Comments on: Religious Cushioning

By: The ______ Blog Posts of 2010 « WHATEVER!

The ______ Blog Posts of 2010 « WHATEVER! — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:04:54 +0000

[...] Religious Cushioning Kevin DeYoung, January 4, 2010 [...]

By: my life and my doctrine » Church as a religious cushion

my life and my doctrine » Church as a religious cushion — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:28:49 +0000

[...] de Young has written a great piece about the temptation for church to cushion us from our own sin and the need for salvation. The [...]

By: Tim Coomar

Tim Coomar — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:20:21 +0000

This is so helpful. When something leaves you both crushed and free then it can only to linked to some powerful gospel truth that has come through. We need to start talking about renewal in these terms more…! Cheers Kevin

By: Phil Cotnoir

Phil Cotnoir — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:14:34 +0000

I was happily surprised to see you quote Richard Lovelace (quoted by C. John Miller). That quote is originally from Dynamics of Spiritual Life, which I’ve been reading slowly, and has been the most clarifying, eye-opening, insightful, prophetic look into corporate and individual spiritual life that I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it.

I agree with your two conditions for spiritual renewal – knowing our sin and delighting in our Savior. Lovelace says the two preconditions to renewal are an understanding of the depth of sin and seeing God’s holiness as it really is, which is saying almost the same thing. And to top it off, Mahaney’s definition of humility is assessing ourselves in light of our sinfulness and God’s holiness. I see a theme here!

Oh for preaching and teaching that betrays a heart painfully aware of its sinfulness, God’s holiness, and delighting in the Savior who reconciles the two. May God spark true spiritual renewal among us.

By: Ashley B.

Ashley B. — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:09:26 +0000

This post made me feel better about my often precarious place in the church. Thanks for that. And to speak to a few of the comments, I think we should confess together. Often, I attend two services per Sunday: one at my Assembly of God megachurch where I can hear some wow-factor preaching, and lose my hearing for a few hours, and one at an Episcopal parish, where I can find my God in a quieter reverence, and recite with the rest on bended knee, “forgive us, Lord, for what we have done, and have left undone.”

By: Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:43:15 +0000

Sam, I too see many hopeful signs in the church. I believe, as you do, that many pastors and churches are doing good work and serving Christ faithfully. My post was not intended to be an assessment of the American church, just a warning of what can happen in our churches and in our hearts. Blessings.

By: Sam Wilder

Sam Wilder — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:17:52 +0000

How critical we can be of our churches and often without mercy. Although I agree with much of Mr. DeYoung’s comments, I am also put off by his generalization of the American church, which is what often happens in blogs concerning “the church today.” Yes, we allow too much “cushion” in the church and don’t challenge enough, yet I believe there are many more pastors who are encouraging their congregations to be accountable Christian witnesses and disciples than there are pastors who are not. You can call me a blind guide or over-optimistic OR you can call me hopeful and experienced.

By: Big Comfy Church « In Through The Front Door

Big Comfy Church « In Through The Front Door — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:24:22 +0000

[...] : "http%3A%2F%2Finthroughthefrontdoor.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F05%2Fbig-comfy-church%2F" } This is an excellent post from Kevin DeYoung about a very real problem in evangelical churches today. A [...]

By: The Church as Cushion « Endued

The Church as Cushion « Endued — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:56:28 +0000

[...] Kevin DeYoung considers how churches can become cushions, focusing on comfort rather than on challenging their congregations to truly encounter God and be changed by him: [...]

By: The church as cushion « Tempora Christiana

The church as cushion « Tempora Christiana — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:40:37 +0000

[...] church as cushion Posted on January 5, 2010 by Scott Kistler Kevin DeYoung considers how churches can become cushions, focusing on comfort rather than on challenging their [...]