For The Sake of Unity
I wanted to offer these words of blessing to all of the faithful believers on this blog: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Having said that, I now want to announce a decision that I have made in order to foster unity among the believers on this blog. I am surrendering my position as a team member of the emerging cGgc blog. From the beginning, I have never intended to harm or to hurt anyone. However, I sense that my presence on this blog is making it difficult for some of you to express yourselves in the way you would like to. My mission in life is to "Be a blessing to others by providing safe opportunities of caring and sharing that will help them grow closer to Jesus Christ." I base this on Proverbs 11:1 - "Through the blessing of the upright the city is exalted" and the hymn "Make Me a Blessing" by Ira Wilson and George Shuler. It is obvious that my presence on this blog is not fulfilling my mission; in fact it may be detracting from it. Therefore, I need to take the step to stay away from this blog. I talked to Brian Miller on the telephone today, and he graciously agreed to take me off of the team. Note: This is my decision; not Brian's.
The last post I created was in regards to LGBT issues. After talking with Brian, he wisely discerned that some may believe that I was trying to set a "trap" through that post. I want to say this not to defend myself but to offer assurance: I posted that issue to get some honest opinions regarding where people think our denomination may be headed concerning that issue. Although I do not favor our denomination changing it's position on this issue nor do I plan to change my own personal position, I wonder if change for all denominations is inevitable in lieu of what is happening. You see, after doing some research into how the issue is playing out in Western European, Canadian, and some American Churches, I wondered if change could be coming our way. However, I see how some may view the post as either a trap that I overtly set or at least a trap by default. Therefore, I asked Brian to pull the post. Again, he graciously agreed to do so.
Jesus said in John 17, " My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." I am convinced that the best way for unity to return to this blog is for me to get off of the team and stop posting comments. I will now become an occasional "lurker" on this blog. I will write comments to this particular post if some of you request a response from me, but I will probably not comment on future posts; at least not for a while. I'm not going to say I'll never post a comment, but my goal for now is to stay out of the conversation. If I feel led to return regularly to this blog in the future, I will contact Brian first to seek his wisdom before I return.
I hope the conversation on this blog will now improve and return to being a safe place for discussion. I appreciate the learning experience I have gleaned from this blog. As I depart, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
-Pastor George C. Jensen
Enola First Church of God
posted by Anonymous at 10:09 AM
9 Comments:
George,
You shouldn't leave! Your views and questions are as important as everyone else's. Its all a matter of where your heart is. There are a lot of left and right views in here.
I tend to be a moderate and enjoy the tension. We all learn from each other. I think you have learned during your time in this blog. Much of the tensions in this blog I had to deal with years ago when I first came to Europe. You soon learn what is important and what is not. Its not the American us against them mentality we Christians should subvert to but a WE mentality. In other words its not a fight or a ball game where someone wins its a dialog where we learn and grow together and in the end we hope to become the Church Christ intended us to be.
We need you George and we need Mike and everyone else who loves Jesus and His mission.
I have not been writing in the blog because I have been really busy with our mission but I like to pop in every once in a while.
Greetings everybody!
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"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17
Just thinking that I'm sure lots of sparks fly when that happens!
Which seems to me what might be happening on this blog.
Honestly George, I am sad to hear that you are leaving. Your opinions and convictions may have been in contrast to some of my own, but you made me think about why I believed the way I do.
I know you will follow God's leading in this decision.
Grace & peace to you!
Don't leave on my account George. You're more than welcome to share your opinions even when others disagree with them. I'm sorry if my attitude towards you was offensive or drove you away.
I guess I agree with Brent that unity doesn't have to mean complete agreement or that everyone just gets along nicely all the time.
Peace,
-Mike
George,
I'm very sorry to hear that you are withdrawing. I've greatly enjoyed hearing your thoughts and the interactions they have provoked.
To me, good contrast in viewpoints is what creates good discussions. If no one is willing to take opposing stands, I don't think much deep digging occurs. I'll miss your input.
