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The Anointing

Posted in Commentaries, Heart of "The Father", tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Anointed and anointing are relatively ancient terms, used extensively throughout the Old Testament, and to a lesser degree in the New Testament.  For the most part they simply refer to the practice of applying various oils or balms for things like healing, consecration, and/or preparation for burial.  Because there isn’t much modern context for these words, they are easily manipulated to take on a host of other connotations.  To be sure, they have become part of the popular vernacular within charismatic circles.

In the days of the temple, Priests had to be anointed with a specific blend of oils prior to entering the Holy of Holies, lest they perish, and the Kings of Israel were anointed with oil to signify that they were chosen by God and commissioned to His service.  Like the Priests, the failure to uphold this high calling could result in dire consequences for both the King and his family line.

The modern usage of these terms seems to be aimed at this idea of being specifically chosen (or called) by God, along with a sense of being uniquely gifted (or equipped) in one area or another.  But generally, omits the aesthetic of being bound by an oath to faithfully represent its source, or to acknowledge the potential destruction that could accompany its misuse.  Indeed, those who profess to have an “anointing” often appear to be like children, who’ve gotten ahold of their father’s credit card, and don’t realize that he’ll see the billing statement at the end of the month.

Even those who are sincere in their commitment to serve the Lord can fall to the intoxication of consistently watching God work through their gift, and the earthly treasures/accolades that may result from that.  Over time they can become convinced that this has more to do with who they are rather than simply being a byproduct of the Father’s generosity. 

In those moments they need loving brothers and sisters to help them to see their folly.  But within the current Charismatic culture, they would likely be chastened for “coming against God’s anointed ones”.  The implication being that these individuals’ gifts and callings somehow exempt them from being questioned or receiving any kind of reproach.  This, of course, is a profound distortion of that particular passage of scripture, and of what it means to be “anointed” in general.

One of the clearest pictures of what anointing is, and isn’t can be found in the story of Saul and David.

Because we know how the story ends, it’s easy to pass over the details at the beginning.  Saul did not promote himself to the position of king, nor was he nominated by his peers, he was literally picked out of the crowd (1Sam.9:17) and chosen by God (1Sam.10:24).  At that time, he was humble (1Sam.9:21), anointed (1Sam.10:1), gifted (1Sam.10:13), and God had done a work in his heart (1Sam.10:9).  And for a substantial period of time, Saul walked in that calling and anointing (i.e. 1Sam.11), fulfilling God’s purposes in his life.  

But, as previously alluded to, sustained seasons of victory, and the praise of men eventually eroded Saul’s humility to the point that he felt empowered (or commissioned) to make decisions of his own (1Sam.15:9).

It wasn’t as if he stopped wanting to serve God, but his pride and greed caused him to overstep the bounds of his authority. 

God’s response was quick and definitive (1Sam.15:11 & 23), and it’s hard not to see the parallel between his story and the narratives surrounding so many “anointed” (i.e. called, gifted, empowered) ministry leaders who’ve fallen throughout church history, and in the recent past.

At the point David refused to lay his hands on “God’s anointed one” (1Sam.24:10), it was clear to him and everyone else that Saul had been rejected as the king of Israel.  This passage is pointing towards David’s unwillingness to act without specific direction from the Lord, which is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ pledge that He couldn’t do anything without direct guidance from the Father.  It is meant as an advocation of David’s heart, not a defense of Saul’s immutable position or calling.  

Nothing in scripture supports the idea that calling, gifting, anointing… exempts a person from accountability, indeed quite the opposite is true (James 3:1).  Within these stories, we see Samuel soundly rebuke Saul (1Sam.15:17-19), just as Nathan strongly rebukes David for his transgression with Bathsheba (2Sam.12:1-7).  Chastening a king was a dangerous activity, even for a recognized prophet, but it was exactly what God called them to do.

Another related aspect revealed in these stories occurs toward the end of David’s reign, when he wants to build the temple.  When he inquires of the prophet Nathan, he’s told that God is with him, and that he should do as he pleases (2Sam.7:3).  There is nothing recorded that indicates that Nathan inquired of the Lord for this answer, and it appears as to have come from his experience of being alongside David as he wins battle after battle. 

It was a completely reasonable conclusion to draw, and on the surface, it seemed true, as God clearly was with David.  But when Nathan actually takes the time to inquire of the Lord (2Sam.7:4), the answer is much different than he or anyone else expected.

This phenomenon is frequently played out in the modern context, as truly gifted people, who have eyes to see, are blinded by someone’s position, title, resume, success, giftings, callings, anointing…  Like these prophets, they may have been called by God to confront issues, but they defer to what they see with their natural senses, or what they perceive to be a higher authority. 

Nathan’s rebuke of David allowed for him to repent, and to step back into the fullness of his calling.  It’s hard not to believe that God hasn’t extended this same grace to so many other ministers who fell because no one was willing to confront them as they veered off course.  Unfortunately, we have created a culture that struggles to tolerate such an encounter.

Perhaps even more repulsive than simply misusing God’s anointing for our own selfish gain is the ongoing mystification of these gifts in order to create the illusion of an elite religious class of ministry leaders, designed to rule and guide the less gifted working-class sheep (i.e. laity). 

In his letter to the Ephesians (chapter 4), Paul describes a mature body of believers, in which every part is directly connected to the head, and each part supplies something for the greater whole.  The “Five-Fold” gifts described in this chapter are intended to help facilitate this maturing process, not to exacerbate the clergy-laity division that has plagued the church throughout history.  As Paul explained to Timothy (1Tim.2:5), there is only meant to be one intermediary between God and man, and His name is Jesus.

Ultimately, our present use of the phrase “the anointing” is something of a misnomer.  Before Christ, access to the power and authority of the Holy Spirit was limited to a chosen few.  But because of Christ’s sacrifice, all believers have a direct connection to the indwelling Spirit.  All who belong to Him can rightfully be classified as “anointed” (2Cor.1:21, 1John 2:20).

