Friday, August 17, 2012 – Entry – Lift up our eyes with changed hearts.

God is calling His people to look toward heaven and toward Him with changed hearts. Hearts of timidity and coward-ness have replaced the hearts of fervent passion and courage that once lead great rivals and transformed lives. Fear and self-loathing have crept into the Body of Christ and they have no place among God people. It is time to return to God as the Provider of boldness, courage, strength, and passion. Repent church and look upon the face of God afresh.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

¹¹And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹²for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Friday, May 25, 2012 – Entry – Question about Christian Community’s Survival

For many of you much of what I am about to write may be a given, to others it may be new or even controversial. Please know my heart is not to be condescending or patronizing to anyone but instead to make a spiritual plea for the survival and wellbeing of the Body of Christ as a whole. Therefore, I humbly submit to you for your prayerful consideration what God has been urging me to share.

In order to impact and influence our society we must all be paddling our boat in a similar direction. We live in a time in history where the togetherness of the TRUE Christian Community is going to be vital to it’s health. The Body of Christ is being torn apart by an imbalance in its teaching or a flat out refusal to stand for God’s Standard on certain issues, the result being a loss of influence on and in our society. The world looks at us and sees so much infighting and so many wishy-washy beliefs that they have no interest in exploring what our Jesus has to offer them. Tons of once dedicated and devoted Christians and Christian Leaders have taken the concept of loving the world into the kingdom to the point that they have sold out God’s Principles and Standards along the way. We have lost our way as a collective group, many hearts have hardened and most are so guarded they cannot extend their arms to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Leaders are so worried that unity means selling out their beliefs that they are by default selling out Christ Church and purpose through their disunity.

There are many levels of commitment, many sub-cultures, and many forms of oppression within the Christian Community as a whole. A general lack of unity along with localized self-centeredness, which has taken the form of isolation within one’s own local ministry, project, outreach, and/or congregation, has perpetuated the growth of some dangerous teachings and/or positions on societal issues. Whereas the issues listed below are in no way an exhaustive list of the thorns of disunity they are some of the most important and influential of our current day. They are the issues, which the TRUE Church must come together on in unity and hold as God’s Standard in order to regain their godly power, godly strength, and godly influence as a light to the world. Let us remember our unity effects our anointing, Psalm 133. Jesus knew and stated in John 13:11 that not all of His disciple were clean, nevertheless, He chose to wash their feet.

(NKJV)

Psalm 133

Blessed Unity of the People of God

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity!

² It is like the precious oil upon the head,

Running down on the beard,

The beard of Aaron,

Running down on the edge of his garments.

³ It is like the dew of Hermon,

Descending upon the mountains of Zion;

For there the Lord commanded the blessing—

Life forevermore.

The issues of concern for contemplation:

We need to become one unified voice on these most critical of issues in our Body and in our society.

The Deity of Jesus and His virgin birth. This is not a debatable truth, it is critical to ones salvation that they have a proper understand of who Jesus is and how He came into the world from His heavenly abode. Jesus having no deity or not being born of a virgin equals no TRUE Christianity, period.

Homosexuality is a sin issue not a civil rights issue. The church and its leaders are much too politically correct on this matter. We are to be vessel of truth; therefore, political correctness is not something we should be known for possessing. We cannot sit by silently and watch those with the loudest voices decide what is right and not right, God has already done that. God in His Word, the Bible, labels homosexuality sin, not me, not you, and not man…God.

Marriage is only the man and woman relationship. Marriage comes from God, not government, and we must protect the scared union God formed. Marriage is representative of Christ’s union with His people, His Church, and as such should have its purity protected.

A balanced perspective on women’s service to the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ, and each congregation or ministry therein is made up of men and women. The idea that both sexes are not needed to minister to the needs of those people is simply ridiculous. Men need men and women need women in many if not most area of spiritual growth, restoration, and healing. We cannot allow the Body of Christ to be dominated by women who are oppressed by extreme fundamentalism nor by women who are in their mannerisms spiritual feminist. Women need to be affirmed in their personal calling by God and taught to serve God alongside men with full confidence and faith without usurping the authority of the direct and personal men God has placed in their lives; equal to in God’s eyes, yet, not dominate over these men. Both men and women have a purpose in and calling to ministry.

