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radioThese are reader comments for the article 'Why Do Christian Ministers Fail?'
Reader Comments
Posted by Confused in UK @ 14:24 on Aug 22 2008
David Evans is correct. It is ridiculous to compete like that. It goes on. Biggest church. Biggest event. Biggest conference. Biggest number of salvations. Biggest.... - Grow up boys. Sadly it's the MO of a lot of evangelical churches. Thrust someone up on the platform who you can tout as a 'somebody'. Don't worry if they're not ready for it. If it all goes wrong, you can just blame the 'enemy'.
David Evans is correct. It is ridiculous to compete like that. It goes on. Biggest church. Biggest event. Biggest conference. Biggest number of salvations. Biggest.... - Grow up boys. Sadly it's the MO of a lot of evangelical churches. Thrust someone up on the platform who you can tout as a 'somebody'. Don't worry if they're not ready for it. If it all goes wrong, you can just blame the 'enemy'.
Posted by Olivia in UK @ 14:03 on Aug 22 2008
i'm really sad to hear this but i want to let everyone know, that song healed my brokeness and is healing a lot of other people, let 's not focus on the people behind these songs and messages as they're mere humans like us, this doesnt excuse the act but should help us understand our focus is on Jesus and not on any preacher, they are just vessels trough which these messages get to us. That said, let all of us christians pray for him, he needs it , God never turns his back on a sincerely repantant soul.
i'm really sad to hear this but i want to let everyone know, that song healed my brokeness and is healing a lot of other people, let 's not focus on the people behind these songs and messages as they're mere humans like us, this doesnt excuse the act but should help us understand our focus is on Jesus and not on any preacher, they are just vessels trough which these messages get to us. That said, let all of us christians pray for him, he needs it , God never turns his back on a sincerely repantant soul.
Posted by David Evans in Melbourne VIC @ 12:34 on Aug 22 2008
Great word Mal,
In a prophetic way I feel this situation has revealed ‘a pressure’ that a whole generation of young people in church grew up with in Australia through the glory days of a movement called youth alive. We all went to the same rallies and conferences however underneath it all was “a pressure”. This obviously wasn’t taught – it was just felt. There was a competition felt in the atmosphere between states and leaders for bigger, better, more! Bragging rights. I know because I sadly contributed to it. Even though the fruit was awesome as hundreds of thousands came to Christ, something was being triggered in certain hearts that nobody could see and address… Some of us made conclusions of everything we experienced and sadly those conclusions were based on a foundational lie. The lie we believed was that you get more “kudos” or “rewarded” if you do something “successful” for God. I have (through great personal pain) realized recently that the Lord is more interested in “who” we are than in anything we ever will do for Him. Mike must of felt that ‘pressure’ of becoming and doing something great more than most. The pressure to satisfy that need to be somebody, achieve the honor and respect of others. This becomes a stumbling block. This foundation lie affects everything. It infects your relationships, distorts your worldview regarding your values and so on. It starts with a small lie that makes you feel good when you see reactions to it are favorable. And then like Chinese whispers the lie needs another lie and it gets way out of hand. I believe Mike couldn’t bring it back… but God allowed him to continue…. It’s another lesson to the church. Your thoughts are based on what you believe. Question your assumptions against the Word of God. Do they line up? Because your thought become who you are! And everything will eventually be revealed whether it is of honor or shame.
