"You are held in honor, but we are held in disrepute. To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless, when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day." 1 Corinthians 5:11-13I honestly get nervous when Christians and their organisations are too successful. I know the fruit comes from God. I know the blessing comes from God. But then I see verses like this and I wonder if we're going wrong somewhere.
and again...
"So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18I have much more pondering to do on this subject, but let's suffice to say that I am suspect of "success" when it comes to Christian organisations.
Interesting. I sort of know what you mean. When churches have it 'easy', as in fact we seem to, sometimes I wonder if may be we are conforming too much, or not being effective, or *something*, and that is the reason why we are not seeing much persecution, which seems in general to be the norm for the church. Not that I want that either mind. I sometimes think the dangers to the church / christian of worldliness and persecution tend to wax and wane in antisync with one another. Like you, I'm not really sure...
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