Comments for Planting on Faith http://www.plantingonfaith.com From suburban Vancouverites to Albertan Church Planters Mon, 07 May 2012 14:01:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 Comment on Singles Preparing for Marriage: Advice is Dangerous Ground for Advisers by admin http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2008/09/singles-preparing-for-marriage-advice-is-dangerous-ground-for-advisers/#comment-4320 admin Mon, 07 May 2012 14:01:50 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/?p=64#comment-4320 Thank you for the comment. I used myself as an example but my example by no means establishes the advice as normative. What establishes the advice as normative is that it is from Scripture. The "Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness" principle can be found throughout the Bible as being what Jesus is calling all believers, single and married to. You can discard this advice because "it hasn't worked" if you want to, but following Jesus isn't, like some authors and teachers write, a "Your Best Life Now, Guaranteed" prescription. I totally agree, there is no magical formula. Because the truth is God is most interested in conforming our hearts to His Son's. And for some (and I don't know you and even if I did I would hesitate to suggest that anyone could know someone well enough to be sure), keeping them from their heart's desire is what is ultimately best for them to become more closely conformed to Jesus. Because for some, attaining that would send them into a spiral of self-sufficiency and distancing themselves from God, who we need more than anything we think we want. I think C.S. Lewis had a very good point when he said, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” From your comment you sound quite frustrated by your pursuit of love and marriage. I don't blame you, I have been there. But I am afraid that telling me and others to stop saying, stop teaching what God teaches in His Word just because it pragmatically "didn't work" in your case is like saying to doctors, "Stop telling people to have sex if they want babies, because I had sex for years and never got pregnant." Sometimes there are other reasons for what we experience than we in our limited perceptions can understand. Thank you for the comment. I used myself as an example but my example by no means establishes the advice as normative. What establishes the advice as normative is that it is from Scripture. The “Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness” principle can be found throughout the Bible as being what Jesus is calling all believers, single and married to. You can discard this advice because “it hasn’t worked” if you want to, but following Jesus isn’t, like some authors and teachers write, a “Your Best Life Now, Guaranteed” prescription. I totally agree, there is no magical formula. Because the truth is God is most interested in conforming our hearts to His Son’s. And for some (and I don’t know you and even if I did I would hesitate to suggest that anyone could know someone well enough to be sure), keeping them from their heart’s desire is what is ultimately best for them to become more closely conformed to Jesus. Because for some, attaining that would send them into a spiral of self-sufficiency and distancing themselves from God, who we need more than anything we think we want.

I think C.S. Lewis had a very good point when he said, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

From your comment you sound quite frustrated by your pursuit of love and marriage. I don’t blame you, I have been there. But I am afraid that telling me and others to stop saying, stop teaching what God teaches in His Word just because it pragmatically “didn’t work” in your case is like saying to doctors, “Stop telling people to have sex if they want babies, because I had sex for years and never got pregnant.” Sometimes there are other reasons for what we experience than we in our limited perceptions can understand.

]]> Comment on Singles Preparing for Marriage: Advice is Dangerous Ground for Advisers by SluggySnail http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2008/09/singles-preparing-for-marriage-advice-is-dangerous-ground-for-advisers/#comment-4318 SluggySnail Mon, 07 May 2012 06:38:38 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/?p=64#comment-4318 Nope, I don't need that advice, and my ears aren't "itching," which I find to be insulting, as it implies that single Christians who are hurting over being single are not into good doctrine, we are easily duped, etc. Sorry, but as a Christian woman (early 40s, never married, but who wanted marriage, have no idea why I've not been married) I can't agree with your views. I was totally content with singleness for years at a time but despite that, God did not send me a spouse. There are plenty of Christians who were not content and yet still got married. I don't think focusing on God alone/ being content (and the usual cliches and platitudes singles hear) are magical formulas that will guarantee a spouse. Neither does have faith/ pray about it/ wait on the Lord's timing/ serve while waiting/ go to Sunday School singles classes/ join dating sites. I've tried it all, and it doesn't work, either. Stop telling singles to "be content and then you'll get a mate." It may have been true for you, but it's not true for me and thousands of other singles. Nope, I don’t need that advice, and my ears aren’t “itching,” which I find to be insulting, as it implies that single Christians who are hurting over being single are not into good doctrine, we are easily duped, etc.

