Comments on: ★ Open Handed Ministry

By: Todd Hiestand » Blog Archive » Sunday Blog Roundup: April 26 - May 3 - Missional Living in Suburban America

Mon, 05 May 2008 03:21:43 +0000

[...] Open Handed MInistry – here is wrote about how as pastors, we should view the members of our congregations [...]

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:08:30 +0000

Steve, thanks for your feedback and willingness to ask the hard questions too! Yeah, this idea of who will build the church is an important one. Sometimes I think we get a little ahead of God and pride takes over. Somehow it becomes about us.

Regarding my two blogs, well, the other one is probably just going to fall by the wayside. I love the concept of it, but I just don’t think its realistic to try and blog in two places on similar topics. If that blog were about bass fishing or something, it would probably be a different story…

By: Steve Valenta

Steve Valenta — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:18:14 +0000

Todd – great, great stuff here. I love your willingness to ask the hard questions.

I’ve asked myself the same thing in regards to the Matthew 16 scripture of “I will build my church.”

As you, I ask…okay, so who’s doing the building? Am I/Are we building God’s church…or is He? This goes for any and all Christians – not just the clergy. Pastors or church leadership that grip tightly to their “members” is a really…really dangerous and scary road.

Thanks for sharing this – as well as the rest of your stuff. We’re on the same boat brother. Especially with the “living in Christian Suburbia” stuff as well. We live in intentional community in the Northwest and I appreciate your perspective. By the way, since you posted this on both your blogs – what’s the difference in them?

Thanks again.