|
The
Spiritual Life
"Be Ye Imitators of Christ
as dear Children."
Learning
Christ
ISSUES OF DISCIPLESHIP
God
has provided that each believer
who is born of the Spirit may
grow in the Spiritual life. Learning
Christ, in a general sense is
becoming familiar with God not
only through His word but also
through His presence, to gain
familiarity with His character
and personality. We, in the process
of time partake of His glory
and His character. As it is written,
we go from glory to glory
(2Corinthians 3:18,)and from
faith to faith (Romans 1:17.)
We learn to hearken to the voice
of His Spirit and respond accord
to the way we are directed. I
call this learning Christ. God's
model for learning Christ is
imitation of the first
born Son of God, Jesus Christ.
We are to model his manner of
thinking, and his manner of acting.
We are to duplicate his interacting
with the Heavenly Father and
his Spirit-directed ministry.
The first disciples were given
a living model but they were
only able duplicate his Spiritual
behavior after they had received
the enabling Baptism of the Holy
Spirit.
With Christ's life within us,
and our egos and wills yielded
to him we asked to become as
he was in this world. (John 16:16;
1John 4:17) The
total spiritual inability and
helplessness of the natural man
or woman, places huge limits
upon him. We can not be the light
of the world if God's light does
not burn within us. We can not
be witnesses of his resurrection
if we have not been touched by
the fiery hand of God that raised
Jesus from the dead who also
quickened our own body and spirit.
We can not reflect the goodness
of God if he has not made us
good who were once reprobates.
We
come in to this world to know
God. This is our first calling
and some come and go from this
world not having achieved that
first calling. If we are fortunate
to have God reveal himself to
us then we press on to the next
stage, that of being a functional
witness. It is also unfortunate
how many are thwarted in this
second stage predominately by
the incomplete or ineffectual
teachings of religious tradition.
As
we have noted, the institutional
church has either lost sight
of, or failed to actualize the
provisions of the New Covenant
which is the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Time has eroded true
understanding, and spiritual
subterfuge authored by an unrelenting
adversary has come in to subtlety
sidetrack our spiritual lives
and foster human understanding
instead. I
am not interested in presenting
any kind of private methodology
that is contrary to Biblical
teaching. What I share here is
not a unique revelation but simply
a restatement of the way that
was presented by Jesus to his
servants the apostles, in the
beginning of this gospel age.
Any
church or teacher (including
denominational groups) who are
attempting to mentor or direct
others into a spiritual life
are under divine obligation to
be accurate. Private interpretation
risks wrong doctrine. Since there
is always a danger of deception,
it is important that we proceed
cautiously, both as teachers
and learners. We are obligated
to discern all things with the
wisdom, the help, and guidance
of the Spirit of Truth
who is the Holy Spirit.
God
has told us through the Word
that we may ask for wisdom and
for truth to be revealed to us.
He further instructs us to have
confidence in this asking, knowing
that God is willing. God is willing!
God is willing to give good
gifts which bring fulfillment
and blessings and not sorrows.
When seeking the revelations
which are of God, or from
God, it is up to the seeker
to be on guard against deceptions
and to discern the true from
the false. In asking for anything
from God it is very important
to invoke the name of Jesus Christ.
This name is the name above
every name and above every spiritual
entity or authority. This name
will consecrate or make pure
anything which may transpire.
It will guarantee that anything
which will be revealed or imparted
spiritually will be free of any
corrupt or deceptive influence.
If you ask in the name of Jesus,
the deceiver can not work
his way so readily into the workings.
Receiving True Gifts and not
Counterfeit Ones
Jesus
instructs us about receiving
gifts from God, especially the
gift of the Holy Spirit. He teaches
us that the God of heaven gives
good gifts and not evil,
hurtful or perverted ones. Christ
also characterizes the fact that
there are two kinds of gifts
which might be tendered, the
true and the false, but God's
gifts are good and true. The
scripture is found in Matthew
7:8-11 and in Luke 11:11-13:
"For
every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall
be opened." :8; "Or what man
is there of you, whom if his
son ask bread, will he give him
a stone?" :9; "Or if he ask a
fish, will he give him a serpent?"
:10; "If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto
your children, how much more
shall your Father which is in
heaven give good things to them
that ask him?" :11. KJV
The
two objects which are sought
are bread and fish. God gives
things which are life-giving
and safe (bread, and meat.) Luke
chapter eleven restates the same
teaching about asking from God
the Father but expands the emphasis,
toward the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the living
gift of God's power and presence:
"If
a son shall ask bread
of any of you that is a father,
will he give him a stone? or
if he ask a fish, will he for
a fish give him a serpent?";
"Or if he shall ask an egg, will
he offer him a scorpion?" "If
ye then, being evil, know how
to give good gifts unto your
children: how much more shall
your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask
him?" -- Luke 11:11-13kjv.
I
have emphasized the word son
to emphasize that relationship
is the key to receiving from
God. There are a whole lot of
different kinds of seekers; some
sincere and some less sincere.
If a dabbler negotiates to receive
a spiritual manifestation from
God, it is uncertain what may
transpire. But God wishes to
emphasize that he is for blessing
His family. He is the
giver of Good gifts. Counterfeit
gifts are a peripheral issue.
The above reference represents
the fact that there is the possibility
of receiving a bad gift.
These kinds of exceptions bear
upon the setting and environment
where and with whom the "ministry"
occurs and the sincerity of the
hearts who seek the gift.
We
have a common enemy, Satan who
is always ready to move in to
deflect the gift of God or to
substitute a counterfeit. He
does not give good gifts, nor
does he give valid revelations.
His gifts are not life giving,
they give neither joy, nor health
nor liberty. Yet it is possible
that he will try to come in unless
you exclude him from any part
of the seeking and asking transaction
Satan's gift is characterized
as a stone instead of bread,
as a serpent instead of pure
food, something infused with
poison instead of food.
Jesus
has portrayed Satan as the deadly
counterfeiter who will insinuate
himself into the seekers life
subtly and at any opportunity.
Forewarned is to be forearmed;
for this reason, it is wise to
initiate safeguards and precautions
as I suggested above in order
to keep the deceiver out of your
life and out of every spiritual
transactions. There
was a time when our lives were
entirely under his (Satan's)
control. We may not think that
this was the case but the apostle
is very clear about it. A couple
of apostolic letters bring attention
to the nature of the unredeemed
life, which includes each and
every life before the renewal
In Christ. Paul's
letter to Ephesus, Chapter 2,
verses 2 and 3. "Wherein in
time past ye walked according
to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit
that now worketh in the children
of disobedience; Among whom also
we all had our conversation (lifestyle)
in times past in the lusts of
our flesh, fulfilling the desires
of the flesh and of the mind;
and were by nature the children
of wrath, even as others."
