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January 06, 2005

It just aint that cool to be a missionary

There is just no way around it. As a serious Christ follower I have to give up any and all pretense at being considered hip and cool for anything other then my authenticity. And I have to work on this whole being beat up for Christ thing.

O know I have bloged about this before, alot and even often. But I just can't escape it. I guess that God is still trying to teach me that He opposes the proud and gives grace and supports the humble.


You think you already have everything you need! You are already rich! Without us you have become kings! I wish you really were on your thrones already, for then we would be reigning with you! But sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world--to people and angels alike.
Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our own. We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash--right up to the present moment.
- 1 Cor 4:8-13

Posted by paul at January 6, 2005 07:04 PM

Comments

The whole "cool" thing is something I have struggled with a lot in the past year or so. Mars Hill isn't a "cool" church. We don't have lights, flash or lots of sound. It is hard to "talk up" church like I could in Ames. However, God has been gently showing me what really matters. He doesn't want me or anyone else for that matter coming to church cause they like the show, he wants our hearts. Just some thoughts that have been jumping around in my head. Thanks for sharing Paul. We are not home yet bro.

Posted by: leah at January 7, 2005 11:01 AM

We in Ames just finished the Master Plan of Evangelism. A really not cool way to do ministry, slow, small and uncertain. But hey its the way that Christ did things.

Posted by: paul at January 9, 2005 09:58 AM