6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mark 7
This is a continuation of my last few blogs in recognizing that there are those out there who put their beliefs and traditions before God. Those who add rules or doctrines apart from scripture even when they don't directly deal with salvation are being just like the Pharisees. Now I am not crying legalism or hypocrite for the sake of justifying or legitimizing my sin, but looking at the very nature of churches today and how they portray Jesus to others. These men who would rather worship their idea of God and their traditions rather than obey the Word of God and be a united body of Christ are those who offer Lip service to God. Those who would change the gospel to advance their ambitions or careers their hearts are far from God. If love believes all things, endures all things, hopes all things, if it is patient and kind, if it is not arrogant or boastful and we are known to be Christ's by our love then why are we bombarded by churches that do not exemplify this? Why do we not have churches that are ready for every good work?
And with all caution and humility I say this regarding not those that are designated "Christian" by the world, but those who so flippently throw around the phrase " born again". And even though they use this phrase to indicate through their vernacular that they are different than the works oriented denominations of Christianity they don't understand what it means to be born again. If I am reborn than I am not myself I can no longer live in the darkness, I have died to who I am to live out Christ. Now I admit this is a daily occurrence, but if there is no initial commitment to die to self or pick up our cross then there never will be. So we don't live to rules or traditions,but we live so that we might die daily. Warring against our flesh, struggling against this world, we sacrifice our desires to show love to our brothers and sisters and share Jesus with the world.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Origins
Origins are extremely important. If you don't know where you came from then you really don't know who you are or where your going. If we don't know our heritage then how do we know what is true or genuine?
I bring this up for two reasons. One is in the worldview debate of creation vs. evolution and the other is in how we view Jesus and the Church. So in tackling the debate of creation vs. evolution I will use the abbr. of CVE.
So in CVE I continue to see such a large portion of our society and the world as one that continues to believe in the the evolutionary side of things and this continues to grow. No matter how many times the evolutionists theories prove to be wrong and no matter how many times they must change their theories they portray them as absolute fact and anyone that disagrees must be as dumb as a chimp.(although they are the ones that came from them) The problem that I have with this world view is more than the idea that we evolved from chance or a chance of a chance of a chance into a single celled organism that had to survive and reproduce after each mutation, but it is the fact that their science is not based on fact but unobserved and unproven theories. They praise Darwin for his observations that some animals have similarities to other animals which may be the case in micro-evolution, but in macro evolution these observations are like a child going to the zoo. "Daddy that lizard has the same neck as that bird. Are they related?" "No, son. Just because something has a similarity to something else doesn't mean it is related."
I don't mean to sound mean but that is the simplicity of things. Man tries to over think so many things in order to give himself measure and prestige, but sometimes truths are simple.
So of what importance is this? Well, I continue to see it becoming an issue in evangelism. The devil has brought forth a lie that continues to spread and makes the gospel useless in the persons life that believes in evolution. The more and more that people believe in evolution they resist the gospel more, because if we had natural origins then we cannot have supernatural destinations. So when we witness to someone who believes in this deception I believe it to be my response to them that they are the creature and they know deep down inside that they have a creator and they need to stop choosing to follow this lie and submit to Him. My hope then is that the Holy Spirit will reveal himself to them and lead them into the truth. But this is why the CVE is so important as it is a real warfare going on around us and yet we as Christians seem to just accept it.
The other issue of Origins is for the Christian and it is who Jesus is and who we are as his people. I continue to see an idea that the church should be different than it was before the AAC. I continue to see instead of people following Christ people getting bogged down in excessive conflicting doctrines and thought, rules and regulations. People from the early church did not have Seminaries and Colleges to go and get there masters or doctorate in Theology, yet they did just fine serving the Lord and perpetuating the gospel. Many, many will say that was the early church and we (God) work differently now. Really? Was that God's plan was to have 3 centuries of Christians go all out and give their entire lives for Him in service and sacrifice, but since then he has decided to let the rest of us coast and simply pursue a higher education so that we can "expound" on the things the apostles already wrote about in the Bible? Again like the Scientists of evolution there are many who hold to the name of Christ that want to over think the word of God. They want to create something more than what is in the text. Now I am not totally against a higher education as I myself am looking to further mine through potential colleges. However, I hope no matter what I learn and how high my degrees may take me that I never forsake the simple truths of scripture for the elitist experience that comes from adding onto scripture. I have been involved with many churches and the one thing most always boast about is how true to scripture they are and how important it is never to add to scripture. But then they will turn around and add something to scripture by putting forth a rule or belief that has no basis in scripture whatsoever. These examples are countless and for me to even begin would just take too much time, but whenever we add to scripture we lift ourselves up as idols. So we must be careful not to over think the scriptures and simply obey them. I find that many times these churches that create all of the rules and regulations that are added to scripture are the same ones who would deny that one must take up their cross and follow Jesus in order to inherit eternal life. INTERESTING... But that all being said we cannot deny our origins in Christ. The deeds the early church did though not prescriptive and possibly just descriptive doesn't matter because if that was what describes the early church than I want to follow in their example. If the early church was commanded to give all and love others than sign me up too. Again, how are we so arrogant and excuse the terminology, but ignorant to think that some how after a certain period in time God just decided to do something different and decided not to tell us about it through scripture as he did with everything else. There in and of itself is adding to scripture, but if you study history you see the changes that have occurred are not through scripture or some divine revelation. These changes that have occurred are rooted in the Catholic Church and stem out through the churches of the Protestant Reformation. They never went to a place where they said "We need to get back to the Biblical Church that the Catholic Church interrupted." Instead they continued on in the same formats and ideals of the Catholic Church, but changed a little bit of doctrine here and there.