Holy Spirit empowered giftings are not expensive presents that God only bestows upon His favorite kids, they are tools provided to faithful followers, which He intends to use to draw men unto Himself.  An anointing was never intended to be something we could possess.  It is simply a garment, provided by the Lord, which allows us to serve His purposes.  Walking in that anointing will test the depths of our humility.  Like the treasures that the children of Israel carried out of Egypt, it can be our provision, or we can use it to form some sort of lifeless idol.

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Childlike

Posted in Commentaries, Heart of "The Father", tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

In the gospels Jesus warned that “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt.18:3).”  Then, in the epistles, Paul also warns against childish ways of acting (1Cor.13:11) and thinking (1Cor.14:20).  In light of these admonishments, it seems vital that we should learn and discern the difference between being childlike and being childish.

Paul appears to address some of these childish patterns when he wrote to the Galatians, calling out things like discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions… (Gal.5:19-20), ultimately concluding that those who live like this would not inherit the Kingdom of God.  And from his description of God’s love to the Corinthians (1Cor.13:4-7), things like being impatient, unforgiving, competitive, easily offended, and quick tempered could also be included. 

While all of these traits are commonplace within the typical human experience, God is calling His children to something higher.  Jesus said that anyone who was not willing to take up their cross and follow Him was unworthy of Him (Matt.10:38).  While Paul pointed out the need to “crucify the flesh” (Gal.5:24), and Peter spoke of partaking of the divine nature (2Pet.1:4).  This is all a part of the transformation that God intends to work in those who follow Him.

More important than simply misbehaving is the issue of trusting the Father and accepting what we cannot hope to fully comprehend.  The scripture contains numerous passages which reference the limitations of our understanding.  We know in part and prophesy in part (1Cor.13:9).  We see as through a glass dimly (1Cor.13:12).  God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). The wisdom of man is foolishness to God (1Cor.1:25). He can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine (Eph.3:20).  If we must have foreknowledge and certainty in order to believe, we are sure to be disheartened.  In order to be effective, our faith must be “childlike”.

In many ways, what God offered mankind in the garden was the chance to be His children.  Had Adam and Eve chosen to follow His direction, they could have lived out their days naked, unashamed, unburdened, and completely unaware of sickness, evil and death.  They would have simply existed within the bubble of the Father’s love and protection.  But something within their nature found the offer of autonomy (i.e. self-rule) to be too good to pass up.

I see this demonstrated clearly in my young granddaughter, who lives with us.  She is a precious, beautiful child, who is bold, energetic, and full of curiosity.  Not surprisingly, she wasn’t even ten months old when she started walking, and containing her became a daily challenge. 

When the playpen proved to be too restrictive for this 20 lb. force of nature, we fenced in our living room with plastic fencing in order to keep her from the fireplace, the stereo cabinet, bookshelves, electrical outlets… and we constructed a gate, so that us older folks didn’t have to hurdle our way in to, and out of, the living room. 

Within this room sized play yard, we placed all manner of soft, colorful, musical, and educational things for her to engage with.  Above all else it was intended to be a safe space for her to learn and grow; but from its inception she made it her mission to escape from it. 

In this quest, she’s demonstrated amazing resourcefulness, as she’s tried to pull the fence up to crawl underneath it; to slide herself between the seams in the panels, and to push the fence (or gate) down.  When those efforts failed, she’s pushed her rocking chair, or her wheeled horse to the fence, and tried to use them to climb over it. 

Often times, she’d stand at the gate, and shake it by its bars.  Every time the gate would open, she would stop what she was doing and run toward it.  Every time the gate would close, she’d let out a yelp of protest.  Indeed, the mere existence of this fence seems to be an affront to her soul.  Even without any conscious understanding of it, she instinctively pushed against the concept of limitations or boundaries.

Anyone who’s raised a child, or spent any amount of time with a toddler can probably attest to the fact that these behaviors are not particularly unusual for children at that stage, and I feel sure that to some degree they are a reflection of our unvarnished human nature.  Over time, we will likely train this little girl to behave differently, but these patterns provide some insight into how humans respond in their natural state.

As I have prayed for this little one, the Lord has impressed upon me that this is how it is with His children as well.  Like us, He tried to setup a safe and ideal situation for them, but they chose to go their own way.  He then tried to create healthy boundaries to keep them safe, but they perceive that He is trying to keep them from the “good stuff”, and rebel against them.  Indeed, the very idea that He would set limitations causes many to doubt His goodness. 

Because we are created in God’s image, children come with an undefiled capacity to love and trust, but they also possess a natural penchant toward self-centeredness and impatience.  Sorting through these conflicting traits is part of stepping into our identities as Children of God. 

There is a way that naturally seems right to a man, but it ultimately leads to death (Pro.14:12), and apart from God we can do nothing (John 15:5).  Given mankind’s aforementioned love of independence, the struggle to humble ourselves and surrender our mind, will, and emotions to the Lord’s purposes is a moment by moment battle.

Jesus said, that “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Mark 10:15, Luke 19:17)”.  And, He openly thanked the Father for concealing these things from the wise & learned, choosing instead to reveal them to the “little children” (Matt.11:25, Luke 10:21).  This means that we can neither earn or learn our way into the kingdom.

Scripture tells us that God resists the proud (James 4:6), and Jesus’ ministry clearly reflects this.  We don’t see Him publicly shaming prostitutes and thieves for their sin, but we do see Him openly confronting the prideful religious leaders, who’d counted themselves as righteous.  We don’t see Him flipping tables in the marketplace because of people’s iniquity, but we do see Him flipping tables in the temple because of their misrepresentation of the Father’s heart (Matt.21-12).  Indeed, judgement begins in the house of God (1 Pet.4:17).

