2015-12-21T06:22:00-05:00

DENYING CHRIST

December 21, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

Some proclaim that “Christ is All” in an attempt to deny all of Christ.

Typically, they reject the plenary authority of Scripture as His written word …

By claiming that their personal revelation of “Christ” supersedes all of the commands, precepts, propositional truths, narratives and moral imperatives He chose to reveal there.

As a result, they are left with a false “Christ” of their own creation.

The only thing their false Jesus really is all about is them …

And their own subjective follies and sensibilities.

Be discerning …

Deceptive cults love to use pithy but misleading slogans to promote unspoken premises and hidden agendas.

A FRACTURED LOGOS

December 18, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

“Red letter” Christians only follow selective, out-of-context quotes by Jesus which conform to their own sensibilities …

While discounting the rest of Scripture.

Theirs is a pick-and-choose Jesus, supported by a fractured logos as they seek to divide the Living Word from His authority of Scripture as His written Word.

As a result, they know not Christ …

Which may explain their habitual existential angst and inability to create either viable disciples or functional churches.

FAITH IN ACTION

December 17, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

It’s no accident that the four Gospels …

Are immediately followed by “Acts”.

EXPRESSING GOD’S PRESENCE

December 16, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

Who deceived you into believing “church” is where you go to encounter God’s presence?

The New Testament says that if you belong to Christ, YOU are God’s temple and His presence now dwells in YOU …

And that we should gather to mutually build up each other by expressing His presence already in us and thus among us through ministry one to another as the multi-gifted, multi-functional, multi-part Body of Christ.

The idea of instead going to staged “services” so religious professionals can usher us into His presence is NOT found in the New Testament.

Nope, not, nada …

Just ain’t there.

So let’s shift our understandings and start being the church …

Once again.

JESUS AND HIS WORD

December 13, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

You can’t love Jesus …

And dismiss the plenary authority of His written Word.

MOVING FORWARD

December 4, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

It may seem trite, but it’s true:

Moving forward only happens …

One step at a time.

JESUS AND SCRIPTURE

December 3, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

If your concept of Christ causes you to be offended by portions of His written Word …

You know not Christ.

LOVE AND SCRIPTURE

December 2, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

We have reduced love to what we feel.

Scripture elevates love to what we do.

TOXIC BENEVOLENCE

November 30, 2015December 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

Corrosive compassion does for others what they otherwise should do for themselves.

Although trying to solve another’s problems may provide short term help …

People ultimately learn best when allowed to own the consequences of their own decisions.

It may seem harsh, but in the long run it’s often the most compassionate and loving thing you can do.

THY KINGDOM COME

November 27, 2015November 20, 2025/Plumbline Faith

The Kingdom of God is simple.

Not nice, neat, tidy or easy …

But simple.

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, (how?) thy will be done, (where?) on earth (extent?) as it is in heaven …”

So we just need to do God’s will as He directs in each sphere and circumstance of our life here on earth …

And where we do that, we see more of His Kingdom – His will in action – being established around us.

Sure, it is often hard and sometimes disruptive …

But nonetheless simple.

THE AUTHENTIC JESUS

November 24, 2015November 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

Jesus: He’s more than a feeling.

PLANTING CHRIST

November 23, 2015October 21, 2025/Plumbline Faith

I don’t plant churches so believers can come find Christ among me and my friends …

And I then can become the leader.

Rather, I go to the lost and plant Christ among them and their friends …

And then get out of the way.

That’s because relational participatory churches, like taught in the New Testament, happen simply but are never about us.

It’s not very complicated, nor does it cost anything …

Except obedience.

So how about it?

Why not start doing it the way Jesus taught it …

Once again?

CHRISTIAN SUBMISSION

November 21, 2015November 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

The only hierarchy allowed in the church is Jesus as the head.

He, in turn, commands us to submit one to another and to prefer each other above ourselves – no exceptions!

Let’s be the church once again.

CHURCH AUTHORITY

November 20, 2015November 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

Within the New Testament church, authority emerged from relationships, plurality, example, persuasion and earned respect.

Today, it is imposed through appointment, position, hierarchy, titles, command and control.

Big difference.

AUTHENTIC UNITY

November 18, 2015November 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

New Testament unity is rooted in diversity …

As we honor God’s differing gifts, callings and motivations in each other above our own.

Insisting on “unity” through uniformity, conformity or hierarchy, however, is a lie.

LAW AND GRACE

November 17, 2015November 4, 2025/Plumbline Faith

Law reveals …

But grace enables.

BREAK OUT OF THE BOX

November 13, 2015October 16, 2025/Plumbline Faith

New Testament:

Be the church with diverse ministry by one another while engaged with each other in face to face participatory gatherings.

Today:

Go to church for a monologue sermon by the one while staring at the back of someone’s head at a staged meeting with spectator seating.

Let’s be the church and change the world once again.

OVERCOMERS

November 12, 2015January 24, 2024/Plumbline Faith

When Satan worries more about your plans for the day than you do his …

Jesus smiles.

JAILED CHURCH

November 4, 2015October 7, 2025/Plumbline Faith

I love going to jail …

And being part of some of the best church in town.

Most “jail ministry” imports “church” or tries to “do church” for inmates.

It’s much more fun, instead, to let them be the church …

By allowing Christ to indigenously come alive in them, through among and among them as they learn to minister one to another and become His disciples where they live.

After all, isn’t that the heart of the Great Commission?