Have you ever noticed how so-called “Christians” who selectively dismiss the original intent, meaning and authority of Scripture so they can make it say whatever they want …
Inevitably do the same with our nation’s founding principles and Constitution?
This should be no surprise …
Because their hubris knows no bounds.
The key to success in business, as in life, is legitimately meeting people’s needs …
Rather than using them to meet yours.
Profits and wages, then, are simply your portion of that added value you create for others.
Four things not found in the New Testament:
Current prevailing concepts of “worship;” and
Current prevailing concepts of “ministry.”
Each of those is needed to sustain the others.
Yet take away even one of them, and the whole edifice of “church” as we’ve come to know it collapses …
Leaving, perhaps, the beginnings of church as the New Testament actually commands it.
May God bring forth those with the courage to pursue what’s authentic, as He defines it …
Rather than remain stuck in post-Biblical human traditions.
State-ratified vice …
Is State-ratified bondage.
It’s one thing to allow private sin …
But another entirely for the State to publicly endorse it.
God and “me” are not the church …
But God and “we” just might be.
There is no Christ …
In a “Jesus” on our terms.
Likewise, there is no ekklesia …
In a “church” on our terms.
Nor is there true “worship” …
When defined on our terms.
So in all our ways
Let’s humble ourselves
And submit to God …
As He defines Himself
And so much more
In His written word of Scripture.
Cynicism isn’t a retreat from evil …
But from good.
What is existentialism, and why does it matter?
Existentialism is a worldly philosophy which believes that each individual can define – on their own terms – what is true, right and real based on their own perceptions and personal sensibilities.
Many “Christians” do this, whether consciously or not.
They often claim to have a “high view” of Scripture, but then discount anything in it which contradicts their own perceptions and sensibilities.
Whether they call themselves “Progressive,” “Red Letter,” “Beyond Evangelical,” “Deconstructed,” “Neo-orthodox” or whatever …
They set themselves over God’s plenary authority of Scripture by defining truth, reality and morality on their own terms to suit their own purposes.
Inevitably, this leads them to project their own perceptions and sensibilities onto Jesus Himself …
To create a “Christ” after their own likeness and image.
In essence, they end up worshipping themselves by deceiving themselves through their false Christ …
Who is nothing more than a representation of themselves.
Like any idol, this “Jesus” of their own creation then justifies their religion of self …
Both to themselves (whether knowingly or not) and to those they seek to deceive (again, whether knowingly or not).
Unfortunately, our “churches” today are filled with such people …
Because many “churches” find it’s easier to cater to their narcissism than call for true repentance.
Existential deception is a defining issue of our times because the real Jesus didn’t choose to leave everything up to our personal foibles and follies …
But chose to authoritatively define Himself – and what is ultimately true, real and right – through Scripture as His written Word.
Anything less is a lie.
It brings no dishonor to God …
To honor what is honorable in a nation and its founding principles.
“Assembly” is probably the closest English word to “ekklesia,” which is the original ancient Greek word commonly mistranslated as “church” in our English Bibles.
But even “assembly” falls short.
In the common usage of the day when the New Testament was written, “ekklesia” almost always referred to the participatory governing authority in a city …
Made up of local citizens appointed by an overarching empire.
In Israel during Jesus’ time on Earth, the local ekklesia under Roman rule was the Sanhedrin.
Each city or province had their own local ekklesia, appointed by the conquering Roman empire to assemble and manage local affairs through local citizens.
Although it operated under the Emperor’s authority, it nonetheless functioned internally as a democratic and fully participatory assembly.
The idea of Christ building His ekklesia, therefore, was subversive to Roman ears but fully in line with His further teachings on His Kingdom.
Unfortunately, “church” today has little to do – either as to form or function – with what “ekklesia” actually meant when the New Testament was written.
Christ’s ekklesia would be an assembly of those called by Him to gather and participate together …
In exercising His authority and advancing His Kingdom as His representatives in their local community.
To really understand the Bible, we need to learn what it actually said when written, based on the meaning and context of the words used …
Rather than reading back into those words our contrary post-New Testament meanings.
We can not deserve, earn or initiate God’s grace …
Otherwise, it’s not grace.
But once offered …
We certainly can turn from it.
Otherwise, it’s likewise not grace.
The Bible doesn’t say to believe in yourself …
But to die to self.
Jesus never said to forgive yourself …
But to forgive others and then ask God to forgive you.
The Gospel isn’t about affirming you …
But about repenting and surrendering to Christ’s rule.
Only then will you find yourself …
Your freedom …
And your validation …
As defined by Him.
“Who are you to judge? God knows my heart.”
Yes. Yes He does:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jer 17:9)
Which is why, in fact, we ARE to judge …
But righteously. (Jn 7:24)
Which means wisely applying God’s external standards of what’s true, real and right…
To internally justified lies, distortions and immorality.
Faith is trust …
And thus the antithesis of doubt.
Reformed Theology says it’s impossible to reject God’s grace when offered …
Based on the philosophic concept that doing so would involve human autonomy against God’s sovereignty.
The flaw is that Reformed Theology does not see that there is a third option, which runs throughout Scripture.
The choice isn’t Calvinism = God’s Sovereignty …
While Arminianism = Human autonomy.
Rather, Biblical doctrine shows that God is so sovereign …
He can offer not only undeserved grace, but also the undeserved choice to reject that grace.
