Time for another Roland Allen classic quote. Read it and weep. Read it and dream.
A professional class does not easily encourage the spontaneous zeal of men who are not members of their profession. Spontaneous zeal is alarming to them. When the faith is spread spontaneously both the charlatan and the saint find an opportunity for acquiring influence over others. Side by side with Peter is Simon Magus. In the working of an organisation the man who is welcome and at home is the plain, mechanical, orderly man who will keep within the bounds. Not only the swindler but the inspired saint is a difficulty. He appears self-willed, extravagant, eccentric. He is independent and is always on the verge of breaking the orderly methods of the organisation.
Roland Allen, The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church, 114.

“The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church: And the Causes That Kinder It†(Roland Allen)
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2 Comments
This is the first time that I have visited your site, but the fact that you share Roland Allen quotes makes me an instant fan. I am about to plant a church in Santa Cruz, which is a coastal city 1hr south of San Francisco. I’ll be back to see what you have to say about church planting. Blessings.
Sean
Now try being someone like the above (not the swindler) and the person is female (better not be gay either – and in some places being Aborignal won’t help). Well, then – in the church you really are up the creek without a paddle and heading for a barbed wire fence.