Are you resting in the presence of Jesus Christ each moment?
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had something wonderful happen a few times – two that stand out. Each time, I was talking with someone who was struggling with relational or emotional issues. And, each time, the other person ended up encouraging me in Jesus Christ.
But, then, this is the way the Holy Spirit works through his children if we recognize that we are in mutual discipling relationships – that is, that we are helping one another walk in Jesus Christ. As I was growing up, I learned that discipling relationship were more unidirectional. Whether this was taught intentionally or caught by example, I don’t really know – although I could probably point to both options in my life.
While mutual discipleship would be a good topic for a blog post, that’s not the reason that I’m writing this post. However, it’s important to recognize that when I’m talking with someone, I’m not just wondering how I can help them follow Jesus. I’m always looking for mutual discipleship, knowing that Jesus could use anyone to help me follow him better.
In the two examples that I’ve been thinking about, two men were struggling. And, even though I was hoping to help them and encourage them in the midst of those struggles, I also recognized that these were brothers in Christ who were strong in the faith and who God has used previously to encourage and challenge me.
As we talked about trusting God through the circumstances of our lives – different circumstances, but the same need to trust God – they both asked me about my own life. That alone demonstrates the character and concern of these two brothers. Although they were struggling themselves, they also cared about me. They listened intently as I shared a few things, and they both asked me the same question (although perhaps phrasing it a little differently): Are you resting in the presence of Jesus Christ each moment?
I love that they asked me this! Seriously!
A few years ago, in different contexts, I would have expected Christians to ask me questions like these: “Are you having your daily quiet time?” “Are you reading the Bible every day?” “Are you faithfully attending church activities?”
Now, these can be good things, but they are – at best – means or methods that could possibly lead to the end that we should be seeking: resting each moment in the presence of Jesus Christ. This can also be stated as abiding in Jesus, or walking in the Spirit. But, the point is the same: For those of us who are in Christ, God is always with us through his Spirit. We do not have to conjure him or catch his attention. Instead, we must simply live in his power and presence instead of living by our own devices and plans.
My two friends had learned that while various activities (sometimes referred to as “spiritual disciplines”) might help me focus on Jesus Christ, the activities themselves are not the goal. And, asking about carrying out the activities could simply produce a feeling of false security. I can check off activities like praying or reading Scripture or attending church gatherings, but they do not mean that I am actually abiding in Christ.
So, are you resting in the presence of Jesus Christ each moment? Are you abiding in Christ and living in his power?
Increasing maturity in Christ is demonstrated by increasing unity with his followers
Last week, I published a guest post by Greg Gamble called “Identifying with the Shunammite.” Now, I want to highlight something else that Greg wrote.
This time, Greg left a comment on my post “Scripture… As We Live It #202” which was a re-mix of Titus 3:10-11 – a passage about divisive people. But, I want his comment to get more notice, so I’m publishing it here as a “Comment Highlight.”
Here is Greg’s comment:
One would think that Paul might have explained in more detail exactly how to get past the trap of taking sides in a serious matter. But one would be mistaken to look for an answer to a question that is not in God’s heart, and therefore not explicitly spelled out in scripture.
All of history is a record of Adams children being tested to see if they will choose to be right, or to walk in truth, as it is in Jesus. Eph 4:21. The temptation to be right has lured many, many brethren who started off walking with Jesus to feel it necessary to forsake humility and long suffering, prayer and patience in order to defend truth.
It’s instructive that Jesus didn’t expose Judas for 3 yrs, though he, and likely the disciples knew he was a thief and liar. Our appetite for 12 step programs and prescriptions of how to live in the Spirit is not borne of God. We have perfected the art of routing the Judas’s from out midst, resulting in a church at war, and the greatest impediment to tired sinners bowing before the Prince of Peace.
Paul prefaced Eph 4 with precisely how to prevent division or respond to divisive ones: “all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
It is messy, uncertain, risky and dangerous to weak brothers to witness a church going thru this kind of conflict. But it is necessary.
It’s the one universal way that we learn that we all are capable of division, even heresy, if we don’t choose to be Christlike rather than to be right, or as we have disingenuously called ‘love the truth.’
The tension between family members that quarrel is where they stand or fall. Its always right to stand for the truth, but its not always right to stand with a brother that stands for the truth. Sometimes, people who are right in truth are wrong in attitude, forgetting that truth is not always being right.
There is way to heal divisions that have already occurred, like the schism we find ourselves in after two millenniums of drinking the Kool Aid of being right.
We must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
If we are indeed going to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, we all going to have to relearn how to walk in ALL lowliness and meekness (no fleshly anger) with long suffering, forbearing one another in love. If there is a prescription, that’s it.
