The following quote was used by another blogger friend today. I did a web search of J C Ryle as I had never heard of him before. This led me to a site that greatly sparked my interest and I have now added it as one to visit. You may find out more if you click on it. We will explore it together if you like. As with all information that you may get from any of the blogs that I share, I may not agree with everything that is stated. But I am so excited when I learn of others around the world who are seeking God with all their heart and not satisfied with the lukewarmness of religion that is so familiar in our churches today.
The Quote:
BEWARE OF THE MERE LOVE OF SERMONS
We may listen to a sermon with pleasure, while the impression produced on us is only temporary and short-lived. Our hearts, like the “stony ground,” may yield a plentiful crop of warm feelings and good resolutions. But all this time there may be no deeply-rooted work in our souls, and the first cold blast of opposition or temptation may cause our seeming religion to wither away. Alas! There are many such hearers! The mere love of sermons is no sign of grace.
J.C. Ryle
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Spiritual Perception
Perception-act or process of becoming aware of or understanding, insight (Webster Dictionary)
The Bible talks of perception as a good thing. Hebrews 5:14 "...those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Having our spiritual senses in tune with God and His word is what gives us the "lamp unto our feet, and a light to our path" Psalms 119:105.
Back in Hebrews 5:11-14 the writer was talking to a people dull of hearing, needing to be taught the first principles of the Word of God, not able to discern or perceive right from wrong.
You see if I don't study God's Word and spend time with Him in meditation and prayer I can have Him tuned out. I would not be able to see clearly. Psalms 82:2 & 5 "How long will he judge unjustly and accept the person of the wicked?"..."They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course." Vision is cloudy when we are not in tune with God, everything is out of place. Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the Word, happy is he."
Perception or discernment is important. If I choose to be dull of hearing God, tuning Him out, I hear only what I want to hear and sinful or unwise actions don't trouble me or convict me at all.
As I read in the Old Testament and the New Testament, the people that practiced "seek and you will find" sought God and His will and were able to perceive if someone was a holy man or not sent of God. As Jesus walked among men and women, those that wanted truth and holiness and searched for it with their whole heart were the ones that recognized Jesus for Who He is. Others who had a form of religion fought against Him.
Are you "vaccinated" with a "touch" of "religion"? If so, that keeps you from getting the "real" thing. In this case vaccination is not a good thing.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Spiritual Pricks
In the Word this morning studying. I began looking up scriptures I found in an article. I think I found this article on Barnabas Ministries some months ago.
Quoting "the idea of forgiveness is frequently defined incorrectly in an unhealthy church. in that environment, forgiveness often means a denial that any damage or hurt took place, and a denial that wrong was done. As might be expected, such definitions of forgiveness don't validate the offenses done to members of the body of Christ but rather serve to perpetuate the unhealthy environment. Thankfully, such definitions of forgivenss are not consistent with the Scriptures."
In Luke 23:34 I find one of the readings of the account of Jesus on the cross. "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do." Yet after Jesus resurrection the account in John 20:22-23 He says to His disciples "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit (paid for) they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain (keep in mind or remember), they are retained."
So the disciples did confront sin. They called it sin.That is the only way repentance, forgiveness and restoration will work. Call sin what it is: Sin.
When I look at the accounts in Acts when Peter first spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost he said (Acts 2:23) " Jesus...ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucifed and slain" When Peter was finished with his "plain" speech in verse 37 "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart".
I began to study different instances in the Bible where people were pricked and how they handled it.
Now the word prick means to pierce slightly, affect with sharp mental pain, to urge or goad, to cause a stinging sensation. When we are pricked spiritually it hurts. When I have a paper cut or a splinter it is not big but it hurts. If I clean that cut and put salve on it, in a few days it is cleared up. But if I ignore it, a serious germ could get in my body and make me very sick. Some pricks with a larger item may need a surgeon to take something out or stitch up a wound.
Now God uses His Holy Spirit to prick us spiritually when sin is involved. Here are some more examples of spiritual pricks, how they were accepted, and what took place:
1. Acts 2:37 Peter's sermon caused his listeners to be pricked in their heart. Many of the listeners said "Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said..Repent" Peters' word was gladly received and revival broke out! This is where these new believers continued, grew, and met the needs of each other.
2. Acts3 After Peter and John through God healed the lame man at the gate of the temple, Peter preached again. He said "You delivered up Jesus to be crucified, you killed the Prince of life but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. Repent." The priests, captain of the temple and the Sadducees were grieved or pricked. These religious leaders took hold of these disciples until the next day. Still a revival broke out and people believed. Yet these sinful religious leaders, hearing again Peters' words, recognized the disciples were of God and marvelled. Still they would not admit it. It left these hypocrites between a rock and a hard place because even though their heart had been pricked they did not want to admit it. Instead they threatened the disciples.
3. Acts 5 When Ananias and Sapphira lied about their money, their hearts were so hard they couldn't even feel the spiritual prick. No one cared if they gave their money or not. But lying about what they were doing was what got them into trouble.Their hearts we so hard they couldn't even feel God's Spirit dealing with them about their willful sin.
4. Acts 6 and 7 Stephen spoke real plainly here to a crowd whose heart was pricked but that crowd chose not to listen and stoned Stephen.
5. Acts 8 Simon the sorcerer believed but wanted to buy the gift, giving the Holy Ghost by laying hands on people. Simon's heart was pricked, he was told to repent. Simon's response was "Pray for me that the evil things you have spoken don't happen to me"
6. Acts 9 Saul/Paul was approached by God on the road to Damascus. God said "it is hard for you to kick against the pricks" We know Paul's response was "what do you want me to do?" And his life story tells us how he accepted willingly those pricks, repented and was used mightily of God.