I have not yet been to a cGgc. However, what I see on this Blog Site hightens my urge to attend. My family and I are moving out of state and a cGgc is right down the street from where we will soon live. I look forward to meeting other followers of Our Lord.
My comment is for George. I truly understand your writings of no longer wanting to participate in future blogs for the "betterment" of others as I have had the same thoughts for other occasions. However, you could be doing a great disservice to those who may NEED to read your opinion. I am very forthcoming with my own opinions and have belabored over whether I should share so readily, but, as you say, it's not about me. If I say or write something that may be seen as controversial, it is still there to help others. Perhaps you have had many "complaints" about your writings, but what of those whom you've helped that did not speak? If you're desirous to think of others, then you must think of those whom have not contacted you. If what you are writing is from love of God, then there is more harm in what is NOT said than there is in what is spoken. Should you have an opinion that is "way off base" and you do not express it, you will never be pointed in the correct direction. Moreover, your opinions may be showing another individual that THEY are perhaps "off." It is impossible for YOU to determine what will heal or not heal a person because of what you write or don't write. If someone chooses not to write any more, it cannot be your responsibility as you did not MAKE them leave. And what if others leave because you are no longer on?? If your heart is in the right place, in the service of Our Lord, then you cannot place such high ranks on your writing. YOU are not the cause of someone leaving. If God has put it in your heart to share then that is what you must do. Growth and change come from the differences each of us has. From our style of sock to our political party, all of it has a hand in causing growth and change. I have never read any of your previous writings and it isn't required for my words to be true. I pray that you continue to help others grow and change ... for the betterment of all.
Respectfully,
Moving to Ohio
George & everyone else for that matter,
I just wanted to post one comment, since I haven't posted in a wile, probably over a month.
George, I personally have not quit posting because of you. Life gets busy and priorities change from time to time. I’m personally amazed that pastors have the time to dedicate to this site as much as they do. (Not attacking anyone for doing so). I have had much going on here that needs my attention more than the dialogue on this blog.
I also was thinking that it sounds a little egotistical to think that anyone person could have that much control over others with their words. (I also think that the word egotistical is a little too harsh but I couldn’t think of any other word to convey my thoughts).
In dialogue we need to hear other ideas and opinions in order for us to dialogue. Otherwise we might as well have a tea party and sip Earl Gray over a piece of Tiramisu. Just as your ideas and opinions have stirred some to rethink their views I pray that the opposite is just as true. If mot than I think it best you drop out. Paul tells us to work out our faith until Christ returns, not to buy into a doctrine that sounds good but has no merit to God. If you ever seen Orthodox Jews learning Torah or Talmud you would see what looks like bitter enemies fighting over who is the better candidate for Governor or the Congress. Yet when they are finished debating each other they leave with their arms on each others shoulder asking whose house dinner was at this week.
I say all this to echo the words of everyone else I see dedicated to this blog site. If your motives are as pure as you say they are and your heart is as on fire as it appears to be then stick around. You haven’t scared me off, even though I wish I thought that highly about myself, but you have stirred me to think deep and hard at what I believe and hold to as a man after God’s own heart.
Thanks George and keep searching your heart and soul for God’s desire who cares what anyone else thinks. “As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD!”
Blessings and Godspeed
George,
thanks, I realized how my post sounded after I posted it, it was very confusingto me and I wrote it ;-)
What I'm trying to say is that it is presumptuous for you to think that people are not posting because of you. I’m in no way meaning that I’m the one you are talking about, because I don’t know how many others haven’t been posting in the last few months. Your contribution to the discussion is vital for the whole. To have a group that agrees all the time would not help anyone go deeper.
There are reasons that some have quit posting, some maybe because of your stance, i'm sure not all, but that is their issue not yours. Each of us are needed to sharpen each other, you are no exception to this process. I have enjoyed your input, though I don’t agree most of the time, I still have gained insight from your thoughts and ideas. That’s what I’m trying to say.
I hope this makes more sense than the last post, which for my own ego I’ll delete before too many outside the group read it, or on second thought I need a dose of humble pie anyway.
Blessings and Godspeed.
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