KJV Paul's
letter to Collosae, Chapter 1
verse 21. "And you, that were
sometimes (before now) alienated
and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath he reconciled"The
apostle contrasts the previous
unredeemed nature our previous
lifestyle with the redeemed nature.
In the letter to Corinth, Chapter
1 verses 10 and 11, he lists
a number of these life styles;
"-Neither - thieves, - - covetous,
- - drunkards, - - revilers,
- - extortionist, shall inherit
the kingdom of God.; And such
were some of you: but ye are
washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God."
The Foundation
of the Apostles
Every Believer Becomes
a Disciple "
Apostles were first disciples.
Disciples walked with the Lord
in an intimate way. They learned
his ways by first hand observation,
through hearing his word and
knowing his voice. The disciples
while they were growing in the
knowledge of the Lord Jesus were
also participants in the
work of Jesus' ministry. It was
they who announced, 'the Kingdom
of God is at hand." They
showed that the Kingdom could
be demonstrated by both the
spiritual power and the authority
to impact the afflicted, the
oppressed, the poor and the broken
hearted. Disciples
were and are called to be partakers
of Jesus Christ's ministry. Each
of us continues to share the
same access to Jesus Christ.
We share the same Spirit, we
share in the same commission.
"For this reason the son of
God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the Devil."
(1John 3:8) We
aspire to attain to the same
unity and inclusiveness as
the original fellowship of disciples.
There was no member of the original
circle of disciples who was just
like another. Yet, there was
a unique niche for each of those
Jesus called.
Each of the first disciples had
a divine destiny and an unlimited
opportunity for growing up in
the fullness of the Lord.
Jesus
chose the original disciples.
He singled them out and called
them aside to walk with him and
to have a face-to-face relationship
with him. Descriptions indicate
that each had attributes which
could label them as plain folks
or ordinary people. Some associated
with Jesus more intimately than
others. Each disciple had unique
traits and attributes of character;
Matthew a worldly businessman,
a publican, a tax collector;
Peter a robust, headstrong man
who generally spoke without thinking
and was always competing to be
someone; John a warm, compassionate
and trusting youth; Nathaniel
innocent and open; Thomas a scientific
minded pragmatist who had to
have things proven before he
could be persuaded and so on.
The
twelve included men who we might
not have chosen, including Judas
the deceiver and betrayer who
Jesus also called a robber. Outside
of the twelve were a multitude
of other disciples including
women who traveled extensively
with Jesus though were not part
of the inner group of the twelve.
It is possible that those who
were reasonably close and connected
to Jesus may have been about
500 individuals. The
apostles were men with whom Jesus
visited, taught and broke bread.
He also imparted his life and
Spirit into them. After he had
risen from the dead, he breathed
upon the disciples saying to
them, "receive Holy Breath (Gr.
pneuma)." The word breath
and spirit are the same word
in the original text. This is
the same as to say, "Receive
the Holy Spirit." It was this
action which imparted Holy life
within each disciple this afforded,
I believe the new heaven borne
experience that we believers
today call born again or spiritual
renewal. The eleven and Judas
Iscariot's replacement Matthias
were born from above or conceived
as a new spirit being at this
time.
The apostle Paul (originally
Saul) came on board some time
later being called by Jesus for
a particular revelation and ministry.
Saul of Tarsus was a Jewish theologian,
a Pharisee of the strictest sect
of Judaic fundamentalism of the
day. Saul was an intellectual
of supreme discipline and credentials.
The zealous Saul, set out to
destroy the disciples of Jesus,
persecuting and imprisoning all
who preached Jesus as Messiah
and the doctrine of the resurrection
from the dead. Saul was added
to the order of discipleship
but in a special way after
Christ's resurrection.
How did Saul become a disciple
and an apostle? Paul recounted
and retold his account of the
encounter several times, but
the original encounter is described
in Acts, Chapter 9. God supernaturally
intervened in Saul's life, on
a journey to Damascus. His travels
were interrupted by Jesus appearing
to him in a brilliant light.
Saul was blinded and knocked
him off his horse onto the ground.
The voice spoke to him saying,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
me?" Paul
answered this voice saying, "Who
are you, Lord?" and Jesus
replied, "I am Jesus who you
are persecuting." Jesus then
gave Saul brief instructions
about who he was to visit to
received further ministry and
instruction. Jesus began to tutor
a new disciple after this. Jesus
did not give Saul any information
that he did not need to know
at that time, but he told him
the first thing to do. Paul was
told where to go in Damascus
to get further help. God likewise
does not give us more information
than we need to get started.
He does list all of the stages
of our journey, including both
the trials and the victories.
The journey of faith is an hour
by hour, day by day program.
The
journey of discipleship begins
with a first step forward into
a new life. In the first chapter
of his letter to Galatia, Saul
who has been given a new name,
Paul, to go along with his new
nature, accounts how he was taken
aside and how he began to be
instructed face-to-face, personally
by Jesus. For three years in
the deserts of Arabia, Paul learned
Christ. being discipled as
one "out of due time a
description of his apostolic
commissioning found in 1Corinthians
15:5-10.
The
Apostles Doctrine
Why should we place an emphasis
on the apostles and the disciples?
Because we wish to be connected
to the same authentic and pure
doctrine and the same spirit
and the same manifested spiritual
life that was brought forth
in the beginning of the "church".
It must breath the same purity,
power and the same divine order.
The apostolic teachings have
been described as the foundation
upon which the house of God is
constructed. We who continue
to build the Kingdom of God must
continue building upon the same
foundation which is true and
sound. The foundation is the
apostle's doctrine. It is based
upon the essentials of the true
faith. The "promise of the
Father" a nation of kings
and priests through Jesus Christ,
designated as "the firstborn
of many brethren."
Understanding the Apostle's Doctrine
The writings of the apostles
constitute practical, uncomplicated,
hands-on teaching of how to live
a Spiritual life. The Apostles
who wrote in the Bible include
Peter, James, John, Paul and
Luke is generally credited with
authoring the Book of acts as
well as the Gospel of Luke, Paul
is generally credited with writing
most of the other epistles.
Theologians
fine tune and over-process questions
of authorship and have vain debates
over endless issues of scholarship,
but such debates bear little
relevance to living the Spiritual
life if we merely accept the
epistles as true.
