I am in Kansas City at the M7 conference for the Church of the Nazarene. So far I have been disgusted and hopeful, sad and encouraged, engaged and bored. There is definitely an attempt being made to hear the voice of those who are concerned with social justice and calling people to authentic discipleship. There are good people here who are genuinely concerned about understanding the implications of following Jesus. There are also people here who clap when they hear one of the speakers dismantle some of their traditional ideas of church, and I think, "why are they clapping?" People hear what they want to hear. Maybe someday soon I will have a clearer understanding of what to do with this but now I just keep pushing ahead with the thought that there are some people here who have thought through this much more than me, and yet here they are.
It's too simple to ask why we can't just all stay and be a prophetic voice within this denomination. That just doesn't work for everyone who is trying to faithfully live out the kingdom.
I know I can't leave; yet I can't stay and say the "right things" anymore.
Luke 6:20-26
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you* on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24‘But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
25‘Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 ‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
M7
Posted by David at 12:47 PM
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6 comments:
Keep pressing on.
"May God open your ears to listen to Jesus, and may his Spirit transform you to be more like Christ. Amen." (Luke 9:35, 2 Cor. 3:18
wow. I need to spend some time with Noonen also, but you know how I feel. Although we haven't spoken at length about it. I am tired of seeing the affluent church be the affluent church and throw money at the situation rather than being involved. I am FINALLY reading Irresistible Revolution and I have been preaching over and over this idea of Matthew 25:31-40 (The sheep and the goats) What are we doing? Where in the kingdom being living out in the nazarene church? I loved one quote I read in Ireesistible Revolution where a gospel preach says that Jesus will return for his bride, not his brides (denominations) he doesn't want a harem. I am fed up with the nazarene denomination being a "holier than thou" empire unto itself and I certainly believe it's not the legacy Bresee desired.
I have some friends at headquarters who hate it. Get written up all the time for a shirt being untucked or certain things which have no difference in the kingdom and it's sick how "holiness" gets twisted in this manner. I certainly hope (although I know this to be the case) that people are walking away or being pushed away from Nazarenedom, because that's not the spirit of the kingdom and the equality we have in Christ.
Be honest...You had a Z-Man, didn't you?
I had a Carolina pulled pork and Jenn had a Z-Man. For a moment, all was right with the world.
What's a 'Z Man' ??!?!
It's a sandwich at our favorite bbq place in KC. Here's a link to the menu, it explains the sandwich.
http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/restaurant/restaurant_menu_1.htm
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