Yes, I would say accountability, self-criticism, and listening to critiques from others is key for leadership to remain relevant and in touch with the broader community in and outside the church.
I have always strongly encouraged our men at West Loop UBF based on Heb 3:13, so that they will hold me accountable to them. I post on UBFriends publicly so that anyone can call me out for the errors of my ways and thoughts and writings.
]]>thanks jerson. community is not just how I or you live with God but it is how WE live with God. As to the ‘what’ hinders it: as much as I want to, I cannot put the blame on any person(s), because ultimately we are not against this or that person. Rather, I put the blame on the Father of sin (Ephesians 6:12). He insinuates (negatively spreads himself in) people’s minds and try to turn their path either left or right or as Dr. Ben’s words, ‘every direction but heavenward’.
God is the center of the community, think it and know it. I teach about the Bible and still forget, at many times, that God is the center of everything including community.
]]>Having a God centered community is very important. In that way we can encourage one another and express how God is working in our life.
But there is a question: What/who hinders it?
Having a good community will not be effective if there is someone who thinks or who acts as if he is the creator of that community.. who is trying to control the situations inside the community..as if his dream binds men together.
In conclusion, we should be a God centered community. We should always think that, God is the only one who can control the situation in the community no matter what happens. So I want to thank GOD for allowing me to be a part of Philippines UBF community, who is mainly centered in God.
]]>For instance, I know that I personally need to listen more, which practically means “just shut up!” (James 1:19) But when a friend tells me this, which I already know, I am reminded more strongly and powerfully about what the Word says. Thus my own heart is weaker than the Christ in the words of my brother. God can even use the mouth of an “ass” to speak his word to us (Num 22:30).
]]>If we have an idea or teaching or understanding about something, we all need brothers and sisters who can be “sounding boards”, correcting and discussing life and Scripture. Those who rely only on their “personal revelation” are far weaker (and usually wrong) than those who have the insight and rebuke of others. That is one reason why we should never be people of flattery or multiply “kisses”, but speak boldly with gentleness and firmness.
]]>This is not clicking. How could your brother be certain if the only certain one is Christ?
]]>The diagrams themselves point to the utmost importance of centrality in Christ and away from anthropocentricity and human coercion.
Looks like you may have heard it taught something like this: http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2011/08/coercion.html
]]>By the way, I heard the teaching of that slide many times during my time in UBF (and even remember seeing a diagram almost like that). I think you understand the meaning correctly, however that teaching was used to guilt-trip people into staying in UBF and demanding higher levels of conformance to UBF ideology. Instead of giving life and freedom, the teaching that we draw close to Christ on the cross was used to teach me that I could never leave UBF. Gathering around the cross was even used to teach us that we should focus on God only and ignore our neighbors.
]]>Check out my 7 min explanation of Sara’s great slides: http://westloop-church.org/media-center/video/cohort-invitation-life-together
]]>This is a great/funny quote from Frank Viola which addresses the enemy of community:
“Sectarianism, elitism, and exclusiveness are like body odor. Everyone else can smell it except those who have it. One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ character is His radical inclusivity. When Jesus walked this earth, He despised the spirit of separatism, elitism, and self-righteousness (Mark 9:38-40).”
]]>A friend just sent me a video of Charlie Chaplin dressed up like Hitler delivering an inspiring and moving speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibmcsEGLKo I can’t imagine Hitler coming across as being so humanitrian. Passionate, yes, but not humanitarian.
]]>It’s also interesting that Viola considers this one of the most profound and helpful things that Bonhoeffer ever wrote:http://frankviola.org/2012/05/03/wishdream/#more-8706
]]>Please start it and you will lose months like me. I am still at about 30% of it :-)
]]>Hitler or any charismatic leader is able to gain power because man has the power of influence (and deception), and people, instead of living by the truth, seek an easy peace, forced unity, and false security. Sorry fo my over-simplistic over-generalization.
]]>For one, I believe that we need to hear from people like you and Brian and others, who have been with UBF for decades. I pray that this will happen. Reconciliation is key, crucial, fundamental and foundational to Christianity as our witness to the world.
]]>This video is only scary to us, only because we are seeing it in black and white, with ominous music in the background, and because we know the end result.
However, let’s go back in time. The world was never black and white, but always in full-blown, marvelous color! Imagine you were a young college student in Germany in the 1930’s. You are upset and angry over how your country was treated for WWI, blamed for things you felt were not fair. Imagine hearing a noble dream, an offer for an honorable society! Imagine the church leaders seemed to support (or at least did not criticize) such a leader.
And remember, that Germany was one of the most highly educated countries at the time (maybe the most educated?). We see Hitler and Nazism for what it ended up being, but from young, college-educated people’s viewpoint looking forward, Hitler offered an honorable, noble, God-blessed future! And he had so much good-sounding speeches, beautiful artwork, and last but not least: power.
Perhaps I’m over-stepping my history lesson here… Chris or anyone, please correct me if I’ve said something incorrectly. From what I’ve studied about this astounding period, I fully understand how and why Hitler could rise to power, as well as his predictable downfall.
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