The
apostle Paul has a unique revelation
that speaks to a different audience,
the gentile world. What he calls
'His Gospel,' also explores power
of the crucified and resurrected
Jesus. The emphasis in Paul's
teaching is directed to the entire
world (the Gentile world.) His
resurrection brings to all, not
just the Jews in Jerusalem, the
promise of sonship and new life
as a Spiritual Creation in
Christ. The original
apostles, including Peter, James
and John, focused on the Jews
and Israel. The resurrection
denoted the identity of Jesus
as the Son of God and the King
of Israel who would eventually
restore the Kingdom to Israel.
Jesus as the risen son on God
was the corner stone of both
group's gospel message consistent
with the revelation of Christ's
grace shared by Peter, James,
John or Luke.
It is clear however, that Paul
was not taught the Gospel by
the apostles in Jerusalem but
given unique revelation and instruction
by Jesus personally, for 3 years
after his conversion on the Damascus
road.
|
|
Jesus
Christ,
True
son
of
God
almighty,
Virgin
born,
fulfilling
the
Messianic
Scriptures
of
the
Old
Testament,
Christ
Jesus,
crucified,
resurrected
and
alive;
|
|
| Jesus
Christ,
the only
mediator
between
God and
man; |
|
| Jesus
Christ the
lamb of
God; |
|
| Redemption
through
the blood
of God's
Lamb (Jesus
Christ)
the perfect
sacrifice; |
|
| The
new creation
in Christ
Jesus; |
|
| Enablement
through
the Holy
Spirit who
reveals
all truth
in Jesus; |
|
| Christ
Jesus reigns
now as the
High Priest
and intercessor
who has
been given
authority
over all
dominion
and worlds. |
|
| The
essential
doctrine
of Faith
and Grace
in the Word
and the
Power of
God; |
|
| The
law of the
Spirit,
has bought
us liberty
and freedom
from the
Law of sin
and death; |
|
| Unity
of all believers;
All blood
bought believerrs
are one
in Him,
Unity produces
peace and
potentiality.
|
|
| All
believers
must discern
matters
and maintaining
unceasing
vigilance
over matters
of the common
faith; |
|
| Believers
must
continuing
to walk
in Love
and Forgiveness; |
|
| Rebellion
and unbelief
will be
dealt with
at the hand
of the returning
Jesus in
divine judgment
before &
at His second
advent; |
|
| The
culmination
of the church
age; Is
not the
end of the
world but
concludes
when the
false prophet
and deceiver
is revealed |
|
| False
doctrines,
false messiah
and the
period of
anti-Christ;
Rampaging
ferocity
of anti
Christ. |
|
| Safeguarding
against
false teachers;
Awareness
of doctrines
of Demons
that take
believers
into bondage |
|
| The
redemption
of Israel
as a praise
in all of
the earth;
The second
advent.
Israel will
be the head
of all nations |
|
| The
authority
of the believer
against
spiritual
powers;
Deliverance
and discerning
of the spiritual
world |
|
| The
potentiality
of the children
of God.
Widely unknown
or untaught
who we are
as children
of God. |
Paul's Insights into the Gospel
Paul
an intellectual's intellectual
and a theologian's theologian,
set aside his natural credentials
when he began to minister the
Gospel. Paul presents some of
the most powerful insights into
the conflict of intellectualism
and theology. Paul experienced
a total turn around in his life.
The features of his traditional
achievements were discarded as
were the merits of his classical
education. Paul declared that
the things which he once esteemed
and considered meritorious were
now no better than "dung".
The
Holy Spirit drew a line of division
in Paul's life. He clarified
the difference between the fashion
of this world and the world of
God. He revealed the matters
which pertained to mind and soul
and matters of spirit; the
thoughts of the mind versus
the intents of the heart.
Vanity
no longer had a place in his
life. Personal pride and striving
for status was cast down he was
given another job description.
A "slave" of Christ.
It is Paul who addresses two
points of doctrine which are
at times in tension or contrast.
First the purely Spiritual nature
of the Gospel and the God-connected
source of life; and secondly
teachings on leadership, headship
and government impacting the
long-term course of this entity
called "the church," the body
of believers. Contradictions
have occurred in this respect,
that individuals are placed in
positions of leadership and authority
who do not have spiritual credentials
but merely human approval. Spiritual
enablements allows the kingdom
of God to be manifest according
to the apostolic model.
Even
in the first years of the church
age we hear accounts of men like
the apostles Paul and John struggling
with individuals who have assumed
leadership though there motivation
were entirely wrong or their
doctrine was corrupt. We hear
Paul describe associates who
tried to undermine or destroy
his ministry, or who departed
because their hearts turned again
to the world; or of the associates
who preach for personal gain;
or the associates who wanted
to be pre eminent and gloried
in having control over people.
(See
1Timothy 1:19,20 1Timothy 4:14)regarding
Alexander the Coppersmith; 2Timothy
4:10 regarding Demas; 3John 1:9
regarding the person of Diotrephes.)
Paul Defines the Apostolic Emphasis
In
his first letter to Corinth Paul
presses a very important foundation
point in the first two chapters.
This particular emphasis stressed
the difference between a Spiritual
message contrasted to a conceptual
one. In chapter 1 verse 17 he
states that his gospel emphasis
is not based upon words of human
wisdom but in power generated
from the cross of Jesus. The
cross of crucifixion is where
the exchange of righteousness
was made. The cross of crucifixion
is where the sacrifice was made.
The cross of crucifixion is where
God paid the price in blood for
every sinner. This
doctrine of the cross does not
end with a man's death but with
a divinely-powered resurrection.
Thus the doctrine that Paul speaks
of includes the death and the
resurrection of Jesus. It was
Jesus who was crucified, dead,
buried and resurrected. The holiday
we call Easter concludes three
Jewish Festivals; Passover, Unleavened bread and
First Fruits speaks of the
resurrection. As Jesus became the
first fruits of those who have died.
(1Cor.15-2) It is truly unfortunate
that so few Christians understand
the Jewish roots of Christianity,
including the fact that Yeshua
and most all of the first disciples
and apostles were Jews. Jesus
(Yeshua) rose from the dead,
ascended on high, took captivity
captive, and gave gifts to the
human race. Paul's
statement of the cross does not
address sorrow or loss, it addresses
rather, victory, effulgence and
power. The resurrection speaks
of the power of an endless
life. It speaks about the
Father's plan to extend grace
and peace to every man, woman
and child. It speaks about the
ability to become a new creation
in Christ.
