It's really a Good chapter, Jake. This is really been on my heart for a long time. Thank you for sharing.. I think it would be a great thing to talk about in our groups.
Jake, I've read thru this chapter twice and oh my! I have been chewing and chewing and say YES and AMEN! Part of me grieved deeply bc I this is what I was called to and assigned to for years only to be thwarted. But the other part is sooo excited bc I am still called and assigned to this in our small church. I will read it again several more times to comment on specific things. To a general church goer who is a consumer this will all sound harsh and legalistic for sure. And that's OK. But to those whose heart and mind is for discipleship it will be music to their souls.
Thank you, Linda, you know I appreciate any feedback you have. And that's one of the main thing I pray for -- that the Lord opens the ears of those who aren't already aligned with this truth. I certainly don't want them to receive it harshly, but with sober judgment. And ultimately, that's something only God can do!
It is a very good chapter and a lot of food for thought. But I have been wondering how this and evangelism lines up with a passage like 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 where it seems like Paul says, "mind your own business."
Hey Tom! Great question... I actually plan to dedicate an entire later chapter to answering that question: Evangelism vs. Devotion to the Saints. Very astute of you, since this is not something most people are aware of, and the verse you quoted is an important one in this discussion.
In this chapter I shared above, however, I hope to have communicated that when I'm talking about "equipping the saints," I'm not talking about evangelism. The passage you quoted in 1 Thess 4, I believe, can be (at least loosely) applied to evangelism but not to our devotion to one another. In context of the rest of the epistles, there's not a single verse directly exhorting the Christians to engage in evangelistic activity (apart from Timothy who was an appointed/gifted evangelist). But there are countless verses directly exhorting them to love and serve one another -- even to judge one another, correct/rebuke/admonish one another, etc. So, to "mind our own business" with one another (i.e., the saints) would be to neglect our duty to build each other up, watch over each other's souls, etc., contradicting some of Paul's exhortation in the very same letter (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
More to say here, but I'm keeping it short for now. Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks for the reply. I know that you are not talking about evangelism. Thanks for clarifying and making it clear. By the way, I read your book, "No Longer I." It made me very uncomfortable, but in a good way.
It is uncomfortable because the flesh rules more in my life than the Spirit. I know that because I do not love Jesus with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. I can try to tell myself that I do love Him that much but the flesh “elbows” its way in reminding me of the “fleshly” things I should be more concerned about (financial security being the chief concern). I think that is not an uncommon problem in this country (USA). But we who call ourselves Christians, don’t see it that way or refuse to acknowledge it.
I have a question for you, brother… If Jesus were standing before you *in the flesh*, and said, “Sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and follow me,” would you? I’m not talking about trying to discern if that’s actually what he’s saying to you right now, while you cannot see him. I’m talking about if you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he said this to you because you saw it with your own eyes and heard it with your own ears, and he hugged you with his own arms, while extending you this invitation. Is there any doubt in your mind that you would obey/follow him in that scenario?
This has completely reoriented my perception of the ladies Bible study I help lead!!
That’s amazing! 🙌🏻
It's really a Good chapter, Jake. This is really been on my heart for a long time. Thank you for sharing.. I think it would be a great thing to talk about in our groups.
Jake, I've read thru this chapter twice and oh my! I have been chewing and chewing and say YES and AMEN! Part of me grieved deeply bc I this is what I was called to and assigned to for years only to be thwarted. But the other part is sooo excited bc I am still called and assigned to this in our small church. I will read it again several more times to comment on specific things. To a general church goer who is a consumer this will all sound harsh and legalistic for sure. And that's OK. But to those whose heart and mind is for discipleship it will be music to their souls.
Thank you, Linda, you know I appreciate any feedback you have. And that's one of the main thing I pray for -- that the Lord opens the ears of those who aren't already aligned with this truth. I certainly don't want them to receive it harshly, but with sober judgment. And ultimately, that's something only God can do!
It is a very good chapter and a lot of food for thought. But I have been wondering how this and evangelism lines up with a passage like 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 where it seems like Paul says, "mind your own business."
Hey Tom! Great question... I actually plan to dedicate an entire later chapter to answering that question: Evangelism vs. Devotion to the Saints. Very astute of you, since this is not something most people are aware of, and the verse you quoted is an important one in this discussion.
In this chapter I shared above, however, I hope to have communicated that when I'm talking about "equipping the saints," I'm not talking about evangelism. The passage you quoted in 1 Thess 4, I believe, can be (at least loosely) applied to evangelism but not to our devotion to one another. In context of the rest of the epistles, there's not a single verse directly exhorting the Christians to engage in evangelistic activity (apart from Timothy who was an appointed/gifted evangelist). But there are countless verses directly exhorting them to love and serve one another -- even to judge one another, correct/rebuke/admonish one another, etc. So, to "mind our own business" with one another (i.e., the saints) would be to neglect our duty to build each other up, watch over each other's souls, etc., contradicting some of Paul's exhortation in the very same letter (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
More to say here, but I'm keeping it short for now. Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks for the reply. I know that you are not talking about evangelism. Thanks for clarifying and making it clear. By the way, I read your book, "No Longer I." It made me very uncomfortable, but in a good way.
Sure thing. And cool, I'd love to hear more!
It is uncomfortable because the flesh rules more in my life than the Spirit. I know that because I do not love Jesus with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. I can try to tell myself that I do love Him that much but the flesh “elbows” its way in reminding me of the “fleshly” things I should be more concerned about (financial security being the chief concern). I think that is not an uncommon problem in this country (USA). But we who call ourselves Christians, don’t see it that way or refuse to acknowledge it.
I have a question for you, brother… If Jesus were standing before you *in the flesh*, and said, “Sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and follow me,” would you? I’m not talking about trying to discern if that’s actually what he’s saying to you right now, while you cannot see him. I’m talking about if you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he said this to you because you saw it with your own eyes and heard it with your own ears, and he hugged you with his own arms, while extending you this invitation. Is there any doubt in your mind that you would obey/follow him in that scenario?
No. In that scenario, there is no doubt in my mind that I would obey and follow Him. Thanks for that perspective.