This blog is a response to a letter we received from our last blog...
In the New Testament we see letters addressed to cities or to churches meeting in certain homes. Today if you wrote a letter to the church at Austin, in order to reach the church to whom would you address it? How many different denominations would there be? Within any of these groups...How many different memberships would be included? Even within individual denominations there is competition and envy. As the separate corporations fight for their existence within an almost stagnant number of parishioners, where most church growth is achieved by other membership roles diminishing. Although the message and power of the gospel is timeless and unchanging-the marketing of said gospel changes in an effort to stay relevant from generation to generation. Some equate the marketing plan they entered with, with the gospel itself, and find it hard to see God in any new packaging. These memberships diminish as the old generation dies out. In order to survive corporations usually adopt a split plan of services one appealing to the young the other to the old. The search for what works the best is a continual quest. It seems that most people are drawn to the body that offers the most diversified set of options...best services-baby sitting, childcare,gym, sports facilities and the best entertainment (music, arts and technology). The best packaging draws the largest numbers and these become mega churches. A current church phenomenon driven by smart marketing, appealing packaging for the chosen demographics. Most involved with the mega churches will relegate themselves to being an audience rather than an active participating part of the body. But being in a large church has many advantages such as business opportunities, and many activities for your children to attend. The primary down side is you will have very little say in the doctrine or direction of the church. Many who seek a more hands on approach will opt for smaller churches where they will be needed for more meaningful roles in the body. However for those who have developed strong ethical and doctrinal convictions finding a match in smaller churches can be quite difficult. Therefore, many Christians with some degree of maturity are no longer participating in organized groups. Why is this such a wide reaching trend? Outside of personal bondage issues, I see several contributing factors.
Here in 2009 the organized church is probably as fragmented as at any time since it's inception. Running parallel to that there are probably more people professing to be Christians than ever before. Much was lost from the 1st century church but reformation and restoration have come in many key areas of the church, however, the structure of the church is in desperate need of reformation. In this void of continuity individual groups have become individual kingdoms compounding this is professionalization of the minister. Now rather than a father seeking the best for those under his charge, it's more like a business owner advancing and protecting his livelihood. This hireling mentality feeds into the greatest struggle for leadership, selfish ambition and self preservation. These are not overcome with a promise of income and platform and almost never rooted out early in life. This is not just a problem for small assemblies but also for large groups. However, in the bigger churches, there is usually a much larger buffer zone between you and the hierarchy. When you come to a point of disagreement such as the excesses in the prosperity message, you must be dealt with before you affect ideology or income. There is no format in the organised church to arrive at truth just a format to indoctrinate. Agreeing to disagree is not a recipe for unity in the body. The interaction of different gifting on a peer level to determine the mind of God on truth, direction, strategy, etc., is a missing link in church structure. Pastoral and board control differs little from a CEO and primary stock holders working together for growth and profit. The family model of looking out for the well being and advancement of family members is usually a secondary consideration. The fact that the primary draw for our larger churches seems to be entertainment and convenience is a bit troubling. If cool packaging plays such an important role in the growth of the church what does that say about the quality and demand for our product? If what we have is truly precious and life changing we could give it away secretly in a back alley and we would be absolutely overrun by those seeking it out. The problem lies with the strain of Christianity itself. Since Christianity is not just taught it is also caught. It is not just intellectual assent, it is also a spiritual encounter and awakening. I see it likened to the spread of a viral infection. Depending on the strain itself there would be varying degrees of symptoms. You could simply have a slight headache and low grade fever or you could go to the other extreme and have a high fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea etc. It could range from slight discomfort to being terminal. What I see primarily in the church in the "cool gospel" is a low grade strain of Christianity like an infection that causes slight discomfort. Although this strain loves the rhetoric of laying down ones life in a revolutionary stance during emotionally charged group settings it finds an uncompromising stance on social moral issues too restrictive or not cool enough for day to day living. The short lived commitment is nothing new but does cause us to ask ourselves this question...Are we the carriers of this strain of Christianity? We can't infect others with something we don't have. Changing the structure of the church is probably not the answer although it is badly needed. Changing ourselves probably is the answer but gives us no one else to blame. I would prefer to blame the organized church for the short comings of the church, but I then realize I am the church. However, the compromise necessary not to cause waves in the organization does not enhance my transformation into the image of Christ. Being able to recognize our current state says little other than we are removed far enough to be able to have an unhindered view and use our powers of observation. This will be of little value unless we can access the wisdom of God for what to do next. It seems that many committed Christians have found themselves outside the mainstream and frustrated by their inability to fit in. Are they simply rebellious or have they been driven outside the camp for cleansing? If they are rebellious I see no cure. If their condition exist for enhancing a more virulent strain of Christianity I say come on with it. As I have stated before people who change are very rare, but it is they that carry the necessary infection for the future. Perhaps as in times past we could move beyond the low-grade spreading mechanism of close intimate contact and our strain could mutate into the airborne variety as in the Welsh Revival where people walking alone on the street would fall to their knees under conviction and seek out someone to tell them how to be saved.
