New axis of tensions

[Bootstrap]

The vision I see in the New Testament is an apocalyptic one; one analogous to the days of Noah, where the few who will be saved know that all of those around them are perishing, and seek to win as many over as they can from these lost souls to join them on the Ark.

I do not see a vision to be "servants" to serve outside of exhibiting Christ's life in order to win more people over to salvation. This is an aspect of Christianity that is often very hard to accept for those who would prefer Christianity to just be another privately-practice religion, placed on the shelf alongside many others.

Here's how I see it.

I think this is largely a question of "what is the greatest commandment" and "who is my neighbor". If we exhibit Christ's life, we will walk as he did - as a servant to the world around him. He served many people who he did not call to follow him.

The Church Regnant wants to rule over the world, using worldly power to bring the Kingdom of God on earth. The Church Remnant wants to be safe from the world, willing to bring a few in as long as they can carefully control the process to avoid being polluted in any way. The Church Servant wants to be the Body of Christ to this broken world.

[Josh]

The vision I see in the New Testament is an apocalyptic one; one analogous to the days of Noah, where the few who will be saved know that all of those around them are perishing, and seek to win as many over as they can from these lost souls to join them on the Ark.

I do not see a vision to be "servants" to serve outside of exhibiting Christ's life in order to win more people over to salvation. This is an aspect of Christianity that is often very hard to accept for those who would prefer Christianity to just be another privately-practice religion, placed on the shelf alongside many others.

Here's how I see it.

I think this is largely a question of "what is the greatest commandment" and "who is my neighbor". If we exhibit Christ's life, we will walk as he did - as a servant to the world around him. He served many people who he did not call to follow him.

The Church Regnant wants to rule over the world, using worldly power to bring the Kingdom of God on earth. The Church Remnant wants to be safe from the world, willing to bring a few in as long as they can carefully control the process to avoid being polluted in any way. The Church Servant wants to be the Body of Christ to this broken world.

Jesus' agenda for serving people around them was to persuade them to follow him. Jesus did not heal most of the sick people in the world, and he could have. He focused instead on a very narrow, tiny sliver of people. Throughout Jesus' life and ministry on earth, many, many people, the vast majority, suffered from illnesses, hunger, and death.

Ultimately, whilst I'm not opposed to serving others, it does seem pointless to, say, serve an alcoholic with material help, who one then enables to fall back into alcoholism, die, and be lost for eternity.

[Bootstrap]

Jesus' agenda for serving people around them was to persuade them to follow him. Jesus did not heal most of the sick people in the world, and he could have. He focused instead on a very narrow, tiny sliver of people. Throughout Jesus' life and ministry on earth, many, many people, the vast majority, suffered from illnesses, hunger, and death.

Ultimately, whilst I'm not opposed to serving others, it does seem pointless to, say, serve an alcoholic with material help, who one then enables to fall back into alcoholism, die, and be lost for eternity.

Jesus seems to have healed and served many people without asking them to follow him. I do think healing and serving is a witness, and we certainly do hope that being salt and light will call people to Jesus, but I don't think we love and serve people only if we think they will come to Jesus. Not if we want to be like Jesus.

When we love and serve people, I think it's important to put other agendas on the back burner. We don't want our love to come across as manipulative. But praying that the love of Jesus be apparent through us is a great thing.

[Josh]

When we love and serve people, I think it's important to put other agendas on the back burner. We don't want our love to come across as manipulative. But praying that the love of Jesus be apparent through us is a great thing.

Is it "manipulative" to want people to not perish for eternity?

[Bootstrap]

When we love and serve people, I think it's important to put other agendas on the back burner. We don't want our love to come across as manipulative. But praying that the love of Jesus be apparent through us is a great thing.

Is it "manipulative" to want people to not perish for eternity?

No.

But it is manipulative if the only reason we serve them is so that they will do what we think is right for them. People can sense that. It harms both our service and our witness. We should serve as Jesus served. Freely. And that's more likely to lead people to Jesus.

[Josh]

When we love and serve people, I think it's important to put other agendas on the back burner. We don't want our love to come across as manipulative. But praying that the love of Jesus be apparent through us is a great thing.

Is it "manipulative" to want people to not perish for eternity?

No.

But it is manipulative if the only reason we serve them is so that they will do what we think is right for them. People can sense that. It harms both our service and our witness. We should serve as Jesus served. Freely. And that's more likely to lead people to Jesus.

What "we think is right", or what actually IS right?

I am not private or covert about the fact my agenda is to win people for Jesus. If you're upfront about why you do what you do, nobody think it's "manipulative". And, yes, I've told some people that if they don't decide to change how they live their life, eventually I won't be in it to enable them and pick them up when they fall anymore. There's nothing wrong with doing that.