7. There are many times through the writings of Paul where in his letter to a congregation he pricked them because he loved them and wanted them to make heaven. So he was showing them where they needed to repent.
8. Paul specifically confronted Peter, recorded in Galations 2:11. This was a prick to Peter spiritually. In verse 14 Paul said this to Peter before them all. In reading the rest of the account you don't hear of Peter resisting Paul's words. The writer of the article I referred to earlier said of this Biblical incident "The gospels record the sins of the apostles and others at various times...It is doubtful that Peter would ever say,"Can we quit talking about that Gentile incident in Antioch now?" or can you imagine Peter wanting to remove stories of his sins during the earthly ministry of Jesus from the gospels? The church's ability to clearly identify right and wrong is a higher priority than protecting any church system or leader." Amen to that!!!
So when God through his Spirit or through a godly brother or sister sends pricks to our soul, how will we respond? a. heart too hard to feel the prick/ b. bitterness, deceitfulness, revengeful/ c.confession of sin, humbleness, willing to do anything it takes to make it right, even confess to others if necessary.
Quoting "the idea of forgiveness is frequently defined incorrectly in an unhealthy church. in that environment, forgiveness often means a denial that any damage or hurt took place, and a denial that wrong was done. As might be expected, such definitions of forgiveness don't validate the offenses done to members of the body of Christ but rather serve to perpetuate the unhealthy environment. Thankfully, such definitions of forgivenss are not consistent with the Scriptures."
In Luke 23:34 I find one of the readings of the account of Jesus on the cross. "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do." Yet after Jesus resurrection the account in John 20:22-23 He says to His disciples "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit (paid for) they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain (keep in mind or remember), they are retained."
So the disciples did confront sin. They called it sin.That is the only way repentance, forgiveness and restoration will work. Call sin what it is: Sin.
When I look at the accounts in Acts when Peter first spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost he said (Acts 2:23) " Jesus...ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucifed and slain" When Peter was finished with his "plain" speech in verse 37 "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart".
I began to study different instances in the Bible where people were pricked and how they handled it.
Now the word prick means to pierce slightly, affect with sharp mental pain, to urge or goad, to cause a stinging sensation. When we are pricked spiritually it hurts. When I have a paper cut or a splinter it is not big but it hurts. If I clean that cut and put salve on it, in a few days it is cleared up. But if I ignore it, a serious germ could get in my body and make me very sick. Some pricks with a larger item may need a surgeon to take something out or stitch up a wound.
Now God uses His Holy Spirit to prick us spiritually when sin is involved. Here are some more examples of spiritual pricks, how they were accepted, and what took place:
1. Acts 2:37 Peter's sermon caused his listeners to be pricked in their heart. Many of the listeners said "Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said..Repent" Peters' word was gladly received and revival broke out! This is where these new believers continued, grew, and met the needs of each other.
2. Acts3 After Peter and John through God healed the lame man at the gate of the temple, Peter preached again. He said "You delivered up Jesus to be crucified, you killed the Prince of life but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. Repent." The priests, captain of the temple and the Sadducees were grieved or pricked. These religious leaders took hold of these disciples until the next day. Still a revival broke out and people believed. Yet these sinful religious leaders, hearing again Peters' words, recognized the disciples were of God and marvelled. Still they would not admit it. It left these hypocrites between a rock and a hard place because even though their heart had been pricked they did not want to admit it. Instead they threatened the disciples.
3. Acts 5 When Ananias and Sapphira lied about their money, their hearts were so hard they couldn't even feel the spiritual prick. No one cared if they gave their money or not. But lying about what they were doing was what got them into trouble.Their hearts we so hard they couldn't even feel God's Spirit dealing with them about their willful sin.
4. Acts 6 and 7 Stephen spoke real plainly here to a crowd whose heart was pricked but that crowd chose not to listen and stoned Stephen.
5. Acts 8 Simon the sorcerer believed but wanted to buy the gift, giving the Holy Ghost by laying hands on people. Simon's heart was pricked, he was told to repent. Simon's response was "Pray for me that the evil things you have spoken don't happen to me"
6. Acts 9 Saul/Paul was approached by God on the road to Damascus. God said "it is hard for you to kick against the pricks" We know Paul's response was "what do you want me to do?" And his life story tells us how he accepted willingly those pricks, repented and was used mightily of God.
7. There are many times through the writings of Paul where in his letter to a congregation he pricked them because he loved them and wanted them to make heaven. So he was showing them where they needed to repent.
8. Paul specifically confronted Peter, recorded in Galations 2:11. This was a prick to Peter spiritually. In verse 14 Paul said this to Peter before them all. In reading the rest of the account you don't hear of Peter resisting Paul's words. The writer of the article I referred to earlier said of this Biblical incident "The gospels record the sins of the apostles and others at various times...It is doubtful that Peter would ever say,"Can we quit talking about that Gentile incident in Antioch now?" or can you imagine Peter wanting to remove stories of his sins during the earthly ministry of Jesus from the gospels? The church's ability to clearly identify right and wrong is a higher priority than protecting any church system or leader." Amen to that!!!