The Kingdom of God is not a location, it is a supernatural state of living in submission to His Lordship.  Jesus modeled this pattern for us during His time on the earth, as He refused to act apart from His Father’s will.  Because of this He could truthfully claim, “if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:7)”.

When I was a child, I used to sit in the back seat of our family car, staring at the passing scenery, and wondering at the world.  I was never burdened by thoughts of where we might be going, or what route we would take to get there, because my father was driving, and I had utter confidence in his judgement, and ability to get us there safely.  I would submit that this is a fair representation of the journey the Lord intends for us.

He offers us a peace that surpasses understanding, joy unspeakable, unshakable hope, and profound rest.  I would submit that this is a reflection of what He initially offered mankind in the garden, and it is the fruit of genuinely abiding in the vine, and within the shelter of His sovereign grace.  But like Adam, He gives us the option to live as His children, or to live by our own sense of what is right.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Rom.8:14-17).”

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The Challenge Before Us

Posted in Commentaries, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

I should preface this essay with the disclaimer that I have spent the majority of my life attending a church building on a weekly basis.  In fact, my wife and I currently attend church services when we’re able, and would happily claim the folks there as part of our extended family.  For some, that might be considered an indictment against our judgement, for others it may lend some credence to what I want to share. 

In the last few decades I’ve had a spectrum of church experiences.  After beginning in the Liturgical world (i.e. Catholic, Episcopal), I traveled in Evangelical circles (i.e. Baptist), and eventually landed in the Pentecostal realm (e.g. Assemblies of God, various Non-Denominational…).  I can honestly say that I have grown within all of those spheres, though I would attribute that more to God’s faithfulness than as an advocation of any of those particular systems.

As a child, I had a sense that most God-fearing folks went to some sort of church, and I just assumed that the blueprint for these church systems must come from the bible.  But as the years passed, I’ve come to realize that isn’t the case.  Though the various elements can be tied to something within the scripture, the recipe for what we’ve cooked up isn’t really there.

Along the way, I’ve discovered three very distinct camps of “Believers”.  There are those who staunchly hold to, and defend the traditional church model as “the model”; those who largely believe in the traditional church dogma, but who also believe that the old model needs to be updated (e.g. Five-Fold Ministry, House Church…); and finally, there are those who see the institutional church as oppressive, abusive, corrupt… advocating a complete abandonment of that mode.  For the purposes of this writing, I will refer to these clans as. “Traditionalists”, “New Wineskin Advocates”, and the “De-churched”.

More disclaimers.  I will speak of these groups generally, and as with all generalities, that means there are most certainly exceptions, which by definition are exceptional.  I would also like to preface my criticisms of these particular paradigms with the understanding that they are not intended to be an attack on the people within these systems.  For the most part, this is simply how we’ve been taught to do ministry.

I also understand that when you’ve experienced, or even just witnessed the damage that has been done through these various religious patterns it is tempting to villainize anyone associated with those programs, but that would be equally unfair and hurtful. 

I believe that the stereotype of the greedy, power hungry, glory seeking minister is extremely overstated and overused.  I sense that most folks get into ministry with pure motivations, and that the vast majority serve in a sincere effort to fulfill God’s calling on their lives. 

This field is only lucrative to a select few, while the vast majority toil in obscurity, often overworked and unappreciated.  The burden placed on a typical pastor is unreasonable at best, and is frequently damaging to them and their families.  My issues are not with these folks, but with the blueprint that we’ve used to do “church”.

Traditionist’s tend to revere the institution of the church as being sacred, seeing it as an integral and essential element of their faith walk.  While they might acknowledge that the church isn’t a building, their connection to God is most tangibly experienced there.  Of course, these ideas aren’t organically arrived at, they are consistently reinforced by the institution itself.  On a purely practical level, this messaging is crucial to the entity’s survival. 

Even churches which openly acknowledge the indwelling the Holy Spirit tend to promote the concept of the church building being the “House of God”, which infers that this is where you need to go if you hope to interact with Him.  In such settings, the corporate worship experience is generally valued above personal interactions with the Lord.

Old testament images, such as temple worship, and the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies on behalf of the people encourage congregations to view their clergy as a sort of broker between themselves and God.  While the gap between “clergy”, and “laity” creates the sense of exclusive membership in some sort of elite branch of the body, much like Special Forces units compare to the regular infantry. 

The Apostle Paul spoke of a body where every member provides something essential for the greater whole, but the traditional church model reduces the vast majority of congregants into students (who never graduate), servants (who are simply gears within the larger machine), or perhaps worst of all, into spectators (who are expected to crowd-fund the vision of their leadership).

Jesus came to give us a better covenant (Heb.7:22, 8:6, 12:24).  When He died on the cross, the veil was torn (Matt.27:52, Mark 15:38), signifying that followers could now boldly come before the throne of grace (Heb.4:16).  No more need for bloody sacrifices.  No more need for a High Priest to do their bidding.  Christ was the perfect sacrifice, and through Him we became a part of the royal priesthood (1 Pet.2:9).

Jesus explained, that it would be better that He go to the Father, so that the Spirit would come (John 16:7), and He assured them that His sheep would know His voice, so they could follow Him (John 10:27).  All of this was meant to revolutionize the way we worshipped (John 4:23), but over time followers simply reverted back to the familiar temple-based system, where a staff of intermediaries could once again represent and lead them.  When the temple was destroyed, the system morphed into the Synagogue – Rabbi model, which maintained a similar emphasis on buildings and teachers.

Over time, numerous liturgies, rituals, and sacraments were developed with the idea that they might be representative of our relationship with the Lord, but in many cases, they have become a substitute for a genuine, personal, connection with the Living God.  This is the anti-thesis of what we should be aiming for, but the unfortunate truth is that this twisted dynamic is actually good for the “church” system.

None of this would matter much if people were sincerely connecting with the Lord, manifesting His light and life to those around them, and actually being transformed into His image, but for the most part, this industry we call church is what we’re spending our time and resources on instead. 

