Comments for Beyond Church Walls

Comment on Peer to Peer by Jim

Jim — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:09:01 +0000

Bob, thanks for the demystification anointing … now I’m off to go look for Fred.

Comment on Peer to Peer by Beyond Church Walls

Beyond Church Walls — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:26:50 +0000

Having read the responses here, I want to say that my intention was to demystify the whole ‘hearing God’ concept that we’ve been taught in the IC. It is far more common to us than what we’re expecting. Each of us make decisions, reach conclusions, and take actions in our life every day. We do this instinctually, or after processing information, or use common sense. Often it is hard enough to describe how we even do these things, yet we’re still able to do them. Hearing, or sensing the Spirit’s direction in something is no different then hearing or sensing your own common sense in a matter. “Should I go get drunk tonight?” your common sense says “No”, but in the same thought, you get the idea to go talk to Fred at the pub. Here’s a simple rule: we will err on selfishness, the Spirit will influence us to relationship. -bob

Comment on Character or Caricature? by David Fredrickson

David Fredrickson — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:58:26 +0000

The biggest block to receiving is trusting that God really has made us worthy in Christ and that he has (past tense) been made wisdom, righteousness (and everything else we need to be) for us. It’s not based on our prayer, Bible reading or behaviour. His character is revealed in us when we give up trying to do the right thing and protect ourselves from failure.

Comment on Servant or Son? by Kara

Kara — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:32:32 +0000

I am glad God trusts some people’s decisions. I too thought that until my decisions (to go to college) has ended me in bankruptcy due to an overabundance of student loand that I cannot pay, a miscarriage at 18 weeks after I decided it was time to have a child, and moving to a city for “better job opportunities” and it turned out to be worse than before my decision to move. Guess God doesn’t trust us all and doesn’t always stop us from being idiots in our humanness.

Comment on Peer to Peer by Kara

Kara — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:24:47 +0000

You aren’t alone Ian and Jim. My husband and I feel very frustrated as well. We left the church institution around 2007. It was as if we were being moved by the Grace of God without trying. After that the scriptures seem to come alive with truths we never knew in church. After that we joined different “house church” groups that didn’t seem to serve any purpose except that they were just like regular church. After that we decided to not try so hard to make things happen and we left house church also. For the last couple of years, God has been silent. We often think we misunderstood or made mistakes and since then we have been “flailing”. It is frustrating and I often wonder what makes others so different? What would it feel like to really know God and hear Him?

Comment on Character or Caricature? by Kara

Kara — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:15:53 +0000

That’s what I cannot grasp; receive and yield. I’ve got it in my head, but not in my heart. I sometimes just don’t know what to do except continue to pray and read the Bible and wait.

Comment on Servant or Son? by Analyst Girlie

Analyst Girlie — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:13:01 +0000

You have a few fine points in your article. I made a search on the subject matter and ultimately found mainly individuals will have the same opinion with your article.

Comment on Servant or Son? by Bob

Bob — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:53:11 +0000

Hi Loren,

I have been greatly encouraged by the series Church Outside the Walls and thoroughly appreciate the emphasis on grace at this blogsite. However, you might want to reconsider this one in order to be biblically accurate. We are son/servants with the emphasis on sonship. Sonship is first. Lining out of our sonship is living out of grace. But Paul the apostle did not negate being a servant of Jesus. Where your analogy with your daughter breaks down is in the fact that you are not a king. The children of an earthly king are first of all his children and he is their father. But a king is still a king and all who live in his kingdom are his subjects. So it is with our heavenly father, the king of the universe.

Comment on Peer to Peer by Jim

Jim — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:20:24 +0000

Ian, from my experience I think that getting an answer may depend on how you phrase the question. What has worked for me is if the prayer is phrased more like; should I take this career direction in my life or should I just go out and get drunk and if I don’t hear anything I’ll assume the latter”? That way I can say to people that God told me to get drunk.

Actually Ian, my experience has been identical to yours – no answer not even a microscopic nudge. I admit my experience may not be typical and I know others that just like Bob do receive a response. It’s frustrating as hell and I too envy them. Just wanted to say you’re not alone on this one.

Comment on Peer to Peer by Ian

Ian — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:10:03 +0000

When I was a Christian this never worked for me and was a point of contention and vexation. Time and again I’d throw it out there with hopeful expectation, listening for an answer, and invariably the only response was sound of silence. In the end I decided not to continue with frustration, disappointment and beating up on myself and decided that answers are part and parcel of human cognition and active involvement. I’ve always envied those folks who do get a personal divine response but I think many are just like me but remain quiet.