Holy Discontent...

I obviously do not blog consistently. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't make it high on the priority list, but sometimes I have to. Bill Hybels shared the Holy Discontent concept as that which births a piping-hot vision. There simply develops a fire in us that causes us to eventually have to do something in response to an angst in our soul. When I first heard his talk from the Willow Creek Summit a few years ago, I was unfamiliar with the concept but as I listened I recognized my Holy Discontent in an instant. My Holy Discontent is churches that talk about wanting to reach people and maybe even regularly invite them to come but then don't do anything to prepare for unchurched people to come. It seems that in spite of what we say, some of us are making it hard for people to enter into the kingdom of God.

I have heard a few criticisms of the "attractional" model or "attractional" services lately. What? Are you kidding? The Spirit of God has indwelled His people and filled them with the joy and peace and hope that this world cannot offer. Have you ever been around someone who lives with the assurance of that? One could easily say their presence is attractional. So what happens when you get dozens and then hundreds and eventually thousands of people who have the Holy Spirit in one building? When you have the presence of God and a group of on-fire followers of Jesus, the result has to be attractional.

It is absolutely natural for us to be attractional if we are walking in the Spirit. We should go beyond seeker-friendly to become seeker-loving. Everyone can be friendly to those not like them. We are to love them with the love of Christ. Isn't the love of Christ attractive? Hebrews 13:2 demands that we show hospitality to strangers. Wouldn't this apply to our services to which we invite them? Or is that only in our homes? Have you ever been to the home of someone who is gifted at hospitality? It is so attractive that it makes you want to come back, huh? So should our services be.

My prayer is that we lay down our lives for the lost as Christ did for us. After all, that is who we once were. We want to make the path straight and smooth so people can hear the gospel. Let's stop building barriers that are making it difficult for people to see God.

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." - Matthew 23:13