Covetous:
As with all sin, covetous short-circuits Gods plan to give us abundant life. He wants us to find the extravagant provision (e.g. peace, joy, rest, hope, strength…) that He’s made for us, while the enemy of our souls seeks to keep us connected to a temporal sense of lack. Since we don’t covet what we already have, the act of coveting keeps us focused on what we don’t have. Pursuit of those things generally blinds us to the blessings we already possess and drives us toward vain attempts to gain our lives.
It’s the enemy’s treadmill to have us waste the precious time and resources that we’ve been given chasing some elusive promise of fulfillment. In those instances when we are successful in attaining the coveted object, we most often find that it is not nearly as satisfying as we’d hoped. In those times the enemy generally begins to dangle “the next big thing” in front of us and soon we’re off and running again. This picture is in stark contrast to the scripture.
The book of Hebrews tells us to keep our lives free of covetousness and to be content with whatever we have (Heb.13:5). Paul also testified that he’d learned to be contented in all situations (Phil.4:11). This is the same freedom the Lord intends for us. We’re told that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all of the other things will be added to us, and we are warned that our attempts to gain our life will ultimately cause us to lose it.
As with so many other things, we in the church are often more conformed to the culture than to the word of God. Sadly, the consumer mentality is rampant in the church and covetousness is a sin that is openly committed without repentance.
In Charismatic/Pentecostal circles, leaders often invite people to covet the gifts, and callings of those who appear to be more “anointed” than themselves, and those who preach the prosperity gospel encourage people to covet the lifestyles of those who appear to be more “blessed” than they are. We may rationalize it as being “goal oriented” or the pursuit of the “American Dream”, but it is covetous in its truest form, and it keeps us from walking in the fullness Christ died to give us.
Dying to Self:
Western Christianity has largely replaced the concept of self-sacrifice (i.e. dying to self, esteeming others above ourselves, sharing in Christ’s suffering…) with self-actualization (i.e. empowerment, fulfillment, blessing, calling, gifts…). This revised version of the gospel allows one to live their best life here on earth, and then ascend to their heavenly mansion.
But I would submit that becoming “the best version of yourself” is not necessarily the same as becoming the person you were created to be. The latter requires the involvement of the Creator.
Dying to self is a moment by moment proposition (1 Cor. 15:36). There is no level of sanctification, anointing, or calling that exempts us from the need to surrender our lives, and submit our wills on a daily basis (Luke 14:27). Without an ongoing commitment to partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), we are bound to fall to our human nature (Prov. 14:12).
Ultimately, we cannot hope to ‘make disciples (Matt.28:19)” unless we are disciples, and we cannot be disciples unless we are willing to deny ourselves and take up our cross “daily” (Luke 9:23).
Imaginations:
Though dreams and visions are referenced throughout the scripture, the most often cited application in the modern context seems to center on Proverbs 29:18 (Where there is no vision, the people perish…) and Joel 2:28 (your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions…). Both tend to be used as proof texts for the idea that God gives certain people (most commonly in leadership positions) visions of and for the future, which subordinates should gather around, and support. While there may be a thread of truth in all that, the scope and magnitude to which it is promoted is at the very least exaggerated, and at times patently deceptive.
The vision spoken of in Proverbs 29 is a present tense revelation from God, and this passage (verse 18) is simply pointing out that in the absence of such divine guidance, people will revert to what is right in their own eyes, which ultimately leads to death (Prov.14:12).
Too often, the “vision” presented by church leadership amounts to detailed plans, strategies and goals for the future, which almost always center on the building of their ministry. Ostensibly, God will be gloried in that process.
Visionary leaders can build strong organizations, beautiful facilities, and lasting legacies, but unless people are growing closer to the Lord, and are being transformed into His image, the Kingdom of God is not significantly impacted. Frequently, the followers of this type of leader are simply transformed into their image.
In my own experience, I have found that the God who exists outside of time, who tells me not to worry about tomorrow, and who knows the end from the beginning, is not fretting about the future, or His ability to preserve me in the midst of adversity. And that the God who offers us daily bread, and to be a lamp unto our feet, is not prone to give long term plans and strategies that would allow me to go very far without His direct interaction. Indeed, man’s obsession with knowing and controlling the future is rooted in fear, and that spirit does not come from Him.
What generally goes unspoken are the scriptures numerous warnings of how our pride and imaginations can lead us into deception. Zechariah spoke of idols that speak deceitfully, diviners who see visions that lie, and tell dreams that are false (Zech.10.2). Obadiah warned of how pride can cause deception of the heart (Obad.1:3). Isaiah spoke of those who “prophesy illusions” (Isa.30:10). Jeremiah warned of the delusions our minds can conjure (Jer.14:14), while Ezekiel spoke of those who prophesy out of their imagination (Eze.13:2).
Given the scriptures emphasis on these, and many other warnings, it would seem vital to discern between dreams and visions which are birthed from the Spirit of God, and those which come from the fertile imagination of their host. While imagination is a reflection of God’s creativity, it is also subject to the folly of our fallen nature, and is frequently a useful tool in the hands of our enemy.
The people of Babel imagined that building a tower that reached the heavens would bring them fame (Gen.11). Sarai devised a strategy to fulfill God’s promise to Abram (Gen.16). Peter had a plan to protect Jesus (John 18:10-11). And Saul imagined that he was serving God’s purposes by orchestrating the persecution of Christ’s followers (Acts 9). Ultimately, they all found themselves in opposition to God’s will.
On a more practical level, convincing folks to “serve the vision” generally has the effect of taking their eyes off the One who is the Author and Finisher of their faith, and the only One who has the words of life. If the vision is truly birthed in the Spirit, He will guide them to their role within it. Instead of teaching followers of Christ to “serve the vision”, we need to be teaching them to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, and that His sheep know His voice, they listen and they follow.
