Feeling under pressure, anxious, or burned out? Searching for rest?
We live in an anxious and fretful world.
Stress-related illnesses are on the increase, resulting in over 10 million working days being lost last year in the UK.
Social structures are breaking down and the demands of the workplace are escalating.
We live in days of record prosperity compared to previous generations, but despite the claims of the advertising industry,
our new acquisitions are not bringing the promised well-being.
Stress-related illnesses are on the increase, resulting in over 10 million working days being lost last year in the UK.
Social structures are breaking down and the demands of the workplace are escalating.
We live in days of record prosperity compared to previous generations, but despite the claims of the advertising industry,
our new acquisitions are not bringing the promised well-being.
Welcome to Rhythms of Grace...
...a website specially designed to offer long-term solutions to stress, encouragement to those who feel burned out, and guidance to those searching for peace.
Hope for the hurting (cont.)
Around the world, the pandemic, various scandals, and political issues—among other things—have left many Christians with questions about church. Division has grown in the body of Christ, as many have just withdrawn and added to the numbers, (in millions, according to various surveys) of confessing Christians around the world who don’t go to church.
The charge frequently levied at these believers by regular church members, often with force, is that they can’t be proper Christians, or will inevitably backslide—or even be consigned to hell! Perhaps you have had that experience?
But is it true?
Biblical 'church' is not a place, despite the word being attached to buildings; in fact there were no church buildings for the first 250 years after Christ. Biblical church always refers to people, so the question of whether ‘proper’ Christians go to church is invalid. (Actually the word 'church' is a misnomer... but we'll go into that another time!)
Every Christian is part of Christ’s Church, His body, by virtue of his or her relationship to the Head; so the only way to leave the Church is through apostasy. However, often what is meant by the charge above is ‘you can’t leave my church, because it is the only real church around’, or—a more graceful attitude—‘you should be part of a recognised church somewhere’. And there are a number of articles and sermons on the internet defending those positions, with varying degrees of censure.
The problem is really about how we define ‘church’. And frequently our definitions are more to do with our traditions than anything presented in Scripture. We need to be wary of judging someone’s Christian faith by whether they are conforming to historical views of what constitutes 'church'.
And then there’s the charge that people who don’t ‘belong to a recognised church’ will inevitably backslide and fall off the edge. This is undoubtedly true for some; but in view of the words and actions of many fully-paid-up church members—witnessed privately, and increasingly on the world-stage—apathy, ungodly behaviour, poor theology, heresy and apostasy are not just the province of the so-called ‘dechurched’. Apparently, belonging to an ‘accepted’ church, even one which is well-known and powerful, is no insurance against the poor outworking of faith and Christ-likeness.
For those who are contented with the church-life you are presently experiencing, I pray that you will continue to be abundantly blessed; but that you will also continue to love, support and pray for your fellow-believers who are wrestling with church-related issues.
For those who number among the supposedly ‘dechurched’, I pray that you will continue to love and bless your friends who are happy within the recognised church structures, and that you will either find a new place to call home, or you will discover a new definition of church which fills you with faith for the future.
And for every visitor, I pray that you will keep Christ-centred as you pursue ways of living out your faith.
The charge frequently levied at these believers by regular church members, often with force, is that they can’t be proper Christians, or will inevitably backslide—or even be consigned to hell! Perhaps you have had that experience?
But is it true?
Biblical 'church' is not a place, despite the word being attached to buildings; in fact there were no church buildings for the first 250 years after Christ. Biblical church always refers to people, so the question of whether ‘proper’ Christians go to church is invalid. (Actually the word 'church' is a misnomer... but we'll go into that another time!)
Every Christian is part of Christ’s Church, His body, by virtue of his or her relationship to the Head; so the only way to leave the Church is through apostasy. However, often what is meant by the charge above is ‘you can’t leave my church, because it is the only real church around’, or—a more graceful attitude—‘you should be part of a recognised church somewhere’. And there are a number of articles and sermons on the internet defending those positions, with varying degrees of censure.
The problem is really about how we define ‘church’. And frequently our definitions are more to do with our traditions than anything presented in Scripture. We need to be wary of judging someone’s Christian faith by whether they are conforming to historical views of what constitutes 'church'.
And then there’s the charge that people who don’t ‘belong to a recognised church’ will inevitably backslide and fall off the edge. This is undoubtedly true for some; but in view of the words and actions of many fully-paid-up church members—witnessed privately, and increasingly on the world-stage—apathy, ungodly behaviour, poor theology, heresy and apostasy are not just the province of the so-called ‘dechurched’. Apparently, belonging to an ‘accepted’ church, even one which is well-known and powerful, is no insurance against the poor outworking of faith and Christ-likeness.
For those who are contented with the church-life you are presently experiencing, I pray that you will continue to be abundantly blessed; but that you will also continue to love, support and pray for your fellow-believers who are wrestling with church-related issues.
For those who number among the supposedly ‘dechurched’, I pray that you will continue to love and bless your friends who are happy within the recognised church structures, and that you will either find a new place to call home, or you will discover a new definition of church which fills you with faith for the future.
