Alway the last place we look!

I am sure you've noticed that when you are looking for something you find it in the last place you look. Why? Because you feel there is no need to look any further. The same is true when we're seeking spiritual truths. Often, we stop looking when we find something we perceive to be true and we look no farther. The last word we have is what we assume to be the final truth. Kind of dangerous in matters of the spirit, though, because as we mature in the Lord, He continues revealing truths to us - if we're looking. If we stopped looking because someone claimed to have found the definitive truth 100 years ago we run the risk of missing the revelation that comes with maturity. That's why I never stop looking, questioning, probing the "truth" as I know it to make sure it stands up under the scrutiny of age. I encourage you to do the same. Never stop looking, seeking the truth of God's will. You will be surprised at what you will find that has been there all along!

Who says it is settled?

Often we have a bad habit when it comes to deciding what is truth. We take the route of "settled truth" rather than the more reliable route of self directed investigation and affirmation of what is true. Put another way: "that's already been settled by people who are much smarter than me and it has been accepted as truth for generations therefore it must be true." Of such thinking springs the birth of division, doubt and believing a lie, all serious mistakes that ultimately lead us to the inevitable conclusion of apathy towards truth.

Some would suggest that such an assertion on my part is simply a means of taking a swipe at tradition and traditional Christian doctrines. In part, I suppose that is true. I am convinced that following a path or doctrine simply because it is settled truth is inherently dangerous. I am sure that those who lived under the shadows of mounts Vesuvius and St. Helens would agree, if they were able. Because those volcanoes had not erupted in such a long time was not a certain indication they would never erupt again, yet thousands of people lulled themselves into the deadly assumption that they were safe.

I see Christians all around me who are blindly following the same line of thought in spiritual matters. Instead of seeking the truth that is readily available in the holy writ, they assume that the "settled truth" must be right because it is no longer questioned - it has become a tradition, perhaps even a dogma. Do not misapprehend my point here. Being traditional is not to be equated with being wrong. However, tradition without the support of personally discovered and held truth is deadly.

Some suggest, for instance, that for the church to assemble to engage in spiritual activities is not worship unless there are "5 articles of worship" engaged in the execution of the assembly. That is the traditional, settled truth. It has been that way for generations. However, it isn't commanded, implied or even witnessed in the scripture. There is nothing to suggest it is truth yet millions of Christians will fiercely defend the position, even to the point of dividing the Body of Christ. That is wrong.

Thankfully God saw fit to give us guidance that is clear and understandable in the form of the Bible. Virtually anyone with reasonable literacy can read and understand what God expects of us: not only in the worship arena but in all aspects of our lives. In 2 Peter 1, Peter states without equivocation that we have been given everything that pertains not only to life, but Godliness as well. We do not have to guess, surmise or look for obscure inferences to know what God seeks from His people. The opposite is true: it takes diligent, long term misapplication of the scripture to miss what God is saying. It is for this very reason that we're encouraged to take responsibility for the certainty of our own understanding as Phil. 2:12 states.

Again, tradition is not necessarily wrong. Tradition in the absence of scriptural support is not only wrong, but deadly and will suffice to further deaden our conscience so that even when we see the truth we can't recognize it. Own the Word for yourself: your destiny depends upon it.

Living fully

I was reading yesterday on the way to Nashville. I was cruising through John (my wife was cruising through the traffic!) when the phrase jumped out that Jesus made that He came that we could live life fully. Suddenly, for what reason I don't know other than with the Spirit's help, that verse just screamed at me. It could have been that I was on the way to the hospital to have a spinal injection and was miserable and the idea of a full life appealed to me mightily right about then.

No doubt, as Jesus pointed out in the passage, Satan came to steal, kill and destroy - us and our lives but then Jesus came to give it back to me, but not just a tattered, scarred and torn up life but an abundant, full life. How have I been missing out? Could it be that it is because I haven't accepted it? Perhaps I have bought into the devil's ploy of telling me that this is as good as it is going to get. Right there, on the road to Nashville I decided that I was going to start right then reaching for the fuller life that Jesus brought to earth for me! I claim it for me. I invoke the name of Jesus in commanding Satan to let my life alone. I am going with the abundance promised by Jesus!

