Lázadók, menekültek és egy visszatérő maradék – David Bolton
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There is a monumental shift taking place in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ worldwide. Multitudes of sincere, faith-filled Christians are leaving the institutional church in search of a simpler, more relational, and interactive experience of church life. According to George Barna’s research more than ten years ago, the numbers then exceeded twenty million [Revolution (2005) pg.13]. According to the nature of this growing trend, these numbers have increased exponentially since that time.
For the most part, these believers are not leaving because they have lost their faith, but because they desire to see their faith grow and find a fuller, even more Biblical, expression. Those who are a part of this world-wide “exodus” are often found gathering under the banners of “organic…, “simple…, “house…, “missional…, and “emergent… church”…
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Christ-Centered Christianity 
Beautifully articulated and penned by experience. I have seen your pain my dear brother. I was drawn to your encouragement to the refugees and personally was desiring more help in this area. Maybe because I know so many. Press on my good brother, you are a blessing to the Body of Jesus Christ. Mike L.
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Thank you, brother Mike. I’m glad we’ve been able to share this journey over the years as friends and fellow pilgrims! You are a blessing to me! Keep pressing on! The Lord is near!
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I have read this before, but as I read it again today, Aslan’s words to Lucy in ”Prince Caspian: Return to Narnia” came to mind, “every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” I admit that I have seen a bit of the three characteristcs in my own experience at some point in my journey, but increasingly towards the remnant as the heavenly vision becomes clearer and clearer. Brother David, do you think that the movement from one cartegory to the other can be progressive especially from Refugees to Returning Remnants? I have particularly resonated today with, “Their deepest convictions are shaped by a positive response to a positive, heavenly reality, rather than a negative response to a negative, earthly reality.”
This was such a blessing, thank you.
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Hi Patrick,
Thank you for your comment. My apologies for the delay in my response. Life has been “hard pressed on all sides” this past month. 😦 As to whether there can be a progressive moving from one to the other, especially from “refugee” to “remnant”, I certainly believe their can. What lies at the core of that transition, I believe, is the depth to which one is truly seeking the positive vision of the Lord, whether they are willing to deny themselves and their own pursuits (even self-motivated spiritual ones), take up the cross in relation to that vision, and follow the Lord without looking back. Many who are refugees still have “self” well enthroned, and still view the church as being something that exists for their own benefit and blessing. When that is the case, they will never pay the price of the returning remnant, but will always look back to what they came out of, hoping to find a better version of it somewhere where their needs will be more satisfactorily met.
In regards to the remnant and the refugees, the words of Hebrews 11:13-16 come to mind: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” The remnant are faithful, even if they don’t obtain the full promise in this life. Those who are refugees, however, think of the “country” they have left, and so God gives them opportunity to return. The call of the remnant is to embrace the faith of Abraham and be willing to “live in tents” until they possess the promised inheritance, even if not in this life. It is not for the faint or faithless in heart. But God is faithful Who has promised, and He will do it!
Keep on pressing on, brother! I’m thankful for your witness, and the encouragement I’ve received from your blog! God has prepared a City! This life is a vapor!
In love,
David
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