God and “me” are not the church …
But God and “we” just might be.
Category: Simple Faith
There is no Christ …
In a “Jesus” on our terms.
Likewise, there is no ekklesia …
In a “church” on our terms.
Nor is there true “worship” …
When defined on our terms.
So in all our ways
Let’s humble ourselves
And submit to God …
As He defines Himself
And so much more
In His written word of Scripture.
Cynicism isn’t a retreat from evil …
But from good.
What is existentialism, and why does it matter?
Existentialism is a worldly philosophy which believes that each individual can define – on their own terms – what is true, right and real based on their own perceptions and personal sensibilities.
Many “Christians” do this, whether consciously or not.
They often claim to have a “high view” of Scripture, but then discount anything in it which contradicts their own perceptions and sensibilities.
Whether they call themselves “Progressive,” “Red Letter,” “Beyond Evangelical,” “Deconstructed,” “Neo-orthodox” or whatever …
They set themselves over God’s plenary authority of Scripture by defining truth, reality and morality on their own terms to suit their own purposes.
Inevitably, this leads them to project their own perceptions and sensibilities onto Jesus Himself …
To create a “Christ” after their own likeness and image.
In essence, they end up worshipping themselves by deceiving themselves through their false Christ …
Who is nothing more than a representation of themselves.
Like any idol, this “Jesus” of their own creation then justifies their religion of self …
Both to themselves (whether knowingly or not) and to those they seek to deceive (again, whether knowingly or not).
Unfortunately, our “churches” today are filled with such people …
Because many “churches” find it’s easier to cater to their narcissism than call for true repentance.
Existential deception is a defining issue of our times because the real Jesus didn’t choose to leave everything up to our personal foibles and follies …
But chose to authoritatively define Himself – and what is ultimately true, real and right – through Scripture as His written Word.
Anything less is a lie.
We can not deserve, earn or initiate God’s grace …
Otherwise, it’s not grace.
But once offered …
We certainly can turn from it.
Otherwise, it’s likewise not grace.
The Bible doesn’t say to believe in yourself …
But to die to self.
Jesus never said to forgive yourself …
But to forgive others and then ask God to forgive you.
The Gospel isn’t about affirming you …
But about repenting and surrendering to Christ’s rule.
Only then will you find yourself …
Your freedom …
And your validation …
As defined by Him.
Faith is trust …
And thus the antithesis of doubt.
Reformed Theology says it’s impossible to reject God’s grace when offered …
Based on the philosophic concept that doing so would involve human autonomy against God’s sovereignty.
The flaw is that Reformed Theology does not see that there is a third option, which runs throughout Scripture.
The choice isn’t Calvinism = God’s Sovereignty …
While Arminianism = Human autonomy.
Rather, Biblical doctrine shows that God is so sovereign …
He can offer not only undeserved grace, but also the undeserved choice to reject that grace.
That’s why Scripture repeatedly says that apart from God extending His grace to us, salvation is impossible …
But there’s not a single passage in all of Scripture that says His grace is irresistible.
Denying God’s sovereign right to delegate that choice is, at its core, a denial of His sovereignty.
We are bound by the limits of our fallen nature, which makes us spiritually “dead in our trespasses and sin”.
We are not spiritually sick, but dead.
Free will, therefore, is a myth apart from God’s grace giving us the option to choose Him …
Because those who are spiritually dead have no choice in and of themselves.
Fundamentally, we have no human autonomy or ability to choose anything apart from what God has chosen to delegate and enable.
According to His sovereign will, however, He didn’t want puppets on a string …
So He gave Adam the option to choose sin and death – as He knew he would – by rejecting His rule.
Adam chose foolishly.
Christ, according to His eternal plan …
Then defeated sin and death through the Cross to give us the option to choose righteousness and life by submitting to His rule.
This is what makes God’s grace so amazing.
Choose wisely, therefore …
While you still have a choice.
The irony of hard core “Calvinism” is that it diminishes God’s sovereignty …
By claiming He can’t delegate to others the option to resist His grace when offered.
Can a God who is so limited truly have absolute sovereignty?
This is the inherent contradiction in their “reformed” theology.
They have great insight on many things, but can not reconcile their philosophic concept of God’s “sovereignty” …
With His right to delegate, as He chooses, whatever He chooses – including the choice to reject His saving grace.
They are thus trapped in a fundamental internal contradiction …
Of defining God as so sovereign, He can’t actually be sovereign.
There are only four passages in the entire New Testament which mention singing God’s praises together when we gather as the church.
And in those verses, there is just one reason given for that congregational singing …
And it’s not “worship.”
Rather, it’s to encourage one another.
That’s it.
Nothing else.
In fact, the New Testament never refers to singing or our gatherings as “worship” …
And the Greek words often translated as “worship” have absolutely nothing to do with what we call “worship” these days.
So the popular idea that we go to a “worship service” where we sing and do other things to invoke, experience or encounter God’s presence …
Doesn’t exist in the New Testament.