So now today what do I suggest? I suggest following in the examples of the apostles and their immediate offspring. I suggest us focusing on Jesus Christ and all out serving him in any way shape or form available to us. I suggest giving up our focus on Churches having to be ran in a certain way under certain traditions and rules. Now I am not suggesting Chaos but simply being flexible to changes that bring us closer to the format of the AAC Church. Maybe we don't have a Wednesday night service, but have a time where the whole congregation goes out and knocks on doors or meets at a public place where they can have interaction with the people who are there. Maybe instead of a Sunday night service you have a short bible study and then go help out and serve a family in the community. But this cannot just be an annual occurrence, for things like this must become a monthly if not weekly thing or else they are just a hollow event. Most churches that I have been to or go to continue to teach the same basic things over and over again, yet where is the training of the saints for works of the ministry? Where is there time that we as a church go out and serve the lost and share the gospel...together. We must also not teach in a way that allows our secondary doctrines to be lined with arrogance where if someone else doesn't believe the same way we do then they are of the Devil or the nicer version they are very misguided... followed by laughing.
Origins... know your roots so that you know how you should branch out. Understand that simply because things are done someway today doesn't mean that is the way they have to be done. Most things that are done one way today was originated by a man only a few centuries ago.(or maybe decades ago) They are not biblical mandates, but traditions that man has put forth for himself to follow. So know you were created and your destiny is eternal.(Heaven or Hell) Know that many people gave their lives for the gospel and we must give everything up including our traditions and preferences to continue in the furtherance of the gospel.
I bring this up for two reasons. One is in the worldview debate of creation vs. evolution and the other is in how we view Jesus and the Church. So in tackling the debate of creation vs. evolution I will use the abbr. of CVE.
So in CVE I continue to see such a large portion of our society and the world as one that continues to believe in the the evolutionary side of things and this continues to grow. No matter how many times the evolutionists theories prove to be wrong and no matter how many times they must change their theories they portray them as absolute fact and anyone that disagrees must be as dumb as a chimp.(although they are the ones that came from them) The problem that I have with this world view is more than the idea that we evolved from chance or a chance of a chance of a chance into a single celled organism that had to survive and reproduce after each mutation, but it is the fact that their science is not based on fact but unobserved and unproven theories. They praise Darwin for his observations that some animals have similarities to other animals which may be the case in micro-evolution, but in macro evolution these observations are like a child going to the zoo. "Daddy that lizard has the same neck as that bird. Are they related?" "No, son. Just because something has a similarity to something else doesn't mean it is related."
I don't mean to sound mean but that is the simplicity of things. Man tries to over think so many things in order to give himself measure and prestige, but sometimes truths are simple.
So of what importance is this? Well, I continue to see it becoming an issue in evangelism. The devil has brought forth a lie that continues to spread and makes the gospel useless in the persons life that believes in evolution. The more and more that people believe in evolution they resist the gospel more, because if we had natural origins then we cannot have supernatural destinations. So when we witness to someone who believes in this deception I believe it to be my response to them that they are the creature and they know deep down inside that they have a creator and they need to stop choosing to follow this lie and submit to Him. My hope then is that the Holy Spirit will reveal himself to them and lead them into the truth. But this is why the CVE is so important as it is a real warfare going on around us and yet we as Christians seem to just accept it.
The other issue of Origins is for the Christian and it is who Jesus is and who we are as his people. I continue to see an idea that the church should be different than it was before the AAC. I continue to see instead of people following Christ people getting bogged down in excessive conflicting doctrines and thought, rules and regulations. People from the early church did not have Seminaries and Colleges to go and get there masters or doctorate in Theology, yet they did just fine serving the Lord and perpetuating the gospel. Many, many will say that was the early church and we (God) work differently now. Really? Was that God's plan was to have 3 centuries of Christians go all out and give their entire lives for Him in service and sacrifice, but since then he has decided to let the rest of us coast and simply pursue a higher education so that we can "expound" on the things the apostles already wrote about in the Bible? Again like the Scientists of evolution there are many who hold to the name of Christ that want to over think the word of God. They want to create something more than what is in the text. Now I am not totally against a higher education as I myself am looking to further mine through potential colleges. However, I hope no matter what I learn and how high my degrees may take me that I never forsake the simple truths of scripture for the elitist experience that comes from adding onto scripture. I have been involved with many churches and the one thing most always boast about is how true to scripture they are and how important it is never to add to scripture. But then they will turn around and add something to scripture by putting forth a rule or belief that has no basis in scripture whatsoever. These examples are countless and for me to even begin would just take too much time, but whenever we add to scripture we lift ourselves up as idols. So we must be careful not to over think the scriptures and simply obey them. I find that many times these churches that create all of the rules and regulations that are added to scripture are the same ones who would deny that one must take up their cross and follow Jesus in order to inherit eternal life. INTERESTING... But that all being said we cannot deny our origins in Christ. The deeds the early church did though not prescriptive and possibly just descriptive doesn't matter because if that was what describes the early church than I want to follow in their example. If the early church was commanded to give all and love others than sign me up too. Again, how are we so arrogant and excuse the terminology, but ignorant to think that some how after a certain period in time God just decided to do something different and decided not to tell us about it through scripture as he did with everything else. There in and of itself is adding to scripture, but if you study history you see the changes that have occurred are not through scripture or some divine revelation. These changes that have occurred are rooted in the Catholic Church and stem out through the churches of the Protestant Reformation. They never went to a place where they said "We need to get back to the Biblical Church that the Catholic Church interrupted." Instead they continued on in the same formats and ideals of the Catholic Church, but changed a little bit of doctrine here and there.
