“…he had opened the door of faith...”

Acts 14.27

“Are we ‘monks’ or ‘missionaries’?”

This was the topic of the email I sent out on Monday morning the 27th of June 2022.  (About this time last year.)

Later that day I received an email from “Sara” asking me to remove her name from my mailout list.  She thought comparing monks to missionaries was unchristian.  I do not know “Sara”.  A mutual friend asked if she could be added to thins mailout.  My reply to “Sara” is below.

Good morning “Sara”.

Thank you for your comments regarding our devotion.  These are originally part of our church bulletin from a year ago, to put it in context.  The Monk vs. Missionary thought came from a runner/journalist/author, John Bingham who was encouraging people to share their thoughts on good health, running etc. rather than be a quiet sort of loner. A sort of “Get out and share the great news of good health!” 

So yes, sorry that context wasn’t more clear. I have removed you from our mailout.

But I would ask you to give us another chance.  These “Pastor’s Pen” are meant to be thought-provoking, challenging and mostly, encouraging!  If it was not, then I am sorry for that.  Again, thank you for your comments.

Kind regards,

Frank

I certainly took what “Sara” said into account.  It’s good for us to be careful what we say, to be reminded to have “gracious words” like Jesus did.  “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.”  Luke 4:22

At the end of the day, people will misunderstand us, but let’s kindly and graciously keep doing our part, and praying for the day we can say… “…he had opened the door of faith...”!!!