Those who embrace a so-called “Christocentric” hermeneutic join Adam and Eve in presuming the moral autonomy to decide right and wrong …
With the further hubris of presuming to then impose it on Christ Himself.
They’re still eating of the tree …
God owes us NOTHING.
Get over it.
Only then can we begin to apprehend the wonders of His grace.
Those promoting a so-called “Christocentric” hermeneutic have too low a view of Christ …
And too high a view of themselves.
They presume to create a pick and choose Jesus through a pick and choose view of Scripture to suit their own sensibilities …
Rather than submit to all of Christ as He authentically reveals Himself in all of Scripture, both Old and New Testament.
Which, by the way, is why they never seem able to make viable disciples or form functional churches.
Don’t be so easily misled by their “new” faith …
Which is no faith at all, except in themselves.
When Satan can’t exploit your weaknesses …
He’ll flatter your strengths.
In the cool of the day, God walked side-by-side and fellowshipped face-to-face with Adam …
Amidst the beauty of Adam’s garden and the fruit of his labor.
It’s OK to be human …
That’s where God wants to meet us too.
“Radical,” “deeper life,” “insurgent,” “movement” this and “movement” that …
Are disingenuous distractions from Biblical imperatives to simply grow up and make a difference by living lives of simple truth, simple faith and simple virtue.
Don’t buy the lie, often being peddled by those promoting themselves and their own agendas …
Because it’s really not that complicated.
Only by perverting “church” as taught in the New Testament …
Can someone lord over others by claiming to be a “servant.”
In Hebrews 13:17, most translations tell us to “obey” those who are leaders in the church.
In the Greek, that verb is in the middle voice and actually means to “be persuaded.”
Yet it is often mistranslated “obey” in the active voice.
Properly translated, we are to be persuaded by those who lead. Otherwise, they have no authority.
There is NO command in the New Testament to blindly follow any leader …
And no mandate for authoritarianism over God’s people.
Let’s learn to be the church as Scripture actually shows it, rather than only doing “church” as we’ve come to know it.
Why?
Because He’s God and I’m not.
Because His Word stands eternal while I am but an uncertain reed blowing in the wind.
Because it is by His will that history bends, not mine.
Because He is the sovereign creator of all, including me.
Because He defines what is true, real and right, not me.
And because He is Lord of all and bids me “go” into a world He yet loves.
Modern concepts of “worship” combined with weekly “sermons” by a “senior pastor” at scripted “services” – along with mortgages, buildings called “sanctuaries” with spectator seating, and Old Testament tithing – were not part of the church in the New Testament.
Surprised? Search Scripture for yourself.
But they do seem to go hand-in-hand these days …
Because, after all, professionally produced staged shows that dependably attract weekly paying audiences don’t come cheap or easy.
So tell me again:
How voting to elect as our nation’s leader an unrepentant, strip club, sex trafficking, serial adultery, wanna “date” his nude posing daughter, boastful of his porn spread third wife, fat cat donor to those who oppose all that you believe, vulgar narcissist …
Maintains your Christian witness and upholds the Jesus you claim to love?
At least Esau got a bowl of pottage for giving up his birthright.
What if your church gave up the show for Lent?
Fixating on sin while ignoring grace …
Perverts the Gospel.
As does a fixation on grace which ignores sin.
Socialism:
Free cheese in a mouse trap.
It never turns out well, history shows, when frustration over inept leaders, social malaise and moral anarchy …
Elects a so-called “strong man” who knows no law but his own will to power.
Scripture says what we sow, we reap.
This election, sow wisely.
Disciples let God and His written Word judge their sensibilities and perceptions.
Apostates let their sensibilities and perceptions judge God and His written Word.
Carnal “Christians,” through indifference, fall somewhere in the middle.
It makes no more sense putting a narcissist – repentant or otherwise – back into church leadership after preying on people entrusted to his care …
Than it does to put a recovering alcoholic in charge of an open bar.
I serve the risen Lord of all who is King of all His creation …
Which is why I reject cynicism and care enough to vote and make a difference in a world He yet loves.
Never underestimate the easy corruption of truth …
By those who benefit from a lie.
God save us from for-profit non-prophets …
And those so easily swayed by them.
Although we can have doctrine without fully knowing Jesus …
We can’t fully know Jesus without doctrine.
Jesus: He’s more than a feeling.
I’m not sure who scare me most:
Folks who believe God only speaks through Scripture …
Or folks who believe God tells them things which trump Scripture.
God’s utter holiness:
Sinners who are lost and know it …
Get it.
Smug “Christians” …
Seldom do.
As Christians, if God’s presence is now in us …
Why do we go to “church” to enter His presence?
In fact, where do you even find that concept of church in the New Testament?
You don’t.
So let’s start gathering once again to be the church, by expressing – one to another – the many gifts and graces of His presence already in us …
Just like the New Testament says.
To say that truth is Jesus …
Begs the question.
Which Jesus?
A Jesus of your own perception and creation who reflects your own “truth”?
Or the authentic Jesus who authoritatively defines Himself, us, creation, and so much more through Scripture as His written Word?
There is no truth or Jesus …
Except on His terms.
Plumbline Faith 