The clamorous “declare” and “proclaim” crowd seems more driven by the anxiety of their own fears and insecurities …
Than authentic faith.
Authentic faith, in contrast, quietly goes forth in the power of Godly confidence and assurance …
To actually redeem lives and the world around them.
Successful New Testament church requires that we successfully re-align our concepts of “worship” with the New Testament.
That’s because what most people call “worship”, isn’t.
At least, according to what the New Testament calls worship.
Yet we project our post-New Testament traditions and contemporary experiences back onto that word …
And make it a requirement for our gatherings, rather than taking the time to see what it really is according to the New Testament.
Yes, we are encouraged to sing praises together when we meet, but only in four passages in the New Testament.
Two of those passages say why.
It is not to “worship” as we now define that word, but to encourage one another.
That destroys the modern narrative of “worship” being some intense personal experience of God’s presence, driven by some separate “worship” band that ushers us there.
Rather, “worship” in the New Testament is a life of obedience and obeisance, 24-7. That’s it.
It is not a Sunday service. It is an ongoing lifestyle.
We singing God’s praises when we assemble together, however, to express to one another God’s presence already in us because of that lifestyle …
So as to encourage each other in that lifestyle.
New Testament church will never work until we define worship as the New Testament does, and sing together as the New Testament commands …
Rather than projecting our fleshly desires borne of religious traditions back onto God’s Word.
The greatest threats to liberty are not those who say what you don’t like …
But the ones with the power to silence them.
It’s gotta be said:
If you got caught up in all the “prophetic words” about Trump being re-elected from the Elijah List of for-profit non-prophets and other self-appointed, unaccountable and attention grabbing “prophetic” crazies …
Or you got caught up in the bizarre world of Q-Anon delusions …
You need to humbly examine yourself, return to the Sovereign God of Scripture, embrace the simple – yet comprehensive – power and authority of His Word, and commit to healthy Christian community where you can begin to find balance in your life.
When you do, there will be no need or desire to pursue counterfeit realities or distracting, drama laden “solutions”.
Yes, there are real issues, and yes there are those who are authentically prophetic …
But God is not a freak show and what you gave yourselves over to was not of Him.
True disciples, who put their trust wholly in Him and His Word and are committed to healthy Christian community, will learn to discern the difference.
Those who don’t, won’t.
Repent, and get about the hard work of rebuilding the foundations in your own life and in our nation …
Before it’s too late.
These days, if you oppose the Leftist political views held by many (but certainly not all) black organizations, it is called racism – even if you oppose those views because you want the best for the black community.
Thus, according to how oppressive “progressives” have redefined the word, you are “racist” based on legitimate political differences even if you care deeply about what’s happening in the black community.
This twisting of language by the Left is insidious, and is used by the Left to stifle honest debate over their political policies that are actually doing great harm to the black community.
Don’t let the rhetoric of hate from the Left silence you:
Renounce their oppressive policies that are destroying Black lives, Black families and Black communities;
Proclaim with confidence those Godly principles – like worth, dignity and responsibility, in the context of faith, family and community – which offer true hope for all as we seek to heal our broken nation; and
Stand for virtue.
Only then will the true racists be unmasked.
Few see beyond our immediate circumstances.
Which is why God always sprinkles among us …
Those few who crave the far horizons.
Those who give the most of themselves, often are those who lost the most …
But came through with their faith intact.
Freedom is not the right to pursue evil …
But the power to overcome it.
Some “Christians” have embraced identity politics, leading them to support candidates who promote abortion, gender confusion, marriage malaise and religious intolerance.
They’ve become reprobates, having traded the God of Scripture …
For the lies of Satan.
Many want the forgiveness of the Cross …
But not the transformation of the Resurrection.
Do you want Jesus for what you want …
Or what He wants?
Ultimately, you can’t help people …
Who only want you for your help.
Eventually, you must let them go.
Because neither you nor they will be whole …
Apart from real community.
The main difference between popular existential ideologies and Biblical Christianity comes down to perspective:
What’s the ultimate framework for truth, reality and morality?
Our sensibilities …
Or God’s sovereignty?
As goes the Church,
So goes the Nation.
Repent,
While there’s still time.
When you finally start feeling gratitude for your scars …
Is about when wisdom begins.
Our worse failings are redemptive if we let God use them to get our attention and transform us.
Alternatively, we can let them destroy us.
That’s why I seldom freak out when someone stumbles – I’ve seen many times how it can be an amazingly redemptive event.
But whether for destruction or redemption, it’s always our choice.
That’s because spiritual maturity is not about perfection …
But rather how we deal with our imperfections.
Few are willing to do the hard work of actually being the church …
As an active community of believers engaged in encouraging and ministering to one another throughout their daily lives.
Most, instead, are content to surrender the “church” to those paid to do it for them …
From an elevated podium on Sunday morning.
Be exceptional!
Dare to be the church as the New Testament actually shows it …
And leave that other stuff behind.
Those who use God’s blessings to pursue Satan’s temptings…
Will suffer a fate far worse than those who never knew His blessings at all.
Many “Christian” these days …
Want spectacle over obedience.
Which is why “worship” these days …
Is more about spectacle than obedience.
Because I love Christ, I open my home and my life to those abused by people who use Christ to exploit others.
Because I love Christ, I minister to those in jail and the woods who polite society won’t dirty their lives with.
Because I love Christ, I love His body rather than the man-centered institution often called the “church” these days.
Because I love Christ, I am willing to exceed my comfort zones.
How about you?
Without repentance …
Loving God is not enough.
Because without repentance …
It’s not God you love, but your own concept of Him.
Master the art of vague generalities, and you too can gain fame and notoriety …
As a for-profit non-prophet.
Church in the New Testament is never about gathering to experience God’s presence …
But about expressing His presence – hopefully already in you – one to another to encourage and strengthen each other.
Nor is it about having a “worship service” …
But about including congregational singing of God’s praises to encourage one another so we can live daily lives of reverant obedience to Him, which is true worship.
It also is never about a monologue sermon by the one …
But about all ministering one to another to motivate each other to love and good works.
So why do Christians accept anything less …
Each Sunday morning?
Being an adult means fully bearing the cost, and the consequences, of our own choices.
Unfortunately, many parents today don’t let that happen …
Then wonder why their “grown” kids are such failures at life.
Tragically, I frequently see this as I go into our local jail …
Mostly among twenty-something white boys from middle class families.
Even more tragically, the parents and their churches often continue – out of guilt – to enable their immaturity even when they get out.
It never turns out well.
Do them a favor:
Let ’em fail!
Stop enabling them and let them begin to experience the full, unmitigated consequences of their choices …
Even if it means they go homeless and risk destitution until they begin making mature decisions and start to grow up.
Being allowed to become homeless and nearly destitute will be a great shock to them – and they may initially stumbled badly – but with time I’ve always seen it turn out to be the best thing for them.
For the first time, they learn to grow up and own their own future.
These are not theoretical musings, but how our churches over the years have helped guys from the jail who had no family but needed to grow up.
Today, they all are men of honor and purpose.
In the long run, tough love may be the best love you can give.
A Christian can’t truly love the LGBTQ community …
Without opposing the deceptions that trap them in sin and bondage.
