Followership

I've discussed the obsession with leadership in other posts, but today I want to delve into another subject: followership. Followership is defined as the state or position of being a follower. To put this into practical understanding, the true measure of a leader is in his/her ability to encourage true followership. This begs the next question: who or what are you following? When it all shakes out, GOD won't judge you on who you know or how well you parroted what they've said, you will be judged on who you are and how well you followed what He says.


Now, because I know where many reader's minds will automatically go, followership is not blind obedience to your leader. In fact, followership—in the context of our discussion—goes right past our human leaders to the Source of all Authority: GOD. Because far too many individuals have only cursory interaction and understanding of the Text it becomes all too easy to simply obey everything their selected leader says without ever filtering the instruction through the Word of GOD. The narcissistic leader then misuses the Text, obedience is better than sacrifice [1 Samuel 15:22], thus creating followers of himself rather than followers of GOD. The only obedience that is better than sacrifice is obedience to GOD and His Word. In the context of 1 Samuel 15, Saul was not being reprimanded for disobeying GOD's prophet, he had disobeyed GOD's commandment concerning pre-war sacrifices. Sure Samuel was the mouthpiece of GOD, but Samuel wasn't flavoring or adding to GOD's words, he was simply repeating what GOD had given him to say. If the leader isn't saying what GOD says obedience is not required.


Do a quick study of the job of the watchman that GOD placed on the wall. You'll find that the watchman was only to say what GOD had specifically told him to say. He was not to add to it nor take away from it, simply repeat it.


I listened to a sermon recently in which the minister made abundantly clear the notion that his words from the pulpit were just as vital, and necessary, and GOD-breathed as those of the Old Testament prophets or the New Testament writers. To paraphrase another point of his sermonizing, if the members of his congregation didn't obey his instructions explicitly, they were disobeying GOD. The major problem with all of this is the fact that almost everything that he was preaching wasn't based in the Text, it was all his opinions (or more accurately, the opinions of the individuals he himself had chosen to follow; and thus the degrees of separation increase exponentially). I know this an extreme example of misusing the pulpit for personal credenda, but this is becoming more the norm than the minority.


How often is the goal of my lesson or sermon to create followers of me rather than followers of GOD?


Be honest, it feels good to challenge people's thinking or to drop that nugget in their lap. It's easy to become addicted to the accolades. But is this truly what GOD called His mouthpieces to be: credit seekers or demagogues? Our purpose as ministers of His Good News is to point the way to Him, not to our opinions about Him. If—as a minister in a pulpit—you've ever saddled the congregation with your personal convictions or opinions about the Text you're guilty of trying to replace GOD in the hearer's lives. If we were honest, we've all done this in some way or another, but now that we see the error of our ways, we must avoid it at all costs.


Someone said recently of a local congregation that is experiencing attrition, "For months they [the ministry] encouraged the congregation to read and study the Bible every day. Then, when the congregation had dropped by more than a third, they never said that again." Is there a connection to this congregation's attrition and their studying the Text? Why would studying the Text encourage attrition? What did those who relocated to another congregation see in the Text that was contrary to what was being taught and/or preached? When Peter gave the instruction that ministers should feed the flock [1 Peter 5:1-3], he wasn't empowering us to choose the feed; we have to feed the congregation what has been left by the Good Shepherd. It's interesting to note that in verse three of this Text, Peter instructs that this shepherding (or feeding) is not be administered through domineering over those in your charge but by example.


To foster true followership of GOD we have to stop trying to dominate the congregation and begin leading by example. Paul told the Community at Corinth that they should imitate him in the same manner in which he imitated Christ, or simply because he imitated Christ [1 Corinthians 11:1]. Something to point out here is the fact that when a New Testament writer referred to Jesus as Christ, they were emphasizing His Messiahship. Messiah can be interpreted as the Salvation of YHWH. Another way of looking at Paul's instruction is like this: imitate me as you see me imitating Salvation; when I stop imitating Salvation, stop imitating me. But, for this admonition to become something more than just skilled rhetoric, there is a major responsibility placed on the shoulders of the congregation. All of us have a responsibility to not only read the Bible, but to also study the Text, to become intimate with GOD's thoughts and Character. If we don't, we'll never know when we're being led astray.


Mark Batterson made this statement: my job as a preacher is not to interpret the Text for you, my job is to teach you to properly interpret the Text yourself. What a declaration! This is a minister who has discovered his responsibility as GOD's mouthpiece.


How often is my life as a minister not imitating Salvation?


How often are my words not Salvation's words?


How often do I keep the responsibility and joy of understanding the Text from the people I'm serving?


Perhaps we should adopt this credo:

• As a minister of GOD's Good News, I commit to only shepherding His people with His Words.
• As a minister of GOD's Good News, I commit to never saddling GOD's people with my personal preferences.
• As a minster of GOD's Good News, I commit to strive for godly followership rather than narcissistic leadership.

