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.
Category: Simple Discipleship
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.
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.
Salvation isn’t about “asking Jesus into your heart”.
There’s nothing in the New Testament which says that.
Rather, it’s about repenting and submitting to His Kingdom …
On His terms, not ours.
In the final day …
That’s the only Gospel that counts.
Reject God’s authority of Scripture as revealed, transcendent and propositional truth …
And ekklesia is impossible.
It’s like cats trying to herd themselves.
Someone asked if I believe in women clergy.
No way, no how!
But then again, I don’t believe in men clergy either. 😉
Seriously, there is no clergy/laity divide in the New Testament.
Instead, we are ALL commanded to submit one to another as we minister to each other …
No matter the level of grace, differing function or diverse gifts we’ve been given.
Three things not found in the New Testament:
– Current prevailing concepts of “pastor”;
– Current prevailing concepts of “worship”; and
– Current prevailing concepts of “church”.
My God bring forth those with the courage to pursue the authentic as He defines it …
Rather than remain stuck in post-biblical human traditions.
God and “me” are not the church …
But God and “we” just might be.
There is no Christ …
In a “Jesus” on your terms.
What is existentialism, and why does it matter?
Existentialist 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 “Emergent”, “Progressive”, “Red Letter Christians”, “Beyond Evangelical”, “Neo-orthodox” or whatever …
They set themselves over God’s plenary authority of Scripture by defining truth, reality and morality on their own terms when it suits their own purposes.
Inevitably, this leads them to project their own perceptions and sensibilities onto Jesus Himself …
To then create their own “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 projection 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 such 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.
We can not deserve, earn or choose God’s grace …
Otherwise, it’s not grace.
But we certainly can reject it.
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.
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 = a Sovereign God …
While Arminianism = Human autonomy.
Rather, Biblical doctrine shows a God who is so sovereign …
He can offer grace to those who have no choice in and of themselves, while also granting them the choice to reject that grace.
Denying God’s sovereign right to delegate that choice is, at it’s core, a denial of His sovereignty.
We are bound by the limits of our fallen nature, which makes us “dead in our trespasses and sin”.
We are not sick, but dead.
Free will, therefore, is a myth apart from God’s grace giving us the option to choose life.
A dead man has no choice otherwise.
There is no human autonomy to choose anything apart from what God has chosen to delegate and enable.
He allowed Adam to choose sin. He now, through the Cross, enables us to choose life.
That’s what makes grace so amazing.
Most of what we call “worship” today …
Is so contrived and manipulative as to be an affront to God.
Most 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 He loves us, God offers grace without merit …
But also requires repentance in return.
Anything less on either point …
Emasculates the Gospel.
“Christian” existentialists get all wrong:
We don’t believe because we perceive …
But 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 Him …
Who gives faith to believe to those who repent of ourselves so we can become more than ourselves.
“Christian” nihilists who promote cultural shame and national distain in the name of Christ …
Know not Christ.
True disciples can speak truth to power …
While still giving honor where honor is due.
Don’t be deceived by cries of “unity” by those who reject God’s plenary authority of Scripture …
And then have the hubris to expect fellowship around a Jesus of their own creation and perception.
There are those who manage the variables.
They talk about process.
Then there are those who change the variables.
They talk about results.
There’s the hard Gospel of Godly repentance and Kingdom surrender.
Then there’s the easy “Gospel” of individual decision and optional lifestyle …
Especially among “churches” that preach cheap grace and easy believism.
Where are the men of God these days, who preach hard truth under the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
May God deliver us from the easy “Gospel” of false hope and deceptive charm …
As we proclaim true salvation and redemption once again.
What if you actually studied the New Testament and the original, actual meanings of the words it contains?
What if you studied it a second time and then a third time?
And, after all that, what if you discovered that what you call “worship” …
Isn’t?
What if …
