Meandering reflections on Good Friday, the resurrection of Lazarus, the disappearance of moral knowledge, and the struggles of church planting in Singapore
Brother Sam! Always enjoy reading your perspective and learning about the Singaporean church is always so interesting. I just came back from a morning sermon on Peter's denial and restoration as well but spent most of time contemplating the difference between confession and repentance.
Reading THIS: "Peter had loved a Jesus who was powerful — did he also love the Jesus who was humiliatingly crucified?" Hit hard. I often want MY Jesus. The Jesus I have known and makes me feel comfortable. Not Jesus, wholly Jesus. A perspective I hadn't heard before about disillusionment. I will have to listen to the Mike Cosper episode too!
I also relate heavily to the centrist tendencies and apolitically conflict-adverse nature too. I was just thinking this morning about how I would warn our youth group about being too "reasonable". I recall my frustrations about not meeting during Covid as the first time we explicitly chose safety over Christ. Yet I ended up following the majority too. My comfort idolatry is so prominent. Yet we in the American church have yet to see any true persecution. We should be wise and expect it and prepare. I pray we will be ready to suffer and carry the burden when the danger comes!
Hi Sam! Not sure if you remember me, but we met at an EA Fellowship in Singapore last year. I really enjoy your writing and it is, somehow, very timely. After Easter service, my church friends and I were discussing on where to draw the line when talking about our faith with nonbelievers and whether to be "less offensive" so that we can keep the friendship and thus, we can be a witness in their lives. Reading this: "Christians like myself who attempt to be winsome can confuse ends with means and ultimately end up denying Christ no less than Peter did," puts into perspective that sometimes, maybe the desire to be well-liked by others is really the basis of not wanting to be offensive. I pray for wisdom and courage that we can speak the truth in love. Cheers!
Brother Sam! Always enjoy reading your perspective and learning about the Singaporean church is always so interesting. I just came back from a morning sermon on Peter's denial and restoration as well but spent most of time contemplating the difference between confession and repentance.
Reading THIS: "Peter had loved a Jesus who was powerful — did he also love the Jesus who was humiliatingly crucified?" Hit hard. I often want MY Jesus. The Jesus I have known and makes me feel comfortable. Not Jesus, wholly Jesus. A perspective I hadn't heard before about disillusionment. I will have to listen to the Mike Cosper episode too!
I also relate heavily to the centrist tendencies and apolitically conflict-adverse nature too. I was just thinking this morning about how I would warn our youth group about being too "reasonable". I recall my frustrations about not meeting during Covid as the first time we explicitly chose safety over Christ. Yet I ended up following the majority too. My comfort idolatry is so prominent. Yet we in the American church have yet to see any true persecution. We should be wise and expect it and prepare. I pray we will be ready to suffer and carry the burden when the danger comes!
Hi Sam! Not sure if you remember me, but we met at an EA Fellowship in Singapore last year. I really enjoy your writing and it is, somehow, very timely. After Easter service, my church friends and I were discussing on where to draw the line when talking about our faith with nonbelievers and whether to be "less offensive" so that we can keep the friendship and thus, we can be a witness in their lives. Reading this: "Christians like myself who attempt to be winsome can confuse ends with means and ultimately end up denying Christ no less than Peter did," puts into perspective that sometimes, maybe the desire to be well-liked by others is really the basis of not wanting to be offensive. I pray for wisdom and courage that we can speak the truth in love. Cheers!