I would be willing to wager that very quickly the attrition would stem.

The Importance of Revolution

Revolution can be defined as a forcible overthrow of a government or social order or system of operation in favor of a new system. I would, however, like to utilize the etymology of the word to demonstrate a truer meaning. Revolution has its origin in late Middle English and comes from the Old French word revolvere, which means to roll back.


It is my honest belief that GOD is calling His Community as a whole to a godly revolution; not an action that forcibly overthrows the current system with violent action, but rather a steady and purposeful rolling back of our processes and systems to GOD's original intent. GOD is calling us to return. There's an old adage that says if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm not sure who added this, but another adage continues, and the Church ain't broke. I agree. GOD's Body isn't broken, but our system is. We can either choose to ignore the reality that is occurring all around us, or we can determine that we will roll back and become what GOD intended.


So, you're probably asking, how was the 1st Century Community different than today? Notwithstanding the political and socioeconomic differences between then and now, there are vast differences between what was and what is. The primary difference was the diaspora [referring to the contagion-like spread of the Good News after the Day of Pentecost]. Before Paul ever wrote the first book of the New Testament there were thousands of missional communities functioning all across the known world. I recently read a dissertation by a theologian in which he posits proof of missional communities as far out as the Britannic Islands before the advent of cath holos in the 4th Century. I have no idea if there were Britannic missional communities, it doesn't really matter, but I bring this up to point out that the Good News spread like an unstoppable virus, and it spread fast. Luke tells us that GOD added to the Ekklesia, daily [Acts 2:46-47]. The spread has slowed. In many ways, the contagion of the Good News has been staunched. Much of this is part of the process, but there is much of the staunching that lays at our feet as well.


How did diaspora occur in the 1st Century? To again reference Luke's account [Acts 2:46, 5:42], we see that the Ekklesia not only worshiped in the Temple every day, they also met in their homes. These home meetings were missional communities that were established specifically to not only grow together in unity, but also to grow in numbers through personal and collective discipling. If you do even a cursory study of the diaspora you'll find that these missional communities would spring up almost overnight, then—once established—duplicate themselves and start all over again. This is why the New Testament references specific Communities by city rather than by leader [i.e., the Community at Rome, the Community at Jerusalem, etc. vs. Pastor ________'s church]. They were dedicated and sold out to GOD, not the pedigree of their pastor. In fact, Paul openly addressed this issue in his letter to the Corinthian Community [1 Corinthians 3:1-15]. In this section of his letter, Paul openly admits to a practice that not a few of our modern pastors would shy away from: he says that he's a part of a team. He says that he laid a foundation, but someone else built. He says this after he questions who he is, who Apollos is.  Paul was not setting himself up as the ultimate authority in the minds and lives of the Corinthian Community, he was establishing himself as one aspect of a GOD-inspired team. A team that has at its core a strong dependence upon GOD [verse 6]. Diaspora is a result of team efforts, not individualistic kingdom building.


Is it possible that the spread of the Good News-contagion has slowed because we're more focused on building our individual congregations rather than GOD's Kingdom?


How many of the individuals in our congregations are in attendance simply because they are addicted to the dynamics of their pastor's personality and/or preaching style? This can be measured by observing how many people don't attended services if they know the pastor is not going to be present. This is also a result of our event-oriented methodology, where we focus our outreach and worship efforts on one or two primary weekly events [i.e., our weekend and mid-week gatherings]. Call it what you will, but this is nothing like our 1st Century predecessors. In my opinion Paul would have a field day with the modern day Community. Far too many of us have reduced living for GOD to our congregational gatherings, completely ignoring the fact that GOD wants to interact with us daily, relationally.


Diaspora has been staunched because we're not spreading.


Examine the congregations here in North America that are experiencing the most rapid and sustaining growth. Each one of them will attribute the majority of their swell to their in-home communities. Some call them small groups, some use the moniker cell group… at a glance the name doesn't really matter as long as the purpose is to provide community between a smaller group at a more intimate level (although you could make the argument that the group becomes what you call it; call it "small" it will stay that way). These congregations have discovered the truth that if individuals are given the opportunity to experience community throughout the week rather than only in one or two mass events, that they will become more connected and ultimately stronger believers. Forget for a moment all of your philosophical differences with these congregations, you can't deny the fact that this is truly 1st Century. This is nothing new. People have been trying cell groups, small groups, whatever for years. Some have experienced solid diaspora, others haven't. If your congregation hasn't seen true diaspora after tying this, you might be missing one small, yet integral component: common unity.


In an event-driven congregation it is very difficult to experience real common unity [community] because the congregation only interacts at the events. It would be extremely difficult to stand in front of several hundred or more people and openly confess sin, thus making it nearly impossible to bear up our brothers and sisters who have stumbled or are struggling. Yet, we were instructed by James to confess our sins to each other so that we may be healed [James 5:15-17]. While this is virtually impossible in a congregational sense, this transparency and trust is a key ingredient to a thriving, healthy missional community.