Kingdom of God Versus Human Wisdom
Paul
going on in his first letter
to Corinth, introduces the theme
of "wisdom." Paul contrasts human
wisdom to divine wisdom. He explains
that man who deems himself wise
through reasoning, can't accept
the wisdom of God. God's wisdom
is framed in paradoxes and conundrums.
For example the paradox of the
least being the greatest; the
weak being the strong; the first
being last; the wise being foolish;
the living being dead; the dead
being awakened to live.
If
these concepts make any sense
to you, perhaps God has already
opened your eyes in a very significant
way. God framed truth in such
a way that when they are articulated
sound preposterous, unbelievable
and irrational. The
world says, "Be someone, do your
own thing, express your individuality."
God says, "Decrease to yourself,
take your cross and let the outward
"you" be crucified so that the
Divine (Christ) can have effective
sanctuary and expression in you.
The
scientific mind requires proof.
The eye measures and discerns
the things which we call real
or reality. Yet Christians are
entreated to disregard outward
manifestations, the outward world.
Neither is the mind the highest
organ to lead and direct,
children of God are
led by the Spirit, not by
acting purely out of reason.
The truth is not determined according
to science and rationality. God
requires faith on our
part. Paul,
again in the same letter speaks
to the matter of making Spiritual
realities manifest, "I did
not come teaching and preaching
with enticing words of man's
wisdom but with demonstration
of the Spirit and of power that
your faith should not stand upon
man's wisdom but upon the power
of God. (1Corinthians 2:4,5)
The
Spiritual life first begins to
manifest, because of the grace
of God and secondarily by acting
in faith. The gospel states with
respect to the Kingdom of God
that we are all pressing into
it. (Luke 16:16) The Lord
stands at the door knocking,
the action of faith opens that
door to him. Again, grace is
the initiatory cause, it is God's
hand in matters concerning our
life, stirring, directing and
empowering. Grace is the hand
of God outstretched to us, beckoning;
he bids us to come forth. We
respond to him and we press in
to the world of Spiritual life
that awaits. The
hand of grace is outstretched
in love. Grace speaks of loving
kindness, compassion and giving.
This love is caring and constructive
in nature. Love builds the bonds
of faith and defines the character
and the parameters of the spiritual
life. It
is not knowledge that defines
the spiritual life although there
is a knowledge component. Scripture
reminds us that knowledge ultimately
has the affect of "puffing up"
our egos. There is an adverse
relationship to our character
when knowledge becomes pre eminent
in our orientation to God. We
will always find "knowledge"
being closely linked to "religious
systems". It is a realm defined
by expertise and expertise is
usually defined by knowledge.
How much do we have to
know
before we become Spiritual?
I
began to describe the Apostle's
doctrine by mentioning doctrinal
content, followed by emphasizing
the power (Gk. dunamis) that God provides,
through his Spirit, to empower
our lives and relationships.
The
attribute of spiritual relationships
may lie closer to the center
of Spirituality than any other
factor. The apostle's doctrine
has fellowship and relationship
within the very heart of it.
Here is a glimpse into the New
Testament church of the Book
of Acts, "They continued steadfastly
in the apostles doctrine and
fellowship and breaking of bread,
and with prayer." (Acts,
Chapter 2:42) The
apostles who knew the way of
God fully through first hand
experience were to guide the
novices into the same area of
common experience; the community
expands, the Kingdom of God is
entered by more and more converts.
A community is being built and
stands in the midst of a world
of unbelief, carnality, and unrighteousness.
God calls us into a family-like
community in which God is
not only glorified but in which
God continuously interacts with
the community.
True fellowship
is what this community is about.
There is a sense of family, it
is characterized by the joy of
redemption (salvation, the first
step in pressing into this community.)
This intimate fellowship of believers
is the closest thing to heaven
God has for us on earth. We share
a common mind, a common testimony,
a common hope. We are baptized
into one Spirit and into a common
destiny. This community is redemptive
owing to the fact that the smoke
and tarnish of this world can
not endure in the presence of
the Living God, neither can the
things which defile the flesh
stand in his presence.
We
come together in this community
of faith where we find restoration,
strength and edification. We
come together in fellowship to
repair the bumps, bruises, and
blemishes that life in this world
inflicts upon those who are "not
of this world."
Edification and Ministry as it
Pertains to Community
We
have been conditioned by a religious
world to go to church
to receive ministry. After all,
the church is where the minister
is. I believe this is a viewpoint
which needs to be reexamined
in light of true fellowship and
the question of what true
ministry ought to be.
Those to whom church is a
place to be ministered to,
are still conditioned to think
in terms of priest (clergy) and
laity. In this model which has
been the tradition for the past
17 hundred years, we are taught
that we need someone else to
do our spiritual work for us.
We come to the priest; we have
him pray for us, teach us, bless
us, absolve us. We presume that
ministry is what happens in a
church (fellowship,) and this
kind of ministry is some kind
of a "Band-Aid" to help us salve
the current bruise. I
believe there is an alternative,
apostolic way of viewing the
community of fellowship. It is
the notion of coming to a place
of restoration and strengthening;
some have called this a "spiritual
filling station." In this setting
of fellowship there is rest,
repose, and encouragement. There
are occasions for teaching but
the manner of teaching need not
be formalistic. Those who know
and who have experience victory
in one kind of challenge or another,
are able to share and encourage
others with less knowledge or
experience. Edification can occur
without formalized, programmatic
services. There is sharing of
food and the life of God.
Spiritual
fellowship provides a redemptive
community in which the bond of
fellowship is not the bond of
obligation but of the heart.
Love is true and not an affectation.
This kind of fellowship is far
less structured, yet there is
common motivation which guides
everyone to seek first the things
which are from God. God is purposely
the focus and reason for being
of all of the people who gather.
God is not necessarily first
in the lives of many, but in
the right community this will
change. I do not see this
kind of fellowship either taught,
practiced or encouraged within
the institutional church. Those
who come to church for a formalistic
program come in unsatisfied and
they leave unsatisfied. They
come feeling estranged or alienated
from God and they leave feeling
just as far from him. They can
however, pretend to be listening
while they sleep; or they can
pretend to be praying while they
dream of their next adventure
with the girl at the office or
the guy at the club. The actions
of formal ministry can not touch
the heart of those who need to
have a spiritual heart transplant.