So when God through his Spirit or through a godly brother or sister sends pricks to our soul, how will we respond? a. heart too hard to feel the prick/ b. bitterness, deceitfulness, revengeful/ c.confession of sin, humbleness, willing to do anything it takes to make it right, even confess to others if necessary.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Scrapbooking A Spiritual Journey
One of the ladies I work with showed me her scrapbook yesterday. I have never seen one like this. It started out with a picture of the little church where she got saved. One that her dad first pastored. Pages shared her favorite scriptures. Then one of she and her sisters that sang together when they were young. On the opposite page from this was a sheet of music of her favorite hymn. She is still working on it as she gathers with scrapbooking friends once a month. I am curious to see what she adds on additional pages. And inspired to pull out my own pictures of my spiritual journey.
I have been doing more journaling lately, here and in my private word file.I hope that sharing my thoughts here or leaving a journal behind for my children and grandchildren will let them and my friends know the real me. I certainly learned many good things about my mother last year as we sorted through notes, lists and pictures that she kept. She was not real open in conversations about sharing her heart. But friends and family and God were very important as was seen on paper. Maybe that is where I get my desire for sharing better in writing than I can in the spoken word. But I am slowly learning to share out loud.
My mind just now brought a connection of this sharing to what I have been reading in the Bible this morning.
Psalm 119:108 "...accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord..." Hosea 14:2 "...we render the calves of our lips" This in Hosea was written when God's people were being admonished for their sins. And they were asked to turn back to the Lord, asking for their iniquity to be taken away so that they could give the calves of their lips. Looking up calve in the dictionary, to calve means to give birth or new life. My feeling is that turning to the Lord in repentance from sin gives birth to a new kind of conversation from our lips. The Bible talks about offering sacrifices of praise, singing a new song. Psalms 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."
I have been doing more journaling lately, here and in my private word file.I hope that sharing my thoughts here or leaving a journal behind for my children and grandchildren will let them and my friends know the real me. I certainly learned many good things about my mother last year as we sorted through notes, lists and pictures that she kept. She was not real open in conversations about sharing her heart. But friends and family and God were very important as was seen on paper. Maybe that is where I get my desire for sharing better in writing than I can in the spoken word. But I am slowly learning to share out loud.
My mind just now brought a connection of this sharing to what I have been reading in the Bible this morning.
Psalm 119:108 "...accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord..." Hosea 14:2 "...we render the calves of our lips" This in Hosea was written when God's people were being admonished for their sins. And they were asked to turn back to the Lord, asking for their iniquity to be taken away so that they could give the calves of their lips. Looking up calve in the dictionary, to calve means to give birth or new life. My feeling is that turning to the Lord in repentance from sin gives birth to a new kind of conversation from our lips. The Bible talks about offering sacrifices of praise, singing a new song. Psalms 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."
Friday, February 19, 2010
Mini Cake Plates Craft
I wanted to share my Mini Cake Plates
I looked at several blogs to get this idea. I first saw the idea on Faith's blog and she listed other blogs for ideas. My knobs on the top are not glued on yet. I used Gorilla glue for gluing Dollar Tree items together and I didn't like the yellow color showing through, although it glues very well, so I am going to purchase the Dollar Tree items again and try another glue. The glass knobs are used on furniture and are very pretty. I will show again when I have the completed product and try to get the detail of the knobs.
To see other show and tell items this week, go to: http://myromantichome/
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Morning Thoughts: II Timothy
I awoke this morning with the thoughts of the scripture "seducers growing worse and worse in the last times". So I looked it up and found it in Second Timothy 3:13. But of course I wanted to know what Paul was talking about in the the whole book. So I read. Even though I have read this before so many scriptures jumped out at me.
1:5 unfeigned faith: nothing fake, not a form or a profession, but unfeigned
1:7 God does not give a spirit of fear, but power
This whole book speaks of bolding proclaiming God, being real, suffering for it but not holding back because of fear of what others might think.
1:8 partaker of afflictions
In this one book Paul names 7 or 8 people by name that oppose the gospel.
1:15 Paul states all which are in Asia are turned away from me and then names 2 people right out.
2:3 endure hardness
2:9 Paul said I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, but the word of God is not bound
2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a worker that doesn't have to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
We don't have to face opposition with an unsure, confused state. God wants us to be assured of what His word says and what we want to present to others. Those who use a leadership position to lord it over others actually hope that those under them are weak and confused and can be easily controlled. God wants us to know the word of God for ourselves and teach and live it clearly and boldly.
3:1 perilous times shall come and reading through verse 4 we see a list of negative traits. In verse 5 it tells us who Paul and God are speaking to: people claiming a form of godliness but not having any real possession of God in their lives. And then he tells Timothy, from such turn away. In this day and time it is pushed that if we stay away from somebody it is just not "Christian". But God teaches us the opposite. He wants us to know the Word, stay focused, and stay away from people who really don't want the Word of God but only their own form of godliness.
And I say here that the Word of God ALWAYS takes precedence over any religions' or denominations' creeds and doctrines or rules.
3:11 Paul had persecutions and afflictions in many different towns as he spread the gospel. It seems trouble followed him wherever he went. Yet he didn't count them as defeats but VICTORIES from which the Lord delivered him from all.
3:2,3 Use the word to reprove, rebuke, exhort. Tell it boldly because there will be people who want to have a watered down version, something that just makes them "feel good".
I confess I also had to move on into the book of Titus that brought confirmation of the same things as in Timothy.
Being strengthened by the Word of God, I prayerfully face the day. Nothing will come to me today that God and I can't handle, because when I am weak He is strong.
1:5 unfeigned faith: nothing fake, not a form or a profession, but unfeigned
1:7 God does not give a spirit of fear, but power
This whole book speaks of bolding proclaiming God, being real, suffering for it but not holding back because of fear of what others might think.
1:8 partaker of afflictions
In this one book Paul names 7 or 8 people by name that oppose the gospel.
1:15 Paul states all which are in Asia are turned away from me and then names 2 people right out.
2:3 endure hardness
2:9 Paul said I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, but the word of God is not bound
2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a worker that doesn't have to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
We don't have to face opposition with an unsure, confused state. God wants us to be assured of what His word says and what we want to present to others. Those who use a leadership position to lord it over others actually hope that those under them are weak and confused and can be easily controlled. God wants us to know the word of God for ourselves and teach and live it clearly and boldly.
3:1 perilous times shall come and reading through verse 4 we see a list of negative traits. In verse 5 it tells us who Paul and God are speaking to: people claiming a form of godliness but not having any real possession of God in their lives. And then he tells Timothy, from such turn away. In this day and time it is pushed that if we stay away from somebody it is just not "Christian". But God teaches us the opposite. He wants us to know the Word, stay focused, and stay away from people who really don't want the Word of God but only their own form of godliness.
And I say here that the Word of God ALWAYS takes precedence over any religions' or denominations' creeds and doctrines or rules.
3:11 Paul had persecutions and afflictions in many different towns as he spread the gospel. It seems trouble followed him wherever he went. Yet he didn't count them as defeats but VICTORIES from which the Lord delivered him from all.
3:2,3 Use the word to reprove, rebuke, exhort. Tell it boldly because there will be people who want to have a watered down version, something that just makes them "feel good".
I confess I also had to move on into the book of Titus that brought confirmation of the same things as in Timothy.
Being strengthened by the Word of God, I prayerfully face the day. Nothing will come to me today that God and I can't handle, because when I am weak He is strong.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article "Why I'm a "Revolutionary"
I found some papers recently that I had printed out a few months ago and forgot I had. They were from a website www.barnabasministry.com
I haven't read everything on the website but as for the one here that I am sharing I say a loud AMEN AMEN!!
Here is an article on that website "Why I'm a Revolutionary"
Why I'm a "Revolutionary"
After reading the book "Revolution" by George Barna, I realized that I did not agree with Barna's definition of a "revolutionary" and there was a need for someone to speak up about why some Christians have chosen that path. Nobody else appointed me to speak on behalf of "revolutionaries," and I only use the name here because Barna coined it, and it seems like a lot of people will know what I'm talking about if I use it here. In this article I hope to shed some light on the reasons and the passions behind revolutionaries that I think might not be very well understood When I use the word "we" it's referring to myself and other "revolutionaries" I know.
I guess we are revolutionaries if we are part of an "alternative faith community."
We didn't start out our faith journeys as revolutionaries. We loved God, we were involved in a local church and were zealous for it. We sacrificed greatly for it. After seeing the rise and fall of several churches and movements, we still love and trust God, but we've learned a few things from our experiences and we just can't ignore them.
Why do churches rise and fall? Answering this question is beyond the scope of this article, and I'm not sure I know exactly why anyway. But I don't need to know the answer to know that revolutionaries are sick of riding that roller-coaster. Revolutionaries also think the institutional church of our day is missing something significant and profound that leads to this roller-coaster.
Somehow, someway, our church culture has turned "the church" into something it wasn't intended to be. When a church culture focuses on a subset of values, practices and teachings from the Scriptures and ignores the rest long enough, it ends up with distorted version of Christianity. It's like eating an unbalanced diet. Doing that for a few days won't be all that bad for you, but if done over the course of weeks it will have a bad impact. Do it for a few years and you will die.
But ironically, institutional churches seldom view themselves as intrinsically deficient. They seem to view themselves as the peak, the best thing out there. They seem to think that what they do, they do better than anybody else. And they seem to think that what they don't do doesn't matter. I'm not trying to criticize or condemn anybody, I'm just saying what it seems like to me.
Young Christians or new attendees believe the vision or image and invest themselves in the church system. They are happy and grow for awhile. Some people fit quite nicely into the system and everything looks fine for a while. Of course, others don't fit into the system very well, though they also crave the growth and acceptance it offers. So they shoe-horn themselves into the system and make a desperate effort to "fit in."
Regardless of how they end up in the system, eventually something happens to just about everybody in the system. The program or system that got them up to a certain point can't take them any further. What once seemed so hopeful and promising now is so dead-end. But nothing "else" exists in the institutional church. They are stuck. That's it. And there is nothing more.
But revolutionaries don't think "that's it."
We don't reject the institutional church in its entirety, nor do we consider it inherently bad or useless. On the contrary, it can do some wonderful things and it has its place. It's just not all that there is, and it's not for us anymore. And we know and understand that it's not for a lot of other people anymore either. So when we see people on the upslope, we know a downslope is coming. And when we meet people who are going through a downslope, well-- we understand.
Revolutionaries are not going to slink away from the institutional church, shrivel up and die spiritually, assuming they just don't fit God's plan. They know God is bigger than all of this. They are going to venture into the unknown and seek to build a spiritual environment where they can be faithful to God without the negatives and limitations they've seen along the way.
At the risk of over-generalizing, here are some of the other values driving them:
They are tired of having their faith measured by how many arbitrary hoops they jump through, how well they fit into somebody else's system or program, or how much they suck up to the leaders in these churches.
They want to be what God made them to be, not clones of somebody else or feathers in somebody's cap.
They are not a "cog in a machine" or a peg to be stuffed into a pegboard with a bunch of other pegs. The church is a body, not a pegboard!
They are tired of the politics, favoritism and fighting over institutional-church stuff instead of just being Christians.
They are tired of the denominational "tribe" mentality and turf wars among groups claiming to honor Christ.
They are tired of church leaders who lead by controlling, treating people like children, playing favorites, and assassinating the character of anyone who won't bow down to them. They are also tired of leaders with an entitlement mentality.
They are tired of institutional churches that leave them milked dry. They are genuinely pained at seeing the life sucked out of people in institutional churches-- seeing zeal for God get hijacked into zeal for a program and then when the program fizzles so does the zeal for God.
They are tired of the "disposable Christian" mentality-- seeing 9 people walk out the back door for every 10 who walk in the front door-- and nobody cares!
Some might say, "Why don't you revolutionaries stay and try to change the institutional church?" Great question! Revolutionaries have been trying to change churches from this subset mentality for years. Rather than being valued in attempts to help churches be healthier and more balanced, we have been treated coldly, deceitfully marginalized, regarded as bad dogs and rebels, had our integrity and love for God questioned, been spoken against from pulpits, in church writings and even in front of our children. We've seen the whitewashing of real problems and the "if you don't like it, leave" mentality. Bottom line-- we've beaten our heads against the wall trying to bring about changes until our heads are mush. We've come to realize that you just can't change the DNA of a church, especially if it doesn't want to change.
People should not underestimate the frustration revolutionaries have towards the institutional church because of their experiences with these issues. In many cases we've left home and families for the faith, planted new churches, served on the staff of the church or held positions of leadership and service. It takes a lot of despair for hard-working, dedicated people who have invested many years, thousands of dollars, their names and their faith in a congregation or movement to finally throw up their hands in frustration and say "enough." They leave a huge piece of their lives behind. They write off the losses of time and heart invested, they leave behind relationships, familiarity, security, the approval of others and a lot of other things that most people don't have the courage to leave behind. Leaving is a life-shattering experience. They often walk out the door alone-- bearing a curse instead of a blessing-- all because they believe God is bigger than these roller-coaster church systems and that there has to be a better way.
We are not a revolutionaries because we are self-centered, malcontented, misfit Christians who are impatient with the institutional churches; we're revolutionaries because it's where faithfulness has led us. When we became Christians, we intended to follow God and his plans. Conforming to some institution's limited vision of Christianity-- as though conformity was the cardinal virtue of Christianity and as though all of the negative effects didn't exist-- just isn't good enough.
People may think revolutionaries are "quitters." Those who do what they believe is right even when it's unpopular or difficult-- that's a quitter? No, that's a picture of faithfulness. They would only be quitters if they accepted a subset of the faith and the praises of men for their "faithfulness" in spite of knowing the dead-end to which it leads.
But this isn't to say that revolutionaries are better than anybody else. Let's put that idea to rest right now. They are not "super-Christians." They are just Christians. It's not about being better than everybody else, or anybody else. It's just about being faithful.
Revolutionaries don't need to do anything to justify their existence. Revolutionaries deserve to be treated as brothers and sisters in the Lord, because that's what they are. They don't hate Christians in institutional churches. They just want to be what God made them to be.
I haven't read everything on the website but as for the one here that I am sharing I say a loud AMEN AMEN!!
Here is an article on that website "Why I'm a Revolutionary"
Why I'm a "Revolutionary"
After reading the book "Revolution" by George Barna, I realized that I did not agree with Barna's definition of a "revolutionary" and there was a need for someone to speak up about why some Christians have chosen that path. Nobody else appointed me to speak on behalf of "revolutionaries," and I only use the name here because Barna coined it, and it seems like a lot of people will know what I'm talking about if I use it here. In this article I hope to shed some light on the reasons and the passions behind revolutionaries that I think might not be very well understood When I use the word "we" it's referring to myself and other "revolutionaries" I know.
I guess we are revolutionaries if we are part of an "alternative faith community."
We didn't start out our faith journeys as revolutionaries. We loved God, we were involved in a local church and were zealous for it. We sacrificed greatly for it. After seeing the rise and fall of several churches and movements, we still love and trust God, but we've learned a few things from our experiences and we just can't ignore them.
Why do churches rise and fall? Answering this question is beyond the scope of this article, and I'm not sure I know exactly why anyway. But I don't need to know the answer to know that revolutionaries are sick of riding that roller-coaster. Revolutionaries also think the institutional church of our day is missing something significant and profound that leads to this roller-coaster.
Somehow, someway, our church culture has turned "the church" into something it wasn't intended to be. When a church culture focuses on a subset of values, practices and teachings from the Scriptures and ignores the rest long enough, it ends up with distorted version of Christianity. It's like eating an unbalanced diet. Doing that for a few days won't be all that bad for you, but if done over the course of weeks it will have a bad impact. Do it for a few years and you will die.
But ironically, institutional churches seldom view themselves as intrinsically deficient. They seem to view themselves as the peak, the best thing out there. They seem to think that what they do, they do better than anybody else. And they seem to think that what they don't do doesn't matter. I'm not trying to criticize or condemn anybody, I'm just saying what it seems like to me.
Young Christians or new attendees believe the vision or image and invest themselves in the church system. They are happy and grow for awhile. Some people fit quite nicely into the system and everything looks fine for a while. Of course, others don't fit into the system very well, though they also crave the growth and acceptance it offers. So they shoe-horn themselves into the system and make a desperate effort to "fit in."
Regardless of how they end up in the system, eventually something happens to just about everybody in the system. The program or system that got them up to a certain point can't take them any further. What once seemed so hopeful and promising now is so dead-end. But nothing "else" exists in the institutional church. They are stuck. That's it. And there is nothing more.
But revolutionaries don't think "that's it."