The greatest indictment against this traditional church model is that it has utterly failed to produce any of the hallmarks described in scripture.  “Christians” are not known by their great love for one another (John 13;35), instead they are famously divided (e.g. more than 25,000 denominations).  They are not known for their “Christlike” character (Rom.8:29), nor are these institutions consistently producing devoted disciples (Matt.28:19).  Even with thousands of years of church history, His pure and spotless Bride has never emerged from this system (Eph.5:27). 

D.L. Moody offered, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter”.  I would suggest that the institutional church has gotten very good at a lot of things that may not matter much to the Lord.

Though some fine work has been, and is being done in Jesus name (e.g. food banks, clothing banks, Christmas gifts for underprivileged kids, drug rehabilitation…), the transforming love of God is only trickling through.  It is like a charitable organization that spends 90% of its resources on sustaining the corporate structure, while only pennies on the dollar actually reach the intended beneficiaries (e.g. the lost).  The impact of these institutions is not only declining within our culture, it is declining within our homes, as our children are abandoning this system in droves.

Those who have come to recognize these shortcomings within the traditional church model frequently split into one of the other two groups I previously mentioned.  The New Wineskin Advocates tend to believe that changes in leadership structure (e.g. Five-Fold Ministry), and/or format (e.g. House Church, Small Group…) would be sufficient to move the institutional church in a new, and more fruitful direction, while the De-churched largely view the institutionalization of the church as the root problem.  For them, this system is too broke and/or corrupt to fix.

My motivation in writing this piece is not to promote any one of these groups over the other, but to lay out the challenge that each of them face. There are valid points to be made for and against each perspective, but regardless of what camp one ascribes to, there is much work to be done.

There is no doubt that God has used, and continues to use the traditional church model.  Flawed vessels are all that He has to work with, and to the degree it is about Him, He works through it.  In many ways this system works fairly well for young believers, as it provides a substantial amount of structure, and basic teaching.  But on the other end of the spectrum, it struggles to allow disciples to come to full maturity. 

A comparable paradigm would be adult children, who still live in their parent’s basement.  By appearance, they are fully functional adults, but in truth they will never actually stand on their own two feet (i.e. put a roof over their head, put food on their own table, pay their own utility bills, raise their own children…) until they absolutely have to.  Even if they’re paying rent to their parents, they are still very much dependents, who won’t find out what they’re capable of until they build a life of their own.  It was never God’s design that children should remain wards of their parents (Gen.2:24).

Likewise, the Hebrew writer explains that the Levitical priesthood was never going to be sufficient to bring the church to its fullness (Heb.7:11-12), which created the need for One who was both King and Priest.  Again, this was intended to be a radical shift in the way that the body of Christ functioned, and he ultimately chastens these particular followers for their lack of growth in the walk of faith (Heb.5:12-13).  Yet, as constructed, the traditional church system re-creates this same Levitical pattern.  As long as there is a professional staff to do the work of ministry, it is unlikely that the royal priesthood will ever truly emerge (Heb.7).

Finally, the church as an institution is a troublesome notion.  A body is formed by the Creator, and it is a living thing.  Institutions are constructed by man, and the only life within them comes from those who inhabit them.  No matter how diligent the construction, such entities are highly susceptible to corruption, and the long sad history of institutional religion is infested with tragic examples of this.  There is also a built-in conflict of interest, as helping folks to go directly to the Lord becomes a threat to the solvency of the structure.

Perhaps the greatest danger is that folks mistake their affiliation with the institution for genuine communion with the One who came to set them free.  In the midst of such deception, there are bold declarations of liberation, but genuine freedom is never truly experienced.

Ultimately, the evidence that a branch is connected to the vine is the fruit that naturally springs forth from it.  If the traditional church model isn’t producing followers who think, look and act like Jesus Christ (2 Corth.3:18), one needs to question what vine it has grafted itself to (John 15:5).

New Wineskin Advocates recognize the need for a change, and have varying ideas about what this new form or format might look like.  Many believe that getting away from buildings, and corporate structures would create a closer knit, more intimate community.  Others believe that Apostolic leadership, and Prophetic insight are what’s missing from the current church recipe. 

To be sure, there is some amount of scriptural basis for these (and other) potential approaches, but it is questionable whether any of these changes will actually transform “the church”.  Without a genuine change of heart, we risk carrying the damage and dysfunction of our current system into the new format. 

Many of those who’ve already ventured into the House Church movement have found themselves having the same sorts of issues (albeit on a smaller, more intimate scale) they were having in church buildings, and in ministries attempting to implement the Five-Fold Ministry approach, the clergy / laity divide is actually growing.

Watching these first small steps toward a “new wineskin” might lend credence to the De-churched belief that this system is broken beyond repair.  But if that is true, where does the Body of Christ go from here.  Our mission is not to simply diagnose what’s wrong with the church.  It is to be the active, visible, breathing representation of Jesus Christ on the earth.  If one concludes that the established system is a counterfeit, it becomes incumbent upon them to go on and manifest something legitimate in its place.

In far too many instances, the De-churched gather around their damaging church experiences, congratulating each other for escaping “the system”, and disparaging anyone who remains within it.  None of that gets us any closer to our destiny, and staying there for any amount of time cultivates a root of bitterness.

After spending a couple thousand words in breaking all this down, I would like to suggest that it doesn’t really matter which of these camps you might find yourself in.  Ultimately, the challenge is the same.  God does not view us as we view each other, He is looking directly into our hearts (1Sam.16:7).  I would further submit that if our hearts were in the right condition, the format of our worship wouldn’t inhibit us from manifesting a legitimate representation of Christ (Rom.8:28).

The gospels (Mathew & Luke) record an intriguing scene from the ministry of John the Baptist.  “When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt.3:7-10)’.”

