Comments on: Doing vs. being http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/ A daily webzine and forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of religion and culture Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:20:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: EYG http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-251050 EYG Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:06:11 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-251050 Nothing is wrong with promoting your church, or inviting people to church. But, that's not what this was about. This was about promoting the church, any believing church. They were benefiting all local churches. Nothing is wrong with promoting your church, or inviting people to church.

But, that’s not what this was about. This was about promoting the church, any believing church. They were benefiting all local churches.

]]> By: Kwerna http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-251044 Kwerna Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:45:34 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-251044 "I think we keep invitation to church pretty low-key because we don’t want Jesus’ invitation to follow him to be equated with an invitation to our church." Isn't that kind of a silly false modesty? Whose church SHOULD they start with? If all churches--who are the blessed company of all faithful people (as I happen to believe) are part of the Church universal, for goodness' sake get them into a local body, even if it's your own. “I think we keep invitation to church pretty low-key because we don’t want Jesus’ invitation to follow him to be equated with an invitation to our church.”

Isn’t that kind of a silly false modesty? Whose church SHOULD they start with? If all churches–who are the blessed company of all faithful people (as I happen to believe) are part of the Church universal, for goodness’ sake get them into a local body, even if it’s your own.

]]> By: KevinB http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250641 KevinB Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:48:28 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250641 My church has done this a couple of times in winter on the University of Michigan campus (really cold!), but without messages on t-shirts. I haven't had a chance to participate yet, but I hear that lots of people want to know who we are and why we're doing it. The answer is that we are followers of Jesus Christ sharing his love with them. That leads to opportunities to share the gospel. I think we keep invitation to church pretty low-key because we don't want Jesus' invitation to follow him to be equated with an invitation to <i>our</i> church. My church has done this a couple of times in winter on the University of Michigan campus (really cold!), but without messages on t-shirts.

I haven’t had a chance to participate yet, but I hear that lots of people want to know who we are and why we’re doing it. The answer is that we are followers of Jesus Christ sharing his love with them. That leads to opportunities to share the gospel.

I think we keep invitation to church pretty low-key because we don’t want Jesus’ invitation to follow him to be equated with an invitation to our church.

]]> By: kBells http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250618 kBells Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:13:20 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250618 Also, in a racially mixed city in the South like Atlanta, not being invited to the church could be perceived as, not being invited. Also, in a racially mixed city in the South like Atlanta, not being invited to the church could be perceived as, not being invited.

]]> By: Kwerna http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250613 Kwerna Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:57:14 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250613 Still not sure what the point of the outreach was. Was it to cheer general passersby with Christmassy goodwill? If for the homeless, is cocoa and a snack lastingly meaningful, as opposed to an organized program? Often we feel good about ourselves by being vending machines... I would assume the people who got a treat asked who the folks dispensing them were and were witnessed to or invited to church. If not, what was the point of giving them something to chew on but not the Bread of Life? Still not sure what the point of the outreach was. Was it to cheer general passersby with Christmassy goodwill? If for the homeless, is cocoa and a snack lastingly meaningful, as opposed to an organized program? Often we feel good about ourselves by being vending machines…

I would assume the people who got a treat asked who the folks dispensing them were and were witnessed to or invited to church. If not, what was the point of giving them something to chew on but not the Bread of Life?

]]> By: Joel Mark http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250581 Joel Mark Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:52:32 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250581 Promoting your church is not self-promotion (as John Young presumed in his quote above). The Christian church belongs to Jesus Christ, not ourselves. Promoting your church is not self-promotion (as John Young presumed in his quote above). The Christian church belongs to Jesus Christ, not ourselves.

]]> By: Joel Mark http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250580 Joel Mark Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:47:10 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250580 Good theology does not feed any gap between being and doing. Good theology does not feed any gap between being and doing.

]]> By: Joel Mark http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250578 Joel Mark Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:45:04 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250578 Pauline wrote; "A lot of people have the impression that Christians are only interested in them if they are going to get something in return." In some cases, this happens simply because the motives of Christians are being blatantly misjudged. In some cases, some Christians do have ulterior motives. In either case, it is no reason for Christians to pull back from invitig people to their church families with open hearts and open arms (not that you are claiming they shouldn't). Also, there is nothing wrong with loving people in ways wherein a church invitation may not arise. Pauline wrote; “A lot of people have the impression that Christians are only interested in them if they are going to get something in return.”

In some cases, this happens simply because the motives of Christians are being blatantly misjudged.

In some cases, some Christians do have ulterior motives.

In either case, it is no reason for Christians to pull back from invitig people to their church families with open hearts and open arms (not that you are claiming they shouldn’t).

Also, there is nothing wrong with loving people in ways wherein a church invitation may not arise.

]]> By: Pauline http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250572 Pauline Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:37:35 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250572 KBells, Of course inviting people to church is not a bad thing. But when the only interaction people have with church people is to be invited to church or being witnessed to, it's easy to see how they would think that church people are only interested in them as potential converts. I am reminded of what Jesus said about giving to people who can't repay you, and inviting over those who won't invite you over in return. A lot of people have the impression that Christians are only interested in them if they are going to get something in return - such as attending church. What this group is trying to do - and I have no idea how well the message is coming across (but success isn't always the measure of whether something is worth doing, anyway)- is letting people know that they are interested in giving without getting anything back, even visitors to church. And that you don't have to be obviously needy for them to give to you either. KBells,
Of course inviting people to church is not a bad thing. But when the only interaction people have with church people is to be invited to church or being witnessed to, it’s easy to see how they would think that church people are only interested in them as potential converts.

I am reminded of what Jesus said about giving to people who can’t repay you, and inviting over those who won’t invite you over in return. A lot of people have the impression that Christians are only interested in them if they are going to get something in return - such as attending church. What this group is trying to do - and I have no idea how well the message is coming across (but success isn’t always the measure of whether something is worth doing, anyway)- is letting people know that they are interested in giving without getting anything back, even visitors to church. And that you don’t have to be obviously needy for them to give to you either.

]]> By: DC Lawyer http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250571 DC Lawyer Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:32:27 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/12/doing-vs-being/#comment-250571 Great idea. Cool slogan. Great idea. Cool slogan.

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