It does no good to flee the legalistic bear …
Only to be devoured by the existential lion.
Category: Simple Discipleship
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.
God wants to release us into our gifts and callings …
Not have others monopolize us in pursuit of their own.
True church leaders equip us for the former …
While faux church leaders are all about the latter.
Our fallible interpretations never negate God’s infallible written Word.
Only fools say otherwise.
Be brave:
Examine your presumptions and traditions through the lens of Scripture as God’s authoritative written Word …
Rather than Scripture through the lens of your presumptions and traditions.
Embracing the Kingdom of God …
Requires nothing less.
Jesus wants to heal addictive personalities …
Not become their newest obsession.
I’m done with the nones:
The authors, bloggers and pundits who legitimately tell everyone how they stopped going to “church” as they’ve known it …
But then can’t seem to ever get around to being the church as Scripture actually shows it.
Be discerning!
Do you have questions about simple, relational participatory church and discipleship …
As the New Testament actually shows it?
Be discerning:
Don’t be misled by self appointed “itinerants” with their self appointed titles, who don’t live it yet promote it …
To sell their books, agendas and “ministries.”
Learn instead from unassuming folk who are sacrificially making it work, along with others, in their own lives, households and home towns …
With no other personal agendas.
I’m confused.
The New Testament says we must submit to one another.
So who, exactly, is this Pastor“One Another” and where do I find him?
😉
Seeking God’s presence in a sacred space as we face a stage and an altar for ministry by the one …
Is so Old Testament.
Why not try the New Testament instead?
Gather as believers in homes and other places where life and community naturally happen …
To express together – each and everyone – the wonderful diversity of Christ’s presence already in you.
Then, by simply letting His life shine through you as we learn to minister to one another out of the many gifts He distributes among us for the mutual building up of each other …
All that other stuff becomes just a distraction.
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“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Th. 5:11
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Pet. 4:10
“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” 1 Cor. 14:26
Everyone loves the prophetic, until it speaks of them …
Everyone loves discipleship, without the discipline …
Everyone loves ekklesia, but not submitting to each other …
Everyone loves truth, when there is no price to pay …
Everyone loves God’s Kingdom, apart from the dictates of His rule …
Everyone loves Jesus, yet seldom on His terms.
So let’s stop being everyone …
Because God calls us to be so much more.
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“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13-14
If you wait until you finally figure out what God’s up to …
He’s likely already moved on.
Victim or victor?
The past happened. We can’t change that.
We can, however, change its power over us by fully acknowledging and giving the ashes of our past – the burdens and regrets – to Christ.
When we do, He gives us beauty and wholeness in return …
But it’s always our choice.
It’s not enough to simply “believe.”
Even demons believe …
But disciples obey.
If all you’ve experienced is “church” as you’ve come known it …
Then church as Scripture actually shows it will seem odd and challenging.
Press on regardless …
Because the Kingdom of God is not for the faint of heart.
Those who elevate their own concepts of Jesus over His written Word …
Know neither Jesus nor His Word.
When “unity” is about everyone conforming to one person’s own calling, ministry, motivation or perspective …
Then “church” becomes a battleground over competing agendas and resources.
When unity, however, is about preferring one another over ourselves in our diverse callings, ministries, motivations and perspectives …
Then church becomes a springboard for God’s multifaceted Kingdom.
Many are led astray …
By unexamined presumptions.
When “church” becomes a scripted show by the “anointed” few on an elevated stage before row upon row of spectator “attendees” …
There is no effective discipleship.
Seriously, where do you even find that in the New Testament???
Let’s be the church once again.
Jesus said that all Scripture points to Him.
Which simply means that all Scripture bears witness to Christ’s authenticity …
Just as Christ bore witness to the authenticity of Scripture.
He did NOT mean, as some now imply, that we can project a false “Jesus” of our own imagination back onto Scripture …
To somehow then supersede whatever we don’t like in Scripture.
Don’t be deceived by those who twist Scripture to elevate themselves and their agendas over Scripture …
Through a Jesus of their own creation.
God created us to have common sense.
Although “faith,” at times, transcends common sense, if it leads to a persistent lack of common sense …
It’s not from God.
And that, my friend, is simply common sense.
Authentic faith speaks truth to power.
Which is why disciples with the right to vote and impact legislation …
Take it seriously.
What good is a life of faith …
If we live a life that needs no faith?
Be courageous!