So back to the question of "What do you do when you are outside the body to experience baptism into the body?" Well in this case you have in times past experienced full immersion into the body however at this season, prolonged as it has been, you feel the body has rejected you. The truth is that the organizations have rejected you the body has not. Rather we could say you do not fit into these organizations. Under the current extreme fragmentation of the church structure the individual organizations are not representative of the true church government nor do they set the outline or perimeters of the body of Christ. I started this response with a question..."What address would I use to send a letter to the church in Austin? The answer is there is no address, or no single address. Yet the church still exists. From a heavenly view you would be able to see the church in Austin without the boundaries and borders enforced by the local organizations. You must look to those God has attached you to. These do not always exist within these organizational boundaries. In your case not at all. Yet the relationships still exist even if not locally. Extra-local relationships are logistically difficult and require more effort and imagination for beneficial results. These are disciplines that many of us are slow to learn but may for the moment be the very thing God is infusing into the church. The unhindered flow of life through different parts of the body is essential for the health and maturation of the church. Without it synchronized movement of the body and the ability to fight disease (false doctrine, dead works, worldliness, etc.) will not be attainable, leaving the body as a whole weak and relatively ineffectual. If we can learn anything at all from creation itself it is that God is an incredible Master builder. Having an incomprehensible ability to design things to work in perfect balance. When we look at how God joins his church together we have a tendency to want to inject our own world view of efficient construction. Therefore, we are always looking for a more appealing structure that will bring about a successful outpouring of the Glory of God or at least a lot of people joining up. The most recent move is towards a more relationship based structure, tables set up with coffee so people can connect with each other. Not a bad idea...not a new one but not a bad one. Relationships are the key but as with everything in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is the one that initiates and connects. It is sometimes impossible for us to anticipate when or how He will do this. For His ways are higher than our ways. Therefore, relationships will never follow structure. Structure must follow relationships. This is impossible to control. It can only be recognized and yielded to. A man makes his plans but God directs his steps. Therefore, preparation is a necessary and good thing but preparation should not be so rigid that we expect God to follow our plan rather that lead us. It is my opinion that God has placed many Christians outside of the mainstream of organizational church in order to cause them to reconnect across boundaries to pump some much needed life into the body. I see this as a merciful offering of opportunity from God to bring a functional degree of unity into His body. Opportunity is a wonderful thing if it can be engaged with the proper heart. So often I have seen opportunity wasted upon the opportunist, a person or persons who seize upon opportunity for their own self interest and promotion. Advancing the kingdom and purpose of God must be our first and primary motivation not just a byproduct of our own advancement. But, for this group (people outside the organized church) to engage will require a tough skin and heightened ability to hear and follow the leading of the Spirit. I believe the Spirit is speaking and leading. If we because of rejection or laziness and cynicism reject this opportunity that God has presented then unity may only be achieved by (as it has historically been proven)the chemotherapy of severe persecution. I pray that we seize upon the opportunity to interconnect and build relationships with one another across and regardless of all boundaries.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Prerequisites for Freedom