If a church, a family or even a political party would make that their SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) even for selfish reasons, they would soon be widely known as leaders, mentors and an example to follow.
Error, untruthfulness, lies, carnality et al become increasingly difficult to practice in an atmosphere of humility, meekness,long suffering and gentle but firm patience with each others weaknesses.
Division, arguing over doctrines, who is right, church models etc is a devilish, foreign vaccination that Satan has injected Gods people with. Satan tricked Eve into wanting to know Good and Evil like God, and all of her children have faced the same test ever since.
Like our first parents, we will choose knowledge when we don’t hunger for the tree of Life. Tolerating division among God’s family is like getting vaccinated.
Doctors have convinced us that the way to not get sick with a disease from your neighbor is to put a little bit of that disease into your blood, in order to kickstart and speed up your own immune system to fight it when you contact it.
And we thought blood letting in the middle ages was voodoo science!
This assumes your immune system is not good enough, and it may not be, and therein is the hook. Rather than strengthen your immune system, rely on poison to make you stronger.
We fall prey to this trick because we don’t believe that the Lord Jesus, who indwells us, is the anti-body to not only our neighbors infection, but also our own, that we inflict on them.
Fear of our neighbors sin has blinded us to our own.This would be a good place to remind us that Jesus told us to remove the log from our own eye so that we can see clearly to take the splinter from our neighbors.
Apparently, we all have something in our eyes.We don’t need to defend the truth at the cost of losing a family member who is mistaken, deceived or even proud.
They will not be able to stand up to the flood of love and conviction of the Holy Spirit that He releases on them, when we quit trying to do His work and just let Him do it.
And if they do manage to stand up to Him, like Judas, they will go out from among us, proving that they were never part of us.
If we will continue in meekness, walking in truth ourselves, loving even our enemies, calling out to Father to change the hearts of those who oppose themselves and us, then we will witness the miracle of unity that turned the Roman Empire upside down in a generation.
blessings
Greg
Guest Blogger: The Parable of the Bar Owner
I’ve invited several people to write “guest blog posts” for this blog. There are several reasons for this: 1) To offer different perspectives. 2) To generate even more discussion and conversation between blogs. 3) To introduce other bloggers to my readers.
(If you are interested in writing a guest blog post, please contact me at aknox[at]sebts[dot]com.)
Today’s post was written by Andrew Brims. It is an excerpt from his FREE ebook Unintended Consequences. You can follow Andrew at his blog “Brimming Over.”
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The Parable of the Bar Owner
There once was a man who owned a large chain of bars – he was a demanding man, aggressive, ambitious and successful in all he did. One day a new land was discovered – full of people who had never even heard of alcohol, let alone tasted it. Sensing opportunity, the bar owner travelled to the new land with his team.
After some time of surveying the land, the bar owner knew that here was the biggest opportunity of his life, but having business to tend to at home, he gathered his team and charged them, “This is the biggest opportunity of our lives, I am leaving you with my resources and my instruction and I say to you – when I return to this land – may everyone be an alcoholic! And everyone drinking at our bars! I leave it with you.”
The team cheered, and as they waved the boss goodbye they began to plot amongst themselves how they would succeed. “I will open a wine bar,” piped up one, “it will be trendy, with sharp white wines and good music.” “I will offer only vintage wine,” said another, “vintage years in traditional settings.” “I too will do something different,” struck up a third “I will offer the cheapest plonk I can, in cardboard cartons – that will draw the masses.” The others chimed in one after the other, each with their distinct style of wine to bring to the crowds.
As the time passed, many of the natives indeed succumbed to the new intoxication that was on offer. Each of the team’s chains pulled in their own clientele, natives moved from style to style but never strayed too far from their favourite – usually the kind they were first introduced to. However, much of the population remained frustratingly indifferent to the wine craze.
Indeed, after some time, it was obvious to anyone who was brave enough to see, that the wine business had hit something of a saturation point. Occasionally one of the team would celebrate a new customer, or even a new franchise opening, but more often than not this was simply attracting customers from one of the other members of the team.
The years went by and the average age of the clientele rose. The team obviously made a big push for the children – everybody knew they were the future of the business, but all too often they grew out of love with the wine that had been watered down for them by the end of their teenage years.
A couple of times one of the team members came out with what they claimed was a brand new type of wine, and indeed it did win a few clients, but the march of the other businesses in the land was aggressive and it was a struggle for the master’s chain to simply hold its ground in the market place. Not many of the team seemed unduly concerned – they were busy running their chains, they had done their best, and the owner seemed something of a distant memory.
Just when they least expected, the owner returned. His business at home had been successful and he was looking forward to hearing news of his business triumph in another land. When he surveyed the scene, and saw the figures, he was bitterly disappointed by the news. He called a team meeting, “What have you done? Not even half the natives are alcoholics!? What went wrong?”