So now today what do I suggest? I suggest following in the examples of the apostles and their immediate offspring. I suggest us focusing on Jesus Christ and all out serving him in any way shape or form available to us. I suggest giving up our focus on Churches having to be ran in a certain way under certain traditions and rules. Now I am not suggesting Chaos but simply being flexible to changes that bring us closer to the format of the AAC Church. Maybe we don't have a Wednesday night service, but have a time where the whole congregation goes out and knocks on doors or meets at a public place where they can have interaction with the people who are there. Maybe instead of a Sunday night service you have a short bible study and then go help out and serve a family in the community. But this cannot just be an annual occurrence, for things like this must become a monthly if not weekly thing or else they are just a hollow event. Most churches that I have been to or go to continue to teach the same basic things over and over again, yet where is the training of the saints for works of the ministry? Where is there time that we as a church go out and serve the lost and share the gospel...together. We must also not teach in a way that allows our secondary doctrines to be lined with arrogance where if someone else doesn't believe the same way we do then they are of the Devil or the nicer version they are very misguided... followed by laughing.
Origins... know your roots so that you know how you should branch out. Understand that simply because things are done someway today doesn't mean that is the way they have to be done. Most things that are done one way today was originated by a man only a few centuries ago.(or maybe decades ago) They are not biblical mandates, but traditions that man has put forth for himself to follow. So know you were created and your destiny is eternal.(Heaven or Hell) Know that many people gave their lives for the gospel and we must give everything up including our traditions and preferences to continue in the furtherance of the gospel.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Can God be an Idol?
What? That doesn't even make sense or does it? Can God be an idol? I hope this question opens up how we actually view God and the things we consider to be of God. In Exodus 20:44- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. So can we make a graven image of God or Jesus that is an idol? Can we take our traditions and beliefs and allow them to replace God even when we think that they are leading us to Him?
For some reason the Lord has had me doing a study on idolatry especially where Israel was concerned in the Old Testament. I have been studying this for about a year now and it has been on my heart and mind. As I see the parallels between Israel and the "church" today they are eerily similar. This also strengthens my belief in the principle of the Disciple of Jesus and our working in the ministry of discipleship. Can we allow our churches, our doctrines, even our Bibles to replace God himself? The more I experience and study the church of America today the more I see a religious network and private clubs extended from the protestant reformation and the ideals of the American Nationalists. As much as we can look back at the reformation and see it as a good thing it was more of a conflict of thought than it was of discipleship.( or politics in the case of Henry VIII and Vasa) Now I am not saying who is really redeemed or not, such as Luther, Calvin, Arminian, Knox, etc., but the intense idealism that was behind it was more based on doctrine and theology than on picking up your cross and following Christ. But I am not here to detract on them as I will never earthly know if they ever were truly redeemed or not.
However, I have to look at God's plan from a historical perspective. Did he intend for the true gospel to be silent for more than a millennia under the Catholic Church and then to slowly over several centuries become more visible through the theological debates of certain men? Or has it been there all the time through people who have never been a part of the mainstream church but met on their own as the AAC Church(Church before Catholicism) did? These are simply questions that I don't think we can truly know the answers of, but my point is this...As we see the church today being so ineffective when it comes to the true gospel and the church of the past being so wrapped up in sacraments and traditions, can we assume that most churches today are preaching a different Jesus? When we see churches training their people for mediocrity can we assume those leaders are false teachers? When the Heart of the Gospel is to leave family or land for Christ and to despise yourself can we assume that most people today that claim to be Christians have never been born again?
This has been an issue for me since I was 18. I was very disillusioned in the church I was in because I didn't see a church that the Scriptures described and as I went from School to School and Church to Church I continued to see a body of people that were perpetuating the idea of religion but not following Christ. It was in this period where I believe because of my lack of proper training in what it truly means to be a Christian that I made some poor decisions in my life which I have only myself to blame, but nevertheless had true Christianity been preached and put forth I believe as a soldier with proper training I would have been prepared for the fight. Now, I don't say this to anyways cast blame, but to point out the importance of the true gospel and our following of Jesus. So this goes back to my original question can God be an Idol? I believe that I had an idol at this time in my life that was God, but not the true God. An ideal that if I believed in Jesus, went to church, and partook in some ministries that I was a valiant Christian. But here is the crux of what is wrong with that...I wasn't giving up all for Christ. That is the Gospel. Jesus isn't about Sunday morning services or Wednesday night prayer meetings. He isn't about giving 10% or singing in the choir. The Pharisees did these types of things, the Roman Catholics do these types of things and in some cases more. So are we made righteous because we have belief in Jesus alone? So many look at the book of Romans as justification by faith alone in Christ by God's Grace to be what makes you a Christian. However, they don't look to the Gospels or many other books of the New Testament that expound on what it means to have faith in Christ. The Catholics which the reformers were breaking away from were steeped in all kinds of idolatry and different types of works for salvation, so their main focus was that salvation came by faith in Christ alone. AMEN, but what does that mean? Is it that simple belief or is it taking up your cross? Someone can simply believe without taking up their cross, but one who takes up his cross obviously believes. The watered down gospel and the unsurrendered Christian are equal principles. They want to preach and speak about service and ministering, but when the opportunities comes they turn it down citing some excuse which really is based in their desire for the status quo or comfort. Taking up the cross of Christ is not about comfort. It is about a daily desire for the sacrificial whether it be material or emotional for the sake of Christ.