We don't reject the institutional church in its entirety, nor do we consider it inherently bad or useless. On the contrary, it can do some wonderful things and it has its place. It's just not all that there is, and it's not for us anymore. And we know and understand that it's not for a lot of other people anymore either. So when we see people on the upslope, we know a downslope is coming. And when we meet people who are going through a downslope, well-- we understand.
Revolutionaries are not going to slink away from the institutional church, shrivel up and die spiritually, assuming they just don't fit God's plan. They know God is bigger than all of this. They are going to venture into the unknown and seek to build a spiritual environment where they can be faithful to God without the negatives and limitations they've seen along the way.
At the risk of over-generalizing, here are some of the other values driving them:
They are tired of having their faith measured by how many arbitrary hoops they jump through, how well they fit into somebody else's system or program, or how much they suck up to the leaders in these churches.
They want to be what God made them to be, not clones of somebody else or feathers in somebody's cap.
They are not a "cog in a machine" or a peg to be stuffed into a pegboard with a bunch of other pegs. The church is a body, not a pegboard!
They are tired of the politics, favoritism and fighting over institutional-church stuff instead of just being Christians.
They are tired of the denominational "tribe" mentality and turf wars among groups claiming to honor Christ.
They are tired of church leaders who lead by controlling, treating people like children, playing favorites, and assassinating the character of anyone who won't bow down to them. They are also tired of leaders with an entitlement mentality.
They are tired of institutional churches that leave them milked dry. They are genuinely pained at seeing the life sucked out of people in institutional churches-- seeing zeal for God get hijacked into zeal for a program and then when the program fizzles so does the zeal for God.
They are tired of the "disposable Christian" mentality-- seeing 9 people walk out the back door for every 10 who walk in the front door-- and nobody cares!
Some might say, "Why don't you revolutionaries stay and try to change the institutional church?" Great question! Revolutionaries have been trying to change churches from this subset mentality for years. Rather than being valued in attempts to help churches be healthier and more balanced, we have been treated coldly, deceitfully marginalized, regarded as bad dogs and rebels, had our integrity and love for God questioned, been spoken against from pulpits, in church writings and even in front of our children. We've seen the whitewashing of real problems and the "if you don't like it, leave" mentality. Bottom line-- we've beaten our heads against the wall trying to bring about changes until our heads are mush. We've come to realize that you just can't change the DNA of a church, especially if it doesn't want to change.
People should not underestimate the frustration revolutionaries have towards the institutional church because of their experiences with these issues. In many cases we've left home and families for the faith, planted new churches, served on the staff of the church or held positions of leadership and service. It takes a lot of despair for hard-working, dedicated people who have invested many years, thousands of dollars, their names and their faith in a congregation or movement to finally throw up their hands in frustration and say "enough." They leave a huge piece of their lives behind. They write off the losses of time and heart invested, they leave behind relationships, familiarity, security, the approval of others and a lot of other things that most people don't have the courage to leave behind. Leaving is a life-shattering experience. They often walk out the door alone-- bearing a curse instead of a blessing-- all because they believe God is bigger than these roller-coaster church systems and that there has to be a better way.
We are not a revolutionaries because we are self-centered, malcontented, misfit Christians who are impatient with the institutional churches; we're revolutionaries because it's where faithfulness has led us. When we became Christians, we intended to follow God and his plans. Conforming to some institution's limited vision of Christianity-- as though conformity was the cardinal virtue of Christianity and as though all of the negative effects didn't exist-- just isn't good enough.
People may think revolutionaries are "quitters." Those who do what they believe is right even when it's unpopular or difficult-- that's a quitter? No, that's a picture of faithfulness. They would only be quitters if they accepted a subset of the faith and the praises of men for their "faithfulness" in spite of knowing the dead-end to which it leads.
But this isn't to say that revolutionaries are better than anybody else. Let's put that idea to rest right now. They are not "super-Christians." They are just Christians. It's not about being better than everybody else, or anybody else. It's just about being faithful.
Revolutionaries don't need to do anything to justify their existence. Revolutionaries deserve to be treated as brothers and sisters in the Lord, because that's what they are. They don't hate Christians in institutional churches. They just want to be what God made them to be.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Matthew 7
This morning I was reading Matthew 7.
It starts out "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Many take this scripture as saying we can never say sin is sin. Yes, we need to check ourselves and let God search our heart. But that doesn't mean God wants us to put blinders on and pretend someone is not for example, lying or having an affair or being revengful or hateful or committing adultery, etc. When you read the whole 7th chapter Jesus is teaching us how to discern evil from good.
1. Verse 6 says don't give what is holy to dogs, don't cast your pearl before swine. He's not speaking about animals here. He's speaking about a group of people. And if we are not to be able to judge anything at all, how would we know who are the ones we should avoid trying to pass the Word of God to?
2. Verse 14 states that the way is narrow and few are going to find it. Not because they can't but because they won't.
3. Verse 15 states "Beware of false prophets that come in sheep's clothing but are really ravening wolves. Now He didn't tell us to beware of false prophets if we couldn't judge who they were.
4. Verses 16 through 20 explains how we will know people by their fruits.
5. Verses 21 through 23 states how many are going to say they know the Lord and have done some good works but they are insincere and God doesn't and won't profess to know them. Their work is iniquity to Him.
6. Verses 24 through 27 gives the lesson of building our house on rock and not sand, being wise and not foolish.
So we see we must fit verse one in with the whole chapter and rightly divide the word of truth. The Bible states we do not have to be ignorant of Satan's devices.