To summarize: Learning
Christ according to the Apostles
Doctrine requires that we:
|
|
Be
spiritually
renewed
by
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
|
|
|
Receive
the
empowerment
of
the
Holy
Spirit
|
|
|
Renew
your
mind
by
studying
scripture
|
|
|
Seek
personal
fellowship
of
God
|
|
|
Seek
the
fellowship
of
God's
family
-
-
where
your
loved
and
valued
|
|
|
Imitate
those
who
have
mature
spirituality
|
|
|
Walk
in
faith,
(the
knowledge
that
God
cares
for
us
in
our
present
moment)
|
|
|
Minister
to
others,
the
same
gifts
and
wholeness
that
we
have
received
from
God
|
THE
SPIRITUAL LIFE
How Much Do We Have to
Learn Before We
Become Spiritual?
Mentors
and Ministries
Part
of the spiritual life
is to make a connection
with those who can supply
valuable connections.
The joints are connections
to individuals in the
body of Christ. Fellowship
supplies input to areas
of knowledge which will
be encouraging, and edifying.
When
we are born into the kingdom,
we must move forward or
we will retrograde back
to the old life in the
world. Here according
to most voices of ministry
is where one would be
encouraged to get connected
to a "good" church. This
should be a simple fact
but it is not. There are
few church bodies of believers
who hold more than a traditional
evangelical viewpoint.
Most are adhering to forms
and traditions as well
as doctrines which do
not advance the Spiritual
life to a significant
level of maturity. Once
in a church you are expected
to "play by their rules."
My best advice is to search
for the church and set
your sights on particular
features which will allow
you to be discipled and
grow not in tradition
but in spirituality. If
one does provide "life"
move on until you sense
that it is where God would
have you. In the mean
time find a home fellowship
where you can grow with
others in an informal
setting. God does not
discriminate against home
meetings. They are apostolic!
It is how the "Church"
began. If
is obvious that formalized
Christian ministry is
everywhere in one form
or another. As I have
already described a vast
majority of these churches
or ministries are a manifestation
of institutional and traditional
religion in which the
expectation is at best
conformity to the norms
of a Saturday or a Sunday
ritual. Most offer no
more than comfortable
routine or ritual and
little hope of gaining
spiritual knowledge and
understanding. Neither
can they prepare us to
fulfill Christ's gospel
in the world. Most
churches, which are struggling
to maintain membership,
interest, or involvement,
are extremely jealous
of their members going
astray or getting involved
with meetings or activities
which are not sponsored
by their own fellowship.
There was a time when
such unfaithfulness could
be met by excommunication,
but today the usual rebukes
from the pulpit are just
admonitions or doctrines
created out of hand which
indicate an obligation
to support the local body.
Yet it would seem to be
close to a cardinal sin
to consider "church hopping"
or being active in any
outreaches from other
congregations. This is,
in effect the fruit of
division which institutional
religion enforces.
The Electronic
Church There
are many other kinds of
ministries that may be
accessible to us. Among these are
media ministries. Men
or women who have some
special gift of teaching
or evangelism or certain
personal charismas
have been able to share
their spiritual understandings
and insights with any
who will watch or listen.
If we appreciate the content
of a given message we
write to them or request
their tape series or perhaps,
we think that they have
enough clout with God
to pray for our special
needs. These
ministries, sometimes
called the "electronic
churches" are not
always highly regarded by pulpit
ministries.
We hear all kinds of castigation
directed toward the names
of such ministries, whether
Billy Graham, Oral Roberts,
Robert Schuler, Benny
Hinn or countless others
who fill the airwaves
of radio and television
and short wave broadcast
channels. In
view of practical matters
of church survival and
management, local preachers
and church leaders need
to maintain membership
and viability. 'Grandma
Smith' might write a check
to a radio or television
evangelist and forego
giving her five dollar
donation to the church
collection plate. A pastor
might make the following
remark to parishioners,
"Grandma Smith, if you
want to support Reverend
So and So on TV maybe
you should call them when
you need a trip to the
doctor; or need someone
to pray for you when you
are sick; or have them
officiate your funeral."
What has the Electronic
Church ministry to offer?
In some cases they be
offer better teaching or
preaching than
some tradition-bound churches
where so many to
languish in their pews
around the world? Televangelists
usually have some unique
strengths and certainly
the ability to preach
and persuade. There are
important matters to consider
in choosing any ministry
to support whether remote
or local.
However, they do subsist on
donations from listeners
which at times becomes
problematic.
How may
media ministries provide
value and features that
provide edification?
Let's look at some attributes
of ministry:
-
First
and most importantly
is the message;
Do we hear the
correct gospel
being taught?
-
How much of the
appeal of this
ministry is performance
and dazzling rhetoric
which attracts
us and how much
is a sense of devotion
to the truth of
the Gospel?
-
Does the minister
seem to model Jesus
Christ? The best
mode of discerning
a minister or a
ministry is to
imagine Jesus behaving
and saying the
things as the evangelist
or teacher.
-
Is
devotion and reverence
modeled and portrayed?
-
Does
the person try
to draw attention
to themselves through
colorful mannerisms?
-
Does
he seem preoccupied
with authority
and followings?
-
Does
the leader indicate
as we listen to
his messages that
he wants influence,
control, or worship?
-
Does
there seem to be
more of emphasis
on one aspect of
the Gospel than
another?
-
Is
it a Gospel of
power and wholeness
or just continually
underscoring sin?
-
Is
it a Gospel in
which we can become
partakers of God's
life or are we
blessed because
of our supporting
the "Super Ministry
of Brother X?"
There
are some media
evangelists who
I listen to and
support because
they have helped
to mentor me in
understanding the
Word of God. I
support them because
they teach the
full Gospel message,
(more or less)
and believe in
the potentialities
of becoming children
of God, partaking
in His Divinity.
They teach what
we should be taught
in the local fellowship
or church but are
not.
-
We
need to practice
discernment and
note any inconsistencies
in doctrine which
place the teaching
outside of norms
of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. The
Apostles Creed
is recited by many
denominations in
the context of
a worship service,
but in spite of
this, the content
of the Apostle's
Creed may hardly
be addressed in
teaching and preaching
in sermons. Based
upon denominations
which I have belonged
to or visited before
and after I became
a believer, unbelief
and spiritual deadness
till characterize
most of the churches
today even those
who recite the
Credo!
Mega-Churches
When a brilliant preacher
or evangelist proves his
(her) ability to move
and edify people they
begin to develop a following.
People follow spiritual
anointings. They follow
men or women who have
demonstrated their abilities
to impact the lives of
others. The
largest churches today
grow around the giftings
of a single person. People
are searching for a greater
revelation of God. When
they see God using an
individual they naturally
are attracted to that
person. Nearly every Christian
I know has a natural desire
to be in the presence
of "anointed" preaching.