Great word Mal,
In a prophetic way I feel this situation has revealed ‘a pressure’ that a whole generation of young people in church grew up with in Australia through the glory days of a movement called youth alive. We all went to the same rallies and conferences however underneath it all was “a pressure”. This obviously wasn’t taught – it was just felt. There was a competition felt in the atmosphere between states and leaders for bigger, better, more! Bragging rights. I know because I sadly contributed to it. Even though the fruit was awesome as hundreds of thousands came to Christ, something was being triggered in certain hearts that nobody could see and address… Some of us made conclusions of everything we experienced and sadly those conclusions were based on a foundational lie. The lie we believed was that you get more “kudos” or “rewarded” if you do something “successful” for God. I have (through great personal pain) realized recently that the Lord is more interested in “who” we are than in anything we ever will do for Him. Mike must of felt that ‘pressure’ of becoming and doing something great more than most. The pressure to satisfy that need to be somebody, achieve the honor and respect of others. This becomes a stumbling block. This foundation lie affects everything. It infects your relationships, distorts your worldview regarding your values and so on. It starts with a small lie that makes you feel good when you see reactions to it are favorable. And then like Chinese whispers the lie needs another lie and it gets way out of hand. I believe Mike couldn’t bring it back… but God allowed him to continue…. It’s another lesson to the church. Your thoughts are based on what you believe. Question your assumptions against the Word of God. Do they line up? Because your thought become who you are! And everything will eventually be revealed whether it is of honor or shame.
Posted by John in Australia @ 12:16 on Aug 22 2008
After reading a lot of comments don't let one persons fall stop you from doing Gods will in your life. Some thing can take over our focus and what or call in life is for.Jesus said 'The harvest is ripe but very few harvesters'. Dont let the devil take this situation and use it for himself.
After reading a lot of comments don't let one persons fall stop you from doing Gods will in your life. Some thing can take over our focus and what or call in life is for.Jesus said 'The harvest is ripe but very few harvesters'. Dont let the devil take this situation and use it for himself.
Posted by Seth in London @ 11:06 on Aug 22 2008
It is good to hear words in the Spirit of Wisdom and Truth at a time where opinions and reports are flying all around from both the saved and lost world. We all continue to pray for Mike and his family, as well as for all those whose faith may have been cut deep as a result of this. And we know that what the Devil means for bad, God has a fantastic way of turning around for good.
It is good to hear words in the Spirit of Wisdom and Truth at a time where opinions and reports are flying all around from both the saved and lost world. We all continue to pray for Mike and his family, as well as for all those whose faith may have been cut deep as a result of this. And we know that what the Devil means for bad, God has a fantastic way of turning around for good.
Posted by Annette in Australia @ 09:22 on Aug 22 2008
Hi Mal, Thank You for your insight to a difficult situation, with people all over the world reeling from the news of Mike. The wounds are open & real. So God Bless You All.
May Gods Love, Grace & Mercy continue to rain down to a fallen humanity, is not this the very reason Jesus came?
Hi Mal, Thank You for your insight to a difficult situation, with people all over the world reeling from the news of Mike. The wounds are open & real. So God Bless You All.
May Gods Love, Grace & Mercy continue to rain down to a fallen humanity, is not this the very reason Jesus came?
Posted by Annette in Australia @ 08:47 on Aug 22 2008
Blessing & Peace to you all. I know & understand how hurt & disappointed everyone is right now. I Praise God because I think that God has indeed answered our Prayers,There is now indeed hope for healing for Mike, it just is not what we thought. We have all been in darkness at one time or another, now that Mike has taken the step bringing that darkness(lie) into the light. There is hope. Do not forget we have an adversary who roams around seeking whom he can devour, & just because Mike is someone in leadership & the public eye does not make him any less vunerable to the schemes of the Devil.Take heart God has known from the beginning everything to do with Michael, remember he is the Alpha Omega all knowing wonderful Creator. So Run to him with your hurt & pain. KEEP ON PRAYING FOR HIM & FAMILY GOD BLESS Annette
Blessing & Peace to you all. I know & understand how hurt & disappointed everyone is right now. I Praise God because I think that God has indeed answered our Prayers,There is now indeed hope for healing for Mike, it just is not what we thought. We have all been in darkness at one time or another, now that Mike has taken the step bringing that darkness(lie) into the light. There is hope. Do not forget we have an adversary who roams around seeking whom he can devour, & just because Mike is someone in leadership & the public eye does not make him any less vunerable to the schemes of the Devil.Take heart God has known from the beginning everything to do with Michael, remember he is the Alpha Omega all knowing wonderful Creator. So Run to him with your hurt & pain. KEEP ON PRAYING FOR HIM & FAMILY GOD BLESS Annette
Posted by Tams in Melbourne @ 08:27 on Aug 22 2008
Isn't the name of Jesus enough?Isn’t Gods testimony of unfailing love enough? Isn't the fact that we are justified through the death and resurrection of GOD our Lord Jesus Christ enough? Why do we always seem to look to man?
