Proposal. A full-page ad in The Tennessean. Section one. Right hand page. Lots of white space. Two simple words in big font at the top: "We apologize." Then, in smaller font just below that, something like this: "We, the undersigned churches of Nashville, apologize to our city. We have not been the witnesses for Christ that he commands. We are neither delighting you nor disturbing you with Christ. This is our failure alone, and we own it before him and before you. God helping us, we pledge to be humbler, clearer, more provocative and more pleasing to you in the future. If we break this pledge, you will have no reason to take us seriously ever again. But we cannot go on as we have been. The time has come for repentance and revival." Below that, the participating churches could be listed, in alphabetical order, in columns. Then everyone involved could go back to their churches and we could get down on our knees and beg the Lord Jesus Christ to change us.
What do we have to lose? Only the status quo.
Some day, I hope to hear, “Hey Mack, take the cuffs off him, I think he’s a Hall of Famer!”
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A Proposal
This from Ray Ortlund:
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the church
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6 comments:
i think the apology must come in actions and spoken words instead of writing...or else it would just be false advertising.
then again...what do i know?
it could be good.
words on a page
words like that...
could start some people thinking
in a different way.
change a heart.
it could change a life.
if one person were changed
it would be worth it.
Two Tennessee links in a row? Glad to see it.
Just a coincidence I guess. My son just spent a few days in Memphis and will soon be in Nashville for a brief stop. I must have Tennessee on the brain!
you two could meet up
remove this part...
"and more pleasing to you"
Because Christ didn't please those He went to. What makes them think they will?
Pleasing men isn't the point.
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