Over Positive Christianity!?

[Ian Gentles]

Didn't know what board to post this on, so hope this is the right choice.
My experience, in conferences, Christian organizations, is maybe an over positivity? OK let me try to explain, and first to say we have to be positive! Actually too much negativity drags everyone down! We have to be positive to encourage the young people, in organizations the new recruits, I go with this all the way. We need to be positive and encouraging!
OK, having said that, and this is a pastoral, doctrinal kind of question, how do we deal with the negatives in peoples lives? in support of them openly? Talked to one person, OK Christmas subject again, they said, I couldent face the happy services, there was no room for mourning! Another guy said about a conference we both had attended, "I am glad people are rejoicing, but it isn't all joy!" So what do we do, what percentage of time should be given to folks grief and trials? If we overdo it we depress everyone, if we under do it we leave bleeding casualties!
I know we are told, "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep". But it does seem a fine line to walk, we can either go into hyper positivity and rejoicing, or go doom and gloom! How would you balance this?

[Barbara Moulton]

I think it can be a matter of perspective. To the person who is deeply distressed, depressed, discouraged or in grief, even a a moderately upbeat service can seem "overly positive". Ask me how I felt about the Sunday service I attended on May 12, 1985...Mother's Day...the day after my mother died. I'm sure it was a perfectly fine Sunday morning service but it will forever remain in my memory as one of the most difficult services I ever attended.

The reality is that no...it isn't all joy but we are to count it as "all joy". The reality is that Jesus was deeply moved with compassion for all those He met, yet He still taught us that the Christian life is an abundant life.

We need to lift Jesus up in our services. In joy or in sorrow, He is the the truth. A service that lifts Jesus up will be balanced...because He was the most balanced person who ever lived.

In my opinion, the real ministry to the heartbroken occurs, not in a service or conference but in the drawing alongside "one on one".

[Mike Schutz]

Have been spending the last two weeks reading over 50 of John Wesley's sermons.

This was a concern for Wesley. That so many of his generation preached on the "blessings of Christ" without also preaching on the challenges, dangers, and difficulties of true holiness.

This does get at some of the things we have been talking about concerning Joel Osteen.

Dessert is good, but not as the only thing in the diet.

[Greg Farra]

Balance is the key. It's so easy to go to one end or the other. As a local preacher says, 'the devil lives in the extremes'.

[Ian Gentles]

I was thinking how we make prayer topics known at some events. We can, if its appropriate, mention for prayer all those going through various trails etc. However if we do this it can lead to a feeling of defeat and depression to rest on a meeting. On other hand if we don't make them known it leaves people in the dark often about others needs!

http://iangentles.livejournal.com

[Barbara Moulton]

I was thinking how we make prayer topics known at some events. We can, if its appropriate, mention for prayer all those going through various trails etc. However if we do this it can lead to a feeling of defeat and depression to rest on a meeting. On other hand if we don't make them known it leaves people in the dark often about others needs!

http://iangentles.livejournal.com

It seems to me that, in a healthy church, people will share their concerns with the people they want to share them with. I don't think we should expect a worship service leader to either know or mention the struggles and trials of every person present.

If I am sitting in a service, feeling grieved because others are "in the dark" about my suffering...it's not the fault of the church nor the person leading the service. I need to be more transparent with people I am feel comfortable sharing with.

Throughout my life, I have never thought that everyone in the church needed to know when I was going through difficulties. I shared it with the people I was closest to. In truth, if they had turned those private sharings into public prayer requests, I would have been quite hurt.

[Ian Gentles]

I was thinking of bereavement, long term sickness, family members ill, etc!

[Barbara Moulton]

I was thinking of bereavement, long term sickness, family members ill, etc!

So was I. That's why I mentioned my own bereavement experience.

With all these things, I feel there is greater value in having a group of people around you, with whom you can share your prayer requests and concerns, then expecting a multitude of prayer requests and bereavment notifications to be announced during a worship service.

[Ian Gentles]

I do see what you mean Barbara, you make a good case. Yes i do believe sharing is best done with a close group of friends, we just have to make sure people have such supportive groups.