Many have been deeply wounded by churches and ministries that used them – often when they were young and naive – to advance a particular leader’s vision by trying to mold them to his own gifts and callings.
Eventually, their own unique gifts, callings and God-given identity became subsumed to another man’s grand agenda …
And began to atrophy.
It’s liberating, however, when we finally learn that God did not create us to be like anyone else …
But instead gives us different personalities and motivations to match the differing spiritual gifts, callings and abilities He distributes among us.
So let’s be willing to learn from one another, while also experiencing His pleasure as we uniquely use and enjoy His differing gifts as He intended …
In our lives, families, fellowships and communities.
Category: Simple Discipleship
Many blame the problems of America on our pulpits.
I tend to agree …
But for entirely different reasons.
The problem is not that churches lack strong pulpits with strong preaching …
But lack strong disciples who can function together as the multi-gifted, multi-part Body of Christ.
Big difference!
I’m less interested in whether your Biblical proof texts affirm your theological position …
Then whether your theological position equally affirms the Biblical proof texts of those with contrary views.
Those who refuse to exceed their comfort zones …
Often lack Godly joy.
Maybe that’s why Scripture says that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” —
Because lethargy brings despair …
But overcoming brings authentic joy.
Jesus says He will build His Church as we go to unreached communities and make disciples …
And His Kingdom then advances.
Instead, we build our churches and hope unreached people will come, form community, and possibly become disciples …
But His Kingdom seldom advances.
Maybe we should do what Jesus says once again …
Not just overseas, but in our hometowns too.
There are many problems with making a “church” primarily about “the Pastor.”
One is that if “the Pastor” goes off track, burns out, hits his own personal limits, or whatever …
So typically also goes ”his” church.
Perhaps that’s why the concept of “the Pastor” who primarily runs and leads a church – or is the lynchpin of a church – simply doesn’t exist in the New Testament.
When we instead adopt the New Testament’s approach to local church ministry and leadership, there is greater balance and stability with broader discipleship.
Church then becomes a gathering of believers with ministry by one another to one another through the many gifts and callings God bestows between us …
And “pastor” is simply one of the functions performed by elders who emerge among us to guide and minister beside us to help make that happen.
Maybe that’s why God designed US to be HIS church …
Rather than primarily being about one man with a platform.
The full meaning of the Greek word translated as “faith” in the New Testament …
Presumes obedience.
Unless we want cheap grace …
We should do the same.
Repentance is not about perfection …
But dealing with our imperfections.
Over the years, I’ve taken a very public stand against the proliferation of for-profit non-prophets who peddle their wares to gullible believers.
In response, I’m often asked if I believe there are prophets today. I think that’s the wrong question, because “prophet” in the original language of the New Testament is not a title but a function.
It applies to anyone who faithfully says – while they are saying it – what God has led them to say. Nothing more, nothing less.
And yes, God still speaks through people today – subject to Scripture and the sound judgement of others.
But that does not convey some elevated position to anyone over anyone.
Using that criteria, my observation and experience is that authentically prophetic ministry is alive and well within healthy, functional, local communities of believers who humbly submit one to another.
Such people have no need, or tolerance, for self-appointed “prophets” who go around peddling so-called “words” for self enrichment and notoriety.
So permit me to pass along some things I’ve learned over the years:
If someone needs to add “Prophet” in front of their name, they ain’t one.
If someone needs to name a ministry after themselves to help sell their “prophetic words,” they have gone off track.
If they are not presently rooted in, submitted to, and humbly accountable to a local, functional community of believers in their own home town, they have no business “prophesying” in anyone else’s home town.
If they need to preface everything with “God told me” to lend it credibility, then it likely has none.
It they routinely play to your fears or tickle your ears, instead of being willing to say what you don’t want to hear, they’re building their own kingdom and not God’s.
Finally, we need to return to wisdom and discernment, and stop listening to those who turn the authentic into freak shows.
And that, my friends, is likely the most authentically prophetic thing you’ll hear me say all day.
😎
How do abusive “spiritual” movements happen?
The spiritually broke, in search of intensity …
Are manipulated by spiritual narcissists, who give them the intense experiences they crave and call it “God” …
Thus trapping them in tangled webs of dependency, ego and deception.
A gospel of no offense …
Is not the Gospel of Christ or His Kingdom.
Biblical discipleship is about folks submitting to Christ’s authority …
Not your’s.
Many “Christians” define God – and judge Scripture – by their notions of love …
Rather than submitting their notions of love to God and His Word.
They are pseudo Christians …
Who worship themselves rather than the sovereign God of all.
Sometimes it takes grace and wisdom to distinguish between God using a flawed person …
And a flawed person using God.
Effective prayer is more about us hearing and doing what God wants …
Than Him hearing and doing what we want.
We can’t surrender to God …
What we refuse to acknowledge.
That includes the fears, hurts and regrets we’ve been carrying …
And the bondage of our own – often subtle – sins committed in response to them.
Holding on to them prevents us from finding spiritual maturity, emotional wholeness …
And even healthy community with other believers.
Faith presumes obedience …
Because without obedience, there is no faith.
In the New Testament, “church” is not a meeting or a “service.”
Nor is it a building, a staged event or spectator seating.
Rather, it’s a local community of people who serve God, each other and a waiting world, through ministry one to another for the mutual building up of all with Christ as the Head …
While also not neglecting to gather together to encourage and motivate one another towards love and good works.
Pseudo “worship” today …
Exploits a broken generation by stirring up manipulated feelings of fleeting intensity, and calling it “God.”
It has become the new addiction.
The sole remedy is true worship, which is a faithful life of humble submission to God’s sovereignty, on His terms.
Only there can we find true significance and authentic wholeness.
Congregational singing is important for our gatherings, but the New Testament doesn’t call that “worship.”
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Rather, the New Testament says that living lives of obedient submission and sacrificial service to God …
Is true worship.
When we say that singing and music are “worship,” however, rather than teach what worship truly is under the New Covenant …
We often end up with carnal churches and carnal people seeking a Sunday morning “worship experience” rather than living holy lives in humble obedience and service to God.
So let’s encourage one another by joyfully singing God’s praises congregationally together when we gather, as the New Testament commands …
While also learning to walk in true worship the rest of the week.
Because when all is said and done, the terminology of the New Testament never tells us to gather for a “worship service” …
But to gather for mutually building up each other so we can live lives of service, 24/7.
The prevailing characteristics of postmodern existentialism on both the left and on the right are relativism and narcissism, rooted in notions of human autonomy.
Is it any wonder, then, that we see an emphasis on new “doctrines” which:
Define Christ and our relationship to Him by our own subjective perceptions;
Redefine grace to destroy all concepts of objective standards; and
Dismiss the plenary authority of Scripture?
Yet God is raising up a people who want to truly know Him on His terms …
And to worship Him once again (literally, to bow before Him) in spirit and in truth.
Many know God as only a feeling …
And love the feeling more than God.
Which is unfortunate.
Although the authentic knowledge and love of God often invoke feelings …
They don’t depend on how we feel.
Freedom is not the right to do evil …
But the right to resist it.
Many desire the forgiveness of the Cross …
Without the transformation of the Resurrection.
It will not go well for them, either in the here and now …
Or on that fateful, final day.
Do you want Jesus for what you want …
Or what He wants?
Plumbline Faith 