Don’t be bashful.
If someone insists on publicly telling everyone how to do church or be the church – whether organic, missional, traditional or whatever …
You can publicly ask why they are not part of one.
Author: Plumbline Faith
Simple Truths from a Lifetime of Service to the King of Kings
Unless we’re willing to fail …
We will never succeed.
Unless you’re a disciple …
You’re not a Christian.
Until you admit that “church” as you know it is not how the Bible actually shows it …
You will remain deceived and stuck.
If we’re not about redemption, then what hope do any of us have?
This is my passion.
This is my cause.
But it ain’t neat, and it ain’t tiddy. It’s raw and sometimes ugly …
Because if Jesus doesn’t work for the worse of us, then He works for none of us.
God’s presence without His sovereignty …
Is an impossibility.
Which is why so-called “worship” these days at many “churches” …
Is so bogus.
On Sunday, many will go hear their pastor and be part of his congregation.
In contrast, we gather as participatory congregations that include elders …
Without being distracted by those solo or monologue “pastor” things others do.
Interestingly, New Testament churches did fine without them also.
There’s nothing entertaining …
About authentic worship as the New Testament actually defines it.
Which is why authentic worship among many “churches” and “believers” …
Is so rare today.
So this Sunday morning:
Was it the Jesus Show (“church” on a stage) …
Or the Body of Christ (ministry one to another)?
Revivals come, revivals go …
But true repentance is forever.
Guys in jail ask me how to find a good church when they get out.
I tell them that if they visit on Sunday and no one ever invites them home to share friendship and a meal after a couple of weeks, move on …
It’s just a meeting, not a church.
When people say “worship” today …
They mean reverent singing.
When the New Testament says “worship” …
It means reverent obedience.
Everyone seems to want to do what the Bible says …
Except when it comes to how they do church.
You say you are the “church”?
Really???
So here’s the test:
Whoever controls the mic and the money actually is the “church” …
Not you.
“Worship” has been reduced from its dual Biblical meanings of obeisance and obedience …
To music that makes us feel good.
Somewhere along the way, I think we lost our focus.
God speaks …
Therefore I am.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion …
But not to a Christ of their own perception.
He created and defines us …
And not us Him.
“Churches” abandon New Testament roots for staged, scripted events each Sunday morning …
Not for the ultimate benefit of their members,
But their “leaders”.
Jesus never told people they were saved by asking him into their heart …
But by repenting and submitting to his Father’s will and Kingdom.
If Jesus is truly in your heart, it’s because of the latter, not the former.
Those who proclaim otherwise …
Are preaching a lie.
How we measure “church” success:
Ministry by one gifted man to fifty others each Sunday morning …
That’s nice.
Ministry by one gifted man to hundreds …
Now you’re talkin’!
Ministry by one gifted man to thousands …
Mega success!!
How the New Testament measures church success:
Each using their gifts …
For ministry one to another.
The me-centered, overly subjective, need-a-high addiction to contrived intensity that many call “worship” these days …
Is an affront to God and His true holiness.
Fortunately, God is calling out those who want to serve Him on His terms, which is true worship …
Rather than feed their insecurities.
The prophetic says:
What those who don’t want to listen …
Don’t want to know.
Not to convince them …
But to convict them before a just and holy God.
Authentic citizens of God’s Kingdom remain the best hope for earthly nations.
History proves this time and again …
And God is not yet done with history.
It’s so ironic how some think that elevating Christ as the Living Word …
Means discounting His written Word of Scripture.
Is Christ divided?
A purely subjective Jesus without the plenary authority of Scripture as His written Word …
Leads to an inauthentic Jesus who is just Being and relationship but not Word and truth.
Likewise, the plenary authority of Scripture without Jesus alive in us …
Leads to an inauthentic Jesus who is just Word and truth but not Being and relationship.
Each extreme – born of an endless cycle of reaction to the other – chronicles two tragic trends of Church history.
Unfortunately, we still see these extremes all too evident today.
Maturity embraces the fulness of Christ – both His Person and what He has revealed in His written Word of Scripture.
Yet where my subjective perception of Him parts with His written self-disclosure and objective precepts, my perception must yield to Scripture.
There can be no maturity in Christ apart from these essentials of the faith.
