Dear Church Family,
Sometimes I read something that causes me to slap my head as if I am telling myself, “Why haven’t you thought of that?” I have learned not to slap myself too hard lest I be covered in welts and bruises from doing it so often. Ray Ortlund, a PCA pastor in Nashville, recently posted an essay on The Gospel Coalition website that caught my eye. It had the title “Gospel + Safety + Time = A Church Where Anyone Can Grow.” I state from time to time that we must be wary of any formula that seems to guarantee “Spiritual success” however you choose to define it.
While his words have a formula, Ortlund simply points us great Biblical truths that lead us to maturity in Christ – lives that are “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God” per Philippians 1:11. Notice this wisdom in three short paragraphs.
“Gospel: good news for bad people through the finished work of Christ on the
cross and the endless power of the Holy Spirit. Multiple exposures. Constant immersion.
Wave upon wave of grace and truth, according to the Bible.
“Safety: a non-accusing environment. No embarrassing anyone. No cornering anyone.
No shaming. But respect and sympathy and listening and understanding,
so that people can exhale and open up and unburden their souls. A church
environment where no one seeking the Lord has anything to fear.
“Time: no pressure. Not even self-imposed pressure. No deadlines on growth.
Urgency, but not hurry, because no one changes quickly. A lot of “space” for
complicated people to rethink their lives at a deep level. God is patient.”
May we be a church that overflows with the Gospel while allowing God to graciously and sovereignly work in His perfect time to accomplish His eternal purposes.
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin