Many blame the problems of America on our pulpits.
I tend to agree …
But for entirely different reasons.
The problem is not that churches lack strong pulpits with strong preaching …
But lack strong disciples who can function together as the multi-gifted, multi-part Body of Christ.
Big difference!
Where’s the virtue in not voting for the lesser evil …
If it allows the greater evil to crush virtue?
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:
God will not hold us guiltless.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act.”
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
There is no neutrality.
Not choosing is, in fact, to choose the status quo …
And often that’s the greatest evil of all.
I’m less interested in whether your Biblical proof texts affirm your theological position …
Then whether your theological position equally affirms the Biblical proof texts of those with contrary views.
Those who refuse to exceed their comfort zones …
Often lack Godly joy.
Maybe that’s why Scripture says that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” —
Because lethargy brings despair …
But overcoming brings authentic joy.
Jesus says He will build His Church as we go to unreached communities and make disciples …
And His Kingdom then advances.
Instead, we build our churches and hope unreached people will come, form community, and possibly become disciples …
But His Kingdom seldom advances.
Maybe we should do what Jesus says once again …
Not just overseas, but in our hometowns too.
There are many problems with making a “church” primarily about “the Pastor.”
One is that if “the Pastor” goes off track, burns out, hits his own personal limits, or whatever …
So typically also goes ”his” church.
Perhaps that’s why the concept of “the Pastor” who primarily runs and leads a church – or is the lynchpin of a church – simply doesn’t exist in the New Testament.
When we instead adopt the New Testament’s approach to local church ministry and leadership, there is greater balance and stability with broader discipleship.
Church then becomes a gathering of believers with ministry by one another to one another through the many gifts and callings God bestows between us …
And “pastor” is simply one of the functions performed by elders who emerge among us to guide and minister beside us to help make that happen.
Maybe that’s why God designed US to be HIS church …
Rather than primarily being about one man with a platform.
God still raises up Deborahs.
If that offends you …
You might be part of the reason He chooses to do so.
When did the gifts of God …
Become the grifts of men?
When humble ministry by one another …
Became platforming and showcasing by the one.
God is not amused …
And judgement has begun.
The Progressive Existential Revised Version (PERV):
A new Bible translation, where the true Word of God is whatever you feel it should be.
The full meaning of the Greek word translated as “faith” in the New Testament …
Presumes obedience.
Unless we want cheap grace …
We should do the same.
Repentance is not about perfection …
But dealing with our imperfections.
Over the years, I’ve taken a very public stand against the proliferation of for-profit non-prophets who peddle their wares to gullible believers.
In response, I’m often asked if I believe there are prophets today. I think that’s the wrong question, because “prophet” in the original language of the New Testament is not a title but a function.
It applies to anyone who faithfully says – while they are saying it – what God has led them to say. Nothing more, nothing less.
And yes, God still speaks through people today – subject to Scripture and the sound judgement of others.
But that does not convey some elevated position to anyone over anyone.
Using that criteria, my observation and experience is that authentically prophetic ministry is alive and well within healthy, functional, local communities of believers who humbly submit one to another.
Such people have no need, or tolerance, for self-appointed “prophets” who go around peddling so-called “words” for self enrichment and notoriety.
So permit me to pass along some things I’ve learned over the years:
If someone needs to add “Prophet” in front of their name, they ain’t one.
If someone needs to name a ministry after themselves to help sell their “prophetic words,” they have gone off track.
If they are not presently rooted in, submitted to, and humbly accountable to a local, functional community of believers in their own home town, they have no business “prophesying” in anyone else’s home town.
If they need to preface everything with “God told me” to lend it credibility, then it likely has none.
It they routinely play to your fears or tickle your ears, instead of being willing to say what you don’t want to hear, they’re building their own kingdom and not God’s.
Finally, we need to return to wisdom and discernment, and stop listening to those who turn the authentic into freak shows.
And that, my friends, is likely the most authentically prophetic thing you’ll hear me say all day.
😎
How do abusive “spiritual” movements happen?
The spiritually broke, in search of intensity …
Are manipulated by spiritual narcissists, who give them the intense experiences they crave and call it “God” …
Thus trapping them in tangled webs of dependency, ego and deception.
Decades of ministry to people in emotional bondage from past wrongs (both to them and by them) have taught me a valuable lesson:
Experiencing God’s full and complete forgiveness and freedom typically requires open and complete confession.
Consider this:
Often – because of shame, pride or emotional pain – we won’t openly and verbally confess what we’ve been internally hiding or avoiding.
However, we can’t release to Him what we won’t acknowledge.
This is critical, because God is not a thief. He won’t take what we don’t give Him.
When we finally decide to give our wrongs to Him (including not only any wrongs we suffered but any wrongs we committed in response) by transparently confessing them out loud, asking Him to forgive us, and then releasing them to Him …
He always takes them from us and gives us wholeness in return.
Many, unfortunately, want the freedom of forgiveness …
Without the vulnerability and transparency of confession.
But God, in his infinite wisdom, wants both.
May we live our lives as sacraments of God’s presence before a lost and hurting world.
No one should be allowed into church leadership …
Until they’ve first learned to successfully make their own way in life through their own initiative and labor.
Otherwise, the Body of Christ will continue to be plagued with legions of insecure people clinging to “ministry” out of need …
Rather than calling tempered by experience.
Paul affirmed this with his own life …
And in his credentials for elders and deacons.
It’s time to return to the Biblical norms he set forth.
Otherwise, so-called “pastors” will continue to assert their presumed prerogatives over others rather than promote others over themselves as Christ commands …
Because they know they have no other vocational options.
Jesus didn’t say that “peacekeepers” will be called the children of God …
But that “peacemakers” will.
Big difference!
Peacekeepers tend to tolerate deceit and destruction.
Authentic peacemakers seldom do.
Many want revival …
But God wants repentance.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam chose autonomy over the Father’s will.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus chose the Father’s will over autonomy.
A gospel of no offense …
Is not the Gospel of Christ or His Kingdom.
Biblical discipleship is about folks submitting to Christ’s authority …
Not your’s.
Over twenty years of intense ministry to men in jail, and when they get out, taught me a fundamental truth:
Without healthy functional families – headed by solid, devoted men – everything else in a community breaks down.
Yup, God can redeem individuals from any mess – but that doesn’t change the underlying social relevance of Psalm 11:3 …
“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Many “Christians” define God – and judge Scripture – by their notions of love …
Rather than submitting their notions of love to God and His Word.
They are pseudo Christians …
Who worship themselves rather than the sovereign God of all.
Sometimes it takes grace and wisdom to distinguish between God using a flawed person …
And a flawed person using God.
Plumbline Faith 