Sorry, but as a Christian woman (early 40s, never married, but who wanted marriage, have no idea why I’ve not been married) I can’t agree with your views.

I was totally content with singleness for years at a time but despite that, God did not send me a spouse.

There are plenty of Christians who were not content and yet still got married.

I don’t think focusing on God alone/ being content (and the usual cliches and platitudes singles hear) are magical formulas that will guarantee a spouse.

Neither does have faith/ pray about it/ wait on the Lord’s timing/ serve while waiting/ go to Sunday School singles classes/ join dating sites. I’ve tried it all, and it doesn’t work, either.

Stop telling singles to “be content and then you’ll get a mate.” It may have been true for you, but it’s not true for me and thousands of other singles.

]]> Comment on New Blog: GrasslandsChurch.com/blog by christian ministry arizona http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2011/07/new-blog-grasslandschurch-comblog/#comment-3694 christian ministry arizona Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:20:35 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/?p=660#comment-3694 Living in the word is very hard, but having a good church that supports you and leads you in the right direction is something that that makes it a lot easier. Living in the word is very hard, but having a good church that supports you and leads you in the right direction is something that that makes it a lot easier.

]]> Comment on Salvation is Communal by John http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2010/09/salvation-is-communal/#comment-428 John Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:07:14 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2010/09/salvation-is-communal/#comment-428 Aahh - therein lies the tension. Does it need to be either/or? I suspect as you look at scripture there is clear indication that salvation is both a communal and individual experience. Numerous times it talks of groups (eg the jailer and his entire household) becoming Christians, but there is also clear indication that I myself must repent and be baptised. Just how that juxtaposition plays out fully I will leave to greater theological minds than mine. Aahh – therein lies the tension.
Does it need to be either/or?
I suspect as you look at scripture there is clear indication that salvation is both a communal and individual experience.
Numerous times it talks of groups (eg the jailer and his entire household) becoming Christians, but there is also clear indication that I myself must repent and be baptised. Just how that juxtaposition plays out fully I will leave to greater theological minds than mine.

]]> Comment on About Us by admin http://www.plantingonfaith.com/more/#comment-178 admin Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:50:48 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/?page_id=3#comment-178 I forwarded your information to my wife, but I know she is quite busy with parenting and working on her master's in nursing. Can't make any promises. I forwarded your information to my wife, but I know she is quite busy with parenting and working on her master’s in nursing. Can’t make any promises.

]]> Comment on About Us by admin http://www.plantingonfaith.com/more/#comment-177 admin Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:49:53 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/?page_id=3#comment-177 Hey keep in touch! Networking with church planters is a great idea. We all need to support each other! Hey keep in touch! Networking with church planters is a great idea. We all need to support each other!

]]> Comment on About Us by Gabriel Spence http://www.plantingonfaith.com/more/#comment-176 Gabriel Spence Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:51:28 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/?page_id=3#comment-176 I just wanted to say hi. I grew up in the Vancouver area and by a series of circumstances I ended up in Texas on a church planting team. I probably will be part of a couple more plants here in the states before my younger brother and I implement our plan to return to Canada and begin planting churches there - specifically in the Greater Vancouver area and maybe even into Alberta. I ran across your Twitter and subsequently your blog. To anyone planting a church in Canada I say bravo and do my best to make a connection with them to see how God led them to do so. Blessings Gabriel Spence I just wanted to say hi. I grew up in the Vancouver area and by a series of circumstances I ended up in Texas on a church planting team. I probably will be part of a couple more plants here in the states before my younger brother and I implement our plan to return to Canada and begin planting churches there – specifically in the Greater Vancouver area and maybe even into Alberta. I ran across your Twitter and subsequently your blog. To anyone planting a church in Canada I say bravo and do my best to make a connection with them to see how God led them to do so.

