israel for, and that falls onto us, requires an obedience so great that we are completely unable do it.

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