As Follower of Christ, our adherence is to God over earthly authorities. More so than any other time in my memory Christian Leaders and general Christians seems to be playing both sides of the fence. They are willing to represent God and God’s agenda to the point that it does not conflict with other authorities. Yet, most of Jesus’ disciples were put to death for siding with God and God’s Ways over local governmental and spiritual authorities. We obey as long as it does not require that we sin against what God has given us, or told us, to do. We as a collective group seem to have forgotten this inconvenient truth.

Okay you have been confronted now. So what are you going to do? Are you going to lift your voice and help the Christian Community survive in America?

Tuesday, May 08, 2012 – Entry – The Great Divide

The different depths and cultures of Christianity, meaning true Believers and Followers of Jesus the Christ, within the United States along is so vast. Spiritually speaking, it is like the great divide of Christianity. Granted I have not been to or lived in every area of the country but I have been to and lived in a great many of them and have served to in full-time ministry in most of them I have been to or lived in; and I can assure you the difference between the spiritual depth of, and/or oppression of, God’s people is a vast. Now is this because of God or because of man?

The area of the country that I currently live in is vastly more spiritually oppressed and so far behind what God is doing among His people than any other place I have lived in since the beginning of my ministry. It is as though God has brought me personally full circle back to the same type of environment that I started out in some 20 years ago when I first went into the ministry. Things that God was showing us 20 years ago, things that we were enacting by the mid to late nineties, are brand new concepts in this part of the country. Yet they are not brand new, God has been moving in this capacity for at least 15 to 20 years. So this begs the question, Why the disconnect, why the great divide?

In part, the answer can be found in spiritual oppression itself. In more oppressed environments, God has a much more difficult time getting people to recognize and implement His Will and Purpose[s]. In these environments you find a lot of religiosity, better known as religious tradition, a heavy resistance to change, a lot of fear, unbalanced leadership meaning leaders who are way too liberal or way to dogmatic or fundamentalist in nature. Now don’t get me wrong, there something to be said for a certain amount of dogmatism and fundamentalism. The key here is a certain amount of each, as they relate to basic doctrine and the authority of the Scripture; both are fine and a necessary component in our society. However, there is a darker side to dogmatism and fundamentalism and that dark side stunts the work of God.

Another part of the problem that creates the great divide or that disconnect spiritually is the individuals who permeate the Christian community in leadership but are not servant leaders they are hirelings, there for financial gain, social gain, political gain, to feed it their own wants and desires, and or what the Bible calls selfish ambition. Yes, they are there, they are around you every week when you go to church. They are just more prevalent in some locations that others. Therefore, where people do not have a sincere heart for what God wants to do among His people, He cannot work or move. For these individuals it is more about them than it is about what God is doing or what God wants to do. That is completely backwards, it is always, I repeat always, about God!

In answer to our original question, it is not God who is holding up the show, it is man. Therefore, the reason that you see what appears to be God working among His people at different times in different places is really a manifestation of the people’s willingness to respond to what God is doing. God is continually seeking the cooperation of His people in order that He might manifest is Will and Purpose on earth. The problem is they will not respond to in unison. The fact that God’s people have not responded in unison has created a vacuumed that the Enemy has been able to come into and fill. That vacuumed and it results can be found in the distorted religious groups, which call themselves, chrisitan [small “c” intended]. If only Gods people would unite in fulfilling His Will the impact on our country would be astounding. Won’t you please join me in doing that? Will you please urge your local Christian community to do that? Do we not owe it to Jesus after all He has done for us?

Tuesday, May 1^st 2012 – Entry – Difference Blindness

The Body of Christ is guilty of focusing so much on its internal differences that it has lost its ability to be a voice within the United States. What was once a country rich in the blessings of God, a country that honored Jesus, has become a country where Christians and Christianity is widely discriminated against. How did this happen? It was able to take place because Christians were so concerned with their internal and denominational differences that they took and focus off the society that they were living in and placed it on one another, to their own peril. Now they live in a society where it is considered an offensive to have a cross mark a memorial for fallen military personnel. Whether those persons are Marines’ killed in our most recent conflicts and wars or men killed years ago in World War I. Wake up Church take off your blinders, your difference blindness is creating your own demise!