Hymn: The Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus name
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
It starts out "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Many take this scripture as saying we can never say sin is sin. Yes, we need to check ourselves and let God search our heart. But that doesn't mean God wants us to put blinders on and pretend someone is not for example, lying or having an affair or being revengful or hateful or committing adultery, etc. When you read the whole 7th chapter Jesus is teaching us how to discern evil from good.
1. Verse 6 says don't give what is holy to dogs, don't cast your pearl before swine. He's not speaking about animals here. He's speaking about a group of people. And if we are not to be able to judge anything at all, how would we know who are the ones we should avoid trying to pass the Word of God to?
2. Verse 14 states that the way is narrow and few are going to find it. Not because they can't but because they won't.
3. Verse 15 states "Beware of false prophets that come in sheep's clothing but are really ravening wolves. Now He didn't tell us to beware of false prophets if we couldn't judge who they were.
4. Verses 16 through 20 explains how we will know people by their fruits.
5. Verses 21 through 23 states how many are going to say they know the Lord and have done some good works but they are insincere and God doesn't and won't profess to know them. Their work is iniquity to Him.
6. Verses 24 through 27 gives the lesson of building our house on rock and not sand, being wise and not foolish.
So we see we must fit verse one in with the whole chapter and rightly divide the word of truth. The Bible states we do not have to be ignorant of Satan's devices.
Hymn: The Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus name
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
So to continue my thoughts from this morning. Reading about John the Baptist this morning led me to look at Isaiah 53. John was despised for his bold speaking against sin. So much so that he was put in prison and lost his head. So I wanted to look up the prophecy of Christ being despised. I never cease to be amazed how passages of scripture that I have read time and again, come to LIFE and speak to me loud and fresh. That was how it was with Isaiah 53 today.
"Who has believed our report?" Who will believe when God sends a message against sin? If I don't want the light of God shining on me I can turn away and choose to stay in darkness. Verse 3,"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:....he was despised and we didn't esteem (recognize or respect) Him. Verse 4, "He has carried our griefs, sorrows. Yet we claimed He was stricken, smitten and afflicted by God".
Verse 5 "But he was wounded for OUR (say it with the emphasis on our) transgressions" It makes me feel like saying, "You think He was punished and afflicted by God? Wake up, it was our sins that put Him there." He was bruised for our sins, he was chastised so we could have peace. He took stripes on His back so we could get our broken, sinful heart healed.
So looking at John the Baptist and then at Jesus, the Christian life is certainly not for the weak. It takes some backbone. And Jesus said we must take up our cross or we are not worthy to follow him.
Many professing Christians want to cover their wishy washiness with a blanket of "Jesus just loves, loves, loves and that's what I'm going to do". That way they can change their stands depending on who they're with. If we rightly divide the Word, all of it and not just pull out our favorite scripture out of context, we will see that love tells the truth. In Ezekiel 3:18 it puts forth that if we refuse to express some warnings to someone about their sin, that person may die in his sin, but his blood will be on our hands.
An old hymn came to me this morning as I was studying this: DO YOU LOVE THE WORLD? The first verse is:
Do you love the world, in its pomp and show?
In its course of sin will you onward go?
Is the pride of life more that heaven above?
Will you lose your soul for the sins you love?
"Who has believed our report?" Who will believe when God sends a message against sin? If I don't want the light of God shining on me I can turn away and choose to stay in darkness. Verse 3,"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:....he was despised and we didn't esteem (recognize or respect) Him. Verse 4, "He has carried our griefs, sorrows. Yet we claimed He was stricken, smitten and afflicted by God".
Verse 5 "But he was wounded for OUR (say it with the emphasis on our) transgressions" It makes me feel like saying, "You think He was punished and afflicted by God? Wake up, it was our sins that put Him there." He was bruised for our sins, he was chastised so we could have peace. He took stripes on His back so we could get our broken, sinful heart healed.
So looking at John the Baptist and then at Jesus, the Christian life is certainly not for the weak. It takes some backbone. And Jesus said we must take up our cross or we are not worthy to follow him.
Many professing Christians want to cover their wishy washiness with a blanket of "Jesus just loves, loves, loves and that's what I'm going to do". That way they can change their stands depending on who they're with. If we rightly divide the Word, all of it and not just pull out our favorite scripture out of context, we will see that love tells the truth. In Ezekiel 3:18 it puts forth that if we refuse to express some warnings to someone about their sin, that person may die in his sin, but his blood will be on our hands.
An old hymn came to me this morning as I was studying this: DO YOU LOVE THE WORLD? The first verse is:
Do you love the world, in its pomp and show?
In its course of sin will you onward go?
Is the pride of life more that heaven above?
Will you lose your soul for the sins you love?
Will I be a John the Baptist? Will I take up my cross?
Awoke this morning thinking of John the Baptist. He had a calling: to prepare the way for Christ. And in that preparing he rebuked some religious leaders, Pharisees. When these leaders came to John to be baptized, John refused and rebuked telling them they needed to show some repentance. To the publicans he said Don't require more money than you're supposed to. To the soldiers "Do no violence, nor accuse falsely and be satisfied with your wages." The point that came to me this morning was, John didn't try to make a reputation for himself. He was there to "clear the table" so to speak for Christ. So he didn't mince any words or waste any time. He got to the point with people.
How did his words affect the friends of his parents? His father was a priest. His parents were aged and had worshiped in the temple many, many years. In the gospels, I know specifically in Matthew, Jesus said he that loves Mother or Father or son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. We cannot put ourself or others ahead of God. John could not worry about what would his parents friends think or his own friends or those religious leaders of the temple where John had grown up. He had a job to do: clear the way for Jesus. Jesus was bringing salvation and people had to know right up front that there would be no "playing church", repentance and sincerity are required here.
