What must we get right? pt. 1

July 12, 2010 in Teaching with 1 Comment

On the blog this week, I am going to be writing a series of posts based on the conversation that was captured in the video I have posted below from the Catalyst Conference.

The person directing the interview is John Ortberg, an author of many books and Senior Pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California. The person he is interview is Dallas Willard, a Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California where he has taught for 65 years.

Today I want to invite you to listen to their conversation as they discuss what is essential that the church “get right.”

  • http://www.bradalexander.net Bradley Alexander

    I thoroughly enjoyed the video and plan on sharing it on my blog here pretty soon. Here is a couple of thoughts that I had in response to your question.

    What is essential for the Church to get right?

    I think it is as Dallas Willard suggests, we as the church start to stray from the right path when our central message is that we follow Jesus so that we can get to Heaven when we die. That is not Jesus’ central message at all. Rob Bell once wrote that “the way of Jesus is the best way to live.”

    The invitation by Jesus to be his disciple is not an fire insurance plan. It’s life transformation. Once you accept this invitation your life that you live will be transformed into a life that is fueled by Grace and Love.

    It is essential for the Church to get right that life in Christ is not about just getting into Heaven, its about bringing Heaven to Earth. As disciples of Jesus Christ we become co-creators with God himself, by helping God create a better world by the love and grace that Jesus did and still does to this day.

    C.S. Lewis once wrote that we, as human beings as far too easily pleased by what the world offers to us when God offers his infinite love for all.

    I suggest that Church take part in inviting others to experience this love as well.

    Thanks for posting this interview, it got me thinking and challenged me.