Jan Paulsen strikes the right note...again!

Dr. Paulsen makes me proud to be Adventist. Check this out, from his address to pastors and evangelists at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama this week.

"The church must be such a place of healing, where all will feel, 'I am home,' "said Dr. Jan Paulsen, speaking at Oakwood University Tuesday. "The church is not meant to be a battlefield. The church must be a city of refuge." <snip>

Those members and leaders who emphasize high standards of behavior can inadvertently turn what should be a place of healing into a place of rejection, Paulsen said, quoting Jesus' parable in Matthew 13, where the owner instructs his field workers to allow the weeds to grow with the wheat to make sure none of the wheat is harmed by weeding.

"Many youth disappear from the church because they have been made to feel unworthy, and unloved in the church," Paulsen said. "They hear the church say to them, 'God doesn't like you very much.' "
"Is it possible, is it possible that God may be more generous than I am?" Paulsen asked, to a rustle of agreeing "amens" from the mostly male crowd.

Unless someone becomes openly hostile to the church, God must judge, he said.
"I hate to be around people who think they have everything worked out," Paulsen said. "They tend to become arrogant, narrow and judgmental."

Read the whole thing here.

Comments

[Richie]

Thanks for posting those encouraging words. I would not have heard of Dr. Paulsen's comments otherwise. I wholeheartedly believe what he is saying. I have witnessed the "church as a battlefield". Just last Sabbath I was asked to speak in a church 45 miles from here. As I finished my sermon someone disrupted the service disputing some historical facts I had used in the sermon. It is so demoralizing to see such attacks in the church.

An Arkie's Musings

[Richie]

Thanks for posting those encouraging words. I would not have heard of Dr. Paulsen's comments otherwise. I wholeheartedly believe what he is saying. I have witnessed the "church as a battlefield". Just last Sabbath I was asked to speak in a church 45 miles from here. As I finished my sermon someone disrupted the service disputing some historical facts I had used in the sermon. It is so demoralizing to see such attacks in the church.

[Ben]

Ryan--I'm curious to know what in particular struck you about his comments and what about it made you "proud to be an Adventist."

Regards,

Ben

[Ryan]

I think it's just the inclusiveness that he is advocating that made me happy. Over on my Facebook the same post has gotten quite a few comments. In particular, one good one from Allan Martin about the importance and urgent need to follow good words with good actions. I'd love to hear what you all think of that. If you're on Facebook you can see it here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=40219175558