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Monday, September 14, 2009

Fleeing the Island

Name three things you could do to get off the Evangelical Island.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

So far I can only come up with one - don't grow up conservative Baptist!! Please take this in just but for me this background was very "island promoting". Actually another way would be to take your young unsure Christian self to a public university versus a Christian college. I've been to both and the Christian college was definitely an island where as the state university was the wide open ocean where my faith grew more through necessity while swimming with sharks :) I'll see if I can come up with a third or not.....

Ron Benson said...

Good response. Having experience with three kids in college, one at a huge public university and two at a private "Christian" college, I have to say that the temptations only differed in style and content.

Today I've been reminded that it's not what's "OUT THERE" that turns temptation to sin. It's what's in here (pointing to my heart now) that matters.

And that is a big huge hint about handling the gray. More coming Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Lookin' forward to it! I love gray area discussions cause it makes people think (and maybe sweat a little!)

Anonymous said...

Pay attention to cultivating a genuine heart of yieldedness to God. Put a premium on personal godliness. I DO NOT mean practicing piousness which can be wrought with hyposcrisy. I mean planning a life that puts substantial effort into renewing the heart. If the HS is involved the result will be a heart that pleases God. Godly behaviors are better when they follow a godly heart. If we tended to the condition of our hearts, then we would be a lot safer to leave the island. Proverbs 4:23

Ron Benson said...

That's exactly right - a heart that is responsive and sensitive to the Holy Spirit is key. Our conscience can only be trained by the Spirit, and only by reliance on him can we be ready to hit the mainland.

However, we prefer to just stay on the island because the above is the hard work of freedom.

Anonymous said...

This series I must say have been my facorite.... at least one of my favorites. Being one of those people who it isn't too late to not set up my tent on the island-- this is very useful and practical information.

Paul I think is such a genius. Aside from Jesus paul is the kind of person I want and strive to be like. These sermons have in so many ways encouraged me and weirdly... answered some of my questions that I had started asking God.

Times like this I really know that you are the pastor for this church Ron. You do such a great job. I really enjoy listening to you. :)

Anonymous said...

1. In order to get off the island have a big party, dance, play poker (with real money) and in no time they will kick you off.
2. Don't go to any of their meetings and agree with them (bringing up new ideas will get you off)
3. Don't talk the spiritual talk, but do what the HS lays on your heart..that should shake them up enough for them to put you in a boat and ship you to a new island. One where they know Christ and they are not judging you but loving you and showing you around their island and letting the Lord work on your heart.

piedra said...

Join and become active or volunteer in a secular organization such as a political party, community organization, school board, nonprofit board, clinic, school, etc
It will be uncomfortable at the beginning going out of your comfort zone but you'll see that you can have influence and grow more than you would think.

Ron Benson said...

Great advice, Piedra. What if everyone who attended Grace also volunteered with a community service organization outside the church ministry?

The response that comes to mind is that the church would lose volunteers for its own ministries. Is that true?

Another typical reaction involves the issue of time - if I'm already attending a small group every week, coming to DIG and worship, and put in time in a ministry, where do I find the time to get involved somewhere else?

Heidi said...

Is there a sermon on this that I can listen to? I would love to hear it.