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Cal · 08-19-2016, 08:33 AM

I was really hoping this would spark a better discussion.

He's what this comes down to guys: What is God's purpose for the Church on earth today?

Is it to be spiritual and get transformed and wait for the Lord to come back with little impact on culture?

Or does God want the Church to impact culture? How is this done?

I really think this is a fundamentally important question because it impacts how we see our mission on earth and what we are supposed to be doing and how we are to interact with the world.

Note, I don't believe that organized political strong-arming is much if any part of the plan. But I definitely believe now that God's expects us to use good works to soften the hearts of people, change lives and thus change and preserve cultures.

In short, I do not believe in the LCM view of being so isolated and separated from the world that impact on culture is actually disdained--as if cooperating in any way with, for example, local authorities in charity or mercy causes is bad. The fact is in crises like Hurricane Katrina, it is Christian organizations which do the bulk of the aid work.

Just think if everyone did tithe and the Church was able to collect $165 billion more per year than it does now, and that money was used to end hunger, thirst and illiteracy. How do you think that would affect the world's view of the Church? How would it affect the spreading of the Gospel?

08-19-2016, 08:33 AM	#4
Cal Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA Posts: 4,333	Re: What It's Really All About I was really hoping this would spark a better discussion. He's what this comes down to guys: What is God's purpose for the Church on earth today? Is it to be spiritual and get transformed and wait for the Lord to come back with little impact on culture? Or does God want the Church to impact culture? How is this done? I really think this is a fundamentally important question because it impacts how we see our mission on earth and what we are supposed to be doing and how we are to interact with the world. Note, I don't believe that organized political strong-arming is much if any part of the plan. But I definitely believe now that God's expects us to use good works to soften the hearts of people, change lives and thus change and preserve cultures. In short, I do not believe in the LCM view of being so isolated and separated from the world that impact on culture is actually disdained--as if cooperating in any way with, for example, local authorities in charity or mercy causes is bad. The fact is in crises like Hurricane Katrina, it is Christian organizations which do the bulk of the aid work. Just think if everyone did tithe and the Church was able to collect $165 billion more per year than it does now, and that money was used to end hunger, thirst and illiteracy. How do you think that would affect the world's view of the Church? How would it affect the spreading of the Gospel?