In recent years, there have been many of us who have called for unity within the Body of Christ. We have called not for unity born out of sin or acceptance of sin or born out of the acceptance of doctrinal error regarding salvation through Jesus and Jesus along or doctrinal error concerning Jesus’ deity and virgin birth. But unity born out of an understanding that despite the fact that we disagree on traditions, doctrine [apart from salvation], customs, scriptural interpretation, manner and style of worship, etc.; at the point of salvation we are all part of One Body, we are all going to heaven, and we are all going to spend eternity together. When I use the word, “all” I speak of those individuals who have put their trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Jesus’ disciples disagree with each other, disagreed about what should be done, misunderstood each other, did not necessarily like each other, and even disagreed with Jesus himself; yet they understood that the mission of the Church was more important than the personalities within the Church. We too here in America better come to understand that same principle before we are a fully persecuted group, with all that might entail. If we do not stand up, we will be pushed down and shut up.

In the lifetime of anyone reading this today there are two places on earth which have probably been most identified with Christianity and Jesus. Those two places are first, Israel and the holy cities of a Bethlehem and Jerusalem and then second, the United States of America. Yet today Christianity is at an all time low in these locations. Christianity in America has given way to apathy and skepticism. Last week there was an in-depth news story on 60 minutes regarding Christianity and the holy land. In the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, and in the city of His death and glorious resurrection, Jerusalem, the number of Christians remaining amounts to less than 1% of the population. Where Christianity began is now almost completely non-Christian. The Christian spiritual leaders in that region are attempting to get the word out about the demise spiritually of these holy cities yet they are met with opposition from the government. In their words, they fear that the holy cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem will turn into mere tourist attractions or a Christian theme park. Someone within my own home expressed concern that if something was not done, some of the most sacred places on earth might one day be destroyed.

Why has all this happened? Because the Body of Christ has been so consumed with focus on each other and have been so busy tearing each other apart, they have failed to be the Moral Light to the world that they were called to be. May God forgive us. May we repent! May we once again come to realize that we are part of THE CHURCH, meaning the entire Body of Christ, not just our local congregation and that we have a responsibility to focus on building the ENTIRE CHURCH as a group and not just focus on our local projects and interest.

Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Entry – Spiritual Burnout – An open letter…continued.

An open letter…

A friend and spiritual colleague wrote me sharing the following.

And I quote, “In my previous church, I saw that there are "worker bees" serving the Lord, but the reason for their work has been forgotten or pushed to the side. Those who serve do not serve in love for their Master, but serve in fear of reprimand or for some other reason. Duty, obedience? I don’t know why. I just know it isn’t for the Lord anymore, but I believe it used to be.”, end quote.

Now some of my thoughts on my friend and colleague’s insights.

At one time I had a wonderful pastor that told me there are those who are hirelings for the Lord, for them it is a profession and not much else. Then there are those who serve the Lord out of love and devotion, believing that God wishes to use them to make a difference in the world. Now I believe my friend and colleague has touched on a third category, the “worker bees.”

These individuals began serving the Lord out of love and devotion but have somehow reached the point where their service no longer brings joy to them, no longer is considered a privilege to them, but instead is considered somewhat of a burden. For these individuals it is time to take a break. The same wonderful pastor that I mentioned earlier also once told me, “You can hurt just as many as you can help.” Once service becomes a sense of duty only, obligation only, and feels burdensome to the person performing the service that individual can be a liability to the very people they are trying to serve. They are, to put it in a secular term, suffering from burnout.

Godly people suffer from emotional and spiritual burnout at times. It would be better for everyone, including themselves, if they would just realize this fact, accept it, and do something about it. Then once refreshed they can return to service for the Lord. By taking a break they might possibly prevent something from happening that would keep them from being able to return to Christian service.

Why are people reluctant however to take the break from spiritual service they need? The list of reasons why could be very extensive. I would like however to propose a few reasons, for thought and consideration.

1. They are finding their worth through their service to the Lord instead of finding their worth through being a creation of the Lords. When this is the case they cannot give up the service otherwise they are giving up who they are, at least in their minds.

2. They are afraid of being judged by others for taking a break. The fear of being misunderstood or being considered weak is too great for them. These people are living too much for the approval of others.

3. Their relationship with God is primarily based upon “works” instead of love and grace. The concept in these people’s minds is that God somehow loves them more, approves of them more, or blesses them more because they serve Him. The idea of their heart condition during the service seems to play no role, which is why it is more “works” based.

