Transparency

Gayle Erwin

Posted on by Kath Walden

Dec 14, 2019

The body of Christ, especially in well-functioning, small, intimate groups, is the most healing body in the world; yet we do not treat it as such. We wouldn’t think of relating to a medical doctor with the same reserve as we have in the healing body of Christ. Would we say to a doctor, “I have this unspoken illness?” Of course not! But we often use this term, unspoken request, in sharing our needs with the body. Would we try to deceive a doctor into thinking our hurt is nonexistent or in a different place than it actually is? Of course not! Would we say, “I am here for a friend – examine me and diagnose him?” Of course not! Yet we treat the church with such distrust and fear. We choose to hide.

A W Tozer

Posted on by Kath Walden

Sometimes we react by a kind of religious reflex and repeat dutifully the proper words and phrases even though they fail to express our real feelings and lack the authenticity of personal experience. Right now is such a time. A certain conventional loyalty may lead some who hear this unfamiliar truth expressed for the first time to say brightly, “Oh, I am never lonely. Christ said, `I will never leave you nor forsake you,’ and, `Lo, I am with you alway.’ How can I be lonely when Jesus is with me?”

Now I do not want to reflect on the sincerity of any Christian soul, but this stock testimony is too neat to be real. It is obviously what the speaker thinks should be true rather than what he has proved to be true by the test of experience. This cheerful denial of loneliness proves only that the speaker has never walked with God without the support and encouragement afforded him by society.

Jason Vallotton

Posted on by Kath Walden

If we don’t come to Christ as we are (with our baggage, bondage and brokenness), then we never experience His unconditional love. This leaves us feeling like we have to perform for His acceptance. However, if we come to Christ as we are, and He loves us in the midst of our sin, then the shining light of the Lord brings wholeness to our entire life. Fear of rejection and the shame that once took us hostage will be broken off of us as we embrace His incredible grace and our new nature in Christ.

Andrew Gih

Posted on by

God’s program for reviving His people is definite and clear. First Elijah ‘repaired the altar of Jehovah that was thrown down.’ That is the place to begin. All the ruin that sin has wrought must be cleared away by confession. Things must be made right with God; restitution must be made where it is due. Unless this is done definitely and thoroughly, prayer for reviving is vain…. Too many are praying today without repairing the altar by confession of sin, without digging a trench of separation from the world and without a surrender that is even unto death. No wonder such prayer is fruitless.