Many know God as only a feeling …
And love the feeling more than God.
Which is unfortunate.
Although the authentic knowledge and love of God often invoke feelings …
They don’t depend on how we feel.
May we be less concerned about offending others with our words …
Than offending God with our silence.
What good are Constitutional protections against governments restricting our:
Freedom of speech;
Freedom of self protection;
Freedom of religion;
Freedom of association; and
Freedom of commerce …
If we allow companies with monopoly powers to restrict our rights instead?
“Worship” these days is often more pagan than Christian.
It’s no longer about reverent obedience to the Sovereign God of Scripture …
But about the pagan practice of conjuring up some false spirit or man-made diety through intense, manipulated feelings.
It does this by convincing people that the more some song, band, or hip “worship leader” can make us feel intense emotions, the more we’re experiencing God’s “presence.”
Of course, an authentic encounter with God will legitimately invoke intense emotions.
But that is far different than the current practice of invoking intense emotions …
And calling it “God.”
This has become the new idolatry, by equating manipulated feelings with God Himself.
It is an addictive distraction from who God truly is, and how He wants to dwell among us and in us as our Sovereign Lord.
It also is a distortion born of carnal men, and is nowhere found in the New Testament.
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Yet it has become big business, with mega churches and mega recording deals …
While supplanting the simple New Testament commands to congregationally sing God’s praises together for the sole purpose of simply encouraging one another.
Unfortunately, though, it will continue to thrive …
Because just like the pagans, people still want a God who appeals to their carnality and is easy to manipulate.
I know this may mess up some of y’all …
But that Jesus you see in the New Testament is also God in the Old Testament.
Every last bit of it …
Including the parts you don’t like.
And He’s the same Jesus today and forevermore.
Any other Jesus, reflecting your own sensibilities through selective pick-and-choose Bible verses …
Is just an idol created in your own image.
The clamorous “declare” and “proclaim” crowd seems more driven by the anxiety of their own fears and insecurities …
Than by authentic faith.
Authentic faith, in contrast, quietly goes forth in the power of Godly confidence and assurance …
To actually redeem lives and the world around them.
Successful New Testament church and discipleship requires that we re-align our concept of “worship.”
That’s because what most people call “worship” …
Isn’t.
At least, not according to the New Testament.
“Worship” in the New Testament means living lives of sacrificial service and reverent obedience.
That’s it, pure and simple.
It’s not a Sunday “service” …
And it’s not music, singing or a song.
In fact, those concepts didn’t arise in the church until the 4th Century AD.
Continue readingThe greatest threats to liberty are not those who say what we don’t wanna hear …
But those with the power to silence them.
It’s gotta be said:
If you got caught up in all the “prophetic words” about Trump being re-elected in 2020 from the Elijah List of for-profit non-prophets and other self-appointed, unaccountable and attention grabbing “prophetic” crazies …
Or you got caught up in the bizarre world of Q-Anon delusions …
You need to humbly examine yourself, return to the Sovereign God of Scripture, embrace the simple – yet comprehensive – power and authority of His Word, and commit to healthy Christian community where you can begin to find balance in your life.
When you do, there will be no need or desire to pursue counterfeit realities or distracting, drama laden “solutions”.
Yes, there are real issues, and yes there are those who are authentically prophetic …
But God is not a freak show and what you gave yourselves over to was not of Him.
True disciples, who put their trust wholly in Him and His Word and are committed to healthy Christian community, will learn to discern the difference.
Those who don’t, won’t.
Repent, and get about the hard work of rebuilding the foundations in your own life and in our nation …
Before it’s too late.
These days, if you oppose the Leftist political views held by many (but certainly not all) black organizations, it is called racism – even if you oppose those views because you want the best for the black community.
Thus, according to how oppressive “progressives” have redefined the word, you are “racist” based on legitimate political differences even if you care deeply about what’s happening in the black community.
This twisting of language by the Left is insidious, and is used by the Left to stifle honest debate over their political policies that are actually doing great harm to the black community.
Don’t let the rhetoric of hate from the Left silence you:
Renounce their oppressive policies that are destroying Black lives, Black families and Black communities;
Proclaim with confidence those Godly principles – like worth, dignity and responsibility, in the context of faith, family and community – which offer true hope for all as we seek to heal our broken nation; and
Stand for virtue.
Only then will the true racists be unmasked.
Few see past their immediate circumstances, which is why God always sprinkles among us …
A few who crave the far horizons.
Those who give the most of themselves, often lost the most of themselves …
But found faith instead.
Freedom is not the right to do evil …
But the right to resist it.
Some “Christians” have embraced identity politics, leading them to support candidates who promote:
Abortion, gender confusion, marriage malaise, and religious intolerance.
They’ve become reprobate, having traded the God of Scripture …
For the lies of Satan.
Many desire the forgiveness of the Cross …
Without the transformation of the Resurrection.
It will not go well for them, either in the here and now …
Or on that fateful, final day.
Do you want Jesus for what you want …
Or what He wants?
Real church with real community and real discipleship …
Must embrace tough love.
Because ultimately, you can’t have real community or real discipleship …
With people who only want what they want from God and others.
Eventually, you must let them go.
Otherwise, you’re not helping …
But enabling.
What’s the ultimate standard for truth, reality and morality?
Our perceptions and sensibilities …
Or God’s written revelation and sovereign will?
Herein lies the difference between popular existential ideologies that have deceived many “Christians” …
And authentic Biblical Christianity as God Himself defines it.
As goes the Church,
So goes the Nation.
Repent,
While there’s still time.
According to the New Testament, civil government is ordained by God …
Not to make us good, but to protect us from those who aren’t.
Your worse failings are redemptive if you let God use them to get your attention and bring you to repentance.
Alternatively, you can let them destroy you.
That’s why I seldom freak out when someone in our churches stumbles – many times I’ve seen it become a turning point for amazing redemptive transformation.
But whether for destruction or redemption, it’s always your choice.
That’s because spiritual health and maturity are not about perfection …
But how we deal with our imperfections.
Maybe that’s why true church as commanded in the New Testament is about participating one with another to mutually build up each other …
Rather than putting on performances.
Few are willing to do the hard work of actually being the church.
You know, an active community of believers who encourage and minister to one another …
When they gather together and throughout their daily lives.
Many, instead, are content to let others do “church” for them …
From an elevated stage each Sunday morning.
Be exceptional!
Dare to be the church as the New Testament actually commands it …
And leave that other stuff behind.
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” ~ Jesus
Those who use God’s blessings to pursue Satan’s temptings…
Suffer fates far worse than those who never knew His blessings at all.
Many “Christians” these days …
Want spectacle over obedience.
Which is why “worship” these days …
Has become spectacle rather than obedience.
Because I love Christ, I’ve opened my home and my life to those abused by people who use Christ to exploit others.
Because I love Christ, I’ve ministered to people in jail and the woods with whom polite society won’t dirty their lives.
Because I love Christ, I’ve loved His “ekklesia” rather than the man-centered institution often called the “church” these days.
Because I love Christ, I’m still willing to exceed my comfort zones.
Care to join me?
Plumbline Faith 