Scripture… As We Live It #204
This is the 204th passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.”
…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. But, all of you should not submit to one another. Only some of you should submit to others. (Ephesians 5:21 re-mix)
(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)
Replay: Unity is a first tier doctrine
Two years ago, I wrote a post called “Unity a ‘first tier’ doctrine?” I wrote this post in response to the phenomenon of dividing “doctrines” into different levels (or “tiers”). Then, it is suggested that it is acceptable to separate from people who we accept as Christians but who disagree with us on other “doctrines.”
The problem with this practice is that, according to Scripture, unity is paramount. In fact, the authors of Scripture constantly and consistently exhort us toward unity and away from divisiveness.
Here is the post:
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Unity is a “first tier” Doctrine
You’ve probably heard the concept of the multilevel (or tiers) of doctrines. Generally, depending upon who is talking or writing about this, there are two or three tiers of doctrines. The first tier typically separates believers (Christians) from nonbelievers (non-Christians). The second and/or third tiers then separate believers from one another, usually determining whether or not the person talking/speaking feels it necessary to relate to someone who differs from him/her.
In other words, two people who both agree on the ‘first tier’ of doctrines would consider each other believers, but they would not find it necessary to fellowship, serve, meet, whatever together if they disagreed on second and/or third tier doctrines.
I think there is a huge problem with this multi-tier view of Christianity. The problem is that unity is a ‘first tier’ doctrine. What do I mean? Look at this passage from Titus:
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:9-11 ESV)
According to Paul, a person who divides from brothers and sisters should be warned twice. If the person still remains divisive, then the church should separate from him. In other words, “divisiveness” is a reason supposing that someone is NOT a brother or sister in Christ.
In Scripture, there are very, very few reasons given for one believer to separate from another believer. This separation is the same as refusing to recognize someone as a brother or sister in Christ. Thus, “divisiveness” is a first-tier doctrine that is placed on the same level as teaching a false gospel, practicing gross immorality, and refusing to work to support yourself and others (yes, this is a ‘first tier’ doctrine also).
What does this mean? It means that just as it is impossible for someone to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and be indwelled by the Holy Spirit and continue in gross, unrepentant immorality, it is also impossible for a believer to divide himself or herself from brother or sisters based on disagreements (i.e., in Titus, Paul describes these as “controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels”… we have plenty of those, don’t we?).
The various ‘tiers’ only provide us reasons and justifications for dividing from others who we still consider to be Christians. Thus, they allow us to verbally acknowledge someone as a child of God without accepting them as a brother or sister in Christ. This is a concept that is completely antithetical to the Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is, then, in fact, only one ‘tier’… if you want to call it that. Either someone is or is not a brother or sister in Christ. If someone is a brother or sister in Christ, then we MUST treat that person as a brother or sister in Christ, regardless of disagreements. Otherwise, WE are the ones being divisive, and the church should seek to divide themselves from us.
The who, what, where, when, and why of the One Anothers
Jon at “Jon’s Journey” has started what appears to be a fascinating series looking at the who, what, where, when, and why (and perhaps how?) of the “one another” passages in Scripture. His first post in the series, “Five W’s of One Another,” begins by asking “What?” verses/exhortations we are talking about.
Jon combines all these exhortations in a list, and summarizes as follows:
So what are the instructions in these one another verses? Hospitality, humility, harmony, not slandering, encouraging, teaching, admonishing (giving advice), agreeing with, forgiving, submitting, singing together, kindness, compassion, bearing with, serving, accepting, and the repeated call to love one another.
I’ll be honest… I’ve read and written about these verses many, many times. The “what” part is extremely familiar. I’m really looking forward to the follow-up posts in which Jon discusses the other W’s: Who, where, when, why, and perhaps “how?” even though it’s not exactly a “w” question.
Review of Viral Jesus by Ross Rohde
A few weeks ago, I received (for free) a copy of Viral Jesus: Recovering the Contagious Power of the Gospel by Ross Rohde. I’ve had several opportunity to interact with Ross on his blog and on Facebook, and since I began to read his book, we’ve communicated a few times via email. I share that with you to tell you that I’ve always found Ross approachable and easy to understand. This book is no different.
Ross divides his book into three parts. In the first part – Chapters 1-3 – he describes what he means by a viral Jesus movement. In the second part – Chapters 4-7 – Ross lays out the historical background for the loss of this contagious gospel, describes several near-misses to viral movements, and describes a modern-day viral movement in China. In the final part – Chapters 9-10 – he describes some practical aspects of a viral Jesus movement in discipleship, church planting, and evangelism.
According to Ross, a viral Jesus movement is based on two things: 1) Jesus is Lord, and 2) the new covenant as the “operating system.” Everything should be run through these two “tests” to determine if it is within the realms of a viral Jesus movement. “Jesus is Lord” is set against any kind of human control, and a “new covenant operating system” introduces the new covenant with God through Jesus Christ as the core of our relationship with God and with one another.
