Is Jacob's Well comfortable? More from Claiborne

In our group last night we talked about Shane's observation that churches can easily end up avoiding any talk about the hard stuff from the message of Jesus...little things like the cross and Jesus' saying that we need to "give up everything" to follow him can make us uncomfortable! In an effort to be welcoming and user friendly - we can lose all the power of Jesus' message for our lives and for the world by not really looking straight at what this message invites us to do and be about.

Anne LaMott's statement that God loves us just the way we are and too much to let us stay that way...is often used around Jacob's Well. God loves us where we are....but too much to let us to let us stay that way!

Seems like we, as Jacob's Well, can be about BOTH: accepting/loving each other wherever we are AND about holding up the challenge(and the POSSIBILITY) of really taking Jesus seriously...

How have you seen it happening? How has this been true for you? How could we be more about this?


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comfort

On April 10th, 2008 merickson said:
I think the idea of giving up everything to follow is such a hard concept to follow because Jesus is intangible.  Please don't take my tone as one of doubt or that I take this lightly.  Maybe "giving up everything" doesn't mean to quit your job or give up eating brocolli but maybe "giving up everything" means opening up yourself to God's love so that you can follow him with an open heart.

Reality

On April 10th, 2008 girlfriend said:
I don't think your tone is that of doubt - it's just that of reality. It's hard, as humans, to do what Jesus did -but I think even the little things make a difference. In theory I'd love to give it all up to do HIS work. But will I? Doubtful. I know that I will give some things up and will make some changes and that is a start - maybe it will grow from there...who knows. I just have to keep searching and trying. And I'm not certain that God necessarily wants us to give everything up. I think He uses each of us differently. It's all so confusing - but reading and talking about Shane and what he has done generates some tough questions and thoughtful conversation, and maybe that's what God wants out of this - a starting point for each of us?... Peace!

change is hard

On April 11th, 2008 merickson said:

I agree, I think God doesn't want us to give up everything, but then one could argue, what is "everything". I think God wants us to give his love and forgive people and live the best life that we can live.  Lent is the traditional time when we give something up to show God that we are greatful for his sacrific of his son for our sins so maybe we start with that?

 Monica

Challenge

On April 11th, 2008 girlfriend said:

You make a good point. I also think that God wants us to be uncomfortable - to a degree - so we learn to give His love away. All we can do is keep trying. I challenged a couple of people in our small group for each of us to step out of our comfort zone this week and try to BE like Jesus more than just read about Him. So far I haven't done my part, but I'm going to do it. Maybe that is a good challenge for all of us - give something up, or step out of our comfort zone to try to help someone - I don't know exactly what it is - it will be different for each of us, but it is exciting to think about.

Peace, Steph

comfort

On April 11th, 2008 merickson said:

I believe the way God makes us uncomfortable is that nagging little voice in your head, our conscience, the one that says " that isn't nice" when you say something mean or do something you know is not right. I think that is really God talking to you, making you feel uncomfortable and letting you know that he has your best interest at heart and "hey, listen to me"!  We dont' always listen but that is the way to get your attention and make you think about what you are doing.  Just my opinion.

I have only had a few instances where I was listening to God and fully realized what he was saying. I really had to have a open heart to have that conversation and it was pretty hard because it was emotion for me but in the end I felt his love in my heart and remember that always because it was really one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

 Monica

Pleasantville

On April 11th, 2008 mlock said:

Wow - thanks for letting my blog launch these great thoughts! I'm wanting to blog more but not always sure it's going anywhere.

For some reason as I read all these I remembered a movie - "Pleasantville"? At the beginning - people are living in a very tidy black and white world, literally there is no color. They are perfectly comfortable - but they are missing so much! When we open ourselves up as you talk about - we start to really live in color and we give up a lot of perceived control (is that what giving up everything involves?). What if Jesus is inviting us to live in color!?!

Melissa

Absolutely

On April 12th, 2008 merickson said:

I think you are absolutely correct, what a great example.  That is what it is all about, talking to each other, looking at things in a different way and growing in our faith. That is why these conversations and the group conversations and the Sunday conversations are so important. I don't think we are suppose to go to Church then leave with with just saying " the music and coffee was good", we are suppose to take ideas and questions away from it to think and talk about.

Monica