Comments on: The Church of People Who Like to Be Liked http://sheworships.com/2012/01/02/the-church-of-people-who-like-to-be-liked/ Christian theology for the every day woman. Thu, 17 May 2012 17:49:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Haley http://sheworships.com/2012/01/02/the-church-of-people-who-like-to-be-liked/#comment-22348 Haley Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:12:33 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1366#comment-22348 I just stumbled across your blog and have spent almost the last hour reading through the archives. I read entry after entry that either spoke directly to questions or thoughts I've had recently as I'm finishing up college... thank you for honest, thoughtful, Christ-centered posts! I just stumbled across your blog and have spent almost the last hour reading through the archives. I read entry after entry that either spoke directly to questions or thoughts I’ve had recently as I’m finishing up college… thank you for honest, thoughtful, Christ-centered posts!

]]> By: Food Freak Frank http://sheworships.com/2012/01/02/the-church-of-people-who-like-to-be-liked/#comment-21541 Food Freak Frank Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:43:24 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1366#comment-21541 Thanks for your insight. Being Christian does make us generally nicer to people than we would be without the Gospel. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and despite what we hear people tell us, we are Christians. We love him and his gospel with All our hearts, or at least we're always striving to. There are so many different Christian Faiths around where I live to, and it's just amazing having so many kind, helpful, and dedicated Christians around. Thanks for your post, and I love CS lewis's books! Thanks for your insight. Being Christian does make us generally nicer to people than we would be without the Gospel. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and despite what we hear people tell us, we are Christians. We love him and his gospel with All our hearts, or at least we’re always striving to. There are so many different Christian Faiths around where I live to, and it’s just amazing having so many kind, helpful, and dedicated Christians around. Thanks for your post, and I love CS lewis’s books!

]]> By: Sarah W http://sheworships.com/2012/01/02/the-church-of-people-who-like-to-be-liked/#comment-21395 Sarah W Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:16:45 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1366#comment-21395 Ouch. This is really convicting and I'm so glad I read it. You have a gift for peeling away layers of "religion" to get to true Christianity. Thanks for sharing your gift! Ouch. This is really convicting and I’m so glad I read it. You have a gift for peeling away layers of “religion” to get to true Christianity. Thanks for sharing your gift!

]]> By: Tim http://sheworships.com/2012/01/02/the-church-of-people-who-like-to-be-liked/#comment-21393 Tim Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:39:23 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1366#comment-21393 I really like how you captured the issue with this line: "At the heart of people-pleasing and a Christianity measured by niceness is a works righteousness that is antithetical to the gospel." We certainly can tend to measure our relationship with God by how much other people seem to appreciate what we do for them. It almost becomes, "They like me, so God must be really pleased with what I'm doing!" It sounds ridiculous when I write it out but I've fallen in to the trap too, even though I am way over on the introverted side of the spectrum. I think that there is another legalism at work here as well. A couple of days ago a friend told me about a conversation with someone who felt that people at church were not being welcoming and supportive enough, in essence not being nice enough to her. My friend said church is not a place where you go because other people will treat you nicely. I thought that was a perfectly good insight. Church is the gathering of God's people for God's glory. Sure, this involves encouragement and edification and bearing one another's burdens, but if all a person wants is to get happy they can go to Disneyland (which I love, by the way!). Thanks for another great post to get me thinking, Sharon. Tim I really like how you captured the issue with this line: “At the heart of people-pleasing and a Christianity measured by niceness is a works righteousness that is antithetical to the gospel.” We certainly can tend to measure our relationship with God by how much other people seem to appreciate what we do for them. It almost becomes, “They like me, so God must be really pleased with what I’m doing!” It sounds ridiculous when I write it out but I’ve fallen in to the trap too, even though I am way over on the introverted side of the spectrum.

I think that there is another legalism at work here as well. A couple of days ago a friend told me about a conversation with someone who felt that people at church were not being welcoming and supportive enough, in essence not being nice enough to her. My friend said church is not a place where you go because other people will treat you nicely. I thought that was a perfectly good insight. Church is the gathering of God’s people for God’s glory. Sure, this involves encouragement and edification and bearing one another’s burdens, but if all a person wants is to get happy they can go to Disneyland (which I love, by the way!).

Thanks for another great post to get me thinking, Sharon.

Tim

]]> By: Katie W http://sheworships.com/2012/01/02/the-church-of-people-who-like-to-be-liked/#comment-21295 Katie W Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:13:04 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1366#comment-21295 Have you read "Almost Christian" by Kendra Creasey Dean? It talks about how youth ministry/Christian education seems to be teaching niceness and morality rather than bold action and dependant faith in God. Wonderful as always! Have you read “Almost Christian” by Kendra Creasey Dean? It talks about how youth ministry/Christian education seems to be teaching niceness and morality rather than bold action and dependant faith in God.
Wonderful as always!

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