I have read several books in which the author discusses these same issues. However, a few things set Ross’ book apart. First, I greatly appreciate the addition of the historic background and comparisons with several historic groups/movements. Also, I particularly enjoyed the combination of scriptural exegesis, theory, and real life examples.
Of the three sections of the book, the third one (the practical section) was by far the best to me. People need these kinds of explanation because the church has set the practical aspects of following Jesus (such as discipleship, church planting, and evangelism) in institutional forms and methodology for too long. Instead, Ross explains how these things work simply and through our relationships as they are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
I found the chapter on “church planting” to be the most challenging, although, like Ross, I dislike the term “church planting” (at least, if I understood him correctly). He follows Luke 10 as a pattern for taking the gospel to new households or spheres of influence.
I also think that his discussion of evangelism is excellent. I especially like the way Ross describes “effective” evangelism and how evangelism can be 100% effective 100% of the time.
I’m not convinced about some of the historical conclusions that Ross drew. Also, while I agree that some are gifted at apostleship (etc.), I do not think they are the only ones who should be opening up new spheres of influence to the gospel. Instead, I think his pattern for evangelists should be applied to all spiritual gifts (that is, that evangelists should evangelize but also equip others to evangelize).
The biggest concern that I have with this book – and with any book for that matter – is that the concepts in this book are best taught face-to-face, life-to-life. In fact, that is one of the reasons that I contacted Ross. For now, if the people around us are not living this kind of life, then our only option is “trial-and-error,” without the kind of living examples that we find offered in Scripture and that we see described in Ross’ book.
I highly recommend this book, and I’m looking forward to sharing my copy with some friends.
The more least or the less least?
My good friend Dan at “Some Church Stuff” writes thought-provoking articles. His latest is called “making the least the least.”
His point is that Jesus (and the authors of the New Testament) consistently exhorted people toward humility, considering others as more important, service for others, etc. But, among the church today, we tend to revere a different set of people – those at the top, not those at the bottom.
Here is Dan’s introduction:
In the modern church people celebrate the best and brightest. The pastor is a good speaker or a good organizer or a good people manager. The people leading the music are the best singers and musicians that group has to offer (which sometimes isn’t much, but that is not the point). The guys who stand before the congregation to read that week’s bible passage are the best orators, the James Earl Jones of the group so to speak. Everyone puts on their best clothes and their best attitude and everyone comes together and celebrates the best.
It has always seemed to me that Jesus taught that the best way to lead is to serve others. On the other hand, it seems the church today has bought into the reverse notion: the best way to serve is to lead others. This results in the wrong kind of leadership and following the wrong kinds of examples.
It is amazing what happens and what God does when the quietest voices are given the opportunity to speak, and when they are actually heard. It is amazing how God moves when the weakest or the least trained are allowed to serve. It’s almost as if God is demonstrated in their weaknesses and their lack of ability.
But, then, I think I’ve heard something like that before…
Can you help me follow? Can you help me trust?
In one of my last posts, I asked the question, “What (Who) are we teaching people to rely on?” That post points out a major shift in my understanding of “making disciples” (discipleship) that has occurred over the last few years. That shift continues today.
What is the shift? The shift is away from information and facts about Jesus, and toward following Jesus and trusting him.
To be honest, most Christians would agree with me. Most would agree that discipling others is helping them follow Jesus and trust him. But, when you stop and think about all the energy, time, and resources that are spent on sharing information and fact, it seems that what we truly believe about discipling is not what we say we believe about it.
But, what would change? What would change in how I interact with people if I want to help them follow and trust Jesus instead of giving them information about Jesus? What would I do differently? What would I say differently? How would I pray differently? How would I give differently? How would I serve differently?
I think these are important questions. And, if we stopped to consider them seriously, we would have to admit that most of the things we do have little affect on helping people trust Jesus and follow him. Perhaps that’s why we have a tremendous amount of education going on, but believers still seem to be extremely immature when it comes to following Jesus and trusting him.
Also, this emphasis on sharing information and facts about Jesus explains why the people in the previous post (“What (Who) are we teaching people to rely on?“) were concerned that believers in certain countries don’t have access to all of those sources of information: conferences, books, commentaries, training seminars, Bible schools, etc.
So, what do I need to help me follow Jesus better? What do I need to help me trust Jesus more? Yes, I have the Holy Spirit, just as he indwells all of Jesus’ followers. But, we also all need help following Jesus and trusting him. And, in fact, the Spirit often works through those he indwells to help others follow and trust Jesus more.
How do we help each follow and trust Jesus? When I look at what typically happens and what is typically done and what is typically said as the church to one another, I don’t think most of it actually helps us follow and trust Jesus. It might help us fill encyclopedias, but it doesn’t help us grow and mature in trusting Jesus and following him.
What about you? What do you think it takes to help someone follow Jesus and trust him? Has your understanding of this changed? If so, how?
Radiating ripples of “private sin”
One of my favorite bloggers of all time is Brant Hansen. I’ve followed him through at least two different blogs. His series “If Jesus had a blog” is perfect combination of sarcasm and creativity, mixed with some genuine discipleship.