I. New Birth: John 3/ This is the interaction with Nicodemus where Jesus explains that you cannot see or enter the Kingdom of God unless you are born again or also translated born from above. Jesus explained that being born of the Spirit is like watching the results of the wind. The wind can't be seen but the changes it brings makes it self evident. Wind can move things around, change the temperature, change air quality, bring weather changes, primarily it changes the atmosphere around you. Change is the nature of the new birth because it brings change to your nature. How is this achieved? Jesus goes on to explain in the 14th verse that he must be lifted up, in the same way that Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. In Numbers the 21st chapter you find the story of the poisonous snakes that were biting the children of Israel and many of them were dying. The people asked Moses to intercede for them to save them from this affliction. God told Moses to make a serpent, set it on a standard pole so that when anyone was bitten by a serpent they had only to look to the standard to live. The Son of Man being lifted up is the finished work of the cross. The poison of the serpent is sin. If anyone puts his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the finished work of the cross, will receive the new birth of the Spirit. That is the antidote to the serpents poison. The poison brings death/the cure brings life. In verse 15 it is referred to as life everlasting. This doesn't just speak of the length of life but the quality of it. If sin is the poison that brings spiritual death then new birth of the Spirit is the cure. You can't fight the disease without the cure. So the first prerequisite for true freedom is that you must be born again.
II. Baptism- The word Baptizo in the Greek means to be fully immersed or to submerge. It comes from the root word bapto which means to be dipped-baptizo should not be confused with bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be dipped (bapto) into boiling water and then baptised (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary and the second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptised shall be saved: but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Here we see the word baptize linked to the term saved. I see new Testament salvation as the ongoing experience about which we are speaking. It is probably a more accurate term than true freedom and encompasses the entire journey from new birth to eternal life with God.
In verse 16 He who believes (the act of new birth) shall be saved (set free, delivered, transformed). But he who has disbelieved (not been born again) shall be condemned (damned, eternally separated from God) Condemnation is not linked to baptism but salvation is. In order to understand the link between baptism and transformation we must know what we are being immersed into. Baptise is not a word we commonly use outside of religious circles. If it were, we might use it for a lot of things. You could be fully immersed into soccer. What would that mean? You could attend a summer soccer camp where you would spend every waking moment on soccer. You would learn about soccer, soccer strategy, soccer techniques, evaluate the great players in soccer history, talk with your friends about soccer teams and your most memorable games. You would practice soccer until you were too weak to walk and you would go to sleep and dream about soccer. You could say you had been baptised into soccer. You weren't dabbling in soccer or just mildly acquainted with soccer, you were immersed into it. Now when people see you they say, "There goes that soccer guy", because what you are about is obvious. So to determine what we mean when we say baptism is linked to salvation, we will let Jesus set the context. In Mark 10:38 Jesus asked James and John if they were able to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised. The baptism that Jesus was relating was the passion of Christ, His sacrificial suffering and death on the cross. This is also the baptism that Paul writes about in Collosians 2 and Romans 6. Let's look at Romans 6:3-12 it is this sacrifice that has gained access to life changing transformation for everyone who believes. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. And in Romans 6:4-5, therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. When ever we enter into this death to self we are partakers of this baptism, and by it gain access to life changing resurrection power. It is this access that links baptism to salvation.
There are multiple baptisms mentioned in the New Testament. But according to Ephesians 4 there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Leading me to the conclusion that being baptised into any part of the God Head and His kingdom has the same intention and result, which is, death to the old nature results in a transformed life. Outside of the ceremony of water baptism, baptism is something that we enter into as a lifestyle. We are baptised into the body of Christ. Remember the example of the pickle? We must be immersed into His body the church. That's why we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Being immersed into the body is much more than attending church on Sunday. We need to know those whom we labor with. This takes time and effort. We must know the doctrine being espoused by those who are leading and weigh it against the word and the Spirit of truth that resides in us. We must find how we fit and function with those we are joined to. Immersion would require a very active body life. This offers some unique challenges to many of us who are somewhat out of the current church life.
