WISE COUNSEL OR FRAUD?
It seems the only people claiming these days to have “church,” “mission” and “discipleship” all figured out …
Are those selling it but not doing it.
Be discerning, ask and verify.
Are their books, blogs and seminars actually working in their own lives and home towns …
Or are they peddling spiritual fraud at your expense?
It’s easier for a walking concordance to know God’s heart …
Than an existentialist to know His mind.
As Moses learned, it’s easier to take the slave out of Egypt …
Than Egypt out of the slave.
Those promoting a so-called “Christocentric” hermeneutic have too low a view of Christ …
And too high a view of themselves.
They presume to create a pick and choose Jesus through a pick and choose view of Scripture to suit their own sensibilities …
Rather than submit to all of Christ as He authentically reveals Himself in all of Scripture, both Old and New Testament.
Which, by the way, is why they never seem able to make viable disciples or form functional churches.
Don’t be so easily misled by their “new” faith …
Which is no faith at all, except in themselves.
“Radical,” “deeper life,” “insurgent,” “movement” this and “movement” that …
Are disingenuous distractions from Biblical imperatives to simply grow up and make a difference by living lives of simple truth, simple faith and simple virtue.
Don’t buy the lie …
It’s really not that complicated.
Only by perverting “church” as taught in the New Testament …
Can someone lord over others by claiming to be a “servant.”
In Hebrews 13:17, most translations tell us to “obey” those who are leaders in the church.
In the Greek, that verb is in the middle voice and actually means to “be persuaded.”
Yet it is often mistranslated “obey” in the active voice.
Properly translated, we are to be persuaded by those who lead. Otherwise, they have no authority.
There is NO command in the New Testament to blindly follow any leader …
And no mandate for authoritarianism over God’s people.
Let’s learn to be the church as Scripture actually shows it, rather than only doing “church” as we’ve come to know it.
Why?
Because He’s God and I’m not.
Because His Word stands eternal while I am but an uncertain reed blowing in the wind.
Because it is by His will that history bends, not mine.
Because He is the sovereign creator of all, including me.
Because He defines what is true, real and right, not me.
And because He is Lord of all and bids me “go” into a world He yet loves.
Modern concepts of “worship” combined with weekly “sermons” by a “senior pastor” at scripted “services” – along with mortgages, buildings called “sanctuaries” with spectator seating, and Old Testament tithing – were not part of the church in the New Testament.
Surprised? Search Scripture for yourself.
But they do seem to go hand-in-hand these days …
Because, after all, professionally produced staged shows that dependably attract weekly paying audiences don’t come cheap or easy.
Disciples let God and His written Word judge their sensibilities and perceptions.
Apostates let their sensibilities and perceptions judge God and His written Word.
Carnal “Christians,” through indifference, fall somewhere in the middle.
I serve the risen Lord of all who is King of all His creation …
Which is why I reject cynicism and care enough to vote and make a difference in a world He yet loves.
Although we can have doctrine without fully knowing Jesus …
We can’t fully know Jesus without doctrine.
Jesus: He’s more than a feeling.
I’m not sure who scare me most:
Folks who believe God only speaks through Scripture …
Or folks who believe God tells them things which trump Scripture.
As Christians, if God’s presence is now in us …
Why do we go to “church” to enter His presence?
In fact, where do you even find that concept of church in the New Testament?
You don’t.
So let’s start gathering once again to be the church, by expressing – one to another – the many gifts and graces of His presence already in us …
Just like the New Testament says.
To say that truth is Jesus …
Begs the question.
Which Jesus?
A Jesus of your own perception and creation who reflects your own “truth”?
Or the authentic Jesus who authoritatively defines Himself, us, creation, and so much more through Scripture as His written Word?
There is no truth or Jesus …
Except on His terms.
I often see quiet, unspoken acts of honor, of dedication, of sacrifice, of integrity, of gratitude …
And it gives me hope.
There are still those who value Godly virtue above themselves …
And make a difference in this world.
Feeling like your life is dull?
Try shining in some dark places.
The Body of Christ …
Ain’t some Sunday God show.
Jesus:
Creator of all,
Came in humility,
Lived as teacher,
Died as redeemer,
Rose as King,
Returns as judge,
Reigns eternal.
Cynicism denies Christ’s sovereignty over a world He yet loves.
True disciples, however, don’t expect the world to be perfect …
But go forth to redeem its brokenness, as Christ commands.
I’d rather go plant Christ and let Him uniquely emerge among you and your friends as He builds His church …
Than “plant” some cookie cutter “church” and hope you find Him by coming to fit in with me and my friends.
Such is the heart of the Great Commission.
It does no good to flee the legalistic bear …
Only to be devoured by the existential lion.
When we make God all about our own things – our own giftings, aptitudes, motivations or pet doctrines – no matter how good or right they otherwise might be …
We deny His sovereignty over all things.
Plus we’ll find it’s impossible to successfully start or be part of a relational participatory church …
Because it makes us incapable of submitting to one another or preferring each other above ourselves – like commanded in the New Testament.
Maybe that’s why mono-churches are so prevalent today – whether in a living room or a “sanctuary” …
Because they’re all about ministry by “the one” rather than one to another.
I have learned to be weary of those peddling “radical” Christianity with enticing terms like “deeper life,” “eternal purpose,” “insurgence” and the like.
They seldom seem to make their quackery work in their own lives or home towns.
Such enticements, nonetheless, quickly become distractions from a simple faith of simple virtue …
In simple fellowship with God and each other before a waiting world.
It’s really not so complicated.
Unfortunately, though, quackery and “radical” sells.
Jesus never said to disengage from the disarray of nations …
But to engage all nations.
It’s called the Great Commission, which commands us to go and redeem not just individuals …
But whole cultures.
Plumbline Faith 