The team members explained their various strategies, how they had indeed done their best, and how distinctive their particular approach to wine was.
Struggling to control his temper, the boss responded, “The mission was to make the land alcoholics, not wine connoisseurs. Wine is great, but what about beer? How the men of this land would have lapped that up! What about spirits – the thousands of kinds of spirits? How many chains could we have opened with those? What about the Alco-pops? No wonder we’re missing a generation here! Few new clients to speak of, an ageing customer base, and increasingly fussy consumers. What have we done? This land was to have been ours.
“Wine is great,” he exclaimed, “but alcohol is so much bigger than just wine!”
Scripture… As We Live It #202
This is the 202nd passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.” (And, no, this isn’t an April Fools joke…)
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. Unless, of course, you agree with that divisive person. In that case, you should support that person and encourage him to continue to stand firm for God. (Titus 3:10-11 re-mix)
(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)
Replay: A Christian Archaeological Find of Monumental Proportions!
Last year about this time – to be specific, it was one year ago tomorrow – I wrote a post called “Contents of the Ancient Lead Codices of Scripture Revealed!” If you remember, this was just after some archaeologists announced that they had discovered some new codices (books) of Scripture which were covered in lead. I wrote this post about the content of those amazing books. They filled in many holes in our ecclesiology…
(By the way, if you enjoy this post, you might also enjoy these posts, which just happened to have been published on April 1, 2010 and April 1, 2008 respectively: “Jesus is not risen” and “A Completely Biblical Church.”)
Contents of the Ancient Lead Codices of Scripture Revealed!
Recently, news sources have reported the existence of some ancient (2000 years old) lead-lined codices (books) which have been described as (possibly) “the biggest find since the Dead Sea Scrolls.”
While scholars and academic-types discuss and debate the source of these new codices, very few have mentioned the ground-breaking contents of these old manuscripts. I had the opportunity to scan a few of these pages, and make public (for the first time) my translations of the ancient scripts.
From a previously unknown letter from Paul to the Corinthians, we read this: “Concerning my previous letter, I do not want you to be ignorant. When I wrote that whenever you gather together you should edify one another, I did not mean your worship services. During worship services, it is necessary for you to sit quietly and learn from your leaders. They will edify you. However, when you meet in your small groups, which are not church gatherings, then you should edify one another under the authority of a church designated teacher.”
Also, there was this page from a missing section of Paul’s letter to the Romans: “And when I arrive, please do everything that you can to arrange a meeting with Simon Peter, Bishop of Rome. I need his ruling on a few rules of doctrine and to ask his blessing on some things that I have written that others say are difficult to understand.”
There was also this alternative opening to Peter’s first letter: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ and Bishop of Rome…”
Apparently, Paul wrote a third letter to Timothy which we have just now recovered. It begins like this: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to Timothy, my beloved son in the faith and senior pastor of the church in Ephesus.”
A previously unknown work of obvious apostolic origin detailed the necessary beliefs of all Christians in the categories of Scripture, God, Man, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Church, and Eschatology.
Another codex collects several of Timothy’s sermons to the church in Ephesus and Titus’ sermons to the church in Crete. As an added bonus, a sheet was folded and stuffed into the back of this codex which gave detailed minutes of a church business meeting which included the ordination service of Titus’ successor as senior pastor of Crete after God called Titus to a larger church nearby.
Finally, almost miraculously, a bulletin for a church service in Philippi survived the years among this collection. It turns out that this church service began with prayer and three songs. After taking up an offering and a special choral anthem, the pastor preached from three verses from the letter that Paul had recently sent them. Then, after singing another song and praying, they were dismissed. According to a note at the bottom of the page, you could have received a 10% discount from a nearby restaurant by showing this bulletin.
I can’t wait to read more from this exciting discovery!
When an enemy becomes a friend…
Yesterday, I linked to a post written by my friend Stephanie at “Dead and Domestic.” She wrote that post about her husband Dan. Today, she’s published another post that’s worth reading called “Friend or Enemy?”
In this new post, Stephanie writes about someone who she once considered an enemy, but who grew to be a friend. I was very encouraged and challenged by Stephanie’s words. Even though this person originally challenged her and frustrated her and angered her, she stuck with him and recognized that he genuinely cared about her.
But, she didn’t start out thinking that way. Stephanie writes:
When I was first introduced to him ( via the internet ), I was less than impressed. I’m pretty sure we got into it a few times. His views on the church and Christianity were drastically different than mine. They made me uncomfortable. They made me angry. I thought him arrogant and pretentious. How dare he challenge me on everything I knew to be true? After our discussions ( which were more like arguments ) and reading his blog, I felt hurt and confused. He was confusing other believers. He was hurting other people, I was sure, just as he was hurting me. He was creating holes inside of me. Gaps in my logic. I was so angry.
