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GWR02
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AUTHOR'S
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
Author's
Brief Testimony
A
Brief Look at Paradigms
3
paradigms of Wisdom: worldly, religious, & Christian
"Paradigm"
is word that not everyone may know. We are nevertheless all
powerfully affected by our paradigms. There are paradigms which
guide our thoughts and understanding in art, culture, religion
and technology in every age. We become victims of these
understandings which we come to accept as laws or "facts"
when presented by teachers or leaders. A Paradigm is a system of
accepted understanding that attempts to answer 'the way things
are,' or answer questions about essential facts. We rarely
question or think outside of these premises or to escape from the
paradigms that are set in place for us. It takes imagination and
even courage to reexamine paradigms critically. Outside of a
paradigm is where invention and discovery occurs. Paradigm
break-throughs lead to advances in science, art, or religious
thought.
Paradigms:
define our understanding. They are pre-suppositions of how
things are or how things have to be.
Paradigms:
limit our ability to function outside of that paradigm - or
receive understanding outside of the paradigm. They are in a
sense glass
walls or ceilings in the domain of that paradigm.
Religion
is among the many domains where paradigms exist
People
who are paradigm
breakers may
be considered radical, even blasphemous or heretical
Paradigms
of science or cosmology have often been in conflict with
religious teaching and dogma. Religious authorities were
frequently intolerant of new ways of thinking. Whether about the
earth and solar system as envisioned by Copernicus or Newton or
teachings that are outside of their own orthodoxy. Old ways of
thinking do not receive a new paradigm without resistance and
tension.
Examples
of religious paradigms
1.
The Church
is
the "house of God"
2. A Church is where you go to
worship.
3. All human beings are the children of God
4.
Religious (Spiritual) knowledge is the domain of the clergy or
priesthood
5.
Heaven is the place you go when you die
6. Believers should
submit to the headship (covering) of a church authority or
pastor
7. The saints
and
disciples
are
Biblical personalities from another by-gone age
8. Signs,
wonders and the miraculous have passed away in modern times
9.
God does not speak to human beings in the He way did in the early
days of the church.
10. The new covenant excludes the root and
foundation of the covenants of Judaism. Some outside-the-paradigm
view points
11. Priests or sacramental rites provide a
guarantee of good standing with God.
12. Duties in the form of
'good works' will help us to win favor with God and give us
spiritual stature.
Biblical
Support For Contrary Views to the Above Paradigms.
1.
The church is comprised of each person who believes and has been
born into the kingdom of God. Each believer is described as a
'living
stone'
that forms the greater house, also known as the body
of Christ
2.
You do not go
to a church
rather
each believer is a component of the the Church (Ecclesia
Christ's
called-out body.) You and others are called to come together in
Jesus' name. Whenever two or three gather in His name, you
become an assembly of believers Christ the Messiah is
manifested. The Ecclesia.
He has called us OUT of darkness
into the glorious light of the sons and daughters of God. (See
link: Why Should Christians Gather?)
3.
The Jews sought to stone Jesus when he inferred that God was his
father. There was no such designation as 'children of God' until
Jesus pronounced this doctrine on our behalf and taught his
disciples to pray, "
Our
Father... " Furthermore, no man comes to the Father except
through Jesus Christ, the door. Others in the world are not
children of God. Jn
1:12 - for
those who believe on His name he gives the power (exousia
=
authority) to become the sons (children) of God
4.
The priest hood has been eliminated in the new covenant Gospel
of the Kingdom. In the days of Moses, the people of Israel
rejected God's plan to become a nation of kings and priests
(Exodus 19:) and demanded that Moses and Aaron become the
intermediaries before God on their behalf. Since the founding of
the church (also the day of Pentecost) The fire of God fell on
each believer and they received the Power to be witnesses of the
wonderful works of God. The priesthood insinuated itself
back into the world and held common people in bondage until this
time. The Ecclesiastical traditions of formal religion dominate
the whole world of Christendom today.
5.
Heaven. Jesus prayer was about connecting the realm of heaven
(The Kingdom of Heaven)
and
the realm of the Spirit with this world. Let thy Kingdom come.
