Comments on: On Throwing Away A Ministry of Comfort http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:58:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Headless Unicorn Guy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-479239 Headless Unicorn Guy Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:58:23 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-479239 <i>As for what Ron said about the lack of meaningful friendships forming in youth groups (and other parts of the church) I would submit that we don’t want others to know who we really are out of fear they might see that we don’t exhibit a “victorious lifestyle”.</i> -- Ed And that all the others might turn on us and peck the defective to death like chickens in a feedlot. "Any nail that sticks up gets hammered down -- HARD!" So out of sheer survival, you stay on the surface. Always Victorious, Always Righteous, Always Happy Clappy Christian. <a href="http://evangelicalinthewilderness.blogspot.com/2009/05/twitter-tralfamadoria-and-church-2060_28.html" rel="nofollow">Or at least, your masks say so -- like the avies in this little vignette of a Second Life-esque Virtual Megachurch circa 2060, by Christian Monist.</a> As for what Ron said about the lack of meaningful friendships forming in youth groups (and other parts of the church) I would submit that we don’t want others to know who we really are out of fear they might see that we don’t exhibit a “victorious lifestyle”. — Ed

And that all the others might turn on us and peck the defective to death like chickens in a feedlot.

“Any nail that sticks up gets hammered down — HARD!”

So out of sheer survival, you stay on the surface. Always Victorious, Always Righteous, Always Happy Clappy Christian. Or at least, your masks say so — like the avies in this little vignette of a Second Life-esque Virtual Megachurch circa 2060, by Christian Monist.

]]> By: Ed http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-479087 Ed Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:10:47 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-479087 Michael, I'm happy for you in finding a place where you feel God is using you. I don't know the story of how you got from being a youth/church pastor to where you are today, but if it's like other stories I've heard of "former" church staff, it probably wasn't a lot of fun. What you and others in the thread are saying about youth programs is intriguing, and insightful. As for what Ron said about the lack of meaningful friendships forming in youth groups (and other parts of the church) I would submit that we don't want others to know who we really are out of fear they might see that we don't exhibit a "victorious lifestyle". Michael,

I’m happy for you in finding a place where you feel God is using you. I don’t know the story of how you got from being a youth/church pastor to where you are today, but if it’s like other stories I’ve heard of “former” church staff, it probably wasn’t a lot of fun.

What you and others in the thread are saying about youth programs is intriguing, and insightful.

As for what Ron said about the lack of meaningful friendships forming in youth groups (and other parts of the church) I would submit that we don’t want others to know who we really are out of fear they might see that we don’t exhibit a “victorious lifestyle”.

]]> By: Lucy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-479076 Lucy Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:40:14 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-479076 I thought this was a good post and I'm grateful that you are where you are. Your students are very lucky. I thought this was a good post and I’m grateful that you are where you are. Your students are very lucky.

]]> By: James the Mad http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-479021 James the Mad Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:37:22 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-479021 I'm a bit curious as to why anyone would be offended, as it is readily apparent from many of your other postings that you're a minister of the gospel. As to your "target audience"? Wasn't aware of that. But it changes things . . . how? Keep up the good work. Between you and some of the books you've recommended I am learning and growing, which is not always that easy to do when one has walked this earth for more than half a century, more than half of that time as a believer. I only wish there had been someone like you in my life 30 years ago. I’m a bit curious as to why anyone would be offended, as it is readily apparent from many of your other postings that you’re a minister of the gospel.

As to your “target audience”? Wasn’t aware of that. But it changes things . . . how?

Keep up the good work. Between you and some of the books you’ve recommended I am learning and growing, which is not always that easy to do when one has walked this earth for more than half a century, more than half of that time as a believer. I only wish there had been someone like you in my life 30 years ago.

]]> By: Patrick Kyle http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-479015 Patrick Kyle Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:24:35 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-479015 Excellent post Michael, and thanks for being faithful to the Gospel, your calling, and to those under your ministry. Mr. Cruse has engaged in the logical fallacy of refuting the analogy. Its guys like him that cause me to start to lose interest in any kind of internet dialogue. Excellent post Michael, and thanks for being faithful to the Gospel, your calling, and to those under your ministry.

