We can’t surrender to God …
What we refuse to acknowledge.
That includes the fears, hurts, wrongs and regrets we’ve been carrying …
And the bondage of our own – often subtle – sins committed in response to them.
Holding on to them prevents us from finding spiritual maturity, emotional wholeness …
And even healthy community with other believers.
I have observed, time and again, that the more committed folks are to dispensationalism and its tenets …
The less they know about its underlying origins and doctrinal premises.
Some judge all Scripture based on their notions of love.
True disciples, however, judge all notions of love based on Scripture.
Otherwise, our notions of love become limited to our own subjective, internal sentimentalities …
Rather than God’s comprehensive, objective revelation.
Faith presumes obedience …
Because without obedience, there is no faith.
I will continue to speak, work and stand for real solutions to real problems …
Rather than take the easy out of conspiracy paranoia.
The Sovereign God of Heaven and Earth …
Expects no less.
The fight these days is not between conservative versus liberal or Republican versus Democrat, but between:
Truth versus deception;
Reality versus destruction; and
Virtue versus depravity.
Fortunately, when it comes to what’s true, real and right …
Biblical Christians have the home court advantage.
So don’t give in or grow weary of standing firm for what is eternal and good …
Even if the heathen rage in response.
They’re only protesting their own failures and frustrations …
Born of their own irrational incoherence.
In the New Testament, “church” is not a meeting or a “service.”
Nor is it a building, a staged event or spectator seating.
Rather, it’s a local community of people who serve God, each other and a waiting world, through ministry one to another for the mutual building up of all with Christ as the Head …
While also not neglecting to gather together to encourage and motivate one another towards love and good works.
Pseudo “worship” today …
Exploits a broken generation by stirring up manipulated feelings of fleeting intensity, and calling it “God.”
It has become the new addiction.
The sole remedy is true worship, which is a faithful life of humble submission to God’s sovereignty, on His terms.
Only there can we find true significance and authentic wholeness.
Congregational singing is important for our gatherings, but the New Testament doesn’t call that “worship.”
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Rather, the New Testament says that living lives of obedient submission and sacrificial service to God …
Is true worship.
When we say that singing and music are “worship,” however, rather than teach what worship truly is under the New Covenant …
We often end up with carnal churches and carnal people seeking a Sunday morning “worship experience” rather than living holy lives in humble obedience and service to God.
So let’s encourage one another by joyfully singing God’s praises congregationally together when we gather, as the New Testament commands …
While also learning to walk in true worship the rest of the week.
Because when all is said and done, the terminology of the New Testament never tells us to gather for a “worship service” …
But to gather for mutually building up each other so we can live lives of service, 24/7.
The prevailing characteristics of postmodern existentialism on both the left and on the right are relativism and narcissism, rooted in notions of human autonomy.
Is it any wonder, then, that we see an emphasis on new “doctrines” which:
Define Christ and our relationship to Him by our own subjective perceptions;
Redefine grace to destroy all concepts of objective standards; and
Dismiss the plenary authority of Scripture?
Yet God is raising up a people who want to truly know Him on His terms …
And to worship Him once again (literally, to bow before Him) in spirit and in truth.
Many know God as only a feeling …
And love the feeling more than God.
Which is unfortunate.
Although the authentic knowledge and love of God often invoke feelings …
They don’t depend on how we feel.
May we be less concerned with offending others by our words …
Than offending God by our silence.
What good are Constitutional protections against governments restricting our:
Freedom of speech;
Freedom of self protection;
Freedom of religion;
Freedom of association; and
Freedom of commerce …
If we allow companies with monopoly powers to restrict our rights instead?
“Worship” these days is often more pagan than Christian.
It’s no longer about reverent obedience to the Sovereign God of Scripture …
But about the pagan practice of conjuring up some false spirit or man-made diety through intense, manipulated feelings.
It does this by convincing people that the more some song, band, or hip “worship leader” can make us feel intense emotions, the more we’re experiencing God’s “presence.”
Of course, an authentic encounter with God will legitimately invoke intense emotions.
But that is far different than the current practice of invoking intense emotions …
And calling it “God.”
This has become the new idolatry, by equating manipulated feelings with God Himself.
It is an addictive distraction from who God truly is, and how He wants to dwell among us and in us as our Sovereign Lord.
It also is a distortion born of carnal men, and is nowhere found in the New Testament.
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Yet it has become big business, with mega churches and mega recording deals …
While supplanting the simple New Testament commands to congregationally sing God’s praises together for the sole purpose of simply encouraging one another.
Unfortunately, though, it will continue to thrive …
Because just like the pagans, people still want a God who appeals to their carnality and is easy to manipulate.
I know this may mess up some of y’all …
But that Jesus you see in the New Testament is also God in the Old Testament.
Every last bit of it …
Including the parts you don’t like.
And He’s the same Jesus today and forevermore.
Any other Jesus, reflecting your own sensibilities through selective pick-and-choose Bible verses …
Is just an idol created in your own image.
The clamorous “declare” and “proclaim” crowd seems more driven by the anxiety of their own fears and insecurities …
Than by 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 and discipleship requires that we re-align our concept of “worship.”
That’s because what most people call “worship” …
Isn’t.
At least, not according to the New Testament.
“Worship” in the New Testament means living lives of sacrificial service and reverent obedience.
That’s it, pure and simple.
It’s not a Sunday “service” …
And it’s not music, singing or a song.
In fact, those concepts didn’t arise in the church until the 4th Century AD.
Continue readingThe greatest threats to liberty are not those who say what we don’t wanna hear …
But those 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 in 2020 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 past their immediate circumstances, which is why God always sprinkles among us …
A few who crave the far horizons.
Those who give the most of themselves, often lost the most of themselves …
But found faith instead.
Freedom is not the right to do evil …
But the right to resist 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 reprobate, having traded the God of Scripture …
For the lies of Satan.
Many desire the forgiveness of the Cross …
Without the transformation of the Resurrection.
It will not go well for them, either in the here and now …
Or on that fateful, final day.
Plumbline Faith 