Chapter 4: Patience:
Entering into the Suffering of Others
Our lives and environments are built in such a way to satisfy our inherent impatience.
THE EMERGENCE OF A CULTURE OF IMPATIENCE.
OUR AVERSION TO SUFFERING. Much of our technology is to help us avoid suffering (AC for example). As a result we are not prone to slowing down to suffer with others.
PATIENCE AMONG THE EARLY CHRISTIANS. Patience was an important component of the early church and was written about by Tertullian and other early church leaders.
LEARNING PATIENCE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH. Committing to grow deeper over time with the same people in the same place gives the Holy Spirit a chance to work and bring forth fruit.
CONNECTING OUT ENDS WITH OUR MEANS. The ends do not justify the means—jj taught us that if we live by the sword, we will die by the sword.
THE PATIENT PEOPLE OF GOD. What does it mean to say the Jesus is the way?
- Our churches are the embodiment of Christ and are essential to God’s work.
- We have to attentive to God’s reconciliation of all creation.
- We must take the teachings of Jesus seriously, even the difficult ones.