Only when we get to the end of ourselves, can we find ourselves …
As God intended.
Category: Simple Faith
Under the New Covenant, worship is not about “entering into God’s presence” …
With weekly church “services” – whether traditional or contemporary – designed to lead us there through manipulated feelings of intensity.
In fact, there are no such concepts regarding church or worship anywhere in the New Testament.
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Rather, the New Testament defines true worship as living holy lives of sacrificial obedience and obeisance to God, 24/7.
Moreover, under the New Covenant we are to be His temple, with His presence now in us …
Each and every one.
This is why the New Testament simply says that when we gather together, we should sing God’s praises to encourage one another.
That’s it – nothing more and nothing less – and the New Testament gives no other reason to sing when we gather as His church.
It also says nothing about gathering to “enter into,” “invoke,” “seek” or be “ushered into” God’s presence.
Until we fully grapple with this distinction, we will never understand why being the church as the New Testament actually shows it …
Looks so much different than church as we’ve otherwise come to know it.
Sola fide?
Yes, of course …
We are saved and live by faith alone.
The problem, however, is we no longer seem to affirm full faith …
As actually taught and understood in Scripture.
Continue readingThe old legalism said we must always “act good” …
While the new legalism says everyone else must now make us “feel good.”
Seriously, these things run in cycles …
As adherents of each diss anyone and anything that doesn’t feed their own insecurities.
Unfortunately, those who buy into each extreme – while still in it – seldom see how artificial and shallow it tends to be.
Which is why Jesus and His Word are about plumblines …
Not pendulums.
Christ’s finished work on the Cross …
Doesn’t mean that His work on the Cross is finished in us.
Wisdom requires perspective and balance …
Which is why we must not fall prey to swings of the pendulum.
Without truth, there is no grace …
Because without truth, grace is meaningless.
If your faith never offends, it’s not faith …
But some pseudo-spiritualized comfort zone.
The cross is where we are reconciled to God.
Unfortunately, too many think it’s where God is reconciled to us.
God’s redeeming grace is the means:
He offers His undeserved mercy, truth and forgiveness.
Repentance is the only acceptable response:
I receive, submit and change.
Anything less …
Is a lie.
Lord, raise up true elders – “grown ups” among us …
Who guard your flock by teaching sound doctrine and confronting those who define:
Doubt as faith;
Obedience as optional;
Grace as merit;
Tolerance as love;
Truth as relative;
Perception as reality;
Morality as feelings;
Scripture as subjective;
Diverse gifts as distractions;
Unity as conformity;
Worship as an event; or
Church as a platform.
May we, Lord, understand the times and proclaim with Paul:
“Henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive …” Eph. 4:14
Nearly all heresy starts as truth out of balance.
When someone insists on one unifying “truth” that explains everything …
Watch out!
Even our personal perceptions of Christ Himself fall short …
No matter how otherwise accurate.
In an age of radical autonomy – with individuals fractured from themselves, others and God …
It’s time for Christ’s disciples to bear open witness – through our lives and words – to God’s transcendent truth and immanent grace.
What’s trendy is seldom eternal …
And what’s eternal is seldom trendy.
When “church” and “worship” are about stirring up carnal feelings, God’s not there.
And that thing you feel?
It’s not God, because it’s more about you …
Than Him.
It may be intense, but trust me …
It ain’t Him.
Judge not?
Never have two words been taken so out of context to distort what Jesus actually said …
Which explains the mess we’re facing in our culture, churches and politics.
May God’s people and those of goodwill begin to judge righteously once again.
Apart from God who created us in His likeness and image …
Reason, creativity and virtue lose all meaning.
Which makes the Christian retreat from reason, creativity and virtue …
Rebellion against God Himself.
Those who dismiss the meanings of words as originally intended, or deny that words can even convey tangible meanings …
Will never understand God, His creation or themselves – as to which He chose specific words to convey His specific meanings through Scripture.
Ironically, those who deny authoritative meaning in His written Word …
Do so with words – thus trying to elevate their own meaningless meanings over God’s chosen means.
God created us to be integrated individuals:
Embodied, rational, spiritual and relational …
With logic, emotions, intuition, feelings, creativity and so much more.
All cults and major heresies, however, deny, isolate or over emphasize one or more of those qualities.
When they do this, they distort God’s desire to redeem our full humanity …
Complete and whole.
When we define faith by our own interests or sensibilities, it’s no longer faith …
But narcissism.
Sharing Christ by handing out meals across some impersonal divide to “others” whom we deem “less fortunate” …
May have its place.
But not as a substitute …
For experiencing Christ together, one with another.
Instead, why not consider intentionally sharing life and meals together as “brothers” where you both actually live …
Including your own living room and even their tents in the woods, as you both learn to be the kind of disciples who honor and esteem each other in Christ above yourselves?
Maybe this is why the Kingdom of God advances more through actual community and open hospitality …
Than mere charity.
After all, isn’t this the heart of the Great Commission in action …
And perhaps even the start of ekklesia as the New Testament actually commands it?
Declare or act?
Hear or do?
Profess or know?
Claim or be?
Preach or go?
Sometimes …
Words alone are not enough.
Plumbline Faith 