That’s why Scripture repeatedly says that apart from God extending His grace to us, salvation is impossible …
But there’s not a single passage in all of Scripture that says His grace is irresistible.
Denying God’s sovereign right to delegate that choice is, at its core, a denial of His sovereignty.
We are bound by the limits of our fallen nature, which makes us spiritually “dead in our trespasses and sin”.
We are not spiritually sick, but dead.
Free will, therefore, is a myth apart from God’s grace giving us the option to choose Him …
Because those who are spiritually dead have no choice in and of themselves.
Fundamentally, we have no human autonomy or ability to choose anything apart from what God has chosen to delegate and enable.
According to His sovereign will, however, He didn’t want puppets on a string …
So He gave Adam the option to choose sin and death – as He knew he would – by rejecting His rule.
Adam chose foolishly.
Christ, according to His eternal plan …
Then defeated sin and death through the Cross to give us the option to choose righteousness and life by submitting to His rule.
This is what makes God’s grace so amazing.
Choose wisely, therefore …
While you still have a choice.
The irony of hard core “Calvinism” is that it diminishes God’s sovereignty …
By claiming He can’t delegate to others the option to resist His grace when offered.
Can a God who is so limited truly have absolute sovereignty?
This is the inherent contradiction in their “reformed” theology.
They have great insight on many things, but can not reconcile their philosophic concept of God’s “sovereignty” …
With His right to delegate, as He chooses, whatever He chooses – including the choice to reject His saving grace.
They are thus trapped in a fundamental internal contradiction …
Of defining God as so sovereign, He can’t actually be sovereign.
There are only four passages in the entire New Testament which mention singing God’s praises together when we gather as the church.
And in those verses, there is just one reason given for that congregational singing …
And it’s not “worship.”
Rather, it’s to encourage one another.
That’s it.
Nothing else.
In fact, the New Testament never refers to singing or our gatherings as “worship” …
And the Greek words often translated as “worship” have absolutely nothing to do with what we call “worship” these days.
So the popular idea that we go to a “worship service” where we sing and do other things to invoke, experience or encounter God’s presence …
Doesn’t exist in the New Testament.
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Rather, that’s rooted in the Old Testament idea of the temple, where people went to encounter God.
In contrast, under the New Covenant, we have become God’s temple because He now dwells in us and among us.
Thus, we are commanded to sing and participate together for our mutual encouragement – one to another – as we express God’s presence already in us.
Nothing more, nothing less.
So let’s stop distorting Scripture by putting on staged performances designed to make us encounter “God’s presence” …
And calling that “worship.”
It’s not. It’s just carnality masquerading as spirituality to justify the prevailing corrupt practice of turning “church” into a spectator event performed by a few from an elevated stage.
Instead, let’s return to what the New Testament actually commands in our gatherings:
By joyfully participating together as we share and sing God’s praises with each other to express His presence already in us…
For the simple purpose of edifying and mutually building up one another.
Maybe then true worship will start to more fully emerge among us …
As people stop thinking of “worship” as a staged Sunday event and finally start living lives of reverent, sacrificial obedience to Him throughout the rest of the week.
Most of what we call “worship” today …
Is so contrived and manipulative as to be an affront to God.
Most, however, are so unwilling to submit their concept of “worship” to what the New Testament actually says is worship …
That they don’t even care.
Because God loves us, He offers grace without merit …
While also requiring repentance in return.
Claiming anything less on either point …
Emasculates the Gospel.
We don’t truly believe because we perceive …
But truly perceive because we believe.
The former is all about us …
As we start with ourselves, only to remain trapped in ourselves.
The latter is all about God …
Who gives faith to believe.
Only then can we repent of ourselves to become more than ourselves.
God’s raw, unmitigated written Word bears stark witness against those who promote existentialism, relativism, “progressive” liberalism …
Or any other competing post-modern “ism” of our day.
Which is why they all hate both the totality of Scripture …
And the authentic God of Scripture.
Did you know that the English word “church” does not come from the New Testament …
And is a mistranslation of the original New Testament Greek word “ekklesia”?
Instead, “church” derives from an old German word “circe,” denoting gatherings of those engaged in occult practices related to pagan gods …
From which our word “circus” also comes.
Maybe that explains why “church” today looks nothing like the New Testament concept of “ekklesia.”
In contrast, “ekklesia” referred – during the time the New Testament was written – to local governing assemblies of citizens appointed to deliberate, represent and advance the interests of the ruling king and his kingdom in their own communities.
It was a participatory assembly where everyone was actively and equally involved in their gatherings …
Rather than a staged performance by the few.
Maybe it’s time to take a second look at Scripture through the lens of the actual words originally used …
And what they actually meant when selected by the Holy Spirit for use in the New Testament.
Otherwise, we distort the orginal intent of Scripture with contrary, post-New Testament meanings.
“Christian” nihilists who promote national disdain and cultural shame in the name of Christ …
Know not Christ.
True disciples can speak truth to power …
While still giving honor where honor is due.
The triune God of the Bible is perfectly one and complete in and of Himself.
Unlike Islam and various “Oneness” heresies, however, His complete unity also includes diversity.
That intrinsic diversity means He can internally relate, love and communicate …
And thus, as He chooses, do so externally as well.
Which explains the main difference between the true God of the Old and New Testaments …
And the detached, abstract and mute “God” of Islam.
Plumbline Faith 