Mr. Cruse has engaged in the logical fallacy of refuting the analogy. Its guys like him that cause me to start to lose interest in any kind of internet dialogue.

]]> By: Jin Woo http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-479011 Jin Woo Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:03:36 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-479011 Imonk, Good stuff and I love the hammer-nail illustration. However, I have a question. How do you disciple the students into the Christian walk at your workplace? Do you just preach to them, or get involved in some other way too? Just want to know because my own church has a problem when it comes to discipleship. Imonk,

Good stuff and I love the hammer-nail illustration. However, I have a question. How do you disciple the students into the Christian walk at your workplace? Do you just preach to them, or get involved in some other way too? Just want to know because my own church has a problem when it comes to discipleship.

]]> By: alvin_tsf http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-478992 alvin_tsf Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:48:02 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-478992 iMonk thanks for sharing. it is indeed very inspiring and often tedious. i work with kids at our church and it is so easy to fall into this: "reduced the Christian life to church involvement and lots of discipleship talk that amounted to “don’t be like the other kids.” your reflections on a Jesus-shaped spirituality and the Jesus Disconnect has helped re-evaluate the children's and youth ministry at our church. tbanks again for your insights. have a blessed day alvin iMonk

thanks for sharing. it is indeed very inspiring and often tedious. i work with kids at our church and it is so easy to fall into this:

“reduced the Christian life to church involvement and lots of discipleship talk that amounted to “don’t be like the other kids.”

your reflections on a Jesus-shaped spirituality and the Jesus Disconnect has helped re-evaluate the children’s and youth ministry at our church.

tbanks again for your insights.

have a blessed day

alvin

]]> By: Curtis http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-478964 Curtis Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:42:03 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-478964 Aliasmoi, If memory serves me, the ten-mile rule is to not let your children within ten miles of an unbeliever. It's satire, mind you. Two miles would be perfectly sufficient. Aliasmoi,
If memory serves me, the ten-mile rule is to not let your children within ten miles of an unbeliever. It’s satire, mind you. Two miles would be perfectly sufficient.

]]> By: John http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-478962 John Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:40:53 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-478962 Michael, do not be discouraged by the cynicism you see on the internet and elsewhere. Everything in your account indicates that you are where God wants you and that you are buiding His kingdom and doing His will. There will be imperfections, failures and discouragements, but also victories, love, communion, fellowship, support and encouragement. May God bless and keep you as you continue to serve Him. Michael, do not be discouraged by the cynicism you see on the internet and elsewhere. Everything in your account indicates that you are where God wants you and that you are buiding His kingdom and doing His will. There will be imperfections, failures and discouragements, but also victories, love, communion, fellowship, support and encouragement. May God bless and keep you as you continue to serve Him.

]]> By: greg r http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/on-throwing-away-a-ministry-of-comfort/comment-page-1#comment-478946 greg r Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:08:53 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3377#comment-478946 Rick: are you having a particularly bad day ? Your reaction to a simple metaphor is odd and weirdly over the top (and that's my take on just what got thru moderation). If the post 'pushes your buttons', OK, but that says more about your unpleasant experiences than IMonk. I hope you get help, and sorry in advance it this comes across as condescending, I really mean it. Lift a rock, pound a nail, build a bridge, wash feet..... keep at it Mr. Spenser, do the hard work, the simple things, with faith and passion. PLEASE STAY AT IT....almost said "stay at your post"...but OMG, that's a military metaphor :-) GREG R Rick: are you having a particularly bad day ? Your reaction to a simple metaphor is odd and weirdly over the top (and that’s my take on just what got thru moderation). If the post ‘pushes your buttons’, OK, but that says more about your unpleasant experiences than IMonk. I hope you get help, and sorry in advance it this comes across as condescending, I really mean it.

Lift a rock, pound a nail, build a bridge, wash feet….. keep at it Mr. Spenser, do the hard work, the simple things, with faith and passion. PLEASE STAY AT IT….almost said “stay at your post”…but OMG, that’s a military metaphor :-)

GREG R

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