PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- MARCH 3, 2008
What our readers and listeners say
New format
Thanks much for the new format. Now I am able to print an article without printing the entire issue. Keep up the wonderful ministry. You are in fellowship with God in changing lives! -- pastor, MaineFearful Christians
I'm so glad that you continue to respond to folks' queries regarding the power (or lack thereof) of Satan and his demons with the truth of God's grace-filled Word. For many years I had a incredibly eye-opening opportunity to moderate a well-known Christian website. In doing so, I came face-to-face daily with some of the most fear-filled people across the world -- all referring to themselves as Christians. They didn't seem to understand that Christ's victory wasn't just over the past, or for some point in the Heavenly future, but a victory now. Here. Today. My deepest spiritual burden has always been for those who are called by His name and still live defeated, in bondage to fear. I continue to pray the Lord's blessing upon you and your team spreading of the Good News of the Gospel -- Graced, Fearless Freedom! -- CaliforniaDoesn't have to leave his brain at the door
Between Ravi Zacharias Ministries and Plain Truth Ministries, I have found to my delight that I don't have to leave my brain at the door in the debate of God's word -- the Bible! Thanks! I do not profess to understand all things the scripture says, but you challenge me to think for myself and to dig deep into the word of God. I cannot say that I agree with everything, but after years of having to agree with everything that we were taught without any challenging of the doctrine, I give myself time and kneel in prayer asking for help. I try to be fair and look at both sides of an issue or doctrine, but all must be based from the word of God. Keep up the good work! -- EmailDo I have to go to church?
Greg answers an Air Force chaplain
I have just read your conversation with the Chaplain from the Armed Forces in last week's PTM Weekly Update. I would like to say that unless we go through something ourselves, it is very hard to understand how someone can feel a particular way. The chaplain obviously never went through any of the turmoil that my husband and I, and our family, went through. If he had, he would understand that just "shopping around" for another church isn't quite that simple, and when he went shopping, he wasn't carrying a lot of abusive church baggage with him, which certainly makes such discernment harder.
Your website and ministry is a great place for many who are wounded and trying to find a way to regain a trust in God, when the rug has been pulled out from beneath them, and they try to pick up the pieces again. From such experiences, thankfully, great growth may also come, especially when guided through that pain and confusion by someone who has been through that very unique experience. Personally, you have helped me when I have come up against hurdles in the healing process. You have never once told me to leave the "organized church." The only person who ever encouraged me to leave the abusive church we were attending, was a very respected Anglican leader, who told us that we needed to find a church where the gentleness of Christ was more apparent. Your chaplain fellow sounds like he has found this type of grace-filled church, and he is lucky he lives in a community where there are enough churches to choose from. However, some people I know here in England might accuse him of bad practice if he chooses to "church hop/shop." That is very frowned on here in Europe, where the expectation is that you will attend church in your local parish, regardless of how dire it is!
The chaplain sounds like he is also speaking from a very American point of view, or an American Forces view, where there is always an American church culture and community available and where you can shop for churches. I have a friend in the U.S. Navy, who recently sent us some photos of a youth event from his base, and there were more children there in that hall than in all of the churches that we've been to in the UK, combined! My 11-year-old son is lucky if there is one other young person at church. Here in Europe, there aren't a lot of us Christians around, and there certainly isn't a very big evangelical community. And what about those Christians who are isolated in Muslim countries or other places, where they are not able to assemble? The Internet and CDs may be the only way they can be together with other Christians.
For my husband and me, your weekly updates and your website are rather like the letters that Paul sent out to believers. I'm sure the believers must have felt boosted up and encouraged when they received Paul's letters, and that's how we feel. We feel connected and loved. You have placed our prayer requests online, and we have times when thousands of people were praying for us, or at least aware of our situation. It saddens me to read the lack of openness the chaplain had towards the possibility that CWR/PTM might just be doing good for a lot of people, including my husband and me, who still attend the only "once a month family service" our village church has!
My husband and I give thanks for the wonderful ministry of PTM/CWR.
With grateful thanks for all you are doing!
EnglandRETURN TO PTM WEEKLY UPDATE CONTENTS PAGE
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