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 π
I was just thinking about that while listening to this tonight and hearing about house churches in Iran
Well⦠actually the whole episode this was on my mind
