I thought of you when I read this quote from "Beyond Sundays" by Wayne Jacobsen -
"To the followers of Jesus scattered throughout the world, no longer attached to a specific congregation or denomination:
Greetings from one of your kind and from Jesus himself. I pray this letter finds you growing in the affection of our Father, in the trust of his Son, and the wisdom and gentleness of his Spirit. I know the way has not been easy. It never is for pioneers who move outside an established status quo in search of greater vitality and authenticity. I know most of you didn’t plan to get here; you simply followed the hunger of your heart and his drawing of your conscience until you found yourself outside the circles you used to frequent and for a while found so helpful. Some of you got pushed out for asking the wrong questions; others just stopped going, wearied by the politics or how guilt and fear were used to keep people in line. I have spent the last twenty years among those who have taken their liberty from Christianity-as-a-religion and yet continued to pursue a life in Christ as vibrant as the one he passed on to his disciples. Their journey beyond Sunday-morning Christianity only confirmed their choice.
The people I admire most in this world are those who follow their spiritual hunger, even when it takes them beyond the comfort of their friends and family. Religion is built on approval needs, and when someone diverges from that conformity, they meet a host of well-intentioned, if not particularly sensitive, people trying to convince them they are wrong. Jesus knows how painful your journey is better than anyone else. It is a road he walked as well. It is so easy to sing with great passion, “Though none go with me, still I will follow,” and far more difficult to actually do it. When you do, however, I’ve no doubt it brings great joy to him, knowing the risk you took to follow him down an uncertain path. Live in that joy as you keep going, even if the road is more difficult than you imagined. Your pursuit will reward you in ways you maybe can’t see yet, and fulfill the deepest hungers with his reality, his love, and his freedom.
I realize many of you need no encouragement from me. You have come to know Jesus and learned to follow him apart from the religious conventions of our culture, and are finding yourselves increasingly at rest in his provision and being fruitful for him where he has placed you.
You have discovered that there is still a church in the world to connect with relationally that doesn’t need the political gamesmanship or the mind-numbing routines of religion. I have met many of you around the world, and have been inspired by your courage to take the road less traveled and your resilience in the face of challenge, opposition, and false accusations."
You may be accused of being a free-range Christian .. unable to grow or mature but you know better .. just as many doubted that homeschoolers could never compete with Government education and eventually accepted them as peers, so too may the 501C3 Government approved church institutions eventually see those who thrive and flourish outside those walls as brothers and sisters as well.
Start reading this book for free: http://a.co/7mc94Lb
"To the followers of Jesus scattered throughout the world, no longer attached to a specific congregation or denomination:
Greetings from one of your kind and from Jesus himself. I pray this letter finds you growing in the affection of our Father, in the trust of his Son, and the wisdom and gentleness of his Spirit. I know the way has not been easy. It never is for pioneers who move outside an established status quo in search of greater vitality and authenticity. I know most of you didn’t plan to get here; you simply followed the hunger of your heart and his drawing of your conscience until you found yourself outside the circles you used to frequent and for a while found so helpful. Some of you got pushed out for asking the wrong questions; others just stopped going, wearied by the politics or how guilt and fear were used to keep people in line. I have spent the last twenty years among those who have taken their liberty from Christianity-as-a-religion and yet continued to pursue a life in Christ as vibrant as the one he passed on to his disciples. Their journey beyond Sunday-morning Christianity only confirmed their choice.
The people I admire most in this world are those who follow their spiritual hunger, even when it takes them beyond the comfort of their friends and family. Religion is built on approval needs, and when someone diverges from that conformity, they meet a host of well-intentioned, if not particularly sensitive, people trying to convince them they are wrong. Jesus knows how painful your journey is better than anyone else. It is a road he walked as well. It is so easy to sing with great passion, “Though none go with me, still I will follow,” and far more difficult to actually do it. When you do, however, I’ve no doubt it brings great joy to him, knowing the risk you took to follow him down an uncertain path. Live in that joy as you keep going, even if the road is more difficult than you imagined. Your pursuit will reward you in ways you maybe can’t see yet, and fulfill the deepest hungers with his reality, his love, and his freedom.
I realize many of you need no encouragement from me. You have come to know Jesus and learned to follow him apart from the religious conventions of our culture, and are finding yourselves increasingly at rest in his provision and being fruitful for him where he has placed you.
You have discovered that there is still a church in the world to connect with relationally that doesn’t need the political gamesmanship or the mind-numbing routines of religion. I have met many of you around the world, and have been inspired by your courage to take the road less traveled and your resilience in the face of challenge, opposition, and false accusations."
You may be accused of being a free-range Christian .. unable to grow or mature but you know better .. just as many doubted that homeschoolers could never compete with Government education and eventually accepted them as peers, so too may the 501C3 Government approved church institutions eventually see those who thrive and flourish outside those walls as brothers and sisters as well.
Start reading this book for free: http://a.co/7mc94Lb
posted from Bloggeroid
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