Hope........means.....
So much talk with friends outside the blog world has led me to really question what hope means to people that don't know Christ. Do people live with hope or is there really nothing to hope in? Can we or do we as Christians, people who know and have expiererenced Christ forgiving grace , have a special corner on "hope" to offer people who are at the end of their proverbial "rope"?
So if we do how do we offer these people this hope or show them this hope? What sort of practical steps need to be taken?
Maybe some of you are already doing something. Lets hear some ideas!!
md
So if we do how do we offer these people this hope or show them this hope? What sort of practical steps need to be taken?
Maybe some of you are already doing something. Lets hear some ideas!!
md
posted by YootguyMark at
1:22 PM
5 Comments:
Thanks for the comments. Both of you are not people that I know but whatever. Forgiveness is faith that a loving God takes away all or our sins. Some have refered to forgiveness as weight being taken of your shoulder and maybe you have felt that as well by being forgiven by others. However, the forgiveness Christ offers is complete forgiveness no grudges no holding it against you.
I think that is different than any forgivceness I have ever recieved.
To actually recieve forgiveness from Christ all you have to do is ask. It is a free gift. By gift I mean we don't need to anything but recieve his forgiveness.
There will alwayts be a need for hope otherwise why do we live. I agree.
Thanks!!
md
By
YootguyMark, at 5:52 PM
This question of living with hope is one that has been on my mind a lot lately. I think that Christians have good reason to hope but it is easy to lose hope in a world that seems so out of control and 'hopeless'.
Sometimes I think we Christians reduce hope only to our future hope of heaven. That is a profoundly good reason to hope but I wonder if the best we can tell the world, 'Jump into the Christian boat and hang on for heaven.' Hope has to make a difference here and now. Our ultimate source of hope is the renewal of this world but that should make a difference today as well.
By
Gil, at 6:52 AM
Thanks for the post and thoughts Gil!! So what I understand is that maybe we should offer a tangible Hope!! Something that people can see, fel and touch? Is that what being the Hope to our communities should actually look like.
Interesting point maybe that is the way we fill our churches if the hope is eternal maybe we need to start to meet the tangible needs of the people. Isn't that what Christ did on earth?
md
By
YootguyMark, at 10:08 AM
i think there so many aspects to hope that basically selfish - or based in self interest. We hope for the intangible stuff (like heaven) cause we basically want to cover our own options. Our understanding of hope has become like most other things very individualistic. So yeah i think we should meet people's needs but i'm not sure that offering them hope should be our motivation in doing that. I think serving people is our duty no matter what. I think Gil is right when he says it has to be more than just about hanging on till heaven. Hope ultimately has to speak into the darkest situations of human expereince and give them meaning. For that Christians have to quit giving up on the world and it's inhabitants and stop condemning all the wickedness. For hope to make some kind of difference in the world we basically have to get about the business of showing the world that Jesus' way works. Bringing redemption to those who need it.
I ialso think that there are many who are not interested in hope basically cause their own self interest is too easily satisfied with thier pursuit of pleasure. For these people who 'don't need a doctor!'- i wonder if we should really waste our time.
By
Increasing..., at 12:40 PM
Enjoyed a lot! » »
By
Anonymous, at 7:22 AM
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