Persecution
In this chapter we begin to see great persecution, the church was being scattered but everywhere they went they continued to preach the gospel, and people continued to respond.
I wonder to myself. Had persecution not have come would the early church become complacent? Would the gospel have spread as fast. It seems like persecution in the early church was a piece of the spreading of the gospel, because the church was scattered.
Peace and prosperity seem to put the church in idle. I think some of what is getting the church back in motion today is seeing the injustice around the world. Where there is no peace and prosparity, and being called of God to do something about it.
I wonder to myself. Had persecution not have come would the early church become complacent? Would the gospel have spread as fast. It seems like persecution in the early church was a piece of the spreading of the gospel, because the church was scattered.
Peace and prosperity seem to put the church in idle. I think some of what is getting the church back in motion today is seeing the injustice around the world. Where there is no peace and prosparity, and being called of God to do something about it.
posted by Jon Knapp at
8:19 AM
3 Comments:
I just spent my morning with 75 young people talking about complacency. There is a great book about the Judges called Hearts of Iron, Feat of Clay which unpacts some of this. What is clear is that in Judges 2:10 a curious thing happens...the following generations after the conquest of the promised land "Did not know God, or what He had done." How does that happen? Simple...they were "in" so what else was there to worry about? Too many of us think in terms as Christians we are "in" so we relax and go through the motions. I have been a part of this admittedly. But God's answer to the people in the time of the Judges is the same as today: He pushes them from their complacency and lets them learn first hand that in God alone victory comes by giving them a battle to fight. Injustice in our world is that very battle we must fight. We must be more than "in", we must go out.
Hey Jon! Just wanted to say hi. It's been fun looking around your blog. You're in a DMin program! I'm jealous, I mean I'm happy for you, and I'm probably not jealous of your homework. Say hi to Steve (McCracken) for me!
Hey Marta!
Great to hear from you! I would love to read your blog, and catch up with how things are going for you. It wasn't listed under your profile though . . . could I get a link?
Great hearing from you.
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