Next week "Baptism Part Deux"
II. Baptism- The word Baptizo in the Greek means to be fully immersed or to submerge. It comes from the root word bapto which means to be dipped-baptizo should not be confused with bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be dipped (bapto) into boiling water and then baptised (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary and the second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptised shall be saved: but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Here we see the word baptize linked to the term saved. I see new Testament salvation as the ongoing experience about which we are speaking. It is probably a more accurate term than true freedom and encompasses the entire journey from new birth to eternal life with God.
In verse 16 He who believes (the act of new birth) shall be saved (set free, delivered, transformed). But he who has disbelieved (not been born again) shall be condemned (damned, eternally separated from God) Condemnation is not linked to baptism but salvation is. In order to understand the link between baptism and transformation we must know what we are being immersed into. Baptise is not a word we commonly use outside of religious circles. If it were, we might use it for a lot of things. You could be fully immersed into soccer. What would that mean? You could attend a summer soccer camp where you would spend every waking moment on soccer. You would learn about soccer, soccer strategy, soccer techniques, evaluate the great players in soccer history, talk with your friends about soccer teams and your most memorable games. You would practice soccer until you were too weak to walk and you would go to sleep and dream about soccer. You could say you had been baptised into soccer. You weren't dabbling in soccer or just mildly acquainted with soccer, you were immersed into it. Now when people see you they say, "There goes that soccer guy", because what you are about is obvious. So to determine what we mean when we say baptism is linked to salvation, we will let Jesus set the context. In Mark 10:38 Jesus asked James and John if they were able to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised. The baptism that Jesus was relating was the passion of Christ, His sacrificial suffering and death on the cross. This is also the baptism that Paul writes about in Collosians 2 and Romans 6. Let's look at Romans 6:3-12 it is this sacrifice that has gained access to life changing transformation for everyone who believes. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. And in Romans 6:4-5, therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. When ever we enter into this death to self we are partakers of this baptism, and by it gain access to life changing resurrection power. It is this access that links baptism to salvation.
There are multiple baptisms mentioned in the New Testament. But according to Ephesians 4 there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Leading me to the conclusion that being baptised into any part of the God Head and His kingdom has the same intention and result, which is, death to the old nature results in a transformed life. Outside of the ceremony of water baptism, baptism is something that we enter into as a lifestyle. We are baptised into the body of Christ. Remember the example of the pickle? We must be immersed into His body the church. That's why we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Being immersed into the body is much more than attending church on Sunday. We need to know those whom we labor with. This takes time and effort. We must know the doctrine being espoused by those who are leading and weigh it against the word and the Spirit of truth that resides in us. We must find how we fit and function with those we are joined to. Immersion would require a very active body life. This offers some unique challenges to many of us who are somewhat out of the current church life.
Next week "Baptism Part Deux"
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Is Anything Free?
Galatians 5:1a...It was for freedom that Christ set us free;...freedom is the ability to choose whole heartily the right thing regardless of consequence. This freedom of choice is indispensable in what should be the goal of every christian which is to be Christ like or a fully mature son of God, Romans 8:19. The world, flesh and the devil have successfully blurred the lines between right and wrong so that many choices facing us today seem to be varying shades of gray. This is opposed to black and white, right and wrong. It is my intent over the next few months to provide insight from the Word of God that makes this journey towards freedom, a greater possibility. At the very least it should sweep away some of the haze and leave you with a clear view of what you are dealing with, thus the name "Clear View".
My wife and I helped to pioneer aspects of personal ministry...ie counseling, inner healing, deliverance etc. back in the early 80's before there was really much written on the subject. We learned by personal revelation while seeking God on the matter. Since then there has been a deluge of information books, manuals, courses (good and bad, most redundant) bearing the seal of whatever is the latest christian mecca. Our intention here is not to offer another "How To" course with ministry credentials at the conclusion. What we hope is that by offering some of our own personal insight, it might possibly be of some benefit in your own journey. You can't give what you don't have, and what you do have can be imparted with or without a diploma.