Now if you have read this far you might be saying "What got Bryan so rattled?" or "Bryan, why do you think that you have all of the answers?" Well, to answer the first question I am not rattled, but concerned as I see the Gospel of Christ being trampled on and as I have more and more encounters with different "Good" churches it becomes more clear. Now, that is not to say that if a church doesn't want to work with us that this upsets me. I have no problem with that as I believe the Lord will lead us where He wants us when He wants us. But what I do have a problem with is when I encounter churches and I see in their beliefs and leadership how they portray the Gospel of Christ whether they want to work with us or not. To address the second question I believe that the Bible has the answers and I have dedicated myself to an unadulterated devoted study of God's word apart from the beliefs I was taught or the doctrines of modern churches. However, I do not believe that I am correct on everything. I have a lot of work to do and a lot more of my crosses to pick up, but I am very firm in the belief in what the Bible says about the Gospel and to turn from it in one way or another no matter how small means an absolute perversion of that Gospel that Christ and the apostles gave their life for.
So in conclusion can God be an Idol? If we are truly worshipping God YAHWEH through faith in Jesus Christ than no He is not an idol. But if we are worshipping a god of Church or of comfort, one of traditions or intellect, one that is of our own making even if it coincides with a belief in Jesus than yes "God" can simply be a god.
For some reason the Lord has had me doing a study on idolatry especially where Israel was concerned in the Old Testament. I have been studying this for about a year now and it has been on my heart and mind. As I see the parallels between Israel and the "church" today they are eerily similar. This also strengthens my belief in the principle of the Disciple of Jesus and our working in the ministry of discipleship. Can we allow our churches, our doctrines, even our Bibles to replace God himself? The more I experience and study the church of America today the more I see a religious network and private clubs extended from the protestant reformation and the ideals of the American Nationalists. As much as we can look back at the reformation and see it as a good thing it was more of a conflict of thought than it was of discipleship.( or politics in the case of Henry VIII and Vasa) Now I am not saying who is really redeemed or not, such as Luther, Calvin, Arminian, Knox, etc., but the intense idealism that was behind it was more based on doctrine and theology than on picking up your cross and following Christ. But I am not here to detract on them as I will never earthly know if they ever were truly redeemed or not.
However, I have to look at God's plan from a historical perspective. Did he intend for the true gospel to be silent for more than a millennia under the Catholic Church and then to slowly over several centuries become more visible through the theological debates of certain men? Or has it been there all the time through people who have never been a part of the mainstream church but met on their own as the AAC Church(Church before Catholicism) did? These are simply questions that I don't think we can truly know the answers of, but my point is this...As we see the church today being so ineffective when it comes to the true gospel and the church of the past being so wrapped up in sacraments and traditions, can we assume that most churches today are preaching a different Jesus? When we see churches training their people for mediocrity can we assume those leaders are false teachers? When the Heart of the Gospel is to leave family or land for Christ and to despise yourself can we assume that most people today that claim to be Christians have never been born again?
This has been an issue for me since I was 18. I was very disillusioned in the church I was in because I didn't see a church that the Scriptures described and as I went from School to School and Church to Church I continued to see a body of people that were perpetuating the idea of religion but not following Christ. It was in this period where I believe because of my lack of proper training in what it truly means to be a Christian that I made some poor decisions in my life which I have only myself to blame, but nevertheless had true Christianity been preached and put forth I believe as a soldier with proper training I would have been prepared for the fight. Now, I don't say this to anyways cast blame, but to point out the importance of the true gospel and our following of Jesus. So this goes back to my original question can God be an Idol? I believe that I had an idol at this time in my life that was God, but not the true God. An ideal that if I believed in Jesus, went to church, and partook in some ministries that I was a valiant Christian. But here is the crux of what is wrong with that...I wasn't giving up all for Christ. That is the Gospel. Jesus isn't about Sunday morning services or Wednesday night prayer meetings. He isn't about giving 10% or singing in the choir. The Pharisees did these types of things, the Roman Catholics do these types of things and in some cases more. So are we made righteous because we have belief in Jesus alone? So many look at the book of Romans as justification by faith alone in Christ by God's Grace to be what makes you a Christian. However, they don't look to the Gospels or many other books of the New Testament that expound on what it means to have faith in Christ. The Catholics which the reformers were breaking away from were steeped in all kinds of idolatry and different types of works for salvation, so their main focus was that salvation came by faith in Christ alone. AMEN, but what does that mean? Is it that simple belief or is it taking up your cross? Someone can simply believe without taking up their cross, but one who takes up his cross obviously believes. The watered down gospel and the unsurrendered Christian are equal principles. They want to preach and speak about service and ministering, but when the opportunities comes they turn it down citing some excuse which really is based in their desire for the status quo or comfort. Taking up the cross of Christ is not about comfort. It is about a daily desire for the sacrificial whether it be material or emotional for the sake of Christ.
Now if you have read this far you might be saying "What got Bryan so rattled?" or "Bryan, why do you think that you have all of the answers?" Well, to answer the first question I am not rattled, but concerned as I see the Gospel of Christ being trampled on and as I have more and more encounters with different "Good" churches it becomes more clear. Now, that is not to say that if a church doesn't want to work with us that this upsets me. I have no problem with that as I believe the Lord will lead us where He wants us when He wants us. But what I do have a problem with is when I encounter churches and I see in their beliefs and leadership how they portray the Gospel of Christ whether they want to work with us or not. To address the second question I believe that the Bible has the answers and I have dedicated myself to an unadulterated devoted study of God's word apart from the beliefs I was taught or the doctrines of modern churches. However, I do not believe that I am correct on everything. I have a lot of work to do and a lot more of my crosses to pick up, but I am very firm in the belief in what the Bible says about the Gospel and to turn from it in one way or another no matter how small means an absolute perversion of that Gospel that Christ and the apostles gave their life for.