Mega-churches are built
around mega-men. I believe
there are in America today
well over a hundred such
mega-churches. I have
attended a few and have
seen others via telecasts
and cable networks.
Positives Associated
with Mega-Ministries
There
are both negatives and
positives in following
this kind of ministry.
A few positives:
God
shows favor to his servant
by anointing him (her)
just as God anointed Jesus
and the Apostles for ministry.
God's
favor indicates his approval
to bring forth a particular
gift or understanding
to the body. God's approval
indicates that he foreknows
that many will be touched
and blessed by this individual.
God
allows a such a man or
woman with special abilities
to reach more people with
a Gospel message they
would ordinarily hear
or be exposed to.
Many
are born again through
the media ministers.
Negatives Associated with
Mega-Ministries
The
gifted minister may be
persuasive or charismatic
in purely human terms,
without necessarily walking
in a divine anointing.
The
media evangelist may be
preaching a partial or
flawed gospel, a non Christian
gospel or simply traditionalism.
There
is no way for the novice
seeker to know whether
this person teaches true
doctrine or not except
by natural reasoning or
mental judgment.
There
is a temptation for the
minister to become puffed
up in mind and think himself
to be great. There
is a tendency to focus
on money and power.
Though
there may be concepts,
doctrines and information
imparted there is a serious
limitation for immediate
fellowship. To deal with
this home fellowships
or satellite congregations
are set up to allow blessings
of human interaction and
loving community.
Recipients
of any ministry need intimacy
and a human touch. It
is not good for man to
be alone. Ultimately
the spiritual life is
more than the acquisition
of information about God.
Those
who attend services in
a mega church are committed
to be audience or onlookers.
This is a terrible loss
and limitation.
But
the most serious limitation
is that individual believers
are never really trusted
or free to lead when they
have achieved revelation
or status in God's eyes.
Typically, they are told
that they must be submitted
to a greater ministerial
authority who must oversee.
An Impression of Mega-churches
I
have attended worship
services in several 'average
size' mega-churches with
bodies in attendance numbering
2 or 3 thousand. Some
great churches have numbers
approaching 10 thousand
and those with 10 thousand
that aspire to 50 thousand.
While
there may be brilliant teaching
and preaching and outstanding
musical worship, performance;
one could not help but
feel that those in attendance
came mainly to view the
show or to hear the inspired
address of the mega-minister.
What I saw was an enterprise
in which each person was
committed to make the
mega-church even more
of a mega-church.
Something
was missing. There was
little or no contact
between the "pastor" and
the individual members.
Individuals may have known
and recognized a handful
of people in the auditorium
but they did not seek
each other out for closeness,
sharing, breaking of bread
or lingering in the afterglow
of God's presence. It
seemed that the super
Christians who were attending
the super church quickly
rushed home to resume
life in whatever form
life that awaited outside
of church. If the
members who number thousands
each give their tithe
religiously, one can only
imagine the amount of
revenue that affords luxury
and resources of a personal
and ministerial nature.
What is the Glorious Church?
The Roman Catholic empire
numbers in tens of millions.
Is this the glorious church?
The
issue of a glorious church
may well be addressed
in the context of the
mega-church. There is
evidence that many ministries
of mega-churches teach
an emphasis of the gospel
that introduces the concept
of a "glorious church."
Will the church function
as a
dynamic economic and political
force in the earth as
well as a moral power to
renovate society as well?
For those who judge on
externals this may appear to
be the case but God does not
regard externals. How can
the size of a building or
the number of people
attending a mass or a
service have any bearing on
Godly glory? Glorious must
bear more on the quality of
the heart and the sincerity
and earnestness that allows
the love of God to be
shared.
See
the doctrine of Kingdom
Theology. In secular
societies, Christians
have been regarded as the bane
of society because of
their conservative and
fundamental viewpoints
but quite the opposite
is true. The true Spirit
of Christianity is compassion,
forgiveness, and understanding.
Moral precepts include
personal honor and righteousness,
integrity and responsibility;
kindness, mutual support
and family stability.
Though
the world does not like
to recognize sin and unrighteous
behavior as anything other
than a "choice," Christians
see that we humans all
share alike, having
a need for a redeemer
along with the essential
need of being hopelessly
lost until God extends
mercy upon our lives.
In
recent decades, Christians
were too long absent and
silenced from the counsel
of social values and political
ideas. In the present
hour it is surely appropriate
for those who have so
much cause to rejoice
and give voice to the
life-changing testimony
in the arena of public
opinion. Men and women
of integrity need to stand
up publicly and politically
and exercise their rights
on behalf of issues of
righteousness.
Yet, I believe that ultimately
the glorious church does
not extend to exert itself
in empire or political
power. Why? The spiritual
life is essentially a
non secular and a non
materialistic life. Social
or political activism
may be a Godly calling
in some. Those who follow
a leading to become apologists
for social and political
issues it should be presumed
have their own foundations
in correct doctrine and
not equate activism with
the gospel. The emphasis
of the Christian life
can not be focused too
strongly upon the things
which are social, political,
or economic at the expense
of Spiritual relationships.
These are not lines that
I draw, but lines that
the Holy Spirit has drawn.
These parameters have
been in place since Jesus
spoke these words, "My
kingdom is not of this
world," and "You are
not of the world." (John
18:36; John 15:19)
The
nature and operation of
the world is contrary
to God's ways and I do
not look for this situation
to change until Jesus
returns to set up an unending
righteous Kingdom. Just
how far into the future
this event will occur
is open to debate, there
have been hundreds of
book titles addressing
it but the Bible itself
has "sealed up" many of
the answers and insights
into the "second coming"
of Jesus Christ. This
is another area of scholarship.
Does this "glory" refer
to the size, influence
and authority of mega-church
to rule upon the earth;
does glory refer walking
in the knowledge of truth;
does it refer to all of
the above or none of the
above? Is it possible
that the glorious
church refers to the whole
body has among it the
faithful remnant who somehow
remains separate, pure
and faithful in the middle
of a reprobate generation
of spiritual pretenders
and flaccid, Luke warm
church goers? Church
as empire is not an new
idea. It was in fact the
goal of the early church
since Constantine's day,
both in Rome and in Constantinople,
where power, influence,
authority and might married
the political and the
religious. For a time
church membership and
theological belief was
forced upon the whole
world. A person was then
a Christian because of
political decree and not
by the grace of God and
such ordinances do nothing
to enhance the life and
promises of the Gospel.
