Jesus Life 89 - The Jesus Army

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As in Revelation, we must repent and do the
works that we did at first.
Young people should lead churches, go
and start churches, or restart failing church
plants. I’d like to see more of our youth going
to Africa to work on projects with churches
there. Our youth must step out in faith and,
when they reach their wits end, “try tears”, as
William Booth famously recommended to a
struggling Salvation Army team.
What could block the progress of the new
generation? Stifling care, cautiousness tending
to indecision, crippling conservatism.
“How dare they suggest...?” “You’re too young
to understand!” “We worked hard to set it up
this way.” “Mere emotionalism!” These elderbrother-ish
tendencies, unchecked, would
keep the baby of the church’s new generation
in the womb to die, unable to be born.
The younger generation needs its mentors.
The Jesus Fellowship needs its apostolic
leaders and its wise pioneers.
Nevertheless, sacred cows may need
slaying. The programme isn’t sacrosanct.
Some need to embrace the pain of seeing
things run less competently by a group of
We will have
swapped eternal
glory for an IKEA
mattress
young greenhorns. To risk others messing
up what they gave their lives for. Only in this
painful trust, only in this letting go – only in
this death – can there be a resurrection.
An unchallenged, un-trusted, visionless
generation will be seduced by comfort, cosy
beds, the endless distractions of this age; they
will love the world and be consumed by its
pleasures and passions.
The challenge to them is: will you love
the crucified and risen king enough to lose
your lives to further his kingdom? And the
challenge to the preceding generation is: will
you let them?
JL
Laurence is a writer, fundraiser,
and leader in the Jesus
Fellowship. He lives in a
Christian Community house in
Birmingham and supports Jesus Centres
around the UK.
READ HIS BLOG:
laurencecooper.wordpress.com
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