So in conclusion can God be an Idol? If we are truly worshipping God YAHWEH through faith in Jesus Christ than no He is not an idol. But if we are worshipping a god of Church or of comfort, one of traditions or intellect, one that is of our own making even if it coincides with a belief in Jesus than yes "God" can simply be a god.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tactics...Haiti
In our search for ways to reach out with people to share the Gospel we have found it somewhat challenging in New Jersey as it is the exact opposite from the American West. Out West people hang outside and come up to you and start conversations. In New Jersey people get in their car and drive to where they want to go and most don't care to speak to anyone along the way. This being the case we believe we can kill two birds with one stone. We have begun speaking with stores and shopping centers hoping they will allow us to set up a table in their area where we can promote the Orphanage in Haiti that we help out. We have begun developing posters and gifts that we can use to grab people's attention to donate and help out this great cause. However, in the process of sitting at a table in or outside of these stores we will be able to hand out free books, our "Light and Darkness Project" dvd's, and tracts that focus on the Gospel of Jesus. We will also have the opportunity to have conversations with people as they talk to us about the orphanage and our cause. Pray that we will have a good response from the Store executives, and for people to respond to giving to the orphanage as well as the Gospel items that we give them. Thank You!
Monday, August 22, 2011
He gave the...evangelists, pastors, teachers to equip
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4)
Let's look at the context before we address the main principle in verse 11-13. In the first part of chapter four Paul is stating that we need to be unified loving one another. For there is only one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all. Then in Verse 14 he speaks of us not being infants who are blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning of people. So many churches are moving away from the true gospel, so many churches are getting closed down in secondary doctrines and personal preferences. Yet, the true Gospel should be what unites us. Repentance and a committed trust in Jesus Christ is what should be bringing us together to stand against the evils of this world and to reach out to the Lost. We are not willing to work together for the body of Christ, but instead so arrogant about our own beliefs we pierce the very heart of that body by causing disunity. And according to what the Bible has to say about this which is in 1 Timothy 6 and Titus 3 that these people are warped and we should warn them then if they do not stop in their ways we should have nothing to do with them. So I have to look at some of these churches who close their doors to people who are not of the same branch of the same denomination or those who want to argue over the what version of the Bible we use as people who are self-condemed. (among other possible doctrines and preferences) These are not followers of Jesus Christ.
But this all being said helps us to understand the context of the principle in Verses 11-13. The principle is this that there are those who are evangelists, pastors and teachers who's goal is to what? Is it to have a nice church building? Is it to have attractive programs? Is it to have a successful career? No, it is to train his people for works of service. For what purpose? To build up the body of Christ in Unity. So is the evangelist to go out and preach the gospel to the lost? Yes, that is his partial duty, but deeper than that he should be training followers to spread the gospel themselves. Should teachers and pastors be coming up with really good sermons or lessons? Yes, that is their partial duty, but deeper than that they should be training disciples to do the work of the ministry (KJV). So I guess the principle I am trying to get across here is that the 5 that it speaks of in verse 11 are not to be the ones doing the work, but training others to partake in the work. So the context helps us understand we should all be united doing the works of ministry in love.
It amazes me when I hear people complain about where this country is going on a spiritual and moral level, but what are they doing about it? I hear preachers preach against sin but what are they doing about it except allowing their own sin to grow and manifest? "Let's close our doors to work with our Christian brothers to reach the lost because they believe that you can raise your hands during worship." (Just a random example) Let me state exactly where this mindset comes from...PRIDE! This is not something that comes from humility Eph. 4:2.
So I urge you to train and be trained, and to do the works of ministry for Jesus Christ together in love for his glory.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4)
Let's look at the context before we address the main principle in verse 11-13. In the first part of chapter four Paul is stating that we need to be unified loving one another. For there is only one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all. Then in Verse 14 he speaks of us not being infants who are blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning of people. So many churches are moving away from the true gospel, so many churches are getting closed down in secondary doctrines and personal preferences. Yet, the true Gospel should be what unites us. Repentance and a committed trust in Jesus Christ is what should be bringing us together to stand against the evils of this world and to reach out to the Lost. We are not willing to work together for the body of Christ, but instead so arrogant about our own beliefs we pierce the very heart of that body by causing disunity. And according to what the Bible has to say about this which is in 1 Timothy 6 and Titus 3 that these people are warped and we should warn them then if they do not stop in their ways we should have nothing to do with them. So I have to look at some of these churches who close their doors to people who are not of the same branch of the same denomination or those who want to argue over the what version of the Bible we use as people who are self-condemed. (among other possible doctrines and preferences) These are not followers of Jesus Christ.
But this all being said helps us to understand the context of the principle in Verses 11-13. The principle is this that there are those who are evangelists, pastors and teachers who's goal is to what? Is it to have a nice church building? Is it to have attractive programs? Is it to have a successful career? No, it is to train his people for works of service. For what purpose? To build up the body of Christ in Unity. So is the evangelist to go out and preach the gospel to the lost? Yes, that is his partial duty, but deeper than that he should be training followers to spread the gospel themselves. Should teachers and pastors be coming up with really good sermons or lessons? Yes, that is their partial duty, but deeper than that they should be training disciples to do the work of the ministry (KJV). So I guess the principle I am trying to get across here is that the 5 that it speaks of in verse 11 are not to be the ones doing the work, but training others to partake in the work. So the context helps us understand we should all be united doing the works of ministry in love.
