Comments on: Ain't No Hurt Like A Church Hurt http://nextgenerasianchurch.com/2007/05/11/aint-no-hurt-like-a-church-hurt/ the collision of faith and Asian American culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:10:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David Park http://nextgenerasianchurch.com/2007/05/11/aint-no-hurt-like-a-church-hurt/comment-page-1/#comment-771 David Park Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:56:18 +0000 http://nextgenerasianchurch.com/2007/05/11/aint-no-hurt-like-a-church-hurt/#comment-771 word up keith. this is so hard to embody, but you are right, we need to bold enough to speak out in voices of lament and pain (a la the prophets) and address the wound beneath surface. our refusal to acknowledge it only perpetuates the problem or worse, causes it to fester and rot. Your last thought is particularly poignant. our lack of risktaking reveals a lack of trust. so i'm challenged by this. may we all be so bold. word up keith.

this is so hard to embody, but you are right, we need to bold enough to speak out in voices of lament and pain (a la the prophets) and address the wound beneath surface. our refusal to acknowledge it only perpetuates the problem or worse, causes it to fester and rot.

Your last thought is particularly poignant. our lack of risktaking reveals a lack of trust. so i’m challenged by this. may we all be so bold.

]]> By: keith http://nextgenerasianchurch.com/2007/05/11/aint-no-hurt-like-a-church-hurt/comment-page-1/#comment-772 keith Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:16:06 +0000 http://nextgenerasianchurch.com/2007/05/11/aint-no-hurt-like-a-church-hurt/#comment-772 I'm thinking that maybe it's ok for stuff to happen in the church only so that church hurts might be touched and eventually healed by God's grace and truth. Thing is our Asian rules of [non]engagement make it easy to avoid the otherwise screaming pain of someone's damaged spirit. The ancient path of turning aside (without the light of forgiveness) is a deep rut. So maybe we need to give up the rules. If the church (read: I) can't stand some bleeding in the spirit of Christ's own loving death, then where's someone to go when their thoughts start to rot in vengeance? I struggle in that place between the need to be genuinely honest in front of an expectant congregation, and the threat that poses to their otherwise easy Sunday morning. My take- it is an unnecessary pain we live in because we don't trust His promises. Heck, if I've already been crucified with Jesus then let me rise up, too. I’m thinking that maybe it’s ok for stuff to happen in the church only so that church hurts might be touched and eventually healed by God’s grace and truth. Thing is our Asian rules of [non]engagement make it easy to avoid the otherwise screaming pain of someone’s damaged spirit. The ancient path of turning aside (without the light of forgiveness) is a deep rut. So maybe we need to give up the rules. If the church (read: I) can’t stand some bleeding in the spirit of Christ’s own loving death, then where’s someone to go when their thoughts start to rot in vengeance? I struggle in that place between the need to be genuinely honest in front of an expectant congregation, and the threat that poses to their otherwise easy Sunday morning. My take- it is an unnecessary pain we live in because we don’t trust His promises. Heck, if I’ve already been crucified with Jesus then let me rise up, too.

]]> By: paul http://nextgenerasianchurch.com/2007/05/11/aint-no-hurt-like-a-church-hurt/comment-page-1/#comment-770 paul Sat, 12 May 2007 01:18:58 +0000 http://nextgenerasianchurch.com/2007/05/11/aint-no-hurt-like-a-church-hurt/#comment-770 insightful but sobering questions! i myself can't say for sure that i've been hurt more than i've done the hurting. it's especially troubling for clergy like me, like it'll be safer not be be a representative of the church on judgment day; asking for mercy on our knees would be a start; then i would love to tell everybody about the priesthood of all believers; but then, why keep paying the pastor!? insightful but sobering questions! i myself can’t say for sure that i’ve been hurt more than i’ve done the hurting.
it’s especially troubling for clergy like me, like it’ll be safer not be be a representative of the church on judgment day; asking for mercy on our knees would be a start; then i would love to tell everybody about the priesthood of all believers; but then, why keep paying the pastor!?

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