We have had phases in the years that we have been here, when we have felt under attack personally. Or the atmosphere in a parish or parishes goes sour. And it seems to come at us in waves, exhausting the Rector@6. I have never experienced anything quite like it but it makes me think of all the old stories that you would hear in rural communities about runs of bad luck ( of course we don’t do luck in churches). ..you know the things that sent the milk sour, or that caused the harvest to fail. Even writing this, I’m thinking ‘don’t be so daft!’ But I have discussed it with Rector@6 and he feels them same. Are there such things as forces of evil? Would something want to stop the church thriving?
Of course it’s all coincidence, it’s all in our minds...or is it?
I don't know what to think exactly about all this; all i know is that when I have been doing something like being involved in a church project which has strong outreach or worship aims, more things tend to 'go wrong' around all of us people in the project and we have been very grateful for the comfort of praying people around the project.
ReplyDeleteSounds to me as though whatever you've been doing has been worthwhile work.
Forces of evil? Yes! These forces are aided and abetted by those who do not care, or who do care too much for themselves and not enough for others. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This is the basis of humanity, of humanness, and sadly this simple sentence has no relevance for too many.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you back!
'Would something want to stop the church thriving?' Of course ... else why did Peter write as he did about 'Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.' (1 Peter 5:8) and other verses in Paul that talk about opposition?
ReplyDeleteNot that we see demons round every corner ... but we recognise a spiritual attack, as KirstenM wrote, by the timing ... someone comes to faith and immediately falls ill, people are growing in faith and folk are keen to be in church and someone gets upset, it's the weekend and you're preparing for Sunday when the car breaks down or the heating fails. It's a pattern that shows some malign force (evil, the devil - call it what you will) at work. But our God is stronger ... such times are hard, but are times for refocussing on and rejoicing in our Saviour and the cross :)
Be encouraged - you must be doing something right!