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Tabitha McDuffee's avatar

This is a hard lesson for my generation to learn (millennials), having grown up with calls to live radically and do great things for Jesus. Yet it’s such a necessary one, not only for our world, but so that we as individuals can find the peace Christ has promised.

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A.J. Swoboda's avatar

Yes, hard for us all, right?

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Brice shelton's avatar

God has placed on my heart many times that I am not to be the judge of everybody’s lifestyle, but I am to be light in the darkness so that people will be drawn to his love they see in me and not my judgment of their lifestyle. I may not agree with their lifestyle, but I’m still called to love them as Christ would.

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A.J. Swoboda's avatar

There is a terrible amount of wisdom in this approach. And I commend it. This remains the constant challenge, doesn't it, for anyone who wants to live faithfully in their world. Keep going, Brice!

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Josh's avatar

So good. Followers of Jesus (individually and in the collective church body) have wrestled with the tension of engagement vs. separatism. How do we "come out from among them and be separate", and at the same time "love your neighbor as yourself"? I never considered Daniel as a mentor/model of being in but not of...again, so good! My favorite quote: "Being rejected is baked into true discipleship."

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A.J. Swoboda's avatar

Josh! You are awesome. Thank you. I'm glad it landed :)

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michael dorry's avatar

"These acts of resistance—eating kosher and only worshiping Yahweh—serve as what scholars call “hidden scripts.”2 These were small but enormously intentional ways to communicate to God, each other, and the world that they were different and set apart. In part, they were their way of declaring who they were and weren’t. They serve as little winks and nods that Babylon may be where they lived. But it wasn’t their home. "

If someone could reexamine this section to me that would be great. I think I have an understanding but I'd like to be sure.

Once again phenomenal work. I left as if I sat through a whole sermon. This is one I'll definitely be gnawing on and coming back to!

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A.J. Swoboda's avatar

Michael!

That idea of 'hidden scripts' is a way exilic scholars talk about the ways that Israelites communicated to each other who they were. That is, they were ways of signaling one's identity. Sorry if that wasn't as clear as I'd have hoped.

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michael dorry's avatar

Yeah thats starting to make things clear.

As in like radio handle like what truckers use? Sorry that's the only thing that came to mind 😅.

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A.J. Swoboda's avatar

That is right! I do it when I want to signal to people that I like the Portland Trail Blazers. Little comments and nods—to see if the person I'm talking to is as foolish as I to love them. :)

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Brian Carmack's avatar

Thank you A.J., it’s so true that the greatest impact will be from those who do the “…loving God in your exile.” Reading and putting into action the truths in your book Subversive Sabbath brought me from an unhealthy overcommitment to work/ministry to a place of balance by focusing first on the higher priority of loving God first, then doing what He said to do. Sabbath keeping keeps the being with God as the highest priority, good fruit and good influence comes then as a by-product.

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Deb DiPietro's avatar

This came into my hand with providential timing.

As I have placed myself into the “mission” of loving my grandchildren and the youth at my church into the kingdom of God. I live in a foreign land (youth culture) , and love 💕 that I get to engage with them🙌🏽

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A.J. Swoboda's avatar

God's grace as you live into that mission, Deb!

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May 10, 2024
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A.J. Swoboda's avatar

Thank YOU for reading, my friend.

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