The Kingdom Church

There are two models that churches follow: the democratic model or the kingdom model. Most churches have, over time, become democratic churches. That is, the power in the church resides in the people. Everyone has a say in what the church does, the direction it takes, who its leaders are, etc. On the surface this seems to be a good model because it appears to be "fair" and equitable. However, as soon as there is a difference of opinion the group or individual who wield the greatest influence invariably get their way, regardless of what is right according to the Bible. In essence, a church following the democratic model devolves into a situation where the people are allowed a vote in the affairs of the church. This is evident in churches that conduct so-called business meetings because they have no or ineffective leaders. Churches following this model always fracture because they have become churches that are filled with members who use their personal influence to effect the direction of the church. These churches have become self centered and ego centric.

The kingdom church, on the other hand, retains power in, and only in the King. In the case of the church that is Jesus. There are no votes in the kingdom church, only the directives of the King. When people begin to formulate their own opinions of what should be going on in the church their opinion is always trumped by the instructions of the King. Kingdom churches always grow because they have a singular purpose, a singular mission which is to conquer more territory for the King. The Kingdom church is an empire whereas the democratic church follows the autonomous, self-governance paradigm.

As we sow the seed of the Kingdom, we must be committed to being a Kingdom church, otherwise we will become fractured like the democratic churches are. The scripture is plain: the King expects His subjects to follow Him and not formulate their own methodologies for operating the church. Those who insist upon being democratic can not be in fellowship with those who follow the Kingdom paradigm: the two are following different leaders. The Kingdom church follows the King, the democratic church is governed by its own desires.

Contentment is the jumping off point for peace!

I have noticed of late that as I become content I often find that feeling followed by peace. I must explore this further! Peace is that sense of all is well and that nothing can wrong. Almost like having a guardian angel! (who would have thought that?)  God is on our side and he is making provisions for us and if we listen to Him and follow His leading we will draw closer and closer to contentment and thus peace . . . a peace that God suggests passes our ability to comprehend! How do we get contentment? By living now! The future brings no contentment, nor does the past. It is only by being in synch with the present that we can find contentment and thus peace. Living now and being happy now, content now, we can have peace. We are happy now by being thankful to God (Phil 4:6-8) for now rather than by being anxious about now.

What will God do today?

I am having to learn a new paradigm of living: What will God do today? I know He is going to do something because He cares about me and provides for me. I am having to learn to search for the things He is doing. This isn't to suggest that some of the things God does are of little enough consequence to be noticeable. It is to suggest that I am working on how I see so that I recognize the things He does. I know they are there all around me if I will just watch for and see them!

It is not always easy being thankful.

There are some folks I know and I envy them because they always seem to be able to see the good in every situation. They are filled with the wonder of it all and are overwhelmed with the glory of life. I, on the other hand, am almost always underwhelmed. Why? Because, and this has been hard for me to face, that is what I choose. I choose to be a victim, a loser, a person with no confidence. I choose it. Now I am choosing to change it!

I am convinced that the Lord wants us to have and to live abundant lives. Satan wants to make life so discouraging that I blame God, or so good that I forget God. The truth, I am finding, is that everything good comes from God (James 1:17) but I often want to take credit for it. I am talented, skillful, intelligent, and the list goes on. All reasons why good comes to me. Well, who gave me all those things? Who set the wheels in motion that ultimately manifest as opportunities? God, of course.

Now instead of coincidence, I see providence. Instead of my wisdom and intelligence I see the leading of the Spirit. Rather than good fortune, I see the blessing of a father who loves me, not in spite of my weakness but because of my weakness. It is therein that His true power and goodness is most readily recognizable as being a gift for which to be wonderfully thankful.

Today has been a good day!

Yes it has! I started out feeling somewhat better than usual and got up excited about going to worship with my QCC family. We sang, prayed and studied together before participating in communion. I had the opportunity to talk about how standing fast requires that we know the truth, otherwise our stand is being taken on the shifting sand of falsehood. I also was blessed to be able to share with my family how that God is a "Yes" God and for those in Christ our answer when we pray is always in the affirmative. I love the confidence from knowing that God hears and answers the things I ask for.

I also, on a personal level, committed myself to being more proactive in practicing forgiveness in my relations with others - whether they ask my forgiveness or not. Why? Because that is how I would like for the Lord to look upon me when I need forgiveness.

I think this is going to be a great week. God is on my side and I am on His - how can that go wrong?