It seems “grace” has become an excuse these days …
For not growing up.
Category: Simple Discipleship
If insanity is doing the same things over and over, and expecting different results …
How can anyone defend “church” as we’ve come to know it?
Often, it’s primarily about a carefully produced weekly “service” designed to advance the “institution’s” own interests by feeding the need for affirmation through a contrived “sermon” that mimics secular motivational speakers …
And staged “worship” that mimics worldly entertainment.
The result has been self absorbed “Christians” who think Jesus is all about reinforcng their own insecurities and comfort zones.
In the meantime, the “church” distorts the “Gospel” to grow its attendance – and its finances – by inviting people to make a hollow “decision” for Jesus …
Without repentance or transformation.
Jesus, however, commands us to go and make disciples of all nations by teaching them to obey all He has commanded …
Not appease the masses by catering to a culture which craves carnal affirmation and emotional intensity – then calling it “God.”
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8
Let us return to the Lord, and His ways, once again.
”Christians” who interpret Christ and judge His Word by their own notions of love …
Rather than conform their notions of love to Christ and His Word …
Worship love, not Christ.
Many claim to have a “high view” and believe in the “authority” of Scripture, but be careful.
Often, they are playing verbal games rooted in the existential philosophy of “theologians” like Karl Barth.
He taught that Scripture is “authoritative” only as a helpful – but flawed – jumping point to personal experiences and “revelation” which, he claimed, are God’s actual “Word” and more authentic than Scripture itself.
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God’s norms apply to all cultures …
But often are uniquely expressed in each.
While holding to those norms, I’ve learned to not interpret another’s situation and culture through the lens of my own situation and culture.
Doing so thwarts mutual esteem and understanding.
That’s true even when done with the best of intentions.
In contrast, the Great Commission requires us to go beyond our own reality and enter into very different realities …
Where people are very different than us.
They may be across the globe, or just down the street.
Few do it.
Nonetheless, Jesus bids us “go” with a fierce love that takes us outside our own limited perspectives.
Only then can we truly embrace “others” as brothers in Him.
Many “go to church” for a directed Sunday “service” performed by the “anointed” few in an odd building where they:
- Sit in regimented rows;
- Listen to a monologue “sermon” by the “Lead Pastor;” and
- Are entertained by a staged “worship” band.
Some, however, “are the church” as they unassumingly gather in homes and other hospitable places where life naturally happens to participate together through:
- Shared teachings with open dialogue and discussion;
- Singing God’s praises together from among and within the congregation as they encourage each other; and
- Each and every one actively ministering “one to another” out of the different gifts God distributes among them – including diverse elders – as a functional community.
Which “church,” do you think, looks more like what the New Testament actually commands?
Is it any surprise when men refuse to give up their God-given masculinity …
For the borderline Jesus eroticism which masquerades as “worship” in many “churches” these days?
There is no basis for authentic unity apart from our identity in Christ …
But that identity has no validity apart from the plenary authority and discipline of Scripture as His written Word.
Unfortunately, that seems to be a hard and offensive “word” for many today …
Who presume the right to define Christ – and thus us – in their own terms.
They create anarchy – as everyone does what’s right in their own eyes – leading to tyranny …
Rather than healthy community and Godly liberty.
Biblically committed Christians need to vote, stand for truth, support candidates who most closely embrace our God-given values for the blessings of all, and be actively engaged.
But let’s keep it in perspective:
We lose our witness when people end up judging our values by particular candidates …
Rather than judging those candidates by our values.
So in our fallen world, where we often must vote for imperfect candidates …
Let’s unabashedly hold even those who get our votes accountable to those values.
I have yet to see lives consistently transformed from despair to maturity in the Lord …
Or viable local churches emerge …
Among those promoting a dichotomy between Jesus as the Living Word and the plenary authority of Scripture as His written Word.
Some things just don’t make sense when you cut through the enticing, nice sounding rhetoric.
For example:
So-called “Christians” calling Jesus “Lord,” yet implicitly claiming the right to define Him and His precepts on their own terms …
By explicitly rejecting His plenary authority and discipline of Scripture as His written Word.
At the core, they know not Christ.
Rather, they serve a God of their own perceptions, created in the image of their own agendas and sensibilities.
They may be charming. They may be inspirational. They may even occasionally say good things.
But in the end, their way leads to destruction as they lead others over an existential cliff.
Where they hold sway, you will not find viable local churches (of any stripe), the power and authority of the Gospel, cohesive functional community, God’s Kingdom conquering darkness, or the Great Commission in action.