To be continued.
How did his words affect the friends of his parents? His father was a priest. His parents were aged and had worshiped in the temple many, many years. In the gospels, I know specifically in Matthew, Jesus said he that loves Mother or Father or son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. We cannot put ourself or others ahead of God. John could not worry about what would his parents friends think or his own friends or those religious leaders of the temple where John had grown up. He had a job to do: clear the way for Jesus. Jesus was bringing salvation and people had to know right up front that there would be no "playing church", repentance and sincerity are required here.
To be continued.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Special Mug and The Fragrance of Flowers
Day before yesterday, daughter #2 presented me with a special mug. It was a large one with a Thomas Kindade scene. She knows I like TK and I enjoy using special mugs and tea cups. Thank you daughter #2. You are special. And this moring she is helping me learn more about HSA's. She was right and I was wrong :>).
Today, daughter #1 brought me a Pumkpkin spice coffee and a fragrant bouquet of flowers. I also got a sample of her supper recipe. Mmmm it was out of this world!
Last night my husband had some supper ready for me after I came home from my 2nd job. He is something special!
Reread some of Revelation today and looked up a reference in Daniel the 7th chapter. Spiritual food for thought. Dan 7:9-10 "..."the Ancient of days did sit (isn't that a wonderful name for God?), whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the firery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." What an awesome and respectful fear that view brings to me.
Deut 4:24 "For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."
A reference to this scripture takes me full circle back to what I read the other day in Hebrews 12:29 "For our God is a consuming fire." In verse 26 He says He shakes not only the earth but heaven also. He shakes not only sinners (Gentiles) but also spiritual Jews. He sends trials to perfect me, to remove (verse 27) things that can be shaken out of my life. Only those things that cannot be shaken will remain, the kingdom which cannot be moved (verse 28). He admonishes me to serve Him in an acceptable way with reverence and Godly fear. This all lets me know that God's plan for us is not just a playful walk in the park so to speak. I need to take Him seriously, love Him truly, give Him full control of my life.
I read a something the other day. Story goes: Fellow 1 asked Fellow 2 why there was such a difference in their lives. Fellow 1 thought he was missing something. Fellow 2 explained: "If I invite you to my home, you are a guest. I treat you very nicely but I don't give you a key to the door, you are still only a guest. But if I give you the key and the house, I am your servant and you are no longer just a guest. That is how we need to treat Christ, not as our guest but as one we serve and give complete control to all of me."
Today, daughter #1 brought me a Pumkpkin spice coffee and a fragrant bouquet of flowers. I also got a sample of her supper recipe. Mmmm it was out of this world!
Last night my husband had some supper ready for me after I came home from my 2nd job. He is something special!
Reread some of Revelation today and looked up a reference in Daniel the 7th chapter. Spiritual food for thought. Dan 7:9-10 "..."the Ancient of days did sit (isn't that a wonderful name for God?), whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the firery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." What an awesome and respectful fear that view brings to me.
Deut 4:24 "For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."
A reference to this scripture takes me full circle back to what I read the other day in Hebrews 12:29 "For our God is a consuming fire." In verse 26 He says He shakes not only the earth but heaven also. He shakes not only sinners (Gentiles) but also spiritual Jews. He sends trials to perfect me, to remove (verse 27) things that can be shaken out of my life. Only those things that cannot be shaken will remain, the kingdom which cannot be moved (verse 28). He admonishes me to serve Him in an acceptable way with reverence and Godly fear. This all lets me know that God's plan for us is not just a playful walk in the park so to speak. I need to take Him seriously, love Him truly, give Him full control of my life.
I read a something the other day. Story goes: Fellow 1 asked Fellow 2 why there was such a difference in their lives. Fellow 1 thought he was missing something. Fellow 2 explained: "If I invite you to my home, you are a guest. I treat you very nicely but I don't give you a key to the door, you are still only a guest. But if I give you the key and the house, I am your servant and you are no longer just a guest. That is how we need to treat Christ, not as our guest but as one we serve and give complete control to all of me."
Monday, February 1, 2010
God Whispers in the Night
Just a quick post for me to journal what God is doing for me. I woke at 2;30 with Him placing Hebrews 11 on my mind. It is the faith chapter and lists believers gone on before us. Gotta read it again this morning before work. Also song Rick and I sing "Whispers in the Night" written by Roger Bennett and sung by Legacy Five. Just as God says good morning He also whispers in the night. Those kinds of sleep interuptions are hard to resist!
Phrases of the old hymn "Weighed in the Balance" by B. E. Warren also came to my mind. God is full of love and mercy and I want to be like Him. He is also a God of order, truth and judgement. I must not take His words lightly. I cannot float to Heaven on a bed of ease after pledging my life to Him. I must let Him constantly mold and make my clay into His shape. Just now another song by Steve Green comes to my mind "We can be as full as we want to be" and I don't want to be half empty if there is such a thing. God wants my whole heart and nothing else.
Phrases of the old hymn "Weighed in the Balance" by B. E. Warren also came to my mind. God is full of love and mercy and I want to be like Him. He is also a God of order, truth and judgement. I must not take His words lightly. I cannot float to Heaven on a bed of ease after pledging my life to Him. I must let Him constantly mold and make my clay into His shape. Just now another song by Steve Green comes to my mind "We can be as full as we want to be" and I don't want to be half empty if there is such a thing. God wants my whole heart and nothing else.
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