Comments on: Is There a Better Way to Be Christian?

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 21:45:42 +0000

If you’re rambling, you still make sense. ha. Sounds like you would probably appreciate this book as well. It makes some hard challenges, but I agree that we do need to rethink quite a few things. It’s definitely not all about bringing people to a building. I’m glad to see that mindset shifting; it’s not a healthy way of thinking for either those who are “outside” the building or those “inside.”
For your part two, I think we still lack vocabulary to fully express “love”, thus our need to put it in quotes so much. 🙂 Loving entails many things, and it doesn’t look the same in any two relationships. We have to be able to hold it with flexibility, not rigidly. As you’re saying, we can’t ignore the ugly in a relationship, but I don’t think it’s possible to “love” too much. It all depends on how you define love. Love sometimes means putting restrictions on ourselves, as in, I’d love to eat a box of hot Krispy Kreme donuts everyday, but I love myself too much to allow it. 🙂

By: Ashley Davis

Ashley Davis — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 03:13:57 +0000

This post intrigues me in many different ways.
One, I do think we need to rethink how we have been trying to reach the lost. The Gospel never changes, but sometimes I think we need to change our methods. Most people do not want to immediately come to a church building. They want a relationship with the individual person, and then I think they are more willing to come to the building. I was always taught, invite them to church, invite them to church. However, I think we need to develop that relationship with them first, and then slowly invite them to different things. I wholeheartedly believe in the church, and I want everyone to be involved, but I just think there is more to it than just inviting people “to come to church”. I rambled a bit, but hopefully it makes sense.

Two, I agree that we need more love. I also think we have to be careful not to overlook sin. Telling people the whole Gospel also involves telling them about sin, and honestly one of the most loving things we can do when done the right way. Often we “love” (I put love in quotes bc I don’t think it’s really loving when we don’t tell the truth) too much and just completely ignore people’s wrong actions (including ourselves), and I don’t think that is good either. There has to be a balance of loving people with the truth, and telling people this truth in a loving way. Again, I might be rambling, but I hope it makes sense.

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:31:42 +0000

In reply to Diana. Sharing the good news of Jesus as he meant for it to be shared is a beautiful goal that I share with you, Diana. May you and your family have a Merry Christmas.

By: Diana

Diana — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:04:05 +0000

Many churches are now trying to change “the Gospel” to “their Gospel” so that they can get more people to come to church… and by doing that they are moving farther away from the Truth and bending it to suit their means. As I see this happening, I’m even more determined to be literal in my Bible belief, to be biblically grounded in God’s Word and closer to His Truth so that I can share it the way He wants it shared. I’m thankful that my church is literally Bible-based and that we strive to share the Gospel as it is in His Word. Thank you for this wonderful post, Lisa! Blessings to you and yours. 🙂

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 16:21:33 +0000

In reply to Beverley. Yes, getting back to the simple and most perfect new law of loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves would solve so many of our own and society's problems. Sounds like great advice from your church conference to know Christ better in that way.

By: Beverley

Beverley — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 15:34:06 +0000

I think the problem with most religions is that they have bent the commandments so far that they are now at breaking point. We need to take a step backwards instead of forwards; toward Jesus Christ’s atonement and away from the teachings of the world. God has not changed, but man as and many want God to change his teachings to fit in with what they want and not necessarily what is truth. God always speaks the truth and truth never changes. When Jesus Christ was on the earth as part of the Beatitudes he taught that he had come to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17), as in the law that had been given to the Israelite nation through the prophets, such as Isaac, Abraham and Jacob. He later went on to teach that there was a new law, the new law was love God and love thy neighbour as thyself (Mark 12:30-31 – on these two hang all the laws and the prophets (Matt 40:35-40). We need to get back to the simple truths of Christ’s teachings and stop looking beyond the mark (Jacob 4:14 – Book of Mormon).
In the last church conference we, as members, were asked to go through our scriptures and mark every verse that speaks about attributes of Christ and in another colour to mark every verse that tells of him or his teachings. This is so that we can come to know Him better ourselves and so that we can then bear testimony unto the world of His ministry and His Atonement.

Looks like an interesting read!

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 21:51:43 +0000

In reply to Andrew Budek-Schmeisser. That's a lot of depth in such few words, Andrew. I'll have to ponder what you're saying. Thanks for being honest in what you share with us.

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 21:44:52 +0000

In reply to Kelly Chripczuk. You're welcome, Kelly. I've loved all of Brian's books that I've read so far, too. Lots to think about!

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 21:37:24 +0000

In reply to Diana. Sounds like you have a vibrant church, Diana. One of the things I love most about my church is the same: it focuses on meeting needs and loving people in the community, not just the other members of the church. Thanks for sharing this!

By: LisaNotes

LisaNotes — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 21:36:30 +0000

In reply to Pam. Sounds like you have quite a few stories of your own from your years of experience, Pam! I'd love to sit and listen sometime. :)