Just read the full article on your website. I can feel your strain, your frustration, the persistent push to see what, within your discourse is not making things clear enough. The effort is praiseworthy, especially your search for the right metaphor, the right word, "gatekeeping".
As you express it, churches all around and regardless of denomination appear to post their security guard at the gate - many times the teacher himself, his fame, his teaching or interpretation saying effectively: "This is what we/I stand for, take it or leave it."
In many ways, you seem to still be looking for the lost sheep and we all appear to be waiting for 'it' to happen, for God's promise to somehow overcome us.
I must say your description, both physical and psychological, of what we have come to know as the church, is extremely accurate.
Whatever happened to 'carry your cross and follow me'?
As you well explain, Jeremiah 31 says "I will put My Torah within them, and on their heart I will write it, and no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know YHWH, for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest"
If It's in the heart, how can we expect anyone to teach It to us? If It is in us, how can there be someone guarding the door? And even if there is someone there, no matter how loving and kind and knowledgeable and wise, how can there be no room inside the door for conversation, for rebuttals, for clarifications that are made heart to heart?
Great article, well disciplined and insightful. Until we get this topic right, we will be limited to 5 (fold) horsepower. It will take that which every joint supplies to complete the Kings mission.
Looking forward to reading your article Brother. Your work and writing has truly been a blessing to me. I love that you admit you may be wrong not simply because of humility, but also because you value truth above everything. Bless you Brother.
It’s the beauty and brilliance of the master storyteller. I think I wrestled with that parable for years and it surfaced when I was engaged with something not thinking about it. I think that’s his design.
I really only just put into words just a day or two before I read your segment here that same sense of how we need that wrestling and relationship and finding the treasure in itself is priceless.
Your words here are naming so much more that I felt but didn’t have words for.
Oh but don’t we also just wish for things to be easier to sort out at times.
Just read the full article on your website. I can feel your strain, your frustration, the persistent push to see what, within your discourse is not making things clear enough. The effort is praiseworthy, especially your search for the right metaphor, the right word, "gatekeeping".
As you express it, churches all around and regardless of denomination appear to post their security guard at the gate - many times the teacher himself, his fame, his teaching or interpretation saying effectively: "This is what we/I stand for, take it or leave it."
In many ways, you seem to still be looking for the lost sheep and we all appear to be waiting for 'it' to happen, for God's promise to somehow overcome us.
I must say your description, both physical and psychological, of what we have come to know as the church, is extremely accurate.
Whatever happened to 'carry your cross and follow me'?
As you well explain, Jeremiah 31 says "I will put My Torah within them, and on their heart I will write it, and no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know YHWH, for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest"
If It's in the heart, how can we expect anyone to teach It to us? If It is in us, how can there be someone guarding the door? And even if there is someone there, no matter how loving and kind and knowledgeable and wise, how can there be no room inside the door for conversation, for rebuttals, for clarifications that are made heart to heart?
Thank you for keeping on.
Great article, well disciplined and insightful. Until we get this topic right, we will be limited to 5 (fold) horsepower. It will take that which every joint supplies to complete the Kings mission.
Jamie, you took Ephesians 4 exactly where it goes!
Looking forward to reading your article Brother. Your work and writing has truly been a blessing to me. I love that you admit you may be wrong not simply because of humility, but also because you value truth above everything. Bless you Brother.
So thankful for your words Paul, blessed by them. 🙏
Matt 13:44
You are quite the thinker! I love it.
It’s the beauty and brilliance of the master storyteller. I think I wrestled with that parable for years and it surfaced when I was engaged with something not thinking about it. I think that’s his design.
I really only just put into words just a day or two before I read your segment here that same sense of how we need that wrestling and relationship and finding the treasure in itself is priceless.
Your words here are naming so much more that I felt but didn’t have words for.
Oh but don’t we also just wish for things to be easier to sort out at times.
Human nature defined. Always easier.