The opposite of Godly faith is not lack of faith …
Because everyone has faith in something.
The question is, in what or whom?
Category: Simple Truth
What about those who peddle an appealing Christ of their own perception through enticing books, blogs, seminars and posts …
While dismissing His plenary authority of Scripture as His written Word?
It’s not that they’re always wrong.
After all, even broken clocks are right twice a day …
But only fools would try to use ’em to tell time.
The worst deceptions …
Start with affirmation.
Slowly but surely, God is shifting the paradigm of church and leadership.
It is becoming genuinely organic, simple and participatory, with healthy fellowships beginning to emerge.
All I can say is forget the buzz words and existential agendas of past advocates like Viola and Dale – along with their fellow “itinerant” buddies like Zens, Rodriguez, Giles and Rohde.
They tried to peddle their own cookie-cutter, trans-Biblical perceptions of Christ and the Church on God’s people …
Through books and blogs that they never sustainably made work in their own lives, home towns or anywhere else.
As a result, they have left behind a legacy of ruined lives and failed churches.
Instead, build on the sure foundation already apostolically laid through Scripture as God’s authoritative written Word, in the unique context of diverse communities …
Where He still sends us today to make disciples and redeem nations.
That, my friends, is real “organic” church and leadership.
In the Old Testament, God let a jackass speak …
Not to affirm the jackass, but to affirm His Word.
Some today would do well to remember that distinction.
These days, whether something makes us feel good about ourselves …
Seems to be discernment enough.
There are those who proclaim God’s grace, while ignoring His holiness …
And those who proclaim His holiness, while ignoring His grace.
Neither understands either.
The New Testament says we should sing God’s praises together to encourage one another.
That’s it. That’s the only reason given.
Contrary to current presumptions, however, it never says we should do it to somehow persuade God to show up.
Nope, not nada …
Just ain’t there.
That because the New Testament instead says He’s already present in those who know Him …
And automatically among us – even with only two or three gathered – when we meet in Christ’s name.
Anyone claiming some special role to “lead” us into His presence, therefore, is committing spiritual fraud …
And peddling counterfeit “worship.”
Healthy civilizations and societies are a Christian virtue …
Promoted by those who heed Christ’s Lordship in all spheres of life and human endeavor.
Using civil government to compel personal faith and piety, however, is a Christian vice …
Promoted by those who don’t understand Christ’s different jurisdictional limitations for particular spheres of life and human endeavor.
For many, “church” has become a circus – a staged show where they go to be entertained, amazed, awed and sent home feeling good.
This perversion is sustained by convincing folks that the more they are entertained, amazed, awed and feel good …
The more “God moved” and the service was “anointed” and “inspired.”
It is collective narcissism at its worst.
Among those who thrive on the show, questioning what “church” has become initially invokes blank stares …
Then an incredulous disconnect as they quickly change the subject.
They will avoid at all cost having to consider the very idea that the Body of Christ is supposed to be something very different …
And so much more significant.
Those perpetually stuck in the wilderness …
Shouldn’t be preaching at everyone else about how to live in the Promised Land.
True disciples surrender their biases and sensibilities to God and His written Word.
Both libertine existentialists and self-righteous legalists, however, surrender God and His written Word to their biases and sensibilities …
Thereby elevating themselves above God Himself and His plenary authority of Scripture.
It will be a terrible scene when those who preached cheap grace …
Finally stand before God’s holiness.
But a time of rejoicing for those who proclaimed His true grace …
Thereby leading many to repentance, obedience and redemption before that fateful day.
It’s amazing how much huff, puff and indignation arise when you simply ask those pushing their books, blogs and conferences on how to “be the church” or otherwise function as a church …
If they actually are part of one in their own lives and home towns like they keep peddling to others.
Hypocrisy is not a Biblical virtue …
Nor should it be tolerated in those who presume to be leaders among us.
When you finally start feeling gratitude for your scars …
Is about when wisdom begins.
I would no sooner put a narcissist – repentant or otherwise – back in church leadership after preying on people entrusted to their care …
Than I would put a recovering alcoholic in charge of an open bar.
Narcissistic leaders know how to make you feel needed and affirmed.
It’s how they control and use others to feed their own need for attention and validation.
But their charm comes at great peril, because ultimately they will consume you to advance their own self-serving agendas.
Don’t be co-dependent, no matter how gifted they seem.
God created you – and His Church – for better.
In the New Testament, civil government is not charged with making us righteous …
But with protecting us from the unrighteous.
In law and government …
There is no moral neutrality.
Someone’s ultimate beliefs will always prevail, even if it’s to impose on others the immoral belief …
That there can be no morals.
Initial failure …
Is often the key to success.
Those most enthralled with the latest “Christian” fads …
Often know the least about God’s written Word and redemptive history.
When we give civil government the rights and responsibilities that God gives to Himself, to individuals, to families or to His church …
We become its supplicants, and it our idol.
Pharisees in the New Testament were religious leaders who did not live what they taught to others.
Today, we have authors, bloggers and so-called “workers” (their euphemism for “apostles”) peddling books, seminars and “ministries” that tell others how to form “organic” or “simple” churches …
With no consistent history – in their own lives, home towns or anywhere else – of sucessfully starting, sustaining or even being part of any church like they’re selling to others.
One need look no further than authors like Frank Viola, Jon Zens, Milt Rodriguez, Felicity Dale, Ross Rohde, Keith Giles and their buddies to see such failures …
Along with their various here today, gone tomorrow mutual promotion networks.
The irony is that when you point this out, they call YOU the Pharisee!
Simple, participatory church works as the New Testament authoritatively shows it …
Not as they keep selling it to promote themselves, their “ministries” and their failed existential agendas.
Be discerning.
Is Jesus really the measure of all things?
Not when we create Jesus in our own image …
Shaped by hurts from wrongs and disappointments we’ve suffered.
Such a false Jesus is really all about us, and becomes our bondage …
Rather than the authentic, liberating Lord of all.
So it’s always our choice:
Do we surrender our hurts to Christ – as He authoritatively defines us, Himself and so much more in His written Word …
Or let our hurts define us, Him, our reality and even His Word?
Sometimes …
Love says no.
Plumbline Faith 