But hey, they love to make social media posts telling everyone “how to” on all the things they themselves actually “don’t do” because their self-centered ideologies simply don’t work.
That’s why, when you look closely, you inevitably find that they repeatedy fail to make their own ideals – which they incessantly peddle to others – work in their own lives and local communities …
When they even bothered to try.
It’s time for clear discernment.
It’s time for clear talk.
It’s time to move forward as we leave their hollow existential angst and fraud behind.
The times once again demand authentic disciples who embrace all of Christ and His Kingdom …
While boldly going forth into all spheres of life with the confidence and power of His Word.
May we once again affirm a vibrant relationship with the Living Word, in submission to the authority and discipline of His written Word.
Christ’s mission for us, and His love for a watching world, demand nothing less.
Things Jesus never said:
“Because all Scripture points to me, your own notions of me supercede Scripture.”
Don’t be deceived by so-called “progressive Christians”, who elevate a Christ of their own perception over Scripture …
To dismiss Scripture and impose their own unbiblical, existential agendas on everyone else.
Grace without truth …
Can be just as corrosive as truth without grace.
The Gospel’s not about escaping earth for His Kingdom …
But invading earth with His Kingdom.
I love Godly mercy but discreetly conceal carry.
If that seems like a contradiction, then maybe you’ve confused faith with comfort zones and mushy sentimentalities.
Where God sent me, however, life was raw and edgy …
And evil real.
Yet I saw lives redeemed on a daily basis:
Whether in the ‘hood to ransom those trapped in addiction …
Or protecting my household from a deranged stalker trying to intimidate me because I helping teenage victims who were sexually abused by his cult’s so-called “apostolic worker.”
So before you judge me, first explain why you’re not also going beyond the fringes of polite society to rescue those lost in great darkness.
In the meantime, may God send more where others fear to tread.
(Btw, I take gun control seriously. That’s why I go to the range – to insure good control of my EDC Sig 365xl. Here’s a full mag of tightly clustered rounds at 30 feet. Not bad! 😎)
We need accomplished people who’ve mastered a vocation that allows them to minister …
Rather than unaccomplished people who seek “ministry” as their first vocation.
As I grow in my faith, I become less anxious when my plans don’t pan out as expected …
And more expectant that God has other plans.
Personally hearing from God on matters of personal relevance is great.
Beyond that, however, I reject all attempts to validate, interpret, or add to His external revelation of Scripture through claims of trans-Biblical revelation …
“Prophetic” or otherwise.
Doing so leads to the absurdity of subjugating God’s authoritative and objective written word of Scripture to our own subjective — and often flawed — perceptions.
In this age of itchy ears and ungrounded faith …
It is amazing how easily even the elect are deceived with big lies wrapped in half truths by those who presume otherwise.
Each age and culture has its own challenges.
The challenges we face in the West today demand authentic Christians of faith, intellect and resolve.
In contrast, “Christians” stuck in existentialism, relativism and other leftist ideologies have contributed to the moral decay and cultural malaise we see all around us.
They have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
It’s time, instead, for real Christians who confidently affirm God’s Word …
To once again boldly proclaim what’s truly true, really real and rightly right.
Only then can we expect to bring hope and substance to a waiting world.
Tragically, some throw off the limitations of pastoral monopoly …
Only to fall prey to the tyranny of modern day claims about “apostolic” hierarchy.
Maybe that’s why the New Testament instead prescribes the safety of multiple elders to watch over local churches …
And protect His people against both.
Simple, huh?
But when will we ever learn?
Don’t like what you see in the world around you?
When “church” becomes a homogenized hierarchy of spiritual triviality, what do you expect from the larger culture?
Let repentance begin with the household of God.
Any metaphor, if taken too literally, bumps up against absurdities.
Like some forms of Christian mysticism, which say the Church literally is the Bride of Christ …
While others say literally the Body of Christ.
I guess that’s gonna be some weird honeymoon, huh?
How to produce adolescent, self-absorbed “Christians” who remain stuck in their own issues and never seem to grow up:
Convince them Jesus is “all about a relationship”.
Really? Where do you get that from Scripture?
Oh, right. I forgot …
That’s how we avoid Christ’s inconvenient Biblical unpleasantries – like propositional truths, moral imperatives, cultural norms and learning obedience.
When Jesus is just a relationship, it’s easy to ignore His comprehensive Lordship over all things …
By making Him just about us.
Jesus on your own terms?
I think not.
Yes, He wants a relationship, but so much more …
On His terms.
Repent and grow up, while you still can.
Attitude matters …
And often is the difference between can’t, try and do.
Plumbline Faith 