Life of Faith is a Fight Against Habits (by Pastor Young-Gi Choi)
The difference between traditional disciple training and house church disciple training is that the former seeks to make disciples by teaching through bible study, and the latter seeks to make disciples by sharing life. Most pastors rely on the former. They rely entirely on preaching and bible study to make disciples. This is because they believe that when people know, they change, and when they become enlightened, they change.
This belief has its roots in the Enlightenment movement that began in the West in the 17th century. Enlightenmentists believed the fundamental problem of humanity was ignorance. Therefore, it was believed that the ideal society would be created when ignorance disappeared through enlightenment and education. However, through World War II, this was proved cruelly to be a vain dream. This is because the Germans, who were flourishing in philosophy and had a high level of civility, committed a great evil: the massacre of Jews.
Even though it has been proven that knowledge and intelligence cannot change people, many pastors rely solely on bible study as a tool to change the lives of their believers. In fact, bible study helps change your life for 2-3 years after first believing in Jesus. However, after this time, it creates believers whose heads only grow bigger in knowledge. The reason why existing believers’ lives do not change is not because they do not know how to live, but because they are failing in the fight against old habits.
Even if you accept Jesus and are born again as a child of God, you do not immediately get rid of the habits of thinking wrongly, showing the wrong emotional reactions, and making wrong choices. In order for your life to change, these bad habits must be replaced with habits worthy of the life that the Lord wants you to have.
Habits don't change with one decision and commitment. Enlightenment through the Word or a passionately experiencing the Holy Spirit can motivate change in life, but it cannot actually change your life. In order to change your life, you need to practice. Practice, but do it repeatedly. You need to practice obedience, practice forgiveness, and practice holiness.
The house church is a place where you can practice replacing old habits with new ones. Through troubles with house church members, you realise that the only solution is to change yourself. In the midst of conflict, you break apart and experience change. This is why your life changes when you become a shepherd and shepherd’s wife. This is because you have given up your right to not meet people you don't like, the right to not attend gatherings you don't like, and the right to be served by your neighbours, and you have put yourself in a situation where you have no choice but to tolerate, understand, and endure - and so you cannot help but change.
Word of the week
Thankfulness comes from looking back. And it’s also about expressing it. My words of thankfulness can spread happiness and joy.
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이동주 2024.11.16 18:55
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The difference between traditional disciple training and house church disciple training is that the former seeks to make disciples by teaching through bible study, and the latter seeks to make disciples by sharing life. Most pastors rely on the former. They rely entirely on preaching and bible study to make disciples. This is because they believe that when people know, they change, and when they become enlightened, they change.
This belief has its roots in the Enlightenment movement that began in the West in the 17th century. Enlightenmentists believed the fundamental problem of humanity was ignorance. Therefore, it was believed that the ideal society would be created when ignorance disappeared through enlightenment and education. However, through World War II, this was proved cruelly to be a vain dream. This is because the Germans, who were flourishing in philosophy and had a high level of civility, committed a great evil: the massacre of Jews.
Even though it has been proven that knowledge and intelligence cannot change people, many pastors rely solely on bible study as a tool to change the lives of their believers. In fact, bible study helps change your life for 2-3 years after first believing in Jesus. However, after this time, it creates believers whose heads only grow bigger in knowledge. The reason why existing believers’ lives do not change is not because they do not know how to live, but because they are failing in the fight against old habits.
Even if you accept Jesus and are born again as a child of God, you do not immediately get rid of the habits of thinking wrongly, showing the wrong emotional reactions, and making wrong choices. In order for your life to change, these bad habits must be replaced with habits worthy of the life that the Lord wants you to have.
Habits don't change with one decision and commitment. Enlightenment through the Word or a passionately experiencing the Holy Spirit can motivate change in life, but it cannot actually change your life. In order to change your life, you need to practice. Practice, but do it repeatedly. You need to practice obedience, practice forgiveness, and practice holiness.
The house church is a place where you can practice replacing old habits with new ones. Through troubles with house church members, you realise that the only solution is to change yourself. In the midst of conflict, you break apart and experience change. This is why your life changes when you become a shepherd and shepherd’s wife. This is because you have given up your right to not meet people you don't like, the right to not attend gatherings you don't like, and the right to be served by your neighbours, and you have put yourself in a situation where you have no choice but to tolerate, understand, and endure - and so you cannot help but change.
Word of the week
Thankfulness comes from looking back. And it’s also about expressing it. My words of thankfulness can spread happiness and joy.