4. Guilt over sin in their lives. These people figure if they do more good through their service then they do bad in their sin, that God will be okay with that. This is not a doctrinally sound Christian viewpoint. This is however human nature. Human nature must be overcome with a Biblical truth.

5. They are simply out of touch with themselves and what is going on with their spiritual life. They’re just going through the motions and serving because “this” is what they have always done.

6. They cannot accept for themselves that everyone even Christians, including Christian leaders, sometimes need a break.

7. Selfish ambition will not allow them to admit their need. They have yet to get out of their Christian service what they want. These individuals are serving for themselves. They are not serving for God or the people, it is about what they want to accomplish.

Monday, April 23, 2012 – Entry – The Tight Community, An open letter…continued.

An open letter…

A friend and spiritual colleague wrote me sharing the following.

And I quote, “As for the recent changes in the way I see things, it kinda started with a dream. In the dream, I lived in a small tight community and every one knew everyone. There was a prowler who stole things or killed people at night but no one except for myself could see him. The community members had a meeting to discuss what they should do about the prowler and I told them what he looks like and told them that i could see him, but no one believed me.
Thats how the dream ended. I asked God the next day what it meant and He explained that He wants me to be able to tell people what I know to be true, even when they aren’t listening or make fun of me. He said I was given a gift, and that I need to be able to use that gift without being afraid of what people’s reaction might be.

So, now, I see myself as having a light within me that glows and some see it and others do not. Some may appreciate it and seek it out, while others may turn from it or try to douse it.”, end quote.

Now some of my thoughts on my friend and colleague’s insights.

The Body of Christ as a whole is a tight community, spiritually speaking. We either belong to Jesus and are Followers of His or we are not. If we are not, we are not part of the Body of Christ. We may disagree about many things but that Salvation comes through Jesus and Jesus alone on this we must agree or we are not part of the same Body. It is to this Body that I address I comments.

Whereas we are a tight community in the spiritual world we are not tight enough in how we live out that community here on earth. Therefore, the enemy, Satan, is able to plunder the Body of Christ. He has weakened their power and influence in the world, in our culture, and in our society. Just as my friend and colleague wrote, Satan is stealing and killing throughout the Body of Christ and it is as though 90% of the member cannot even see what is happening. Have they chosen blinders? Have they chosen to ignore their enemy to the point that he is taking over? Yes, we are to resist the enemy and he will flee…but some have taken the view that their only form of acknowledgement that they have an enemy will be MILD resistance. Many Believers’ who once were very dedicated have chosen to pull back and embrace an easier way or form of Christianity. Standing a lot less often for righteousness and truth and considering their comfort more than God’s Will, Way, and Principles. We must be willing to see what Satan is doing to the Body of Christ and speak out against his actions. Shed light on the Enemy’s activity. Light dispels darkness. There are those of us who are trying to tell the Body that a Prowler is out there stealing and killing the work of the Lord within the Body of Christ. WILL YOU LISTEN? WILL YOU BELIEVE? If you are able to see what is happening share what you see with others and remember, as my friend wrote, that whether they accept or reject what you have to say has little to do with whether or not you should say it. If you have the Light of Christ within you let it glow for all those around you to see. Illuminate the darkness for your sisters and brothers in Christ who still cannot see that Church is under attack, great attack and something must be done.

Thursday, April 19, 2012 – Entry – An open letter…

An open letter…

A friend and spiritual colleague wrote me and asked the following question.

“God spoke to me a month or so ago reminding me of one of the churches listed in Revelations that has lost their first love. Is this kinda what you are sensing as well?”

It is in essence a form of the church losing their first love. What I am seeing however is the layers of how we got there. Meaning… The overall Body of Christ has lost their love, or better put their passion, the congregations have lost their passion, the leaders have lost their passion, and the individuals Believers have lost our passion. It has happened in steps over time and each one has fed off of the other one. God has allowed my focus to be directed at any given time to only one portion of that deterioration.

Right now what I sense burning in God’s heart is the lost leaders. What I mean by lost leaders is the leaders that were once very passionate for Christ are now either passionless, disillusioned, and/or burnt out. Why they are this way is a very lengthy topic to examine. Through the writings and the blog it will be examined.