It’s interesting, and maybe a bit concerning that no one ever seems to see themselves in the Pharisees, and Sadducees.  Could it be a similar kind of religious pride that blinds us to the deception in our own hearts?  After all, these men had devoted their lives to ministerial pursuits, and they were confident in their knowledge, lineage, giftings, and callings.  They had credentials, and position, and a booming religious system behind them.  And how is that any different than the religious leaders of today.

Then, along comes a wild-eyed street preacher, questioning their legitimacy, and demanding that they produce the fruit of their alleged repentance.  Who was he to make such an accusation, or to deliver such a mandate?    Of course, had there been heathy fruit to present, it would have been a simple matter to discredit this outsider, but despite the thriving temple industry, the cupboard was woefully bare.

We too, can point to our beautiful facilities, our state-of-the-art sound systems, our arena sized worship events, and our well attended conferences, as evidence of “success” in ministry.  But those things are a better representation of the culture than of Christ.  Once again, I hear the Spirit of Lord demanding that we present the fruit of our supposed repentance.  That is the challenge laying before all who would call themselves by His name.  Indeed, the ax is already at the root, and without genuine fruit, our labor will continue to be in vain.

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The Most Pressing Issue Facing the Church

Posted in Commentaries, Word Pictures, tagged , , , , , , on November 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

As the various ministry leaders filed into the room, they smiled warily at one another.  Exchanging tepid pleasantries as they moved to their assigned seats at the head table.  This session was intended to create a panel discussion on “The Most Pressing Issue Facing the Church”, and the audience seemed enthusiastic to hear from this esteemed panel.  Some of the speakers were better known than others, but all had come with something to say.

One by one, they spoke out their concerns.  One spoke of the rampant sexual sin, that had engulfed so many in leadership; calling for the corporate repentance of all believers.  Another pointed to a failure to properly discern “The Body or Ecclesia”, pleading for greater unity among the brethren.  Still another reasoned it was the lack of a functioning “Five-Fold Ministry” structure, chiding the attendees to step under the umbrella of Apostolic leadership.  Each presenter was met with a chorus of amens, and generally polite applause, until one particularly boisterous speaker set the spectators aflame with his diatribe on the loss of the churches influence within western society, and his “7 Cultural Mountains” strategy to bring her back to her former glory.  The people rose to their feet as this man made his way around the room, laying his hands on them, and “imparting a spirit of boldness!”

Conference organizers considered ending the session on this high note, but there was still one more panelist who hadn’t spoken, so despite their better instincts, they asked that folks move back to their seats and give him their attention.  The energy of the room dropped significantly, as this final speaker made his way to the podium.  Some looked through their program, searching for the credential that qualified him to be included amongst this illustrious group.  He spoke in a relatively low voice, and in measured tones, but he seemed to make eye contact with just about everyone in the room.  He did not introduce himself, or give his resume, as the other speakers had.  He simply began to speak.

“The most pressing issue facing the church of Jesus Christ is that we do not look anything like Him.  We do not think like Him, we do not speak like Him, we do not share His value system, and we do not reflect His character.  We are called to be the physical manifestation of His Body on the earth.  A living, breathing representation of who He is, so that He might draw men unto Himself through us.  But instead, we have created an industry called, “The Church”, and we’ve slapped His name on our letterheads, and buildings, much like a corporate sponsor does on a stadium. 

He said that people would know us by the way we love each other, but that is not how they know us.  If we’re honest, we ourselves struggle to gather in the same room without all manner of envy and strife.  Who should accept the invitation to join in such dysfunction.

The Apostle Paul warned that we could gain all knowledge, and know all prophecy, and give to the poor, but if we failed to love, as He loves, we would have nothing.  We are rich in the things of the world.  We have beautiful facilities, and state of the art sound systems, and church vans, and coffee bars…   But we are impoverished in the currency of the Kingdom. 

I would suggest to you that it is not “boldness” that we lack, for we have boldly gone our own way.  It is humility that we ought to pray for, because without the mind of Christ, or the Father’s heart, we cannot be trusted with the power of His Spirit.”

The room was completely quiet, and everyone sat still, as the man shuffled back to his seat.  After an uncomfortable pause, it was announced that the session was over, and lunch was served.  Both the speakers and the audience rose to their feet, and intently moved toward the door.  No one acknowledged the final speaker, or addressed the words he’d said. 

But as the conference ended, the singular point of agreement amongst the attendees was that this man should not be invited to next year’s gathering.

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Prophetically Speaking

Posted in Commentaries, tagged , , , , , , on October 3, 2023| Leave a Comment »

I should preface my testament with a little disclaimer.  As a father of four, I can attest that my relationship with each one of my children is completely unique, because each one of them is completely unique.  Different things motivate them, different things scare them, different things inspire them…  What works for one, doesn’t necessarily work for the others.  And as such, each one engages a different part of my being, which is ultimately reflected in our individual relationship.  I believe that this is true of “Our Father” and His children as well. 

If that is correct, then it follows that just because He isn’t speaking to me about something, doesn’t mean that He isn’t speaking to one of His other children about it.  For this reason, I try to avoid pointing my finger at other folks “prophetic” words as being false.  If it doesn’t ring true in my spirit (1John4:1), I just let it fall to the ground and move on.  I encourage others to do the same for anything that comes from my lips.

With that said, it is hard not to admit that much of what presents itself as “prophetic” these days seems wildly out of step with the Father’s heart, as I understand it.  In my experience, the God who tells us not to worry about tomorrow (Matt.6:34) doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about what’s going to happen tomorrow.  And the God who tells us not to focus on what is seen (2Cor.4:18) doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about current events.  And the God who is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about notable cultural figures, no matter how significant we might think they are to our future.  And the God who said that “no man” will know the hour of His coming (Matt.24:36) doesn’t spend a lot of time dropping hints about the date of His return.

