The most mysterious element
of the decline of mainline churches is our unwillingness to invite others in a
gentle, authentic, and natural way. It's as if we believe that what we have
experienced in our faith journey is of no value. Somewhere the movement characterized
by "go to" instincts settled into a "come to" church, and
the deliberate, searching, seeking, sharing, outward-focused quality of discipleship
quieted into a restrained passivity that waits for people to find us. We have
developed an attitude that says, "Let those who know nothing of God's love
come to their senses and show up at our place on Sunday morning." We can
do better.
The initiating and
invitational posture is essential to discipleship. Invitation complete us
-- there are depths of the inner life
that remain beyond our experience without offering Christ. The receptivity that
opens us to God leads us to encourage, welcome, and support others. Invitation continues
God's love. In us, the Word becomes flesh once more.
-- Robert Schnase in Five Practices of Fruitful
Living
#3512
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