Sorry I've not written sooner...
I've been in Amsterdam a week now and I am pretty settled into my new life. Moving here, and starting work within a day of arriving has demanded a lot of mental adjustment. But, I think I have figured my new role and world out.
I found a really great climbing gym that I want to join, but I don't have a climbing buddy. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for a climbing partner. This may seem trivial, but I have been praying for a while for a ministry to climbers here in Amsterdam. I prayed that God would provide me with the financial means to join the gym, and He did, so I have faith that He will also provide a climbing buddy.
The spiritual challenges have begun! I am being stretched like I have never been before. What we call liberal in West Virginia is called conservative here in Europe. I don't understand how we (Christians) can all read the same Bible and arrive at such different conclusions. The conversations I have had with Christians here have lit a fire under me to know why I believe what I do. Do I have my conservative Christian beliefs because of the Christian circles I've been a part of, my politically conservative upbringing, the authors I've read... or is it because the true living God exposes His truth to me every day I come to Him in prayer and in study? God keeps affirming that my beliefs are true. So, how do I keep from having an "I'm right and you're wrong" attitude? Tough stuff.
Is division in the church the work of Satan? Was being of one mind only for the early church to enjoy?
I have plunged into a new depth of faith.
Prayer requests:
1. Clarity , understanding, and answers to my questions listed above.
2. A climbing parter, and a ministry to climbers here in Amsterdam
3. That God would use me and this ministry to call people to himself.
I could blab on and on, but I need to go and study. I'm going to try to put some pictures up soon. Much love.
posted by Melissa @ 8:02 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Melissa,
I sent you an email, and then realized that you probably answered a lot of my questions about what has been happening in your world in your blog (and I was right). I hope you can find some people to climb with, and I hope you can find some rock too. The Netherlands are pretty flat, but maybe a train to Germany on your day off would be in order?
Hey, I have a question for you about this blog. Have you experienced any blog-spam. I have a ton of this junk on mine, and for a long period of time I haven't been able to edit/delete it, or add any new entries. Let me know how this is working out for you, I would aprreciate it!
It's good to be thinking through all of those questions you are thinking through too. Unfortunately, many people when thinking through those questions throw the baby out with the bathwater. Kind of like some of the conversations I had a couple of weeks ago. The important thing is to hang onto the truth, and know that we can value those followers of Jesus who have lived before us when we are seeking understanding.
BW:
Thanks for the e-mail and the post. I've never experienced any blog-spam. Sounds kind of messy. Just create a new blog at www.blogger.com. It's super easy. I mean, I did it, come on. The Netherlands are flat, and there aren't any big rocks to climb for many miles so I may have to wait until I come back to the US to do outdoor climbing. I'm going to the Zolder tomorrow, and I'll let you know what's new there after I talk to everyone. Later!
Hi Melissa!
What a great topic. Most certainly yes these divisions are caused by Satan, but they are also ordained by God! The early church did not lack in divisions. II Cor 12:7- the context here is that Paul has given his credentials for being a disciple of God- his list of physical sufferings- then he turns to the most painful type of suffering- when people hurt you. He was given a thorn (stake) in the flesh, which was given to him. The thorn was not physical, but the verse states later... an angel of Satan. God allowed a demon to be a false teacher in this church. Why? to humble Paul. False teachers are introduced into the church by God in order to purify and humble the church...and ultimately make them more powerful- when I am weak, then I am strong. Not until someone rips into everything you believe do you realize the power of God to train you and give you the words to defend your faith. The early church was rampant with false teachers- the Pharisees, the Judeaizers- that's what the topic of most of Paul's letters are about- correcting and rooting out the bad theology that was constantly permeating the early church. I'm not saying this one particular invidual is a demon, but where he got his theology may certainly be.
This bring up another interesting point. What did Paul use as his credentials as minister of God? Not the number of people who attended his sermons, not the number of people who made a decision for Christ under his teaching, not the money he raised...but by his list of suffering. Suffering is a prerequisite for being used by God in a larger way. Study the great men of God...Paul, Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd, John Calvin- and read their biographies- they are filled with both physical and emotional suffering.
(Most of this I got from John MacAruthur's "Role of Suffering in a Believer's Life" March 22, 2004 given in Master's Chapel service- available on the Master's Chapel website)
Love,
Beth
Beth,
As always your words are full of wisdom. Thank you for your thoughtful response.
I am not struggling with these issues at this very moment, but I also have not finished working through them.
I just read your blog and I am thankful that you are in good hands. The doctors sound top notch. I have been praying for your healing. You are very much on my heart.
Love you!
Jessie!
I was thinking about you today and I can't remember what it was about. There are a few people here that I think you would love, and whenvever I'm around them they remind me of you.
OH, I remember what I was thinking about...I was telling someone about how we used to listen to Damien Rice...we don't need to go into details right now.
Good luck in Pittsburg! I'm happy for you!
Hi Melissa,
"Divisions in the church"? I find that here at The Shelter we're VERY unified. I find the existence of many denominations an enrichment, and not a setback, to our faith. Different people (and often the same person during different stages of his or her life) will find themselves drawn into a relationship with God through different ways: for example, through the exuberance and unpredictability of charismatic praise services, or through the order and depth of recited liturgies. There are COUNTLESS ways God draws near to us. Mainstream North American Christianity is only a small part of a huge family, and God draws all His children to him. No church culture is exempt from falling into dead religiosity, and no church that acknowledges Christ as the Son of God is outside the Body of Christ. Like in every family, the children are different and some are a little uneasy about some of their siblings, but they are still one family and can recognize that and love each other just as they all love their Father.
Are divisions brought on by the devil? Most of them probably are. But I don't consider differences in worship style or in whether you call yourself "conservative" or "liberal" to be divisions. Divisions are when we fight AGAINST each other instead of FOR each other, and when we basically distrust God to reveal Himself to other believers, even if the revelation takes on a different form than how He revealed Himself to us.
My two cents.
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