Mark, you write: "Sadly, he [Patrick Carnes] does not recommend the average church to connect people with God. He thinks churches have actually contributed to this addiction by their legalism, judgmentalism, and silence on most matters of sexuality. Instead, he directs people to Twelve Step Programs.
What an indictment of the Church!
Therefore, integral to Pure Hearted is connecting deeply with God." To healthily address this "indictment" requires train loads of maturity. On one hand it was/is the church that brought us the good news of salvation, it is the church that has provided us a "womb" for growing up in Christ and it is the church that God has chosen to use for His glory in the world. On the other hand the church seems to be self-satisfied, ingrown, and pharisaical, all of which hardens the heart to serious inspection and from an even more serious impact of being salt, light and truth beyond its own walls. To address this tension, Mark, requires YOUR kind of mature, prophetic discernment and solid grounding of "ones self" in Christ!!! In the new year shall I go from church to church, from pastor to pastor (or leader) and bring up the issue, kindly, but firmly? Shall I stand in the street, hand out flyers about this issue to anyone who will stop and talk? Maybe they will call me later to embarrassingly reveal their guts. People, REAL people have these secret undealt with smoldering issues in their lives which are mostly denied until the pressure builds and explodes in overtly dysfunctional behavior while we stand by and say platitudes like, "He/She was a good person." Prayer: "Lord, grant me/us the grace in 2025 to stand 'in the gap' and be a prophetic voice in the wilderness of our current society, preparing and announcing the way of the Lord to those who hearing will not hear, and seeing will not see. Yet for the sake of the few who are longing for 'something else' may I be willing to take the risk, endure the misunderstanding and even outright rejection of both personal and/or institutional power structures . . . . all for the sake of the Voice that is always calling, the mercy, grace, and peace that is always forgiving, and the Spirit that is always moving hearts and minds toward brother Christ and Father God. Lord, help me to live this prayer because I am feeling weakness and cowardice . . . . Help me to break this sound barrier. In the name and strength of the Risen and Ruling Christ. Amen."
Mark, you write: "Sadly, he [Patrick Carnes] does not recommend the average church to connect people with God. He thinks churches have actually contributed to this addiction by their legalism, judgmentalism, and silence on most matters of sexuality. Instead, he directs people to Twelve Step Programs.
What an indictment of the Church!
Therefore, integral to Pure Hearted is connecting deeply with God." To healthily address this "indictment" requires train loads of maturity. On one hand it was/is the church that brought us the good news of salvation, it is the church that has provided us a "womb" for growing up in Christ and it is the church that God has chosen to use for His glory in the world. On the other hand the church seems to be self-satisfied, ingrown, and pharisaical, all of which hardens the heart to serious inspection and from an even more serious impact of being salt, light and truth beyond its own walls. To address this tension, Mark, requires YOUR kind of mature, prophetic discernment and solid grounding of "ones self" in Christ!!! In the new year shall I go from church to church, from pastor to pastor (or leader) and bring up the issue, kindly, but firmly? Shall I stand in the street, hand out flyers about this issue to anyone who will stop and talk? Maybe they will call me later to embarrassingly reveal their guts. People, REAL people have these secret undealt with smoldering issues in their lives which are mostly denied until the pressure builds and explodes in overtly dysfunctional behavior while we stand by and say platitudes like, "He/She was a good person." Prayer: "Lord, grant me/us the grace in 2025 to stand 'in the gap' and be a prophetic voice in the wilderness of our current society, preparing and announcing the way of the Lord to those who hearing will not hear, and seeing will not see. Yet for the sake of the few who are longing for 'something else' may I be willing to take the risk, endure the misunderstanding and even outright rejection of both personal and/or institutional power structures . . . . all for the sake of the Voice that is always calling, the mercy, grace, and peace that is always forgiving, and the Spirit that is always moving hearts and minds toward brother Christ and Father God. Lord, help me to live this prayer because I am feeling weakness and cowardice . . . . Help me to break this sound barrier. In the name and strength of the Risen and Ruling Christ. Amen."
Frankly, my brother, your voice needs to be heard. May I use portions of this comment in an article in the near future?
Yes, most certainly. Advent Blessings. Norman