As fast as we can hope, we seem to be smitten with concerns. The church is always in a state of mobility and transition because of God's insistent call that we mature. Maturity, by the way, is for all of us. I don't believe we ever arrive by any specific age.
So what shall we anticipate as the need for the next few generations?
It is my conviction that it will be the same as is for ours; learn to live the abundant life of Jesus.
We are still learning if we are growing. Some appear satisfied that the church pattern has been restored and/or the plan of salvation is in tact. But many of us who also held these convictions found ourselves deeply and miserably lacking. We knew scripture (several scriptures); yet, we knew not Jesus.
He wrecks our fat satisfaction of assumed doctrinal discovery and will not let us go on with our rote messages as if we are the only ones in our generation to have discovered the Truth. Odd, I think, that we have simultaneously declared we had Truth completed while just getting started in learning of the Jesus of the streets.
The challenge of the future generations will be similar to our own; to avoid assuming they have come upon the very and final truth God ever wanted. For if it, too, does not have its conversation, conversion, or salvation embedded completely into a brilliant relationship with Jesus....these will also fumble and flounder in their faith. It will look just like ours anytime we hung our hats on any bright idea others had as to how to really follow God.
If Jesus isn't the center, the message is the wrong one. This will be the challenge for the future generations.
2 comments:
Self-sufficiency will always get in the way of our being able to trust Jesus...thanks for your thoughts...
Excellent thoughts, Terry. When the Restoration Movement sees itself as the Restored Movement, we're in trouble.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
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