Now, you may know the person that Stephanie is writing about. But, I’m not linking to her because of that.
Instead, I want you to think about these questions: How do you respond when someone’s views challenges your long-held beliefs? Is it possible that person is a friend instead of an enemy? How would you tell the difference?
The Conditional Church
In my previous post – “Jesus, you forgot the conditional statements again” – I pointed out (in my sarcastic manner) that many (perhaps most?) of Jesus’ commands are offered with no conditional statements. So, for instance, when Jesus says, “Give to those who beg of you,” he did not tell his listeners to consider how they would use the gift before it is given. Although, of course, we often add our own conditional statements…
But, we don’t just add our own conditional statements to Jesus’ commands. We add conditional statements to commands concerning the church and descriptions of the church also. Interestingly, the conditional statements help form what we read in Scripture to what we already do or believe today. (Quite convenient, actually.)
For example, read through the following commands and/or descriptions and ask yourself this question: What “conditional statements” do I assume that author meant even though he didn’t include the condition when he wrote?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV)
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4 ESV)
Surely there are many other passages that I could list. These passages above deal with gathering together and interacting with one another. How many conditional statements to we place on these commands and descriptions?
What kinds of conditional statements? Well, statements such ask these: “… if the leaders/elders/pastors permit it…”, “… if the size of the group gathering is not too large…”, “… if the person understand enough orthodox theology…”, “… if… if… if”.
We are good at adding conditions, especially when it comes to the church.
When people share from their heart, do we listen?
My Google Reader is filled with “starred” posts again. I “star” a post when I want to go back to it later, to read it again, to think about what the author is saying, to comment, or perhaps all of the above.
I’ve noticed that in many of these “starred” posts – the posts that caught my attention – the author is sharing from the depths of his or her heart, sharing the pain and struggle of life, sharing the fears and rejection and disappointments and tears. And, these posts have caused me to wonder about myself: What do I do when someone shares these kinds of things with me? Do I listen… really listen? Or do I immediately try to “fix” the problem?
I’m going to share some of these posts with you for one reason… that we can all learn to listen to one another better:
- “I’m a little legalist” by James at “Seeking a Kingdom“
- “Wondering whether I’ll ever really follow Jesus” by Joshua at “Called to Rebuild“
- “Hard to Live by Grace” by Mark at “Called Out in Kansas“
- “comfortably numb” by Dan at “Some Church Stuff“
- “My husband is an asshole” by Stephanie at “Dead and Domestic“
I invite you to read, listen, and learn along with me.
Updates to Email Subscriptions
For the last few years, I’ve included the option to receive email updates whenever I publish a new article on “The Assembling of the Church.” Several people have signed up for that option over that time.
However, a few weeks ago, the process that sent out the emails broke. So, no email updates have gone out in that time.
I have tested and installed a new email subscription application. All of the people who were already subscribed to receive emails are still subscribed under this new process.
Now, people who subscribe to email updates will receive one email each day at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time USA). That email update will include the titles of any new posts that I’ve published since that last email update.
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Jesus, you forgot the conditional statements again…
Have you ever been reading through the Gospels and realized that (obviously) Jesus forgot the conditional statements… again? Or, if he didn’t forget to say the conditional statements, then someone forgot to write them down.
You know what I mean, right? Like when he said, “Take up your cross daily and follow me.” He forgot the conditional statement about having a bad day, or facing a person in a bad mood, or being cut off in traffic, or getting sick, or finding a great sale at Old Navy. All of those conditions (and others) would certainly affect what Jesus expected of us.
Then, of course, there’s Jesus’ statement, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” I mean, where’s the conditional… oh wait, there is a conditional statement there. But, I’m not sure that I like that condition. Surely there are other conditions that would give us reasons to not keep his commandments.
But, recently, I was thinking about another passage that triggered this post. Here’s the passage:
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42 ESV)
Jesus forgot many conditional statements in this short passage, but just think about those last two commands: “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”
What about the beggar who is just going to spend the money on liquor or drugs? Jesus forgot that conditional statement. What about the lady who had borrowed money and other things from everyone but hasn’t paid back anything? Jesus forgot that conditional statement, too.
Obviously, Jesus intended other conditional statements in those commands, too. For instance, “if you have enough money left over at the end of the month after buy food, paying rent, adding to your saving/retirement, having a little entertainment – not too much, etc.”
Again, I don’t know if Jesus just forgot to say these conditional statements (I mean, he did have alot on his mind), or if his followers simply forgot to write them down. Certainly, we’re intended to add the conditional statement ourselves.
Otherwise, Jesus actually expects us to give what we have to anyone who asks us for something.