The Old Testament offers some excellent examples of such a journey. One that is easily applicable is the story of Joshua leading the children of Israel to take possession of the land of Canaan or the Promised Land. God gave it to them little by little in order that they would be able to maintain what was conquered; Exodus 23:30. Your own journey will not be any different. Some changes may seem more drastic than others, but in general it will be one thing at a time, one foot in front of the other. It is important to note that in this day and time when so much information is available people who actually change are very rare. Ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth. Romans 12:2 says not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Being conformed requires nothing on your part. Do nothing and it just happens. Transformation is an activity resulting in change.
Many are overwhelmed at how great the struggle is. James encourages us to "Count it all joy when we encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing". Eternity is long and life is short. If this life is going to prepare you for eternity it will have to be intense by its very nature. In Isaiah 43, the prophet speaking the word of the Lord makes this statement..."Jacob I have created, Israel I have formed..."That word formed in the hebrew means to be fashioned under pressure. Jacob and Israel are the same man. Jacob was the raw material, Israel was the product of the forging. You can change if your willing to take the pounding. The pounding is exposing yourself to truth, not just being beat up. The world will beat you up, that's one way it conforms you. Hey even your friends will beat you up, but being fashioned under pressure by God is very necessary. It's the difference between an artificial firearm and a high powered rifle. The artificial firearm looks good hanging over the fireplace but would explode if you actually fired a round through it. God wants you to come out of this useful, not ornamental.
My wife and I helped to pioneer aspects of personal ministry...ie counseling, inner healing, deliverance etc. back in the early 80's before there was really much written on the subject. We learned by personal revelation while seeking God on the matter. Since then there has been a deluge of information books, manuals, courses (good and bad, most redundant) bearing the seal of whatever is the latest christian mecca. Our intention here is not to offer another "How To" course with ministry credentials at the conclusion. What we hope is that by offering some of our own personal insight, it might possibly be of some benefit in your own journey. You can't give what you don't have, and what you do have can be imparted with or without a diploma.
The Old Testament offers some excellent examples of such a journey. One that is easily applicable is the story of Joshua leading the children of Israel to take possession of the land of Canaan or the Promised Land. God gave it to them little by little in order that they would be able to maintain what was conquered; Exodus 23:30. Your own journey will not be any different. Some changes may seem more drastic than others, but in general it will be one thing at a time, one foot in front of the other. It is important to note that in this day and time when so much information is available people who actually change are very rare. Ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth. Romans 12:2 says not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Being conformed requires nothing on your part. Do nothing and it just happens. Transformation is an activity resulting in change.
Many are overwhelmed at how great the struggle is. James encourages us to "Count it all joy when we encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing". Eternity is long and life is short. If this life is going to prepare you for eternity it will have to be intense by its very nature. In Isaiah 43, the prophet speaking the word of the Lord makes this statement..."Jacob I have created, Israel I have formed..."That word formed in the hebrew means to be fashioned under pressure. Jacob and Israel are the same man. Jacob was the raw material, Israel was the product of the forging. You can change if your willing to take the pounding. The pounding is exposing yourself to truth, not just being beat up. The world will beat you up, that's one way it conforms you. Hey even your friends will beat you up, but being fashioned under pressure by God is very necessary. It's the difference between an artificial firearm and a high powered rifle. The artificial firearm looks good hanging over the fireplace but would explode if you actually fired a round through it. God wants you to come out of this useful, not ornamental.
Subjects to be covered
An article will be devoted to everything that follows:
I. Prerequisites for freedom
1. New birth
2. Baptism
3. Repentance/Forgiveness
II. Body-Soul-Spirit
III Sin (Transgression/Trespass)
A. Pride
B. Fear
C. Lust (Primarily of things that pertain to the body)
IV. Primary Influences
A. Inherited Inward Influences
1. Iniquity
B. Outside Influence
1. Judgements
2. Vows
3. Curses
4. Inner Healing
C. Spiritual Forces
D. Physical Body
D. Physical Body
1. Genetic
2. Chemical
3. Illness, Injury
V. What motivates us?
A. Legitimate Needs
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