Should Church Comfort Or Confront?

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Should church meetings comfort or confront?  Perhaps both.  Maybe church should “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

However the goal of a church meeting is not primarily to make people comfortable or to be user friendly.  The goal of a church meeting should be to submit to and manifest the will, desires, and purposes of the living God (be that comfort or discomfort or something else).

But would God want to make anyone uncomfortable?  Paul talks about the importance and value of “godly sorrow.”  That’s uncomfortable.

When Isaiah encountered the living God, he said:  “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the middle of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”  That’s very uncomfortable.

Jesus said:  “Blessed are those who mourn . . .”  That’s extremely uncomfortable.  And “Deny yourself, take up your cross . . .” Ouch!  Talk about uncomfortable!

Are you willing to visit a church where God can make you uncomfortable — a sermon-free church where people passionately show and tell what God is doing in their lives?  If you’re up to it, come visit The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, TN, 37207 on Sundays @ 10:45 am. and Thursdays @ 6:30 pm.

Unknown's avatar

About Steve Simms

I like to look and think outside the box. In college I encountered Jesus Christ and I have been passionate about trying to get to know Him better ever since. My wife and I long to see the power and passion of the first Christ-followers come to life in our time. I have written a book about our experiences in non-traditional church, called, "Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible--Ekklesia." If you need encouragement, search for: Elephants Encouraging The Room and/or check out my Amazon author page. Thank you!
This entry was posted in afflict the comfortable, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, blessed, brokenness, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, comfort, conviction, conviction of sin, cross, deny yourself, godly sorrow, hearing God, Isaiah, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, lifestyle Christianity, move of God, mysticism, Nashville, organic church, participatory church, Paul of Tarsus, purpose, repent, repentance, revival, revolution, salvation, self-denial, show and tell, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, those who mourn, uncomfortable, unprogrammed church, user friendly, voice of God, Woe is me and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

14 Responses to Should Church Comfort Or Confront?

  1. elizabeth s.'s avatar elizabeth s. says:
    July 21, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    GOOD POST! IF U R COMFORTABLE @ CHURCH, THEN U NOT PAYING ATTENTION! MAJOR RUTH BARTHOLOMEW, I ALWAYS SAID TO HER, “OUCH THAT HURTS BUT I NEEDED THAT”! GOD COMFORTS US SO WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS (SOMEWHERE IN HIS WORD ITIS WRITTEN)

    Reply
  2. ELIZABETH S's avatar ELIZABETH S says:
    July 22, 2012 at 1:35 am

    I HATE CAPS LOCK STICKING 😥

    Reply

  3. Pingback: Olympics — Thoughts For Spiritual Athletes | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

  4. lemon123's avatar lemon123 says:
    August 9, 2012 at 6:16 am

    Have to admit discomfort isn’t a feeling I chase. Sometimes I’m a Jonah, but God got Jonah out of his comfort zone, right? Love your articles.

    Reply

  5. Pingback: Life’s Biggest Problem? Self! | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

  6. Pingback: Experiences Prayer Walking Around Dickerson Road In East Nashville | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

  7. Pingback: Should We Settle For Sunday Morning Mediocrity? | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

  8. Pingback: Should We Settle For Sunday Morning Mediocrity? | Path Of Life Ministries

  9. Pingback: Characteristics Of Compromised Christianity | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

  10. Pingback: Two Questions About Human Leadership Vs. The Spirit’s Leadership In Church | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

Leave a comment