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Let me add something to this. In Christian/Bible speak, this would be along the lines of preparing the soil/heart to receive the seed/Word. If a Christian organization helped you out when you were in need, maybe it's one of the things, over time, that cultivates a desire to at some point in the future be curious about who Christ really is; to ask some Christian to share about their faith, or listen to Handel's Messiah, or pick up a book (the bible or some other book written by a Christian) and read it, or watch a Christian program or go to a Christian function or a church. As Paul said, some plant seeds, some water, but God causes it to grow.
I would note that any increase in demonstration of love in the world is a good end in itself. If someone experiences that love in the context of a Christian organization that's great, but not necessary, however well such a community may support it.
And the point I was making with my example was that they were NOT a parachurch organization and I did not approve of their method. Did you miss that?
Comparing and contrasting the efforts of parachurch organizations who do not indulge in those tactics, to some church-supervised programs which do: With a parachurch organization, you know you don't run the risk of being force-fed a sermon when you aren't ready to hear one, but you do with a church-supervised one. So, that's why people support parachurch organizations.
I would note that any increase in demonstration of love in the world is a good end in itself. If someone experiences that love in the context of a Christian organization that's great, but not necessary, however well such a community may support it.
Yeah, good catch Nate. I actually thought about going back in and editing that post because I realized I was writing it purely from my old Christian/churched mindset. Funny how easy it is for me to slip back into that! I decided against editing it, but I'm really glad you decided to make that point.
Of course not, but requiring listening to a sermon before you get your soup is.
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Originally Posted by justtitans
That's not what I said needs to happen. I didn't say, hey you force the message on them. There isn't a formula for preaching the gospel. A lot of times with unbelievers, conversations come up organically. They ask questions, so naturally you answer. It's not a trivial as you make it, but you agree that it can be talked about so, that pretty much is all I needed you to say.
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Originally Posted by nateswift
And the point to be made is that the charities that I have seen that required an opportunity to preach at the recipients were all church supervised.
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Originally Posted by mensaguy
I knew a person once that qualified for the charity food basket at Christmas time. She was gone for several hours when she went to pick it up. When we asked, she said they had to wait until the service was over for the basket distribution. (It was at a church based mission.) They were not told in advance that they had to sit through a service to get the food.
The Christians who THINK that what they intellectually accept ABOUT Christ is the most important part of being Christian simply will NOT get it. The most important part of being Christian is what Christ instructed His disciples to DO . . . love God and each other every day and repent when you don't. That means that the Gospel (Good News) is spread by our "fruits" done in agape love . . . not our claims.
The topic is about parachurches, not what nateswift thinks about church organizations.
You opened that topic up by saying what your church thinks of parachurch organizations: "My church is against supporting such organizations as the church believes these type of organizations should fall under the covering of a church,"
The appropriate response is about how wrong your church is. That's the nature of discussion. Hang around, you will learn.....possibly.
You opened that topic up by saying what your church thinks of parachurch organizations: "My church is against supporting such organizations as the church believes these type of organizations should fall under the covering of a church,"
The appropriate response is about how wrong your church is. That's the nature of discussion. Hang around, you will learn.....possibly.
I support any and ALL organizations, groups and agencies that provide services, food, clothes, shelter, employment, dignity, respect unto the least of us.
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I would note that any increase in demonstration of love in the world is a good end in itself. If someone experiences that love in the context of a Christian organization that's great, but not necessary, however well such a community may support it.