It amazes me when I hear people complain about where this country is going on a spiritual and moral level, but what are they doing about it? I hear preachers preach against sin but what are they doing about it except allowing their own sin to grow and manifest? "Let's close our doors to work with our Christian brothers to reach the lost because they believe that you can raise your hands during worship." (Just a random example) Let me state exactly where this mindset comes from...PRIDE! This is not something that comes from humility Eph. 4:2.
So I urge you to train and be trained, and to do the works of ministry for Jesus Christ together in love for his glory.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Precept Focused Study or Sermon
I have heard from time to time people stating that they prefer an expository style of study or preaching. I have read articles and heard preachers say that is the best way to study or preach. They also say that the topical way is erroneous because it allows the individual to find verses out of context to support their topic or way of thinking. Well, of course, I am going to disagree with this, but not fully. I also think that we need to change our wording. Of course the word Topical sounds infantile and shallow (like some sort of cream), but I don't believe this truly describes the way that some individuals go about their study or sermons. I think a more accurate terminology would be Precept Focused study or sermon. The importance of the word of God comes from a consistent teaching all through His word. There are principles and precepts that must be understood. Of course, in any style no verse should ever be taken out of context although a verse can have meaning apart from its context. Example -Matthew 25 this is a passage that is dealing with prophecy in its context, but the principle of helping the poor rings true all through scripture. An expository style although good can leave an individual compartmentalized in their study and be missing out on the bigger picture that God has to show through all of scriptures to bring out the true meaning of that text. So this is not a condemnation on Topical or Expository preaching, but hopefully some insight and clarification how Expository preaching can be good as can a Precept Focused Sermon or study.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
The True Gospel- Simple Yet Hard
What is the True Gospel...There are so many versions out there and some are very similar and others are completely ridiculous. There are those that are so similar to the true gospel and yet it takes away from the truth and thereby taking away from its saving power. I want to go into depth on this as an "evangelist" and disciple of Jesus knowing it my duty to preserve the purity of the gospel of Jesus.
We know that simply we are sinners who need to be reconciled to our God and creator. We know that Jesus was sent to bear the penalty for our sin, but what does faith in him mean in order to be made at peace with God and inherit eternal life?
Let us look at three principles that we need in order for this to happen:
1. Repent- Be Humble and poor in Spirit- This is a genuine sorrow for your sin against God and recognizing that you need salvation.
2. Turn from yourself and this world- Jesus says in many scripture John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
This is an essential point that many leave out in their teaching of the Gospel. Jesus also says in Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This is the Hard part of the Gospel. For some it may be the initial humbling and repenting but for others it is number 2. In fact this is the principle of why Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The Rich man who has luxury and wealth will have to give that all up to follow Jesus... just as Zacchaeus did. Now is this a work that earns salvation? No, but it is an understanding that if you are going to follow Jesus you may have to give up your sinful ways that earned you that money, or as you submit to Christ you may have to give that wealth away.
This is why in James it says that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith.(2:5) They are the ones who will be more likely to give up the things of this world because they don't have much to give up.
3. Follow Jesus- As we follow the Light of this world he will lead us into righteousness. This gives the idea of trust and commitment. This is where Jesus speaks metaphorically of being born again. Once we have died in principles 1&2 then we are ready to be born again by calling on Jesus to be our Lord and Savior being reborn by the Holy Spirit. (John 3) The idea that we simply believe in Jesus or say a prayer is not entirely accurate. When you study the verses in their original Greek that seem to suggest this you will find that it means more than that and it also aligns with the many other scriptures that reference what we have already spoke on and so many more.
An added Bonus:
4. Bear Fruit- this is a principle that is not for the unbeliever to work unto salvation, but the disciple to work out his salvation. The Scriptures are very clear that if the "disciple" is not bearing fruit then they are not a true disciple and will not inherit eternal life.
So when I hear people leaving out from the Gospel any of these points then I have to say they are not really preaching the true Gospel. If a person does not repent and turn from his life, if he does not place his trust in Christ and follow him then he is not a true disciple. It is absolutely contrary to scripture and deceives the person who is being taught this perverted gospel.
We know that simply we are sinners who need to be reconciled to our God and creator. We know that Jesus was sent to bear the penalty for our sin, but what does faith in him mean in order to be made at peace with God and inherit eternal life?
Let us look at three principles that we need in order for this to happen:
1. Repent- Be Humble and poor in Spirit- This is a genuine sorrow for your sin against God and recognizing that you need salvation.
2. Turn from yourself and this world- Jesus says in many scripture John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
This is an essential point that many leave out in their teaching of the Gospel. Jesus also says in Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
This is the Hard part of the Gospel. For some it may be the initial humbling and repenting but for others it is number 2. In fact this is the principle of why Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The Rich man who has luxury and wealth will have to give that all up to follow Jesus... just as Zacchaeus did. Now is this a work that earns salvation? No, but it is an understanding that if you are going to follow Jesus you may have to give up your sinful ways that earned you that money, or as you submit to Christ you may have to give that wealth away.
This is why in James it says that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith.(2:5) They are the ones who will be more likely to give up the things of this world because they don't have much to give up.
3. Follow Jesus- As we follow the Light of this world he will lead us into righteousness. This gives the idea of trust and commitment. This is where Jesus speaks metaphorically of being born again. Once we have died in principles 1&2 then we are ready to be born again by calling on Jesus to be our Lord and Savior being reborn by the Holy Spirit. (John 3) The idea that we simply believe in Jesus or say a prayer is not entirely accurate. When you study the verses in their original Greek that seem to suggest this you will find that it means more than that and it also aligns with the many other scriptures that reference what we have already spoke on and so many more.