If we believe the Gospel for our selves then we better have the balls to believe it for Mike too…
As much as his actions disgust me, I mean what he has done is such a disgraceful act of betrayal and so forth...
But these are our options…
1.) Love God
2.) Love our Neighbour (Mike)
This doesn't mean...we love what mike has done; this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t feel justified in being hurt, because I’m sure a lot of us are....
What I am saying is God knows Mike’s heart, he knows his motives...And God died fort this man just as he did you and me. I think this is the perfect situation to express and demonstrate Gods character of Grace and unfailing love, and leave God to clean up the mess and pass Judgment. After all…God did create the earth I’m pretty sure he will be able to sort this whole thing out no trouble, all he wants from us is for our hearts to be pure before him. All we have to do is pray and seek and get to know God more intimately so we can understand what we need to do in a situation such as this. I don't understand when Christians such as "Roost" and "Jim" react with such condemnation and judgment.
Have you never sinned...Do you not understand the love God holds for you is the same love he has for Mike?
We as Christians should be making it as easy as possible for Mike to run back to God.
I mean what about King David in the Bible....he fell terribly and there were consequences.
But they were Gods consequences, not ours. All in all he ran back to God...you could pretty much say he sprinted back to GOd.....God is a just God.... he will be the Judge weather we see the effects of that on this earth or not???!!!
Isn't the name of Jesus enough?Isn’t Gods testimony of unfailing love enough? Isn't the fact that we are justified through the death and resurrection of GOD our Lord Jesus Christ enough? Why do we always seem to look to man?
If we believe the Gospel for our selves then we better have the balls to believe it for Mike too…
As much as his actions disgust me, I mean what he has done is such a disgraceful act of betrayal and so forth...
But these are our options…
1.) Love God
2.) Love our Neighbour (Mike)
This doesn't mean...we love what mike has done; this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t feel justified in being hurt, because I’m sure a lot of us are....
What I am saying is God knows Mike’s heart, he knows his motives...And God died fort this man just as he did you and me. I think this is the perfect situation to express and demonstrate Gods character of Grace and unfailing love, and leave God to clean up the mess and pass Judgment. After all…God did create the earth I’m pretty sure he will be able to sort this whole thing out no trouble, all he wants from us is for our hearts to be pure before him. All we have to do is pray and seek and get to know God more intimately so we can understand what we need to do in a situation such as this. I don't understand when Christians such as "Roost" and "Jim" react with such condemnation and judgment.
Have you never sinned...Do you not understand the love God holds for you is the same love he has for Mike?
We as Christians should be making it as easy as possible for Mike to run back to God.
I mean what about King David in the Bible....he fell terribly and there were consequences.
But they were Gods consequences, not ours. All in all he ran back to God...you could pretty much say he sprinted back to GOd.....God is a just God.... he will be the Judge weather we see the effects of that on this earth or not???!!!
Posted by Danni in Australia @ 08:16 on Aug 22 2008
Beautifully said, and I agree wholeheartedly. :)
Beautifully said, and I agree wholeheartedly. :)
The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.
I was so sad to hear the news about Mike today. I loved your article and your graciousness. More than that even...I loved reading the feedback. Such love for the person regardless of the fault. As a slightly religiously disillusioned American...it's so refreshing to read. I'm afraid most believers in my own country won't be so gracious... for whatever reason we tend to think it's our job to analyze the falls of others. As for me, I'm praying for Mike and his family that the Lord brings restoration to them and he be made whole again. I know that regardless or how the song came about...it's still powerful and God can and will still use it. Thanks, Mal for your insight. It's so helpful.