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Passing a Crucial Test

As Christians, our lives follow a process of preparation that we can observe in the scripture. In many ways, we follow the same course of preparation that Jesus followed, and that we can observe in the Gospels. We can see ourselves, and recognize not only the process, but actual events in our lives can parallel what happened to Jesus in remarkable ways. He was tempted in every manner as we are, yet without sin. He lived as an example to us, and all the lives of people in the scripture are given to us as examples, upon whom the end of the ages have come, and are now coming.

One thing that I noticed or recognized some time back, which is an example of this fact, is a particular temptation that came to Jesus when he was in the wilderness that also comes to each of us, as Christians. There are some very high profile examples of this that I have observed, and I have also observed it in my own life, and in the lives of others close to me. It seems a universal part of the process that we go through. I will attempt to explain this in as few words as possible. Continue reading “Passing a Crucial Test”

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Institution-alized

The institutionalization of the Lord’s church, and of various ministries and Christian organizations, continues.  Once an organization or group reaches a certain mass, it will tend toward institutionalization.  I don’t think this happens at the same mass for every example, and it will likely vary, depending on a lot of different factors.  However, once it begins to be institutionalized, it’s mission will be changed from what it was originally, to self-perpetuation.  At this moment, if not before, it will also begin to calcify and lose it’s flexibility.  It will respond in a natural way to threats, to silence or marginalize them, and also remove dissenting voices from it’s midst.  This is often done with the proclamation that the group is more important than the individual, which has an element of truth, but is the wrong comparison.  In Christ, we should be following Christ, not the group, or the individual.  Systematically, Christ Jesus and His leadership fade into the background, and the original mission becomes the focus of marketing efforts, though it has likely been supplanted by a motive that the “organization” must continue.  This is one of the reasons why the institutions of man are temporary, but what God does lasts forever.

More thoughts on this later….

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The Crown of Thorns

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While at IHOP Kansas City I was able to join a session in the prayer room. It seemed fairly normal, but the Lord used the time and context to reveal something to me.  The revelation is about suffering and adversity. It came through the presence of the crown of thorns on the communion table I was standing near.

In my mind I could see the thorns as not only entanglements and resistance,  as one would equate with vines, yes these things, but more. The thorns represent resistance & entanglements with the addition of pain and suffering.  If you have ever traversed a briar patch, you know there is a constant evaluation of cost to benefit going through your mind. Thorns are a cost to the one who will not be stopped that is punctuated with every advancing step. Continue reading “The Crown of Thorns”

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What is Evangelism?

Evangelism is being redefined for me.

I've been thinking about selling a product as an analogy to sharing the gospel. Though it's probably not the best analogy, it brings out a few interesting points.

Somewhere along they way I began to see evangelism as a sales pitch. I have a product that you need and you don't know that you need it so I'm going to try to convince you that you need it. Hopefully by the time we're done you've agreed to try the product out and I go and tell everyone I've sold it! Everyone wins right?

First problem I see is the push to prove a person's need to them. I think before someone decides to follow Jesus they should be aware of their current state, that's very important. But for us to try to convince someone that they are in need seems like manipulation. Like all our current advertising: convenience and pleasure is made to be a perceived need. And if this product doesn't work out for me I can go get my convenience and pleasure from another (or so the claims go). Are real needs being met? Or are they manufactured? Continue reading “What is Evangelism?”