Instead, I have found that the God who said that He looks at the heart of a man (1.Sam.16:7) spends a lot of time speaking about issues of the heart.  And that the God who is faithful to complete the good work He’s begun in us (Phil.1:6) speaks more about the internal work (transformation) than the external work.   And that the God who didn’t give us a spirit of fear (2Tim.1:7) isn’t speaking words to stir up our fears.  And that the God who tells us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb.12:2) is constantly drawing our attention away from circumstances and back to His Son.  And that the God who promises to work “all things” to the good for those who love Him and who are called to His purposes (Rom.8:28) speaks with great confidence of His ability to do so.

Since darkness is simply the absence of light, I haven’t known the Lord to give endless warnings about what’s going on in the dark.  Most commonly, He just exhorts me to be the light, against which the darkness has no defense.  His words bring life (John 6:68), compelling me to invest all of my trust in Him, and not in some corrupted man-made system.  They push me to love my neighbor more completely, not engage in some fruitless battle of ideologies.  For me, it is not a question of accuracy, it is a matter of authentically representing the heart of my Father.

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Emotional

Posted in Commentaries, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

When I was a child, I was very sensitive and emotional; which sounds kind of funny since I don’t suppose that I’ve ever stopped being those things.  But as time went on, I figured out that wearing my heart (i.e. emotions) on my sleeve was both messy, and at times, even dangerous. 

The first step was learning to suppress the urge to express every thought and/or feeling that bubbled up within me.  This was only moderately helpful, as internalizing these things just allowed them to fester until they came blasting out in some other unhealthy fashion.

Eventually I began to develop my intellect as a way of heading off those powerful emotions, ultimately learning to talk myself off the ledge.  I started to anticipate situations, and to think my way through them as a hedge against getting overwhelmed by circumstances. 

While this step was a little more fruitful, I began to slide off the other side of the spectrum, often times becoming relentlessly pragmatic, cynical, and/or emotionally shutdown. It was easier to manage that way, but I’m not sure it was any healthier.

In my early thirties, the life that I had carefully built (without God) began to unravel, and the powerful emotions that accompanied that season threated to drive me back into the volatile sensitivity of my youth.  Though I did have some bad moments, they were tempered by a rediscovery of my faith, as the collapse of my first marriage coincided with a sudden and unexpected revelation of Jesus.  It was a slow, and somewhat painful process, but I began to learn how to surrender my overwhelming emotions to Him, so that they wouldn’t spill over into other areas of my life.

On the surface, I may have appeared to be calmer and more mature, but in reality, I emerged from the wreckage of my old life emotionally exhausted, guarded and with a fair amount of skepticism with regard to the future (i.e. little hope).

As I attempted to cultivate my renewed faith, I frequently found myself in Evangelical settings, where ministers often warned of the dangers of “emotionalism”.   Their antidote always seemed to center around more Bible study.  If we could just memorize scripture, we’d be inoculated against the toxic effect of our emotions.  This created a rather cold sanitized religious atmosphere, much like a clean kitchen with no food in the cupboards.  It felt safe, but it generally left you hungry.

Over time, I felt pulled toward more Charismatic circles, and that atmosphere was the antithesis of what I’d experienced previously.  It was lively, loud, and filled with unabashed emotion.  It was warmer, and more inviting, but it also felt chaotic and precarious.  For a long time, I just sat back and watched.  It was like a messy kitchen with plenty to eat, but a lot of it looked like junk food.

I felt caught between two worlds, neither of which seemed to be what I was seeking.  And in the midst of this turmoil, God in His mercy, allowed me to encounter His Holy Spirit, which became the pivot on which everything shifted. 

In that moment, the otherworldly, historical God that I had grown up hearing about stepped into the present tense, and became a reality to me.  The sense of His presence was so tangible and healing that I never wanted to live apart from Him again.

This was the beginning of a new journey for me.  I was no longer interested in religious rituals, and quasi-sacred dogmas.  If God was a real person, and I could have an actual relationship with Him, that is what I wanted.  Life had taught me that people are generally self-serving, unreliable, and not worthy of my trust, so the thought of eliminating the middle man was very appealing to me.

Like Peter, this unveiled revelation of who He was made me want to set up a tent, and live with Him on the mountain top, and God allowed me to revel in that “just You and me” relationship for a season.  But just as He did with His disciples, He let me know that ultimately the mission was down in the valley, where all those people I struggled to trust lived. 

The good news was that He wasn’t asking me to trust them, He was asking me to trust Him.  The bad news was that I couldn’t distance myself from them without also creating distance between Him and me.  Given my newfound sense of His nearness, that was a cost I wasn’t willing to pay. 

But I also understood that routinely dealing with the complexities of other human beings was going to require a level of patience and self-control that I had not yet manifested at that point in my life.  From the base, it looked to be a mountain that might be impossible to climb.

To my dismay, the more serious I became about laying my life down for the Lord, the more I found Him pushing me back toward the emotional sensitivity of my childhood.  I felt as though He said that this was part of how He designed me; that my gifts were wrapped up in that sensitivity, and that only a childlike heart would be able to experience His kingdom. 

While I understood that He didn’t want me to be driven by my emotions, I found that He was equally dissatisfied with idea that I would be guided by my own rationalizations.  God, and His kingdom far exceed the bounds of my natural mind’s ability to understand them, and to rely on my thoughts as a guide greatly diminishes the influence He means to have in my life.  To that end, He has graciously given us His Holy Spirit, that we might have the mind of Christ, and the heart of the Father, but to partake of that requires genuine surrender.

I wish I could say that I’ve consistently walked in that level of submission, but that wouldn’t be true.  I will say that it has been in those moments when I’ve been able to set aside my own thoughts and feelings that God has most clearly manifested Himself in my life.  As with all things, there is a balance that needs to be achieved.

Our emotions are not inherently evil, they are a reflection of the Creator, whose image we were made in.  They are a vital part of who we are, and of the gifts He’s given us, and of the loving relationships we were meant to have.  Indeed, we cannot accurately reflect His character without them.  But they were never meant to be our motivation to speak/act, or to be our source for fulfilment.