Let
Thy will be done. On earth as in Heaven!
This revelation of the Kingdom can be experienced to various
degrees in this present age while we are alive as people 'born
of the Spirit.' We have overlooked that which is most
fundamental in the religious experience. (The Lord's prayer or
the Disciple's prayer.) Heaven is a continuing reality but on a
Spiritual (non intellectual) plane. Heaven was
presented by Jesus as accessible
by
his disciples. How can heavenly things become accessible?
Through a Spirit-governed life in which the natural man with his
natural limits are subdued and crucified. Access to heavenly
things is acquired losing one's self awareness, self-identity
and self-control. Jesus
said, "I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you
may be also. - -" To be absent from the body is to be
present with the Lord - - I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day
- - I heard - - and behold - - I see - -.
Physical death is the ultimate loss of self control.
"Carrying the cross" is about losing our preoccupation
with self so that Christ's life may manifest within us.
6.
The concept of pastoral authority (or covering) is a feature of
the tradition-bound institutional church. From early times
priests were labeled clergy and the general congregation of
listeners was designated laity. With this system the laity
function primarily as its personal support system to the
institutional church. (The ownership of a flock of God permitted
the overseers to make merchandise of them.) (Nicolaitinism.
See.. Rev. 3) The
Lord is my shepherd - My sheep hear my voice - -
There is
one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
7.
We who believe and have received the gift of New
Life,
are called to be Saints, for we are all called to be "in
Christ Jesus", seated in heavenly places. We grow up in the
knowledge of Him until we reach the fullness of Him. (Ephesians
4:13.) The
only question is how do we grow and how are we discipled? The
pastoral discipleship paradigm is only partially effective as it
does not prepare all brothers and sisters for leadership
and full
participation in the things of God.
Discipleship is best realized through Koinonia
meaning
mutual participation and sharing of the God life in fellowship.
(It
is my position that there is no Ecclesia without Koinonia!)
Those
called out of the world into the body of Christ have within them
the essence of Jesus' love. These believers are drawn to value
and share their fellow brothers and sisters that make up the
body. A number of authors are adding to the same message
that I promote here. We see liberty in the body being promoted
and the trend to come out from institutional religious systems."
Mega
Shift" by
James Rutz and other web published writings which teach the full
gospel message free of institutional religious connection:
Newbold and Warnock's "Meat in Due Season” (do a
search for current web site) and My own publication found under
the title, " The
Gospel Without Religion."
8.
Signs and wonders and miracles are either part of your religious
doctrine or they are not. Those who exclude this from their
doctrines do participate in the living reality of a church that
is that first delivered to the saints. (Jude 3) Miracles
and supernatural that was part of the Pentecostal awakening
movement that began in the recent century in 1906. But
experiencing the supernatural seems to be waning among the
Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians today. If your paradigm does
not allow for the supernatural you will not see it because you
are essentially saying No to the experience. Today more
supernatural signs and wonders are in evidence than ever before.
Examples:
9.
The most amazing thing any believer can ever discover is that
God can and does reveal himself to us individually. The
miraculous and revelation awaits any who through the power of
the Holy Spirit seek first the kingdom and knock at heaven's
door.
10.
The paradigm of the Old covenant (Judaism) is the root into
which Christianity has been grafted. Christianity is actually
Messianic Judaism in which we see the wholeness and completeness
of God's promise of the One new man, Jew and Gentile joined
under the Messiah. It is unfortunate that the terminology of the
Messiah was traded in for the Greek term Kristos
(the
anointed one) This designation added to the deception that
Judaic foundations were had been replaced by Christianity with a
rejection of anything Jewish. We Gentiles by the grace of God
have been grafted into the vine of Israel. To disregard the
Heritage of our root and foundations is unbiblical and subject
to judgment. The Gentiles as the church is a distinct chapter
and expression of God's time table in restoring The physical
kingdom and rule of the Messiah upon the earth.
11.
