Here is what I’ve been thinking about:

1. We need churches that are forward moving in the Lord (listening and looking to Holy Spirit to lead the way, to direct in the actual thing that any one congregation is to be about, to be a church willing to limit itself to the instruction of God through them for their community, the parish in which they are located – for instance).

2. We need pastors that are growing and alive in God, in order to take a congregation forward (a congregation will only grow or develop to the level of its pastors, the pastor is a cap on spiritual maturity, choose well who you put yourself under and where your agreement goes).

3. We must understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive at its core (think forgiveness, holiness, taking up your cross, for instance) and that to prioritize making church acceptable to the world is a serious tactical error (the principle is that we never negotiate with darkness, whether that is an abusive spouse, a tyrannical government, a thief, terrorists, a kidnapper demanding a ransom, and such – to negotiate only results in the demand increasing and contempt [for those too nice] growing).

In other words, to remain in place, to doubt the ability for the congregation to mature, to limit the call to cross-bearing, to make church ‘nice’ for people, is to bring contempt on the cross of Christ, the heart of The Father, and the ministry of Holy Spirit.