Alicia Britt Chole, who spoke at our Holy Week Dinner three years ago, has written this blog which is posted on her blog, Dr. ABC.
Recently, a dear friend asked me what I was sensing in this crisis. Several thoughts had been swirling about in my soul but her prompt brought them into focus.
Though God did not cause this crisis, I am confident that He will not waste this crisis. My heart is filled with anticipation of a healthier Church emerging from these troubled days.
I HOPE THAT THIS CRISIS WILL…
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awaken our hearts to the sacred.
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loosen our attachment to the shiny.
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jolt us into a new respect for freedom.
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transition our faith in faith to faith in God.
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inspire gratitude in us for the simple and small.
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remind us that Jesus is our Source, not our servant.
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expose any wealthy worries as the thorny fruit of privilege.
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unmask entertainment that has been masquerading as discipleship.
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redefine “contentment” with more sustainable (and attainable) ingredients.
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burn off unhealthy fat that has collected around (and weighed down) our faith.
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empower us to never again mistake abundance for obedience or emotion for devotion.
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shock us with our spiritual shallowness and drive us anew to the depth of God’s Word.
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reveal anything that–though it may “sell” well in Western Christianity–isn’t strong enough to stand on.
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wean us from the noise inherent to prosperity and give us ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
In Him, Alicia