An added Bonus:
4. Bear Fruit- this is a principle that is not for the unbeliever to work unto salvation, but the disciple to work out his salvation. The Scriptures are very clear that if the "disciple" is not bearing fruit then they are not a true disciple and will not inherit eternal life.
So when I hear people leaving out from the Gospel any of these points then I have to say they are not really preaching the true Gospel. If a person does not repent and turn from his life, if he does not place his trust in Christ and follow him then he is not a true disciple. It is absolutely contrary to scripture and deceives the person who is being taught this perverted gospel.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Sorrow- Genuine or Worldly
The Bible speaks in several places about having a worldly sorrow or a sorrow that doesn't lead to repentance. What does this mean and how do you know if your sorrow or regret is a Godly one? Well I am going to make this quick and to the point. I could sit here and list scripture after scripture but it would fill too much of this page. The idea of a worldly sorrow is one where we fear the consequences. It is one where we feel sorry not for the wrong we have done but for the blessing we have lost. A Godly Sorrow is one where we are genuinely sorry for our sin and the fact that it has offended God. We understand this is true repentance which is the only kind of repentance that leads to salvation. For someone to be sorry for their sins because they don't want to miss out on Paradise (Heaven) or suffer the consequences of Hell does not lead them to true repentance and following Jesus Christ. This False sorrow will lead them to a shallow belief in Jesus that is in word only and not in deed. It will cause them never to suffer, but to continue living their life in this world for this world. So do you have a genuine sorrow? Have you experienced a true repentance leading you to leaving this world of darkness and follow Jesus Christ? If you haven't or are unsure go now to the Lord in prayer and plead with Him for understanding and perhaps a genuine repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
A Disciple or Church Member?
A disciple or a church member, is there a difference? Yes,there is a radical difference. This may be a perspective issue for some, but for others this could be a life altering salvation issue. So we must define the differences, look at their history and origins, and understand how this changes the way that we approach the things of God.
First let me define the difference between "Church" and the Church. We know from Scripture that the Church are reconciled saints of God through Jesus Christ and refers to individual people. The word is "ekklesia" in the Greek and means a calling out of people. This was originally used by the Greeks in political arenas to describe an assembly of people for politicians to address their followers. Jesus used this word for the calling out of his people from the world to follow him. The Church would be known as a group of people that were established for his sake and purposes. The word "Church" that we use today is a word that is derived from our Catholic Roots. It is primarily the same word but has taken on different meaning. We see that a lot of what we do today in our churches have root in the Catholic System from many years ago. So in the AAC (ante annos catholicam- before the age of Catholicism) we see that the Saints or Christians were a people who were followers of Christ called out from this world and were involved in constant ministry meeting in houses, synagogues, and small places wherever they could meet. It wasn't until Constantine made his "conversion" to Chrisitianity that we begin to see Church buildings and a governmental form of structure in the Church. In fact it was Constantine who really began to establish these Church Buildings. So two questions come from this- 1. Was Constantine and this new Catholic Church really of Christ 2. Did Jesus ever intend for there to be Church Buildings.
Regarding the first question I would say no, if you study Constantine's conversion you will see that it was based on a "sign" in the sky that helped him win a battle. History shows that he also continued to worship some of the Roman gods such as Apollo. So basically a lucky symbol helped him in battle so he took on another idol into his portfolio of gods. Now the second point to this question is regardless of the genuineness of Constantine's conversion if you have the Emperor of an empire switch to a certain religion this will cause masses of people to convert based solely on the Ruler's decision. So the Catholic Church was most probably founded by pagans and its hierarchy ruled by them. So this brings us to our second question...Did Jesus ever intend for there to be Church Buildings? No, but does it matter? My point is this... No, I don't believe that it was the goal of Jesus to have Church Buildings established across the Globe, but I don't believe that it is wrong either. However, we as saints must understand how we conduct ourselves in these Church buildings is important and this brings us to being a disciple.
Being a disciple is about picking up our cross and following Christ. It is about constant ministry, love for each other, and reaching out to the lost to make more disciples. "Christians" have turned the Church into a giant religious club where people can have fun, be social, lose their guilt all in the name of a Jesus that they may not even know. With ministry comes sacrifice, with carrying ones cross this portrays agony, so where is the agony in today's churches? Where is the suffering and the struggle? So many people think that we are to have these things due to governmental persecution and since their isn't really any in America then we shouldn't expect these negative things. However, when the Bible speaks about suffering and struggle it is not speaking primarily about persecution, but the personal willingness of the individual to give up the things of this world and follow Jesus. It will be a struggle...it will cause agony.
The other potential negative effect of the Church perspective which originated under the Catholics was a lack of discipleship and accountability. The Catholic rulers had no desire for true discipleship as their churches were swarmed with the masses. They had no real passion for Discipleship because they had no real passion for Jesus. So people came and went as they wished living their lives how they wished all in the name of Jesus. Sound familiar? This sounds very similar to the current protestant churches we have today. The difference is where the Catholics established rules and regulations in order to get into heaven, the current protestant church of today has established a "Cheap Grace" form of redemption. Understand that in the AAC if you claimed to be a Christian there was great sacrifice involved. It was giving up not only the things of this world but potentially giving up the means to make any sort of living in the future. It meant potentially living in hiding or being on the run. It meant carrying your cross.
