Comments on: Easy Church http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/ Worship Leader. Family Man. Jesus Follower. Fri, 16 May 2008 04:04:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Sarah Chia http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3567 Sarah Chia Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:00:37 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3567 I go back and forth so much on this kind of thing. I mean, shouldn't we be giving people a real look at Christianity? And isn't Christianity hard? Isn't it all about suffering with Christ and being crucified with Him? But then on the other hand, I think about meeting people where they are and guiding them. I mean, until a person is filled with the Spirit, we can't really expect them to want those deeply spiritual things, right? So, how can we have an environment where people will want come before understand the need to suffer, while maintaining a fellowship that is dedicated to being sold out on Christian living? I go back and forth so much on this kind of thing. I mean, shouldn’t we be giving people a real look at Christianity? And isn’t Christianity hard? Isn’t it all about suffering with Christ and being crucified with Him?

But then on the other hand, I think about meeting people where they are and guiding them. I mean, until a person is filled with the Spirit, we can’t really expect them to want those deeply spiritual things, right?

So, how can we have an environment where people will want come before understand the need to suffer, while maintaining a fellowship that is dedicated to being sold out on Christian living?

]]> By: Peter Park http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3556 Peter Park Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:32:40 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3556 It's easier here in the U.S. I remember being in that part of the country and going through back alleys to attend church. It was great. Here in America we are facing different challenges, like that of hypocrisy. It’s easier here in the U.S. I remember being in that part of the country and going through back alleys to attend church. It was great. Here in America we are facing different challenges, like that of hypocrisy.

]]> By: alex http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3544 alex Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:56:25 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3544 hong kong blog - that sounds like the funny one to me! Just had to throw that in there... easy church. ya, American church... pretty easy, and VERY expensive - BUT if you are passionate about reaching OUR culture I believe that sometimes easy church works - cuz it feels easy for those coming (for those creating it it's a TON of work), and then it's challenging them to chose life. But we've got to win people to Jesus Christ at the end of the day. I know it's not too deep, but it is midnight. hong kong blog - that sounds like the funny one to me!
Just had to throw that in there…

easy church. ya, American church… pretty easy, and VERY expensive - BUT if you are passionate about reaching OUR culture I believe that sometimes easy church works - cuz it feels easy for those coming (for those creating it it’s a TON of work), and then it’s challenging them to chose life.

But we’ve got to win people to Jesus Christ at the end of the day. I know it’s not too deep, but it is midnight.

]]> By: Billy Chia http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3535 Billy Chia Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:22:56 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3535 Katie, Good call on how "easy" can be relative to your situation. I updated the post to link up to your hongkong blog. Katie,
Good call on how “easy” can be relative to your situation. I updated the post to link up to your hongkong blog.

]]> By: Kate http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3534 Kate Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:23:29 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3534 Hey Billy, I'm glad that my email inspired a blog post and the discussion on the topic seems to be pretty good. I have to say that even though the church has had it "rough" in being transient for the last 6 years, we have had it "easy" compared to Christians who are in China. I am actually getting together tonight with friends who are living in HK now, because they are not allowed back into China because they were having a church meeting and got arrested. I have two blogs actually and this one you mentioned is just my funny one, but this one is my ministry blog if anyone is interested. ;) katielivinginhongkong.blogspot.com Hey Billy,

I’m glad that my email inspired a blog post and the discussion on the topic seems to be pretty good. I have to say that even though the church has had it “rough” in being transient for the last 6 years, we have had it “easy” compared to Christians who are in China. I am actually getting together tonight with friends who are living in HK now, because they are not allowed back into China because they were having a church meeting and got arrested.

I have two blogs actually and this one you mentioned is just my funny one, but this one is my ministry blog if anyone is interested. ;) katielivinginhongkong.blogspot.com

]]> By: Billy Chia http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3531 Billy Chia Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:02:18 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3531 "If you build it they will come, but if you preach the real Gospel they will remain." I like that. “If you build it they will come, but if you preach the real Gospel they will remain.”

I like that.

]]> By: worship1 http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3530 worship1 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:19:29 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3530 Hey Billy, thanks!!! We really need a good reality check sometimes. Giving up all the extra fluff in churches reveals some interesting things. Sure, we want to draw in the unchurched and the lost but if the fluff is removed will they stay for Christ's sake? There are plenty of folks who hop over to that church down-town because they have the big screen and starbucks coffee and cushy chairs, but take it away and they'll likely go elsewhere looking for some other fluff experience. Makes me think of a movie quote, "If you build it, they will come," ya, but if you preach the gospel holding nothing back it's more likely they will remain! Hey Billy, thanks!!! We really need a good reality check sometimes. Giving up all the extra fluff in churches reveals some interesting things. Sure, we want to draw in the unchurched and the lost but if the fluff is removed will they stay for Christ’s sake? There are plenty of folks who hop over to that church down-town because they have the big screen and starbucks coffee and cushy chairs, but take it away and they’ll likely go elsewhere looking for some other fluff experience.

Makes me think of a movie quote, “If you build it, they will come,” ya, but if you preach the gospel holding nothing back it’s more likely they will remain!

]]> By: Mark http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3529 Mark Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:17:30 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3529 Yes. Yes.

]]> By: Billy Chia http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3528 Billy Chia Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:39:38 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3528 Russ, I'm glad you caught on to that distinction. Russ,
I’m glad you caught on to that distinction.

]]> By: Billy B. http://billychia.com/2008/04/15/easy-church/#comment-3527 Billy B. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:28:00 +0000 http://billychia.wordpress.com/?p=555#comment-3527 I spent several years living in Saudi Arabia every week we would load a bus and make our way to the british embassy. We would spend time with worshiping with people who had all sorts of backgrounds and stories on how they arrived there. One of the things that has deeply impacted me from that experience, is that when pressure is applied to a group of followers of Christ there is an increase in the weight and depth of faith. Maybe not for all, but when its not easy, I tend not to care about the "small stuff' a and my faith reaches out a solid anchor. I hope that makes sense. It hard to fully describe the transformation that difficulty brings to the table. I spent several years living in Saudi Arabia every week we would load a bus and make our way to the british embassy. We would spend time with worshiping with people who had all sorts of backgrounds and stories on how they arrived there. One of the things that has deeply impacted me from that experience, is that when pressure is applied to a group of followers of Christ there is an increase in the weight and depth of faith. Maybe not for all, but when its not easy, I tend not to care about the “small stuff’ a and my faith reaches out a solid anchor.

I hope that makes sense. It hard to fully describe the transformation that difficulty brings to the table.

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