Comments on: A Better Place to Go to Hell From… http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/ Rantings of a Jesus-loving, raving lunatic Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:48:00 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: free online nolimit texas holdem poker poker http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-102137 free online nolimit texas holdem poker poker Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:10:45 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-102137 <strong>free online nolimit texas holdem poker poker...</strong> reinforcements ledgers!poem psychiatrist corrupting eloquence ... free online nolimit texas holdem poker poker…

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]]> By: Tim http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-94518 Tim Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:19:07 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-94518 I think we are kindred spirits, Greg. Or, perhaps, more fittingly, we serve a kindred Spirit :) Have faith in Christ! I think we are kindred spirits, Greg. Or, perhaps, more fittingly, we serve a kindred Spirit :)
Have faith in Christ!

]]> By: Clay Conry http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-93502 Clay Conry Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:47:59 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-93502 1 Corinthians 1:21 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

]]> By: Eddie http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-93494 Eddie Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:04:10 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-93494 Tim, We've got quite a few of those great ministries in our area that feed the hungry, visit the prisoners, care for the orphans and widows and such and when I ask them about how they're sharing the gospel with those they serve, I get the big blank stare or it's a discussion about not wanting to offend anyone or something along those lines. Most of the time, they try to avoid it for fear of the reaction hurting their ministry. Which proves the fact that sharing the gospel is not part of their actual goal. Greg's making a point to remind people that it SHOULD be both. He has to make that point because unlike what is believed by many, it is NOT the standard, but the exception. Most Christians I come across would stop on a busy highway to help someone change a tire. But they would hesitate to share the gospel or just simply not even bring it up with that same person. More often than we'd like to realize, it's the same issue with missions. Fact is, if Christians shared the gospel like we should, there'd be no need for a ministry like D2S. But as we've seen, D2S is greatly used of God to motivate and teach Christians what God has commanded us to do in this area. It's not rocket science to notice that this country is full of good hard working people going out of their way to help others. With all the disasters that have gone on over the last few years, there's alot of examples to pull from. But it's equally as easy to see that the gospel was not shared in conjunction with those efforts. That's why many Christians say, "Well, if all one does is dig wells instead of preach the gospel…" Because in general, that's all that's being done. Tim,

We’ve got quite a few of those great ministries in our area that feed the hungry, visit the prisoners, care for the orphans and widows and such and when I ask them about how they’re sharing the gospel with those they serve, I get the big blank stare or it’s a discussion about not wanting to offend anyone or something along those lines. Most of the time, they try to avoid it for fear of the reaction hurting their ministry. Which proves the fact that sharing the gospel is not part of their actual goal.

Greg’s making a point to remind people that it SHOULD be both. He has to make that point because unlike what is believed by many, it is NOT the standard, but the exception.

Most Christians I come across would stop on a busy highway to help someone change a tire. But they would hesitate to share the gospel or just simply not even bring it up with that same person. More often than we’d like to realize, it’s the same issue with missions.

Fact is, if Christians shared the gospel like we should, there’d be no need for a ministry like D2S. But as we’ve seen, D2S is greatly used of God to motivate and teach Christians what God has commanded us to do in this area.

It’s not rocket science to notice that this country is full of good hard working people going out of their way to help others. With all the disasters that have gone on over the last few years, there’s alot of examples to pull from. But it’s equally as easy to see that the gospel was not shared in conjunction with those efforts.

That’s why many Christians say, “Well, if all one does is dig wells instead of preach the gospel…” Because in general, that’s all that’s being done.

]]> By: Tim McLaughlin http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-93353 Tim McLaughlin Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:38:13 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-93353 Why is it when some Christians speak for what one does (feed hungry, visit those in prison, care for the orphans and widows, advocate for the powerless)--i.e., what Jesus said was a mark of his followers--instead of what one believes, the Greg Stiers of the relatively affluent Western world jump to an extreme that social-justice Christians never intend: "Well, if all one does it dig wells instead of preach the gospel...." No one said anything about either-or. It's both-and, or ought to be. Why is it when some Christians speak for what one does (feed hungry, visit those in prison, care for the orphans and widows, advocate for the powerless)–i.e., what Jesus said was a mark of his followers–instead of what one believes, the Greg Stiers of the relatively affluent Western world jump to an extreme that social-justice Christians never intend: “Well, if all one does it dig wells instead of preach the gospel….” No one said anything about either-or. It’s both-and, or ought to be.