Religious studies have prepared scholars to ordination
thus to
qualify
to become
priests and overseers. They erroneously give the laity to
understand that they posses a particular power and authority
that the church goer does not have. We may well place our faith
in a priest to communicate with God on our behalf. If only the
Christian world knew and understood that there is but “one
mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”
The
great questions of life that philosophers ask is:
"Who
are we?
Where
do we come from? Where are we going? Where
will we go to seek wisdom and answers to these mysteries?
Do
we inquire according to secular wisdom, or religious teachings?
Or is there another? How does Godly Wisdom contrast to secular
wisdom? How
does Godly Wisdom contrast with "religious" wisdom?
3
PARADIGMS OF WISDOM AND TRUTH
The
Paradigm of Worldly Wisdom Contrasted to Godly Wisdom
For
it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and
will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
(1Cor:1:19:KJV) For after that in the wisdom of God the
world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
(-1Cor:1:21:KJV ) THE
PARADIGM OF WORLDLY WISDOM
Worldly
wisdom extols and rewards self-exaltation and individuality Godly
wisdom (the Truth) says deny yourself take up your cross, die to
yourself. In the Jesus, Spirit-led model of wisdom no man is
"good "Worldly wisdom is based upon observation and the
appearance of things
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) The unseen things are eternal and have
a substance yet to be known by human reason.
Worldly
wisdom is based upon "scientific" principle and
measurable phenomena.
Godly wisdom (the Truth) teaches that if you believe in the
unseen you have faith and will see the results manifested.
Worldly wisdom is characterized by the domination (rulership) of
the strong and the mighty over the weak.
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) teaches that God chooses the weak and the
insignificant to shame the wise and strong.
Worldly
wisdom devalues humans with few assets, (the poor) having
childlike meekness and simplicity. Godly wisdom (the Truth)
reveals that the greatest in the kingdom of God are like
children. Humble, trusting, and meek.
Worldly wisdom values
and rewards intellectual achievement, scholarship and leadership
attributes.
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) teaches that the wisdom of man is foolishness
to him.
Worldly
wisdom recognizes classes as inferior or superior rank and class,
this is respect of persons.
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) teaches that those who are poor shall
eventually receive the blessings of the kingdom. The proud and
the mighty he scatters and turns away.
Worldly
wisdom's view of the "vast timeless universe"
diminishes or negates the need of a savior.
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) teaches that God created the heaven and the
earth by wisdom and all things that are in it. And he called his
creation "good."
Worldly
wisdom values "self preservation" as a principle
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) speaks of self sacrifice as a divine virtue
Worldly
wisdom believes life may well be over when one dies
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) we are eternal beings who retain our own
soul's personal identity forever. Some will inherit eternal
blessings and others will inherit eternal separation from
God.
Worldly
wisdom presumes that God regards any and all religions or faiths
as equally valid.
Godly
wisdom has limited the way to a narrow one. There is one narrow
way and one name only by which sins may be atoned and we may be
saved. Jesus Christ.
There
is only one mediator between God and man. This Jesus is the son
of God, the king of the Jews.
Worldly
wisdom presumes that God does not favor any one nation over
another.
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) reveals that one nation has been designated as
the chosen people of God. The Bible has established upon
infallible promises, Godly wisdom (the Truth) reveals that one
nation is the chosen people of God.
Worldly
wisdom would suggest that whichever God we name that it is the
same divine being but simply designated by many names.
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) though there are many Gods there is but one
God who is above all and we can hold no God higher than He. There
is no other God above Him. Those who name other gods are
idolaters and their fate is judgment and destruction.
Worldly
wisdom presumes that God is essentially impersonal.
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) says that we can become sons of God. Adapted
into
the family. We are called to inherit the blessings and partake in
His divine nature. Worldly
wisdom (allowing religious belief) believes that all of the human
race are automatically
"children
of God"
Godly
wisdom (the Truth) Whoever believes on the Son
of
God, Jesus Christ, shall have eternal life. Whoever has not the
son has no life but
the
condemnation of God remains upon them. (John 3:18)
Paradigms
of Religious Wisdom:
In
the religious paradigm the religious life centers around a
"church
house"
In
the religious paradigm the church building is called the
"Church"
In the religious paradigm the
traditional church features such elements as: pulpits
and pews, stained glass windows, organs and 'sacred music'
solemnity and formalism, Ecclesiastical garb, robes, orders of
service, ritual, - - designated ranks of clerical authority.
