Monday, November 07, 2005
so, how pragmatic are we all?
The event: A 10 minute sermon on workplace evangelism, followed by a 15 minute interview with a panel of 5 workers. What challenges them; What encourages them; in being a light for Christ in their workplace.
Feedback from Person A: I loved that. Really, really helpful.
Feedback from Person B: I didn’t like that. Those panel’s don’t really work for me.
Now, person A is new to the church, is working in a professional job, has children and has recently brought friends along.
Person B is a long-timer, retired, who’se children have left home.
The pragmatist says; Take heed of Person A. They are much better for the future of the church.
Which leaves me wondering; What do the values of the Kingdom say? Who does the Kingdom listen to?
Posted by steve at 03:46 PM
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Both! Equally! In kingdom view with more emphasis on the “little one” – who I guess is retired in this case.
OK so it is a good question that gets ya thinking… cos pragmatism is king for many!
Comment by lynne — November 8, 2005 @ 3:52 pm
I wonder how Person B would respond, knowing that Person A got so much out of it? There is a potential here to emphasis the giving and sacrificial nature of our relationship to God, and a chance to identify a propensity to selfness when we focus only on what we can expect to receive from Him. I guess that I am thinking that our reaction to how we perceive the return we are getting from the time we have invested, in say, a church service or small group meeting, says a lot about how we perceive our role in Gods kingdom, our relationship to Him and our responsibility to each other.
In my head imagine it going something like this:
How did you feel about the church service tonight? the pastor asks.
I didn’t like that. Those panel’s don’t really work for me. says the parishioner with a slight frown.
It gets my head spinning, asking questions about peoples tendency to reflect personally and inwardly and not on the effects of the service corporately and outwardly. Does that even make sense?
Comment by Mark Miron — November 10, 2005 @ 4:27 am
Elaboration: I mean does my tack make any sense? Am presuming too much and in the wrong direction?
Comment by Mark Miron — November 10, 2005 @ 4:31 am
Mark,
Good comments. Thanks. It would certianly be good to get them both talking together about their various perceptions. I like it.
Comment by Steve — November 10, 2005 @ 6:59 am
I would want to find out more
I’d ask the person who didn’t like it to be more specific. What did he not like What was he afraid of what was missing?I’d also like to know more specifically what the person who liked it thought/felt. What did it not do that he didn’t want. What would he like more of.AND then i would bring them together in a small group to discuss it with each other, not from a right and wrong basis but from where they are right now then you would have abit more data to work on. Sadly I often find that the time to continue these promising conversations is lost and you are interrupted or called away elsewhere
Comment by Nicky jenkins — November 16, 2005 @ 2:27 pm