The christian / the church is supposed to be a force of liberation, a deliverer, if you will, to the people in bondage in the systems of this world. Instead, many are trying to find a home and a place of belonging within these very systems that are (in fact) a force, and a reinforcer, of bondage. The enemy has a standing offer on the table for those who have an overwhelming need to belong, and many are capitulating to it. It is the same offer that he made to Jesus. Don't consider yourself immune to his overtures. You are not. Continue reading “Systems in Bondage”
Idolatry
Idolatry is all around us, among believers. This may seem to be a shocking statement. Very unfortunately, it is true. We are worshipping, giving eye, ear, heart and affections to the worthless idols of this age, and all the while we largely have no idea or awareness of our spiritual fornication. We are being devalued from within, by taking things and ideas into our affection that are temporal and destructive. How can we do this? Callousness guards our sensitivities to such a degree that we do these things in oblivion, all the while largely unaware. We will answer before God for our wayward hearts, and we will also bear the consequence with devalued hearts and insignificant lives. Hear, embrace and respond to the only remedy that is provided for such sin – repentance.
An Out-of-Building Experience
When I was in high school, I went on my first foreign mission trip. I was part of a small team from a local congregation in a really small town in Southeast Texas. We drove, what seemed like a very long time, from the lush forests of our region, thru prairie, coastal plains, and into what was scrubby desert-like country, that, like it's inhabitants, was hardened by difficulty. I had started kindergarten, and was about to finish high school, in the same little town we had left some hours before, so I was seeing so much for the first time. It was a lot to take in. Continue reading “An Out-of-Building Experience”
The Tension of Instability
For those of you who read some of my recent posts, you know I am working on a new Drucker book. As I was working through a recent chapter, something really stuck out to me. I am really thankful to see parallels within different spheres, because I really believe it helps us to have a fuller, more complete view and understanding of each. As I was considering Drucker's insight (below) on business and the community, I saw a parallel with ministries and the church. Here are some snippets from the book, in italics, with non-italics as commentary: Continue reading “The Tension of Instability”