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Rather, that’s rooted in the Old Testament idea of the temple, where people went to encounter God.
In contrast, under the New Covenant, we have become God’s temple because He now dwells in us and among us.
Thus, we are commanded to sing and participate together for our mutual encouragement – one to another – as we express God’s presence already in us.
Nothing more, nothing less.
So let’s stop distorting Scripture by putting on staged performances designed to make us encounter “God’s presence” …
And calling that “worship.”
It’s not. It’s just carnality masquerading as spirituality to justify the prevailing corrupt practice of turning “church” into a spectator event performed by a few from an elevated stage.
Instead, let’s return to what the New Testament actually commands in our gatherings:
By joyfully participating together as we share and sing God’s praises with each other to express His presence already in us…
For the simple purpose of edifying and mutually building up one another.
Maybe then true worship will start to more fully emerge among us …
As people stop thinking of “worship” as a staged Sunday event and finally start living lives of reverent, sacrificial obedience to Him throughout the rest of the week.
Most of what we call “worship” today …
Is so contrived and manipulative as to be an affront to God.
Most, however, are so unwilling to submit their concept of “worship” to what the New Testament actually says is worship …
That they don’t even care.
Because God loves us, He offers grace without merit …
While also requiring repentance in return.
Claiming anything less on either point …
Emasculates the Gospel.
We don’t truly believe because we perceive …
But truly perceive because we believe.
The former is all about us …
As we start with ourselves, only to remain trapped in ourselves.
The latter is all about God …
Who gives faith to believe.
Only then can we repent of ourselves to become more than ourselves.
God’s raw, unmitigated written Word bears stark witness against those who promote existentialism, relativism, “progressive” liberalism …
Or any other competing post-modern “ism” of our day.
Which is why they all hate both the totality of Scripture …
And the authentic God of Scripture.
The triune God of the Bible is perfectly one and complete in and of Himself.
Unlike Islam and various “Oneness” heresies, however, His complete unity also includes diversity.
That intrinsic diversity means He can internally relate, love and communicate …
And thus, as He chooses, do so externally as well.
Which explains the main difference between the true God of the Old and New Testaments …
And the detached, abstract and mute “God” of Islam.
Don’t be deceived by cries of “unity” from those who reject God’s plenary authority of Scripture …
While then expecting conformity to a Jesus of their own creation.
There’s the hard Gospel of Godly repentance and Kingdom surrender.
Then there’s the easy “Gospel” of personal choice and optional lifestyle …
Especially among “churches” that try to pimp God by embracing cheap grace and easy believism.
Where are the men of God these days, who preach hard truth under the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
May God deliver us from the easy “Gospel” of false hope and deceptive charm …
As we proclaim true repentance, salvation and redemption once again.
What if you actually studied the New Testament and the original, actual meanings of its original words in their original language …
Utilizing a good comprehensive lexicon that anyone can buy and use?
What if you did it a second time …
And then a third time?
And, after all that, what if you discovered that what you call a “church” or “worship” or the “tithe” or a “pastor” or so much more …
Isn’t?
What if …
Jesus is our Lord who loves us …
Not our lover.
Unfortunately, the words and mood of too many songs that pass for “worship” these days …
Seem to confuse this vital difference.
Don’t confuse what seems good to you …
With God’s best for you.
The love of God is the culmination of wisdom …
But the fear of God is its beginning.
God’s into plumblines …
Not pendulums.
Some believe God is so sovereign …
That He can’t choose to allow people to reject His grace.
Which means that they’re trying to protect His sovereignty …
By denying His sovereignty.
As a result, they’ve made an idol out of their own trans-Biblical, philosophical view of “sovereignty” …
Resulting in too low a view of God and His actual sovereignty.
Nonetheless, they compound their problems by then straining to filter all the rest of God’s Word – plus all the rest of life and everyone else – through the seeve of that core absurdity.
By so doing, they’ve become the arrogant new Pharisees of our day, captive to a dry intellectual edifice of their own creation …
Built on further absurdities heaped upon absurdities.
Is it any wonder, then, that it’s nearly impossible to find the joyous, dynamic life of Christ – or vibrant, multi-gifted Christian community – among them?
Although they are our brothers and sisters in Christ …
It’s time to recognize that they are our weaker siblings, rather than giving them the prominence they presume to demand among us.
There are many “Christian” idols in our churches these days.
For example, what most churches call “worship” …
Is mostly a contrived, manipulative affront to God.
And I’m not talking about styles of music …
But about turning “worship” into a “church service” rather than living lives of reverent obedience and sacrificial service to God.
Unfortunately, those unwilling to submit to how the New Testament actually defines worship and the focus of our gatherings …
Seldom even care.
And so they’ve elevated their own notions of worship above God Himself and what His Word actually says …
Thus ensnaring many in perpetual immaturity and carnality.
Plumbline Faith 