]]> By: A New Direction in Youth Ministry (My job is changing but not my mission) « brianford.org http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-93071 A New Direction in Youth Ministry (My job is changing but not my mission) « brianford.org Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:23:17 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-93071 [...] needs alone, it’s about meeting a greater need. My friend Greg Stier recently wrote in a blog post…“Again I do believe we as Christians should feed the poor but if that’s all we do we [...] [...] needs alone, it’s about meeting a greater need. My friend Greg Stier recently wrote in a blog post…“Again I do believe we as Christians should feed the poor but if that’s all we do we [...]

]]> By: Becky http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-92761 Becky Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:36:24 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-92761 That was an amazing blog.Very true. That was an amazing blog.Very true.

]]> By: Wes Searcy http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-92558 Wes Searcy Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:59:16 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-92558 THANK YOU, GREG! You wouldn't believe.....yes you would....how many "yeah, but..." comments we get when we talk to people about training students to share the gospel, and actually DOING IT for a few days over and over on a "mission trip." I agree that it is not either/or. At the same time, the "service" part of a mission trip MUST be linked to an overall, very real strategy to take the gospel/make disciples in that area. In the same manner, we cannot go out and do "drive by" missions (street/park evang) and not be connected to a church that will genuinely follow up and make disciples/plant churches. Many people that we talk to have overreacted to those who have (or they perceive have) advocated a confrontational-only style of evangelism. In their overcompensation, they leave the gospel out of the equation of joining God in His mission to call the nations to worship him. May we all join our missional God in calling every tongue, tribe and nation to worship Him. THANK YOU, GREG! You wouldn’t believe…..yes you would….how many “yeah, but…” comments we get when we talk to people about training students to share the gospel, and actually DOING IT for a few days over and over on a “mission trip.” I agree that it is not either/or. At the same time, the “service” part of a mission trip MUST be linked to an overall, very real strategy to take the gospel/make disciples in that area. In the same manner, we cannot go out and do “drive by” missions (street/park evang) and not be connected to a church that will genuinely follow up and make disciples/plant churches. Many people that we talk to have overreacted to those who have (or they perceive have) advocated a confrontational-only style of evangelism. In their overcompensation, they leave the gospel out of the equation of joining God in His mission to call the nations to worship him. May we all join our missional God in calling every tongue, tribe and nation to worship Him.

]]> By: Jason http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-92259 Jason Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:14:21 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-92259 I agree in that I don't get how people miss the idea that sharing the gospel and social justice go hand in hand, and shouldn't be looked at as an either/or proposition. I agree in that I don’t get how people miss the idea that sharing the gospel and social justice go hand in hand, and shouldn’t be looked at as an either/or proposition.

]]> By: Eddie http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from/comment-page-1/#comment-92123 Eddie Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:41:52 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/a-better-place-to-go-to-hell-from#comment-92123 I have a mission this afternoon to get milk and a few other groceries. I guess that's a mission trip. At least that's how some people look at it. Personally, most mission trips to me are just work parties with a longer travel time to the job site. And I've got no problem with it I guess. But calling it a mission trip really makes it sound so spiritual don't you think? However, we should be sharing the gospel anyway, regardless of where we go. So no matter what the main purpose of the trip, sharing the gospel should be expected. The sad thing though is that many people feel that mission trips are the only place they should share their faith. And if it's not expected or organized in a way that puts them in that situation, they're not gonna do it. I have a mission this afternoon to get milk and a few other groceries. I guess that’s a mission trip. At least that’s how some people look at it.

Personally, most mission trips to me are just work parties with a longer travel time to the job site. And I’ve got no problem with it I guess. But calling it a mission trip really makes it sound so spiritual don’t you think?

However, we should be sharing the gospel anyway, regardless of where we go. So no matter what the main purpose of the trip, sharing the gospel should be expected.

The sad thing though is that many people feel that mission trips are the only place they should share their faith. And if it’s not expected or organized in a way that puts them in that situation, they’re not gonna do it.

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