In
such an empire men were
exalted who held the power
of life and death over
others; who acted as spiritual
judges over others; who
were mediators between
God and man and who rewarded
themselves with worldly
luxuries while being exalted
to the point of worship
in their offices.
Meanwhile, certain men
lust for power, clamoring
for recognition and striving
to achieve self exaltation.
They lift and promote
their own names as someone
great, "as the great power
of God." Acts 8:10) No,
I do not think this is
the Glorious church. The
true glory remains shrouded
with humility. This cloud
of glory can only be penetrated
with meekness, self-effacement
and kindly service. Success
which comes from such
is contrary to the apostolic
foundations of the Gospel
which we need to follow.
Giving
for the Sake of the Gospel
If
you want to experience
anger, dissonance, or
heated theological debate
this is the topic to broach.
Giving is the bread and
butter of ministry. It
is support for a man and
his message. It is the
financing of the Gospel
to world. It is the support
of both the local church
missionary outreaches.
Because men and women
go forth with good intentions
and have devoted a large
part of their lives to
preparing for "ministry"
they proceed believing
that they are now prepared
to live by the Gospel.
"The Lord hath ordained
that those preach the
Gospel should live of
the Gospel."
(1Corinthians
9:14)
Professional Ministry
The
concept of the clergy,
professional ministry
is a well establish and
unquestioned paradigm.
(See
the power of paradigms.)
The concept of Ministry
has been traditionally
connected to career or
occupation. The concept
of clergy as a professional
career extends into the
dim past of Chrisendom.
The traditional church
operates in accord with,
and is enabled because
of the professional
clergy concept. The
question of institutionally
accredited, "professional
ministry" appointed to
churches and church giving
is something that I believe
each of us has to examine
in light of Scripture
and draw our best personal
conclusion in the light
of the Word. It is not
my desire to subvert a
system that you may believe
in for your own best reasons,
but rather to encourage
each person to strive
to know God as fully as
possible and to experience
the potential of Christ's
Gospel, even if it means
setting aside certain
long held traditions.
Every
person should support
the Kingdom of God
as we judge it to
be best expressed.
We need to see the life
of God as a Divine promise
and a human potentiality.
We need to see ministers
bringing others into this
potentiality. Once that
criterion is met, we can
go on to other matters
concerning Giving.
It
is not my desire to subvert
a system that you may
believe in for your own
best reasons, but rather
to encourage each person
to strive to know God
as fully as possible
and to experience the
potential written of in
the Gospel, even if it
means setting aside certain
long- held traditions.
Every
person should support
the Kingdom of God as
we see it best expressed.
We need to see the life
of God as a potentiality
and the people who minister
bringing others into it.
Once that criterion is
met, we can go on to other
matters concerning Giving.
Giving: Giving
is Blessed by God
There
should be no laws (rules)
for giving in the Kingdom
of God. God has set us
free from rules including
rules about giving. Giving
is good. Giving supports
the man of God and also
supports people who are
not necessarily "ministers"
of churches but who God
wishes to bless through
us. Various kinds of worldly
commitments which touch
upon the Kingdom of God
need support, whether
it be church buildings,
outreach expenses, travel
or any of a wide variety
of needs which can only
be met by others sharing
the cost. God wants his
will to be done through
selfless sharing and contributions
of money resources. Yet
we need to be able to
hear God leading us in
these gifts so that it
is truly a work of God
for the Gospel sake and
not just another good
sound cause or charity.
Some basic
principles identified
on the pages of the Bible
shed light on the subject
of giving.
|
It
is more
blessed
to Give
than to
receive
|
|
Give
and it shall
be given
unto you |
|
Lay
up for yourselves
treasures
in heaven |
|
Those
who give
to the poor
lend to
God
|
|
The
Tithe is
the Lord's
- (Old covenant
principle) |
|
In
the measure
you give
it shall
be given
to you |
|
Sow
sparingly,
reap sparing |
|
Give
to the poor,
and you
shall have
treasure
in heaven |
|
Give
as you purpose
in your
heart, Let
no one give
out of obligation |
|
God
loves a
cheerful
giver |
The above scriptures are
a few of many references
to money and giving as
introduced in the Bible.
When we become more spiritual
when are able to discern
that God wants us to give
to special ministries
or to special servants
of God. But we would miss
God will if we only gave
to ministry professionals
and not to individuals
and especially the poor.
God love is about giving.
Ministry is about sharing.
Koinonia is also about
mutual support. This whole
world thrives in the light
of a generous heart. "God
so loved the world that
he gave -" "God
so loved the world that
he gave -"
Christians who have
a reborn or redeemed nature
do not resist giving and
sharing. The unredeemed
do not want to let go
of anything. The world
thinks that their well
being and survival are
threatened by releasing
necessary assets and resources.
Believers know that when
they give they are really
investing in returns that
are certain to come back
to them, either now or
later.
The Tithe The
doctrine of the tithe (a tenth
of one's increase) is taught
in churches often not just as
a principle but as an obligation.
Very few congregations actually
enforce the giving of tithes
by recording all receipts and
maintaining scrupulous records
of the income although some come
very close to this. Mostly what
we hear is teaching which explains
that tithing is a practice pre-dating
the Christian era and the era
of law. We find Abraham tithing
before the era of law in the
Book of Genesis. Thus with Abraham
giving to Melchisedek we have
a type of giving which all Christians
should wish to embrace.
The
Book of Malachi supplies the
greatest picture of God's displeasure
at those who withhold the tithe.
God calls it robbing Him. "The
Tithe is mine," says the
Lord, therefore to withhold it
is to rob him. Malachi
describes the "storehouse" where
we are supposed to bring our
tithe to God. Pastors love to
teach that the storehouse is
the local church, where all of
the sheep are fed. This model
has some problems associated
with it, as follows:
|
|
Is
God there? |
|
|
Is
his presence manifested? |
|
|
Is
His Word being
taught? |
|
|
Is
the Spiritual life
a reality and accessible? |
|
|
Are
the needs of the
poor and needy
being met? |
|
|
Are
important voices
for the Kingdom
of God being supported
who also edify
us individually? |
The
storehouse is associated
with a view of the Levitical
priesthood which existed in early
Israel.The Levites were the tribe
chosen to minister to the house
of Israel. It was only the Tribe
of Levi (Levites) who were the
designated priesthood, This tribe,
had no other source of livelihood
and were sustained by the rest
of the tribes of Israel.
