Question for all of my conservative and christian friendsโฆ
what if the next move of God sweeps through the places where he is needed most, and we,
like the first son, are left jealous of his treatment of the prodigals?
what if he always comes in the least expected way?
i once heard it said that the reason so many mainline christians are late to the next move of God, is because they are too busy discussing if the last move was really God or not.
Revival hunters are so desperate to forever encapsulate a feeling that they forget their duty and first love. The next move of God is a prayer away and right in your living room, and yet, people would rather drive a hundred miles to the next sign than seek God for themselves. Anyways, thats my 2 sats...
and what if he comes and spends time with prostitutes, corrupt IRS agents, gang leaders, Chinese politicians and commercial fishermen? and openly criticizes your church leaders for not representing who God is?
what if he starts healing people who had gender surgeries, reversing them?
you gonna cry and insist he act according to your expectations? maybe try to have him arrested since he is โdestabilizing the churchโ?
Clearly you have someone in mind, i didn't have any additional context to assume this was a political figure, i suspect Trump?
lol. i was not thinking of trump. he doesnโt really enter my thinking that often and no. no one in specific.
I assumed we were talking of actual moves of God. Yeah, im with you on that joker ๐คฃ
we are.
the thought was, from the moment He came, He moved outside the religious establishment. The entire establishment really. And as you start studying social collapses and revivals, a pattern emerges. They never start within the establishment church. Ever. In fact, He seems to favor showing up within the groups who have been most ostracized and rejected by the establishment and even the church. I find that compelling and challenging.
Gotcha, I think this is one of the massive differences between protestant evangelicalism and orthodoxy. We have a long tradition of cultivating the presence of God within our communities, and an even longer history of persecution from the very leaders that claimed to be our heroes. Protestant groups that spurred from the great awakening seem to value a sort of spiritual experimentalism, individualist independance with an unnervingly weird uncompromised eschatalogical hope. I think history has showed the orthodox that moves of God rarely come from our rulers, but rather trials, tribulation, and persecution. If we want to experience God, we need not look further that seeking Him and His kingdom within us, pretty simple. So, i guess i dont qualify for your test case ๐
I was just thinking about that while listening to this tonight and hearing about house churches in Iran
Wellโฆ actually the whole episode this was on my mind
That's a good question. I can't say I have a good answer. But I do know that if I pray and listen intently, in time he will speak and guide me. Until then, each day I must continue to put one foot in front of the other. I must do my level best to be kind and loving to all. Lastly, I must continue to strive to be more like the many good examples that surround me.
I have never been good at that. But I know it is what I must do.
I think this is what always happens when God really moves. He provoked the Jews to jealousy through the Gentiles, and they'll ultimately be reconciled. He does that in smaller, shorter-timeframe ways throughout history. The fact is, the Church is always either persecuted or complacent. I know I would have a hard time with it, divine love does not come naturally. May God give us the grace to rejoice when others rejoice, and weep when others weep.
it really challenges me. so i try to โgo thereโ in my imagination and challenge myself. like.. would i recognize him? or would i be offended? what if i had no role but to rejoice, support, and watch?
trying to punch my ego into submission in advance ๐ค๐
๐ฏ right there with you
Well it is pretty important to know if something that is happening is of God or not. With all of the AI development, technological miracles, and lack of understanding, the Church needs to be very discerning these days. Without His direct help, weโre going to get lead astray. As for the jealousy thing, I donโt think most believers would fall into that. I do think that we are constantly amazed by His kindness and generosity.
His direct help is assured.
Why are you fearful?
Idk if I count as conservative; probably?
But that definitely sounds like something God does all the time. Without neglecting the โstaid older sons,โ His glory and love show most strikingly in His treatment of the โprodigal sons.โ
And the workers hired for only one hour. And the wedding guests invited off the street.
The point is not to be jealous, but to rejoice all the more.
Elizabeth wasnโt jealous of Mary, she rejoiced with her.
When Jesus came he didnโt just speak to the Jews/God fearing people, he preached to theives, prostitutes, the sinners who did not know God. I forget where I heard this, but when you see people around you being blessed by the Lord, rejoice with them knowing you will be next!
that's deep and close to truth I think
