Freedom is not the right to pursue evil …
But the power to overcome it.
Category: Simple Discipleship
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?
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.
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.
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.
It takes a community …
To make a disciple.
I’ve seen more fleshly rubbish under the claim of being “in the Spirit” than I care to remember.
Simple humility and simple obedience, I find …
Are more often the real deal.
If you’re not a disciple …
You’re not a Christian.
Because without God’s rule …
There is no “Christ” in “Christian”.
Until you admit that “church” as you know it, is not how the Bible actually shows it …
You will remain stuck in your rut.
If we’re not about redemption, then what hope does anyone have?
This is my passion.
This is my cause.
But it ain’t neat and it ain’t tidy.
It’s raw and sometimes ugly.
Because if Jesus doesn’t work for the worse of us …
Then He works for none of us.
There’s nothing entertaining …
About authentic worship as the New Testament actually defines it.
Because worship in the New Testament means serving God with lives of humble obeisance and steadfast obedience.
Which is why authentic worship among many “churches” and “believers” …
Is so rare today.
So last 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.
When people say “worship” today …
They mean reverent singing.
When the New Testament says “worship” …
It means reverent obedience.
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the former.
It has its place, when done as the New Testament actually says …
But not as a substitute or new definition for the latter.
That was never God’s intent.
“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.
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.
Jesus never told people they were saved by asking him into their heart …
But through faith to submit to his Kingdom rule by doing his Father’s will.
That’s called repenting.
Those who proclaim anything less …
Are preaching a lie.
How we measure “church” success:
Ministry by one gifted man who attracts fifty others to his “service” each Sunday morning …
That’s nice.
Ministry by one gifted man who attracts hundreds …
Now you’re talkin’!
Ministry by one gifted man who attracts thousands …
Mega success!!
How the New Testament measures church success:
Believers who gather together as a community, with each using their gifts …
For ministry one to another.
