Comments on: Is your church a lawn or a forest floor?

By: John Buchard

John Buchard — Mon, 08 May 2023 08:04:03 +0000

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By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Sat, 29 May 2021 01:45:19 +0000

Hi Mike, this is one of your finest blog posts and so profound, it really pokes at something deep and primal within me. Thanks for the reminder of this difficult and important mission.

By: Peter Locker

Peter Locker — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 09:50:27 +0000

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

By: Christine Holmes

Christine Holmes — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

This is a very little comment about the nature of forests that our amazing God has created… In Judi Dench’s 2017 documentary on trees I learnt that all of the trees in a forest are actually connected by a network of fungi under the surface. This means that if one tree is in trouble the other trees can send it vital nutrients via the network. I like to think that as followers of Christ we are able to do the same with the family, friends and believers we have surrounding us – sending out God’s peace, hospitality, mercy and generosity to those who need it most.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 14:41:23 +0000

Terrific kingdom metaphor. Thanks!

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:30:35 +0000

In reply to Robert Tulip. What a fantastic comment! You not only honored me by fully appreciating what I was saying, but you've added to it by exploring even further implications of the metaphor. Thank you.

By: Robert Tulip

Robert Tulip — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:01:10 +0000

This excellent article using weeds as a parable reminds me of the Matthew Principle, that to those who have will be given. Weeds have power to invade a cultivated monoculture, showing the strength of diversity over conformity. They have the ability to adapt to circumstances and will be given more situations to prosper, The existential character traits of authenticity, freedom and openness are like weeds in a lawn, disturbing the artificial sameness of our mass culture and comforting myths. Weeds exemplify the basic principle of Christian ethics, that the last are first in the kingdom of God. With no friends and no help, weeds flourish anywhere. Durable, fecund and stable, weeds are the meek who will inherit the earth. Weeds feature strongly in the Gospel story of the kingdom, mainly in the parable of the wheat and the tares, with the weeds representing the false teachings that over the lifetime of the church have entwined themselves with the true teachings of Christ. The idea is that when God rules the world, the true and false teachings will reach maturity, and people will be able to see the difference. But considering the unsustainability of a well manicured lawn, with its complete dependence on artificial intervention, we should wonder where the wheat and weeds are really to be found. Industrial agriculture suppresses weeds with chemicals, like industrial medicine suppresses germs with drugs. These systems give us a bounty of wealth and health, but we should remember that the Biblical idea of dominion is more about wise stewardship than domination and control. By getting rid of weeds we also get rid of essential insects like bees, creating a toxic environment. Perhaps the authentic existential response to the messianic call of Jesus Christ is more like a pesky weed than a conformist lawn. After all, the decision to crucify Jesus treated him like a weed. He bounced back with the resurrection, just like a weed that you can’t get rid of.

By: Evelaine

Evelaine — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 12:02:46 +0000

This needs lots of thinking about!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 23:26:01 +0000

Love the visual Analogy

By: Christina Davis

Christina Davis — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:38:29 +0000

Hallelujah for the weeds among us.