"It is quite common for people to say they are looking for a church they are comfortable with. I think that is a scandalous statement. When were churches supposed to be comfortable places? There is too much need in the world for Christians to be comfortable."
--Ajith Fernando, The Call to Joy and Pain: Embracing Suffering in Your Ministry (Crossway, 2007), 1994
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Prepare to Speak on Sunday: The Ministry of Conversation
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[image: Prepare to Speak on Sunday]
What if we recorded talk in the pews one Sunday morning? The sermon ends,
the preacher descends, we sing in response, t...
14 hours ago
4 comments:
I understand what the author is saying, and I agree that ministry is not supposed to be smooth sailing, but I don't believe healthy churches distrust or mistreat their leaders. Jesus said the world would hate us. Fine. I can deal with that. But, after having been forced to resign from one church, I must say I am thankful to God that I am now in a comfortable place of ministry. Not comfortable in a carnal way, but in a good fit sort of way. The church I serve now is far from perfect, as am I. It is a challenge, a joyful challenge, every day.
Where are these churches?? (those that are not comfortable)
The author is making a good point. In our country, we have probably been too comfortable; at least, for the last few decades. Christ does not call his disciples to comfort.
I am going to post a link and these comments on my pmPilgrim blog next Wednesday. Thanks for the quote. I have a hunch that for most of us in the "western" church this may be far too true for our comfort. It highlights for me that "church" has many different descriptions and calls to ministry. Like Jesus, for whom the "church" is his body alive in the world today, there are times to be a place of comfort- and definitely the time and place to be an affliction to those who are too comfortable in their own self-focused lives.
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