Mercy can be either an amazing wellspring for good …
Or a disturbing cover for evil.
Wisdom and discernment make all the difference.
Which is why God never intended that any one gift …
Exist apart from all the others.
Jesus says:
Rescue those being taken away to death; hold back those stumbling to slaughter.
“Christian” existentialists say:
We are neither left nor right, and don’t want to offend, because Christ is All (about our sensibilities).
God distributes different gifts and abilities among us to advance His Kingdom …
By calling us to serve and prefer one another above ourselves as a waiting world watches.
Today, however, many use those gifts and abilities to advance their own kingdoms …
By creating positions, titles, and hierarchies over one another as a disgusted world watches.
Few want to confess and let God forgive them …
Fewer still to repent and let Him define them.
Until we fully surrender the disappointments of our past to God …
We will never fully embrace His joy in our future.
I tire of all the fads constantly being peddled to Christians in some new book, ministry, podcast or program.
Instead, just go and do what Jesus commands, as He’s called you to do it.
When you do, it certainly will look different than the latest hot new distractions making the rounds on social media.
So don’t be diverted by “Radical,” “Christocentric,” “Deconstruction,” “Eternal Purpose,” “Insurgence,” or whatever.
Because once someone brands God and His purposes with some new label and convinces everyone to hop on board …
It’s likely so saddled with egos and extraneous agendas that it’s already way off track.
Instead, learn to discern what’s good and eternal and leave the rest behind, because God’s into plumblines …
Not pendulums.
The greatest obstacle to faith is not doubt …
But our own comfort zones.
We need fewer “preachers” on podiums above us …
And more elders living shared lives among us.
Unfortunately, few are willing to give up the recognition of the former …
For the humility of the latter.
Existentialism is a philosophy which claims that our own perceptions are the ultimate criteria for determining what is true, real and right.
As such, it rejects external, transcendent standards of truth, reality and morality in lieu of individual subjectivity.
Thus, for example, so-called existential “Christians” dismiss God’s plenary authority of Scripture as His authentic, external written Word.
For them, how they feel or react when reading Scripture is higher revelation – and ultimately more authoritative – than Scripture itself.
But they are crafty folk.
They call their subjective perceptions a revelation of “Christ,” or otherwise try to recreate Him in their own image, then proclaim that “Christ is All.”
In reality, their “Christ” is simply all about them.
For them, when you cut through the rhetoric, Christ and His written Word are at odds and stand divided.
As such, their muddled philosophy dares to judge God and filter Scripture through their own individualistic sensibilities …
Which leaves them stuck with themselves.
They are, in a word, fools …
Peddling deception to other fools who pay them heed.
If environment and external circumstances determined fate …
Then Adam and Eve would still be enjoying Eden.
God doesn’t define sin to condemn us …
But to warn us, because He loves us, about what can harm and destroy us.
Those who reject that …
Condemn themselves.
Faith versus works is a false dichotomy.
Real faith is trust, expressed not by what we feel …
But what we do.
I am aware of NO instance where Scripture condones cover ups …
When those claiming to be leaders of God’s people use their positions to do wrong and harm others.
In fact, the Biblical approach – both Old and New Testament – is quite the opposite.
Furthermore, truly repentant leaders will not try to hide their leadership sins, but openly confess and publicly repent.
Absent that …
They remain a danger to all.
Which is why 1 Timothy 5:19-21 specifically commands us to investigate and publicly expose church leaders who abuse their position …
As a warning to all.
Too often, “Church” is about expecting others to fit our own molds …
Based on our own cultural biases, traditions and perspectives.
In contrast, I have learned to allow “church” to emerge in all its splendid diversity …
By letting the life of Christ take root in the rich soil of different cultures and communities.
Could that be why the Great Commission says “go” make disciples of all “nations” (i.e., cultures)…
Rather than “come” attend my “church”?
God’s authoritative Word is not some fleeting inspiration you feel when reading the Bible …
But the Bible itself, as originally given by God Himself as His external standard for what is true, real and right.
It takes great hubris to claim otherwise …
By those who elevate their own subjective perceptions over the eternal, God breathed words of Scripture.
False prophets will tickle your ear …
While true prophets speak what you don’t want to hear.
The great lie of our times is that we should follow our heart.
All it has produced, among God’s people, are carnal Christians.
God never said that what we feel is the standard for what is true, real and right.
In fact, God says that the heart is deceitful, foolish and exceedingly wicked …
But His Word endures forever.
Which is why God seeks to redeem our heart …
But never puts it on par with Scripture as our standard for life, doctrine and maturity.
Those who view grace from too high a view of themselves …
Know neither.
The opposite of Godly faith is not lack of faith …
Because everyone has faith in something.
The question is, in what or whom?
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.
The greatest struggle for many is letting go of our hurts.
Often, we let our hurts define us by holding onto the familiarity of our pain …
Rather than chancing the unfamiliarity of a truly new life in Christ.
Even among Christians, few risk the ongoing redemption of confession, forgiveness and repentance to become whole and complete in Him.
Really, it’s not that difficult …
But it does take trust.
Plumbline Faith 