Blessings
Gabriel Spence

]]> Comment on Why Plant A Church? by David http://www.plantingonfaith.com/why-plant-a-church/#comment-106 David Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:15:24 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/?page_id=256#comment-106 Shane, I came across your blog the other day, and am enjoying what I've been reading. Your stats on churches and church planting are right on. It is disheartening to see the church in decline, and some church leaders in denial about the situation. I listened to Earl Creps, a church planter with the AoG in California, talking about the direction the church should take. When asked by denominational officials his advice for future direction, he stated that every senior pastor should resign and go plant a church. That would accomplish two things: new churches would be planted, and younger pastors would have the opportunity to take on positions of leadership. Be encouraged in your efforts to plant a church. God will bless your faithfulness, and a harvest will be realized from seeds planted today. Thanks for writing. http://revdavidporter.wordpress.com David Shane,
I came across your blog the other day, and am enjoying what I’ve been reading. Your stats on churches and church planting are right on. It is disheartening to see the church in decline, and some church leaders in denial about the situation.
I listened to Earl Creps, a church planter with the AoG in California, talking about the direction the church should take. When asked by denominational officials his advice for future direction, he stated that every senior pastor should resign and go plant a church. That would accomplish two things: new churches would be planted, and younger pastors would have the opportunity to take on positions of leadership.
Be encouraged in your efforts to plant a church. God will bless your faithfulness, and a harvest will be realized from seeds planted today.
Thanks for writing.
http://revdavidporter.wordpress.com
David

]]> Comment on Salvation is Communal by David http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2010/09/salvation-is-communal/#comment-103 David Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:04:24 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2010/09/salvation-is-communal/#comment-103 I agree with Bart, to a point. Yes, the emphasis on personal salvation may be a reaction against the institutionalization of the church. However, in today's culture, people are less familiar with the church than in the past. However, we still must make a decision for ourselves. What we can emphasize, which has not been stressed, is that the decision can be made in the context of a community. As for Scripture verses, I'm reminded of Matthew 9:9-11. Jesus calls Matthew, who immediately hosts a dinner party for his friends, along with Jesus and his disciples. Here we are reminded that we are in a particular context to help others know the reailty of following Christ. Blessings, David I agree with Bart, to a point. Yes, the emphasis on personal salvation may be a reaction against the institutionalization of the church. However, in today’s culture, people are less familiar with the church than in the past. However, we still must make a decision for ourselves. What we can emphasize, which has not been stressed, is that the decision can be made in the context of a community.
As for Scripture verses, I’m reminded of Matthew 9:9-11. Jesus calls Matthew, who immediately hosts a dinner party for his friends, along with Jesus and his disciples. Here we are reminded that we are in a particular context to help others know the reailty of following Christ.
Blessings,
David

]]> Comment on Salvation is Communal by Bart http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2010/09/salvation-is-communal/#comment-93 Bart Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:25:37 +0000 http://www.plantingonfaith.com/2010/09/salvation-is-communal/#comment-93 My guess is that the "personal" emphasis on salvation has less to do with the "individualistic self-centred" culture and more to do with the fact that the Christian culture evolved into a church culture. There came a time in the church where Christians were sort of like Jews; born into a Christian family made you a Christian - much like the culture of Judaism. It seems that it became necessary to clarify that ME following Jesus was about MY personal decision, not about what my parents did and those in my church/Christian community. My guess is that the “personal” emphasis on salvation has less to do with the “individualistic self-centred” culture and more to do with the fact that the Christian culture evolved into a church culture. There came a time in the church where Christians were sort of like Jews; born into a Christian family made you a Christian – much like the culture of Judaism.

It seems that it became necessary to clarify that ME following Jesus was about MY personal decision, not about what my parents did and those in my church/Christian community.

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