With the ascension of Jesus Christ
into the heavenly temple of God
it is my belief that the
nature of the storehouse has
changed as radically as the priesthood.
The people of God are not fed
by natural bread today nor by
the lambs and oxen of sacrifices
once given up to the Levites.
Now we are a new priesthood before
God; we give spiritual sacrifices
unto Christ who is now King and
High Priest over all.
(Read
Hebrews which explains the transition
from the old covenant to the
new.)
From
what place do these blessings
flow? From a heavenly place.
Unto whom are our sacrifices
given? To God in heaven. What
is the sacrifice? It is the sacrifice
of our lips; both praise and
thanks giving. Who is the accountant
who watches over our gifts and
measures a blessing today and
in the time to come? It is Jesus
The Great High Priest who accounts
for those things given in his
name, whether money in a church
collection plate or food to a
hungry child, or a visit to an
invalid or a drink to a thirsty
man, or a visit to a person sick
and alone in a hospital.
God sees every act done and the
motive of every heart in which
that gift is bestowed. God loves
a cheerful giver. The motive
of the heart touches faith. We
know that Jesus sees our love
and kindness to another in need.
Giving as one giving to God that
is faith. We know that he will
also meet any of our needs in
a time of lack because we did
not withhold to others.
We
do not give out of obligation.
We are not debtors to the law.
We are free to give because God
is a giver. Giving is sowing
seeds. We sow bounteously we
expect to reap bounteously. We
expect something to come from
our planting. Sower of seeds
also believe in the crop which
will come at harvest time. This
is surely a part of giving to
the Kingdom of God. God will
meet our needs at a future time
because we have planted. God
stores up treasure for another
day in a heavenly place, because
we have given.
Tithing as Worship
The
giving of tithes is not just
a simple token gift placed in
an offering plate or bag. Tithing
in the scriptural sense relates
to act of worship in presenting
the "tithe" to God. We
find the act described in Deuteronomy
Chapter 26.
"Therefore it shall be, when
the LORD thy God hath given thee
rest from all thine enemies round
about, in the land which the
LORD thy God giveth thee for
an inheritance to possess it,
that thou shalt blot out the
remembrance of Amalek from under
heaven; thou shalt not forget
it."
"And it shall be, when thou art
come in unto the land which the
LORD thy God giveth thee for
an inheritance, and possesses
it, and dwellest therein;" (-
26:1-) "That
thou shalt take of the first
of all the fruit of the earth,
which thou shalt bring of thy
land that the LORD thy God giveth
thee, and shalt put it in a basket,
and shalt go unto the place which
the LORD thy God shall choose
to place his name there." (-
Deuteronomy 26:2-15)
Note this is during the dispensation
of The LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD
Now regarding this worship as
tithing, it is not my desire
that you should memorize it and
recite it a rite though awareness
of the noted text is quite meaningful.
The giving of the tithe should
be something which touches our
own understanding of our previous
"captivity" and God's hand at
work to take us out of that place
of bondage and oppression, want
and sorrow. The spiritual life
acknowledges that we were also
taken out of bondage. It is a
faithful saying which needs to
be spoken. Notice that all of
this tithing worship is spoken
to God in the place which has
His name written upon it. Today
we are redeemed and the house
of God is not a special place
it is the human house where the
spirit resides. The
tithing worship reminds us of
God's covenant with us and how
he is taking further towards
strength, blessing and victorious
living. Speaking these things
tells God that we know what he
has done for us and that we are
truly thankful that he knows
and remembers us each and that
he will continue to be with us
supplying good things.
The Prosperity Message
The
past several years has seen a
great emphasis on the Prosperity
message. Poverty and lack are
seen as a curse throughout scripture.
God does want us unprosperous.
The redemption from the curse
of the law also freed us want
and lack. We believe that "God
shall supply all of our needs
according to his riches in Glory
by Christ Jesus." In gauging
any matter of doctrine we have
to hold it up not only to common
sense and scripture but to discerning
what the spiritual life needs
to be. Though
we should not lack nor want,
God wants more of us and not
less of us. Therefore anything
which takes our focus away from
God and places it upon unfruitful
things, those things which only
decay, is really a stumbling
block for a believer. Those who
preach riches and wealth are
leading people away from intimacy
unless they are able to handle
wealth and prosperity more graciously
than I. Many are able to assume
possessions of wealth and money
and property without being seduced
away from God's presence. But
sometimes the aware of the futility
and the emptiness of wealth comes
too late when are already victimized
by excesses, this was the case
of the writer of Ecclesiastes,
Solomon who realized late in
life that with wealth comes other
griefs and spareness of the soul.
Gain
is not Godliness, the apostle
writes in 1Timothy 6:5, withdraw
yourselves from such doctrines.
but Godliness with contentment
is great gain, (1Timothy
6:6) God wishes to supply our
needs, to bless us in our going
out and our coming in to make
us fruitful in body and in all
of the pursuits of our life.
(Deuteronomy 28:3-6)
The
doctrine of prosperity has
blessing connected to it
to be sure; but the negative
side of it is its link to selfish
motives both in the giver and
the receiver. Many who preach
the prosperity message are in
a position to directly benefit
by the unrestrained giving that
is encouraged in sermons and
in seminars. Some of those who
preach the doctrine exceed the
Word of God by suggesting that
gifts given to their own ministries
have the greatest return connected
to them. Of course faith is infused
into the process to insure a
greater degree of return, thirty,
sixty or one hundred fold according
to scripture as is described
and taught as a consequence of
giving.
(There
is greater insight in the 30,
60 and hundred fold metaphor
than mere cash and assets. The
prospering of the soul is accounted
above all, in Spiritual richness.)
Giving,
according to Jesus, should not
be in the manner of the Pharisees
who "sound a trumpet" to give
notice that they are doing an
alms deed. Jesus teaches to give
in secret and for the left hand
not to see what the right hand
does. All of these teachings
address anonymous giving rather
than a public display in which
people are applauding the giver
for his excellent generosity.
The Lord says of such people,
they receive their reward by
the act of receiving public acclaim
and applause. It is far better
to give when only the Father
who sees in secret knows. He
will be the one who insures a
return in the best possible time.
Any
man or woman can give or contribute
in any 'kind' or commodity. One
can give a gift of service another
a gift of a song. Another a gift
of kindness. The same principle
applies when the motive is right,
God who is the author and overseer
of every good and perfect gift
knows when our giving is free
from self exaltation. He will
insure the return.
Return
to Discipleship Index
Return
to all titles index
|