The same is true of our mind, which the Lord also gave us.  It is a beautiful gift, that can be a powerful instrument when in subjection to His authority.  But like our emotions, it has tremendous potential to facilitate chaos and destruction.  The scripture warns that we need to take every thought captive and to make it obedient to Christ.  I would suggest that this is also the necessary pattern for our emotions.

When we surrender ourselves to the power of God’s Spirit, He does not seize control of us like some drone being flown remotely.  Instead, He works through the gifts He’s given us, including our mind and emotions.  Moment by moment, it is our choice as to whether we will remain in subjection to Him, which is why “Self-Control” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

In my lifetime, I have walked through a spectrum of emotional experiences.  I have been the hyper reactive, easily offended, perpetually triggered melt down machine; and I have also been the callous, cynical, apathetic jerk.  I have seen my emotions (& thoughts) become seeds for destruction, and I have seen them powerfully used by God.  Today, as with all things, I simply try to keep myself (i.e. mind, will and emotions) in step with God’s heart. 

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Destination

Posted in Commentaries, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Life is not a ride, it’s a journey.  A ride consists of being carried along to wherever the vehicle happens to be headed, while a journey has an ultimate destination, which requires navigation and effort to complete. 

One who sails for pleasure doesn’t concern themselves with what direction the wind is blowing, or where the rudder is pointed, as long as their sail is full.  They rarely stray far from the shore, and will avoid a storm at all costs.  At the end of the day, success is judged by the strength of the wind, and the smoothness of the seas, both of which are completely out of our control.

For those who choose the journey, it is very different.  It is not so much about the sail as it is the rudder, and the compass.  Though such a sailor revels in those times when the sail is up and inflated, they understand that they must discern the wind and pull the sail down amidst unfavorable breezes. 

They also understand that in order to reach their ultimate landing spot they will have to pass through some rough waters.  In those times they just hold fast to the rudder and keep the ship pointed toward the eventual goal.  For such a traveler, success is measured by the distance from their final destination. 

Unless we purpose in our heart to be someone, or to do something, we evolve into little more than an accumulation of our experiences, both good and bad.  In such cases, we tend to live life like a pinball; propelled by gravity and bouncing from one obstacle to another.

Anything worthwhile in life requires some amount of investment on our part.  Those who are unwilling to make such a deposit are generally pushed along by the winds of circumstance to some uncertain end.

For the first 30 years of my life, I was essentially on a pleasure cruise, looking for that next exhilarating ride.  But a few decades ago, I began to recognize that I was created for something more.  Indeed, I had a purpose, and a destiny.  And the further I have travelled, the more I comprehend the importance of the journey itself.

At some point, I stopped referencing the past (i.e. where I came from, who I’ve been, what I’ve experienced, what I think I know…) for my identity, and started looking to my Creator for that understanding.  He reminded me that before I was in my mother’s womb, He knew me (Jer.1:5), which means that I’m more than simply a byproduct of my DNA, or my heredity, or my upbringing…

And as I found myself pondering who God intended me to be, He reminded me that it was someone who looked a lot like His Son (Rom.8:29), which told me that the transformation process was going to be dramatic; since who I’d been up to that point hadn’t really resembled Him at all.

As I prayed for Him to complete the good work He’d begun in me, the Lord gave me a glimpse of the road ahead (i.e. coordinates to chart a course for).  He highlighted the characteristics He’s ordained for me, like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal.5:22-23).  He spoke to my demeanor in the midst struggle, exhorting me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19).  And He gave me a focal point to keep my eyes fixed on (Heb.12:2), while warning me not to be distracted by the squalls that inevitably come (2Cor.4:18).

On the surface, it all seemed pretty simple.  Nothing I didn’t already know.  Nothing I couldn’t enthusiastically say, “Amen” to.  But the walking it out has proven to be a daily battle.  We can know all this, agree with it in principle, and unconsciously live as though none of it is true.  Everything in our human nature pushes us the other way.  Unless we make a conscious effort to participate in the divine nature (2Pet.1:4), we stay mired in the same fruitless pattern.

It’s so easy to wake up tired, agitated and sore.  To dread all the things that need to be done in the course of a day.  To interpret a stubbed toe, or spilled coffee as some sort of prophetic declaration about the state of our lives.  To anxiously listen to the dire reports in the news, and to curse at the lunatics who almost hit us because they’re on their phones. 

We can spend the day reacting to people and situations that wring every bit of goodwill out of us, and come home growling at the people we claim to love the most.  And we can sing heavenly worship songs in Sunday service, only to return to this miserable cycle on Monday morning.

The antithesis of this is to begin each day with an invitation to the Holy Spirit to rise up and to do His blessed work in our lives.  To make a genuine connection to the Giver of Life, and to seek His direction and priority for the day.  To guard our heart and mind (Prov.4:23 & Phil.4:7) as we step out into the world, and to ask for God’s heart for every person we interact with (John 13:34). 

When situations rise up, and anxious moments occur, we need to take the time to regain an eternal perspective before responding and/or acting. And we need to be as interested in reflecting Christ’s character to our own family as we are with reaching out to strangers.

More practically, it means surrendering thoughts like, “how does this make me feel?” or “want do I want?”, in favor of thoughts like, “how do you see this Lord?” and “what do you desire?”.  It includes avoiding the temptation to immerse ourselves in people and situations that God isn’t calling us to, or to wrestle with issues that He hasn’t given us any dominion over (e.g. almost all geo-political disputes), so that we can be available for the people He’s placed directly in our path.

For those with a westernized religious sensibility, all of this might seem a bit radical, after all, can’t we make it to heaven if we just “believe”.  But I would submit that the first step to sharing in His resurrection life, is taking up a cross daily, and following Him.  To that end, I believe that this is what dying to self looks like.  It is readily forfeiting your will to do what seems right in your own eyes (Prov.14:12) in favor of doing the will of the Father (John 5:19).