In
the religious paradigm a formally trained priest or clergy
"officiates" over the "services"
In
the religious paradigm a formal address or sermon delivered to
the faithful is called "preaching"
In
the religious paradigm one or two hours a week meet one's
religious requirements, involvement
In
the religious paradigm only the professionally trained clergy are
qualified to "minister"
In
the religious paradigm there is "respect of persons" -
- a heirarchy of spiritual rank or authority
In
the religious paradigm members may be totally disassociated in
worship or prayer
In
the religious paradigm a person's spiritual life is largely
governed, directed or sustained others
In
the religious paradigm the exploits of God and Saints are in the
dim past
In
the religious paradigm people are taught how to please God with
certain deeds or obligations
In the religious
paradigm there are may be particular duties required to attain
"good standing"
In
the religious paradigm one often does not experience God but only
hears about
God
In
the religious paradigm one often doesn't know if he/she qualifies
for a heavenly reward, (is saved)
In the religious
paradigm Bible doctrine plus
traditional
teachings form core doctrines
Paradigm
of Godly Wisdom, (Modeled by Jesus)
In
the Jesus, Spirit-led model of wisdom there are paradoxes to the
natural
instincts
or wisdom of man
the
least shall be greatest;
The
first shall be last;
many
called but few chosen; we must die (to ourselves) in order
to live;
We
must hate the things of this world;
we
must be like a child, God has hidden wisdom from the wise;
the
unseen things are a greater reality than the seen. etc.
I
n
the Jesus, Spirit-led model of wisdom man in his natural
abilities (I can do nothing of myself) can do nothing of
value for the kingdom of God
In the Jesus,
Spirit-led model of wisdom, the spiritual man is totally
dependent upon the guidance of the Spirit
In the Jesus,
Spirit-led model of wisdom we are in a perpetual spiritual
battle for survival and dominance in life
In the Jesus,
Spirit-led model of wisdom there is eternal life, promised
rewards and consequences
In the Jesus, Spirit-led model
Jesus preached to those outside pertaining to the Kingdom
of God and taught his followers
In the Jesus, Spirit-led
model of wisdom only those who are born of the Spirit and led of
the Spirit are the Children of God
In the Jesus,
Spirit-led model of wisdom people are discipled; disciples are
nurtured and matured and prepared for ministry
In the
Jesus, Spirit-led model of wisdom ministry is through the
leading of the Holy Spirit
In the Jesus,
Spirit-led model of wisdom true worshipers worship in
Spirit and in Truth
In the Jesus, Spirit-led model
of wisdom, wisdom and insight is hidden from the double minded
and the unredeemed
In the Jesus, Spirit-led model of
wisdom we could memorize the Bible and not fully know God
and the truth- only the Spirit reveals it.
See
Above Link to Chapter 13; Religious Terminology
Next
Chapter
E
Book 1: The
Gospel Without
Religion
E
Book 2:
A
Disciples Handbook
E
Book 3:
Mysteries
in the Bible Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
E
Book 1:
The
Gospel Without
Religion
E
Book 2:
A
Disciples Handbook
E
Book 3:
Mysteries
in the Bible
Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Resources:
Understanding Home Fellowships
http://churchinthehouse.org/
Frank
Viola Interviews a typical
church-goer
(Discussion
of Open Church)
Frank
Viola
"Who's
Your Covering"
"Rethinking
the Wineskin"
Sid
Roth
Guest, George
Barna
"Moving beyond the
established church"
Barna's
Book: "Revolution"
Interview
2/20/2006 http://www.sidroth.org
Sid
Roth
Guest:
Tim and Katie
Mather
Subject: Open
Church
http://www.sidroth.org/radio.htm
Sid
Roth
Guest: Jim
Rutz
Author of Book:
"Megashift, "
"Experiencing the fullness of
God
outside of Institutional Religion"
Subject: Open
Church
http://www.sidroth.org/radio.htm
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