So how should we as disciples conduct ourselves in these church buildings? Well, first understand there is no such thing as a "Church Member" but a disciple who is part of the church. In our churches, however, we must be focused on a discipleship form of worship. Let the church building serve as a place for support, ministry headquarters, teaching and instruction, personal discipleship and accountability. Let it be known as a place of rest and rehabilitation for the suffering disciple to gain encouragement and exhortation from other disciples of Jesus. Let it be a place of Agape Love and a place of sacrifice. Let it be a place where we strengthen each other and plan our attack on the gates of hell. (See Blog- Ecclesia Ipsum)
So let's not dismiss the AAC Christians of the early church as simply a time in history that was a neccesity because of the culture, but let us see what they were as an example in the way we conduct ourselves.
Pauls states this after what I believe to be our primary doctrine- Philippians 3:8-15
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. Philippians 3:17
First let me define the difference between "Church" and the Church. We know from Scripture that the Church are reconciled saints of God through Jesus Christ and refers to individual people. The word is "ekklesia" in the Greek and means a calling out of people. This was originally used by the Greeks in political arenas to describe an assembly of people for politicians to address their followers. Jesus used this word for the calling out of his people from the world to follow him. The Church would be known as a group of people that were established for his sake and purposes. The word "Church" that we use today is a word that is derived from our Catholic Roots. It is primarily the same word but has taken on different meaning. We see that a lot of what we do today in our churches have root in the Catholic System from many years ago. So in the AAC (ante annos catholicam- before the age of Catholicism) we see that the Saints or Christians were a people who were followers of Christ called out from this world and were involved in constant ministry meeting in houses, synagogues, and small places wherever they could meet. It wasn't until Constantine made his "conversion" to Chrisitianity that we begin to see Church buildings and a governmental form of structure in the Church. In fact it was Constantine who really began to establish these Church Buildings. So two questions come from this- 1. Was Constantine and this new Catholic Church really of Christ 2. Did Jesus ever intend for there to be Church Buildings.
Regarding the first question I would say no, if you study Constantine's conversion you will see that it was based on a "sign" in the sky that helped him win a battle. History shows that he also continued to worship some of the Roman gods such as Apollo. So basically a lucky symbol helped him in battle so he took on another idol into his portfolio of gods. Now the second point to this question is regardless of the genuineness of Constantine's conversion if you have the Emperor of an empire switch to a certain religion this will cause masses of people to convert based solely on the Ruler's decision. So the Catholic Church was most probably founded by pagans and its hierarchy ruled by them. So this brings us to our second question...Did Jesus ever intend for there to be Church Buildings? No, but does it matter? My point is this... No, I don't believe that it was the goal of Jesus to have Church Buildings established across the Globe, but I don't believe that it is wrong either. However, we as saints must understand how we conduct ourselves in these Church buildings is important and this brings us to being a disciple.
Being a disciple is about picking up our cross and following Christ. It is about constant ministry, love for each other, and reaching out to the lost to make more disciples. "Christians" have turned the Church into a giant religious club where people can have fun, be social, lose their guilt all in the name of a Jesus that they may not even know. With ministry comes sacrifice, with carrying ones cross this portrays agony, so where is the agony in today's churches? Where is the suffering and the struggle? So many people think that we are to have these things due to governmental persecution and since their isn't really any in America then we shouldn't expect these negative things. However, when the Bible speaks about suffering and struggle it is not speaking primarily about persecution, but the personal willingness of the individual to give up the things of this world and follow Jesus. It will be a struggle...it will cause agony.
The other potential negative effect of the Church perspective which originated under the Catholics was a lack of discipleship and accountability. The Catholic rulers had no desire for true discipleship as their churches were swarmed with the masses. They had no real passion for Discipleship because they had no real passion for Jesus. So people came and went as they wished living their lives how they wished all in the name of Jesus. Sound familiar? This sounds very similar to the current protestant churches we have today. The difference is where the Catholics established rules and regulations in order to get into heaven, the current protestant church of today has established a "Cheap Grace" form of redemption. Understand that in the AAC if you claimed to be a Christian there was great sacrifice involved. It was giving up not only the things of this world but potentially giving up the means to make any sort of living in the future. It meant potentially living in hiding or being on the run. It meant carrying your cross.
So how should we as disciples conduct ourselves in these church buildings? Well, first understand there is no such thing as a "Church Member" but a disciple who is part of the church. In our churches, however, we must be focused on a discipleship form of worship. Let the church building serve as a place for support, ministry headquarters, teaching and instruction, personal discipleship and accountability. Let it be known as a place of rest and rehabilitation for the suffering disciple to gain encouragement and exhortation from other disciples of Jesus. Let it be a place of Agape Love and a place of sacrifice. Let it be a place where we strengthen each other and plan our attack on the gates of hell. (See Blog- Ecclesia Ipsum)
So let's not dismiss the AAC Christians of the early church as simply a time in history that was a neccesity because of the culture, but let us see what they were as an example in the way we conduct ourselves.
Pauls states this after what I believe to be our primary doctrine- Philippians 3:8-15
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. Philippians 3:17
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Disciples Compass
I am beginning a new additional blog at http://www.disciplescompass.blogspot.com/ This will simply be daily truths that come from my study of the Word and prayer. These will be simple teachings that as The Lord shares them with me I will share them with you. I will continue Path Postings for longer more complex blogs and updates, but hope that the Disciples Compass will be something that will simply encourage you or direct you on the path of righteousness. I hope to post on a daily basis but cannot guarantee this as we are very busy and computers escape me sometimes. I hope they are a blessing to you!
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