If our association with Christ is little more than a hedge against the fires of hell, this probably seems excessive.  But if we truly love Him, and wish to serve Him, this is a pathway to His glory (Col.1:27).  The fulfillment of our destiny isn’t really about what we will accomplish in His name, it’s about becoming the person He created us to be.  If we exercise our freedom to become someone other than that, He can rightfully say, “I never knew you” (Matt.7:23).

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Hopeless Causes

Posted in Commentaries, tagged , , , on June 15, 2023| 2 Comments »

Received the heartbreaking news that yet another young person, who grew up with our kids, has been lost.  The details surrounding his death are not known to us, but given his history of drug use and homelessness, it’s probably a safe bet that it was drug related.   Anita first met Bret while she was substitute teaching in the city school system.  He was a relatively quiet, and well behaved young man, who was never a problem for her in class.  Years later, as we helped a young homeless girl, we found that she and Bret were clinging to each other as they lived on the street, or squatted in old abandoned houses. 

Every few weeks, they would contact us, and we would pick them up, feed them, let them wash their clothes, and take showers.  At the end of such encounters, it was always gut wrenching to take them back, but we always made sure they had warm dry clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, tents, food…  We often discussed making some sort of change, and they both expressed a sort of vague hope that things would somehow get better, but neither demonstrated any willingness to make changes to their course.  They were both savvy, able bodied kids, who could have worked, but they seemed resigned to life on the streets.

Throughout the years, God has often had us reach out to people who live in these types of desperate circumstances, and if I’m honest, it’s rarely had a happy ending.  We do our best to come alongside of them, love them where they’re at, get them help (if they’re willing to be helped), and try to point them toward hope.  More often than not, we’ve been criticized.  Some feel as though we’re wasting our time, our resources, and are needlessly exposing our family to potential danger.  Others feel as though we should be doing more, like incorporating these folks into our household, and raising their drug babies as our own.  For us, it is an exercise in following God’s leading; both grabbing a hold, and letting go as He directs.  It’s about having His heart for people, and sharing that heart with them.  And every time one falls, our heart breaks.

Our prayers persist for the young girl (Silvia), who remains on the street alone, running from the law, and (last we heard) pregnant with Bret’s child.  She is not beyond God’s reach, but He will not take away her ability to choose the path she takes.  Though we cannot reach her, we will carry her to Him in prayer.  Please join us as you feel led to.

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Thought for the Day – Adulthood

Posted in Commentaries, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged , , on June 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Adulthood doesn’t really happen at a particular age.  If you still depend on someone else to keep you housed, fed, and/or mobile, you are still functioning as a child, and shouldn’t be surprised when you are treated accordingly.

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Talking Politics

Posted in Commentaries, tagged , , , , on May 31, 2023| Leave a Comment »

One of the very few benefits of social media is the ability to stay connected with friends and family from around the globe, sharing moments of both joy and of struggle.  But I have to admit, more often than not, it is simply a cesspool of provocation and contention.  Even those of us who identify as followers of Christ seem to easily get caught up in the rhetoric. 

On one side we have the “woke” folk, who espouse the idea that “silence is violence”, and that we have a duty to speak out on what they view as the critical issues of the day.  On the other side, we have our nationalist friends, who seem to feel like we need to, “make our voice heard”, so that America can be “great again”.  The steady refusal to engage in some fruitless war of words only seems to draw the ire of both sides.

Recently, I’ve been bombarded with messaging that seems to imply that this lack of engagement is somehow a forfeiture of my “Christian” duty to attempt to effect change in a sinful culture and fallen world.  But I would submit that if by observing my life, or being in relationship with me, you are unsure of the values I hold to, my words are not likely to impact you.  Indeed, I would be the proverbial clanging cymbal.  Only Christ has the words of life, and unless He gives me something to say, I think it best to keep my mouth shut.  When Jesus stood before His accusers, He remained silent (Matt.27:12), which is a totally appropriate response for people who are simply trying to set a snare.

I also disagree with the assertion that involvement in political activism is meant to be an integral part of expressing our faith.  The scripture tells us not to focus on the seen realm (2Cor.4:18), which is perishing, but to keep our eyes fixed on Christ (Heb.12:2), who is the perfecter of our faith.  It tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood (Eph.6:12), and warns us that a good soldier does not get involved in civilian affairs (2Tim.2:4).  When the political, religious and cultural forces came together to attack Jesus, Peter rationalized taking up a sword, but instead of being praised, He was rebuked by Christ; who went on to undo the damage Peter had done (Luke 22:51). He later explained to Pilate that His Kingdom was not of this world, which is why His followers weren’t called to fight for Him in that manner (John 18:36).

I have happily served this country (12 years US Navy), I clearly recognize the wonderful benefits of democracy, and I have voted in every election I could, but on its best day, the American political system is still a corrupted, man-made system.  As forms of government go, democracy may be the gold standard, but it still falls under the heading of a “hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world”, rather than on Christ (Col.2:9).  While it is completely reasonable to participate as a citizen of the United States, it is not something a child of God ought to invest much hope in.

Christ is our model, and He only did what His Father directed.  Then He gave us His Holy Spirit, so that we might do the same.  He said that people would be able to identify His followers by their love for one another (John 13;35), and by the fruit of their faith (Matt.7:16).  Unfortunately, the people of the world don’t routinely witness either of those.  Sadly, they more commonly know us by our political beliefs instead.

When Christ came, God’s chosen people had been conquered by a hostile foreign government (Rome), were being ignored by their own puppet regime (Herod) and were being exploited by the very religious system that was supposed to keep them connected to their God.  They expected the Messiah to change all that, but Jesus was focused on something more profound, and eternal.  I would submit that He still is.

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