I am deeply concerned about a trend in some Christian circles to glorify suffering, as if suffering is somehow a good thing. Over the past few months, I have heard that suffering should not only be anticipated, but gladly accepted because of its benefits. Of course, this is not exactly a “recent” trend, but one that can be traced back to Catholics in the Middle Ages. To this, I would like to offer an important clarification. First of all, there is nothing good in suffering itself. God does not delight in the suffering of a person being killed, nor did…
“Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our brothers and sisters throughout the world, who live and die in poverty and pain. Give them today, through our hands, their daily bread and through our understanding love, give peace and joy. Amen.” Blessed are the poor. For theirs is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are the hungry. For they shall be filled. (Common Prayer, Midday Prayers, June 2)
“God has made you a rational animal, set you over the cattle, formed you in his own image. Ought you to use your eyes as the cattle do, only to see what to add to your belly, not to your soul? Stir up the eye of reason, use your eyes as a human being should, consider the heaven and earth, the fruitfulness of the earth, the flight of the birds, the swimming of the fish, the goodness of the seeds; consider the works, and seek for the author. Believe in him you do not see because of these things that…
14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15) Thousands of years beforehand, God planned Jesus’ birth. God’s plan was not to make everyone wealthy or to give us political victory, but to save the world…
Pastors often say that church growth is not reflected in numbers. Some even say that we should talk instead about church health and leave the growth to God.If you hang around a church long enough, you will probably hear a pastor or church leader de-emphasizing the importance of numbers.This is in response to the growing number of megachurches, or more practically, to explain especially low attendance. Eventually, you will hear someone say that numbers do matter.We also feel this truth intrinsically. Numbers matter in the sense that God wants people to follow Him.There is a major difference between feeding…