And for every visitor, I pray that you will keep Christ-centred as you pursue ways of living out your faith.
7 WAYS TO KEEP SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY WHEN STRUGGLING WITH CHURCH ISSUES
Use the sign-up box below.
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For those who would like a supportive environment while working out these questions of church and faith, I would like to offer the new Rhythms of Grace initiative, ‘Eagles Wings’. Twice-monthly emails, and a private web-page with other resources is on offer to Christians wrestling with church-related issues. And if you know of anyone else in this position, please feel free to forward this invitation to them.
The next email (1st March) will look at 7 ways to keep spiritually healthy… |
Please check your spam folder if you don't appear to have received a reply.
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And for those are hurting from other causes, please take a look at last week's editorial and resources, which you will find on the new
'HOPE FOR THE HURTING' page. |
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TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE: DECLUTTER THE MIND
BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY BLOGTHIS COLLECTION: CREATE SPACE FOR LIFE |
Do your thoughts cause you problems? Are you one of those people whose mind is constantly buzzing? Someone who habitually does one thing while thinking about another; or whose thoughts drift off even whilst having a conversation? Maybe you are a worrier, someone whose mind is often filled with fearful or anxious thoughts; or maybe day-dreaming is your thing, your way of escaping from an unsatisfactory life? Blog post at 7pm every Friday.
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PREVIOUS COLLECTION: A HOPE-FILLED YEAR
Biblical hope is the confident and joyful expectation of good, and it is rooted in our trust in a loving Heavenly Father...
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Special greetings to new visitors!
A big welcome to Rhythms of Grace website, recently relaunched, with a multitude of important features to help you in your quest for peace, including
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Do take time to browse. The site is easily navigated through the buttons at the top of the page. However, there is such a wealth of material, to get the greatest benefit I suggest you start at the beginning, with a bit about my story, and an introduction to the site, and then work through steadily, page by page. Picture links on each page will conduct you to the next stage.
Start your journey here...
A PERSONAL WELCOME
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INTRODUCTION TO A JOURNEY INTO REST AND PEACE
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I need your help...
- Please take some time to give me some feedback. I really want to know what you think. You can use the contact box at the bottom of the page.
- Please recommend Rhythms of Grace to your friends, and on social media. There are quotes on most pages to click-to-tweet; there is a new 'Pin This' section in the tabs above, and most pictures can be shared on Pinterest, and individual pages can be shared on Facebook by copying the page address (URL) and pasting into a Facebook post. The buttons below will share the website as a whole.
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- Please tell me about any textual errors, or any links which don't work. (Make sure you include the page name where the issue is found, so I can deal with it!) Again, please use the contact button at the bottom of the page.
A note on resources...
‘Rhythms of Grace’ supplies a diverse selection of resources, which are selected for their specific contributions to a particular page theme. In addition, 'On My Bookshelf' gives a variety of personal book recommendations; books which have greatly added to my faith-journey.
I honour each person represented for blessing me on my faith-journey; however, it is important to say I am not affiliated with any of them, and an endorsement of every aspect of the theology or world-view of a particular ministry is not implied.
Through the blessing of the internet, there is a wealth of Christian resource available to us—and many partisan views are expressed, some of which are horrifyingly judgemental. My encouragement is for us to view it all as a banquet— we don’t have to eat everything to have a good meal, nor should we reject the whole thing because there are elements we don’t like. The best of Christendom belongs to us—let’s enjoy it!
I honour each person represented for blessing me on my faith-journey; however, it is important to say I am not affiliated with any of them, and an endorsement of every aspect of the theology or world-view of a particular ministry is not implied.
Through the blessing of the internet, there is a wealth of Christian resource available to us—and many partisan views are expressed, some of which are horrifyingly judgemental. My encouragement is for us to view it all as a banquet— we don’t have to eat everything to have a good meal, nor should we reject the whole thing because there are elements we don’t like. The best of Christendom belongs to us—let’s enjoy it!
Before you continue, let me pray for you...
Take a moment to linger, before you enter the site, and let the powerful words of this ancient blessing wash over you:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
[Numbers 6:22-26]
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
[Numbers 6:22-26]
[Photo credits:
@ Unsplash, with thanks]
@ Unsplash, with thanks]
MORE LINKS BELOW:
Hover over the picture...
[Photo credits: Dorothea Oldani (eagle); Thomas Dumortier (broken glass); Denys Nevozhai (girl on rock); Fabrizio Verrecchia (man and train); Katie Mourn (welcome sign); Carolyn V (welcome teapot); Bruce Mars (man at window); Daniel Gonzalez (girl with map); Da Kraplak (typewriter) @ Unsplash, with thanks.]
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All text and photographs,
unless otherwise credited © rhythmsofgraceuk.org All rights reserved. |
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Please note: commissions are supplied by Amazon; there are no hidden costs for visitors to this website, and all resources shown are genuine recommendations, |
