Billy Cox
4th February 2008, 01:56 PM (13:56)
In my mind I still see the despondent faces of the New England Patriots as the final seconds ticked away in their Super Bowl loss. Since I am weird, I was trying to remember where in the Church I had seen that downcast demeanor before.
Then I remembered it... Several years ago, I was in a small group with a number of recent MNU graduates and I was profoundly struck with how defeated they felt because they were not reading the Bible and praying as often as they ought to be doing. (let alone journaling and fasting!) I had enough compassion to not jump their cases for straining at gnats and to not try to 'unteach' four years of spiritual abuse in a few minutes, but the image of sincere Christians wallowing in self-imposed spiritual hopelessness still creates great sadness in me.
Then I remembered it... Several years ago, I was in a small group with a number of recent MNU graduates and I was profoundly struck with how defeated they felt because they were not reading the Bible and praying as often as they ought to be doing. (let alone journaling and fasting!) I had enough compassion to not jump their cases for straining at gnats and to not try to 'unteach' four years of spiritual abuse in a few minutes, but the image of sincere Christians wallowing in self-imposed spiritual hopelessness still creates great sadness in me.