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Reverse Theology
Posted in Commentaries, tagged deceived, imagination, judging God, predetermined, reverse engineering, reverse psychology, reverse theology, transformation on October 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
After spending over four decades working in engineering related fields, I’ve come to an appreciation of the complexities that can so often exist beneath the surface of a seemingly simple veneer. Because starting from scratch is generally a long and arduous process, it can be advantageous to begin with something that has already been developed and proven to be functional. By breaking an existing assembly down into its foundational elements, one can often find keys to its success, which can then be used to build upon. This process is known as “Reverse Engineering.”
Similarly, when efforts to motivate someone in a positive direction fail to get the desired outcome, it can at times be effective to take an inverse approach, which may allow them to back over a threshold they weren’t willing to directly step across. This approach is known as “Reverse Psychology.”
Recently, during a time of prayer, I sensed the Lord use the phrase “Reverse Theology.” And as I meditated on that term, I sensed that it describes a process of seeing God through the lens of who we want Him to be (or think He ought to be), instead of seeking to know Him as He truly is. Like reverse engineering, we can begin at the end, and work our way backwards by finding verses, teachings, and ministers which will undergird our predetermined conclusions.
If we are naturally militant, we can grab ahold of scriptures like the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force (Matt.11:12), you’ve trained my hands for war (Psalm 144:1), and countless Old Testament stories about crushing the enemies of Israel; while ignoring New Testament verses about loving our enemies (Matt.5:44), and living in peace with our neighbors (Rom.12:18).
If we are scholarly we might gravitate toward verses which exalt the value of knowledge (Hosea 4:6, 2Peter 1:5), and ignore the admonitions about coming as a little child (Matt.18:3). If we are patriarchal we can embrace the commandment for wives to submit to their husbands (Eph.5, Col.3), while omitting the corresponding directive for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and gave His life for her (Eph.5:25).
If we are comfortable within the world system, we can console ourselves with “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16)”, and disregard His warning that friendship with the world amounts to enmity with God (James 4:4). Like a modular living room set, we can arrange the pieces in whatever way best fits our space.
Interestingly, we can stand on the authority of scripture to justify our positions, and then dismiss scriptural counterpoints with catchphrases about the Bible being a “flawed book”, “written by men”, which has been “frequently mistranslated” …
Based on scripture, the way to develop an understanding of who God is (i.e. a theology) is to seek Him, and to allow Him to reveal Himself to us (Jer.29:13, Matt.7:7). Often, the revelation of who He is will be accompanied by a revelation of who He created us to be as well (Gen.17:5, Gen.32:28, Matt.16:18). If we choose to surrender ourselves, and walk with Him, our knowledge of Him grows, and we are transformed into His image, which is ultimately our destiny (Rom.8:29, Rom.12:2, 2Cor.3:18).
The application of a “reverse theology” saves us from all that seeking, surrendering, and transformation, by offering the hope that we can be delivered directly to our desired destination and destiny, by a god that aligns with our values, priorities, and vision for the future (i.e. the way that seems right to us – Prov.14:12).
Within this paradigm, we aren’t reformed into His image, He is in fact reimagined based on our experience and understanding. We decide that “if He is good,” He will adhere to our standard for goodness; and “if He is just,” He will satisfy our sense of justice; and if “He is love,” He will act in the way that we deem to be loving. And perhaps most prevalently, if He does not adhere to these expectations, we feel perfectly justified in being angry with Him. In such moments, we are literally judging God by our standards, and finding Him to be lacking, which implies that our standards are higher than His.
I am not suggesting that anyone consciously endorses this “Reverse Theology” pattern, but it is something that we can slip into unconsciously and with little effort. If we only acknowledge the aspects of God, and the scripture that make sense to us, we can convince ourselves that we are “saved, sanctified, and going to heaven,” and never realize that we have developed a huge spiritual blind spot.
Because we cannot conceive of how justice (i.e. we get what we deserve) and grace (i.e. we don’t get what we deserve) can be perfectly embodied in the same being, we embrace the aspect that appeals to us, and ignore the elements we struggle to reconcile. Like a poster of our favorite teen idol, we can put His picture on the wall, and worship who we imagine Him to be. Though we can truthfully claim to have acted “in Jesus’ name,” He can rightfully respond that He never knew us (Matt.7:23).
Evidences that we may have fallen into this trap are abundant. The scripture tells us that they that abide in the vine (i.e. are connected to Jesus) will produce fruit (John 15:4-5). And the fruit He is speaking of is not temporal results (e.g. extravagant facilities, well attended gatherings, extensive ministry networks…), it is Christ’s character being revealed in us (Gal.5:22-23, Col.1:27). A lack of genuine transformation is the most obvious indication that this connection is not strong.
If we find ourselves frequently deceived by charismatic ministry leaders, false teachers, and illegitimate “prophetic” voices, it is an indication that we have fallen out of step with the Holy Spirit (Matt.24:24, Col.2:8). Jesus said that His sheep know His voice, they listen and they follow (John 10:27). A lack of confidence in one’s ability to discern the Lord’s voice should be seen as a critical matter.
The good news is that even if we have stumbled into this trap, the Lord stands at the ready to meet us where we are at. Like He did for Saul (a learned and respected leader, who felt sure he was doing the work of the Lord), Jesus can reintroduce Himself and change our name in the process (Acts 9). But He made it clear that anyone who wishes to be His disciple must be willing to deny himself, and to take up their cross daily (Matt.16:24). And whether we like it or not, He also said that anyone who is unwilling to take up their cross is unworthy of Him (Matt.10:38).
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