But, his latest post – which is not sarcastic at all – is one of my all time favorites from this all time favorite blogger. The post is called “The Myth of Private Sin.”
The point of Brant’s post is that sins that we may consider to be “private” actually affect the people around us. Some of those effects are obvious; some are not obvious. But the effects are there nonetheless.
Here are a few excerpts:
The older I get, the more convinced I am there is no private sin. They don’t all wind up on page two, but the surface of the pond is never undisturbed by the pebble. The ripples move well beyond ourselves, and, in many cases they radiate through generations…
But even if they didn’t know [about your ‘private sins’], the sins in your head aren’t private. Mine affect my attitude. They keep me from being concerned about other people. They make me a jerk, in seemingly unrelated ways. (“Why’s Brant a jerk?” “Probably something seemingly unrelated.”)
I would just add one more thought to this excellent post – and, please, take a few minutes to read his post.
There is another reason that “private sin” is not really private. If I am sinning, then I am disobeying God. If I am disobeying God, then I am not obeying God. This affects myself, and it also affects my brothers and sisters in Christ around me.
No, “private sin” is not private.
What (Who) are we teaching people to rely on?
A couple of weeks ago, I saw a video that surprised me. I mean, at first, I was excited about what I saw. The group that put the video together were very interested in helping some brothers and sisters in Christ who live in a very difficult situation.
Then, as I continued watching the video, I became less and less excited. According to this group, these people were struggling and needed our financial help because their pastors don’t have Bible schools, or commentaries, or study guides, or leadership training, etc. etc. etc.
I don’t know why this surprised me, but it did. It made me realize something… and ask myself a question: What (Who) are we teaching people to rely on?
I know that the group that put this video together had great intentions, and they truly believe that the churches in this country – in this difficult culture – needed these things. But, in reality, they don’t need these things.
In fact, the only reason that someone would think they needed these things is if we (i.e., people from the “developed” West) told them that they needed these things. Now, they are busy trying to acquire things that they don’t need, because we have told them that they need them. And, we are spending our time raising money to send them things that they think they need because we told them that they needed these things.
And, we all feel good about ourselves because of what we’re doing. But, what we’re really doing is teaching people to rely on things that they don’t really need.
As I thought about these things, I began to wonder why someone taught these brothers and sisters that they needed things that they don’t really need. Obviously, whoever taught them, thought these things were needed. Unfortunately, that means that the “teacher” was relying on these things as well.
What these brothers and sisters really need are people who will stand beside them and encourage them to trust God regardless of what happens in their situation. Could it be that we don’t know how to do this? Could it be that we’ve replaced trusting and relying on God with relying on these other things also?
It’s a difficult question… and a question that everyone wants to answer with “NO!” Of course we trust God and rely on him. But, is that the way we act as the church? Do we live as if we rely completely on him, or do we rely on our education, training, conferences, books, commentaries, leadership methods, etc.?
Perhaps… just perhaps… those of us in the West could learn something from our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in difficult situations. Perhaps they could teach us that we really don’t need all of those other things.
Preaching and Teaching in the New Testament was interactive… but do we care?
Jon at “Jon’s Journey” linked to two interesting posts that considered the methods of preaching and teaching in the Gospels and in Acts – that is, when Jesus was preaching or teaching and when his followers were preaching and teaching. Jon summarized the findings in his post “Interactive Teaching in the New Testament.”
Jon (and the original author of the posts) separate preaching and teaching examples from the New Testament into several nonexclusive categories:
- Unclear as to interaction
- Non-interactive
- Initiated by others
- Dialogue
- Includes action events
Interestingly, the original author began this study by searching for scriptural defenses and methods of preaching. His conclusions were not what he expected.
In fact, he found that most preaching/teaching examples in the New Testament included some type of interaction.
I suspect (although I haven’t done a formal study) that if the examples of preaching/teaching unbelievers and believers were separated, those involving only believers (i.e., the church) would include an even greater percentage of interaction.
But, I wonder… even given this evidence from the New Testament and even given the studies that show most people do not learn or grow through monologue preaching… will people even care? Is the modern method of monologue preaching and teaching in the church so ingrained that it cannot be changed?
It can be changed. I know from example and experience. But the question remains: Will people care?
In Jesus, we rest while working hard
For those who are in Jesus Christ, he is our Sabbath – our rest. The author of Hebrews makes that clear in Hebrews 3-4. Also, Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
There is a danger, though, in assuming this “rest in Jesus” means “no hard work” or “no labor.” In fact, the opposite is true. Life in Christ is hard work on behalf of others – service, works, labor, struggles, etc.
Here are just a few passages that demonstrate and encourage hard work from Jesus followers for the purpose of helping others:
…But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:26-28 ESV)
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:14-17 ESV)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 ESV)
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:9 ESV)
So, good works and hard labor are not bad words for a person who is in Christ. In fact, this type of labor on behalf of another should be the normal part of the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Jesus does not give us rest apart from hard work. Instead, he is our rest in the midst of our toils and labors.
We shouldn’t fool ourselves. This kind of hard work and service is exactly what Jesus meant when he said, “Love one another.”