People being Spirit-baptized is not, in and of itself, diaspora. Yes it is a fundamental part of the process, but if we're not discipling, nurturing and developing these new believers they won't last; and as a result, diaspora will not continue. Perhaps our multiple text messages, tweets and or reports should focus on the number of new believers who last out the month (just a thought). If we roll back to the concept of team, in which we all are involved in the growth of a new believer, will see the holes in our net steadily shrinking.


In the 1st Century—because of the reality of the common unity that existed in the Ekklesia—it is highly doubtful that there were any individuals who weren't heavily involved in the function and operation of the individual missional community. It's easy to disappear in the crowd, but a far more difficult task to shirk responsibility when there are less people in the room. Add to this reality your missional community receiving letters from GOD's Apostle reminding you that if you don't pull your weight that you should be cut off.


How many of your congregation simply attend the main events?


Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not advocating a desertion of our mass congregations. Nor am I asserting that the existence of large congregations are somehow against GOD. I simply want to point out that this was not the original plan, but a result of outside influences. Imagine how much more effective every member of your congregation would be if they were interacting with each other, shining Jesus and discipling individuals, daily. 


We've got to shake ourselves out of this lethargy. GOD is calling us to a revolution, a rolling back to His purpose. We've got to cast off the trappings of cath holos and Protestant denominationalism and return again to His Commission: to go make disciples. Yes, I talk about this a lot, but I have no choice. This is my passion, this is my Calling. It would be easy to shrug off this call to revolution as the "next new thing." But, shrugging it off won't make it go away. Either we are contagious and are effecting our world or we're not. And if we're not, who are we to think that GOD's just going to ignore our ineffectiveness? Have we forgotten that He turned away from His chosen people because of their inability to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant? Are we so arrogant to assume He won't do it again? GOD told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. He told Abraham that He was blessing him so that he could bless the entire world. He Commissioned His disciples to go make disciples. Are you starting to see the theme? Diaspora is GOD's plan. Attrition is the result of our apathy, not the enemy. We need to stop blaming everything on the devil and man up to the fact that we're not fulfilling our task.


To quote Jack Black, it's time to get naked and start the revolution. We need to strip away all of the trappings of everything that we are that isn't GOD. We need to leave behind so much of our process that stems from the 4th Century and go back further to where it all began. We need to roll back to our Commissioned Purpose. When we fully engage in revolution the contagion of GOD's Good News will be spread around the world.

What I'm Reading Now

I'm asked often what books I'm reading, although I'm not sure if people want to know this to see where I'm getting my "damnable doctrine" as one person put it (ha), or if there is genuine interest. Either way, here goes. I try to read as many books as I can with as many different views as possible, as I don't want to be anyone's parrot. It's also important to note that I'm constantly reading the Text in various translations and paraphrases.


Recently Finished:


Primal [Mark Batterson] — by far the best book I've ever read… I read it twice, back-to-back
A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 [W. Phillip Keller] — third reading, awesome book
Outliers [Malcom Gladwell] — very good read, helps to affect change


Currently Reading:


Crazy Love [Francis Chan]
What Paul Meant [Garry Wills]
Everything Must Change [Brian D. McLaren]
Irresistible Revolution [Shane Claiborne]
New Covenant, New Community [Petrus J. Gräbe]
Wild Goose Chase [Mark Batterson]


I don't make it a practice to do book reviews, but I recommend that everyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus read Primal and Crazy Love. If you're a pastor, or desire the office of pastor, I highly recommend A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23.


It would be great to see what you're reading as well. Feel free to post your book list.

Finding Your Passion

I self-examine often. This is a practice I picked up when I returned to GOD after being away for many years; I want to make sure that I haven't slipped. You see, I'm a pretty carnal individual. I have weaknesses in my flesh that will rip me away from GOD if I allow them to, so I have to perform an all systems check (ASC) on a regular basis. It's a good practice and I highly recommend it to everyone. I think we were told somewhere that we should pay attention or we'll fall… (yeah, loose translation).


Recently I was performing a regularly scheduled ASC and I began thinking about my passion for GOD. I asked myself several questions: 1) am I truly sold out to GOD and His Mission?; 2) am I truly practicing what I preach?; 3) do i truly have a love for His Word? There were more questions, but—as they're somewhat private—I'll just keep those between GOD and myself, thank you very much.


Honestly, I wasn't too happy with my answers to these questions. My first response was to candy-coat a generalized form-response that made me seem spiritual, but was about as deep as a sheet of paper. I was amazed at just how easy it was to lie to myself. I guess I've grown so used to giving pat answers to questions that my programed response just flew out without me having to truly think about what I was going to say.


I wonder how often this happens?


Realization dawned on me that I was avoiding the truth of the matter at hand, that while I may be fully engrossed in work and effort that is loosely related to GOD and His Mission, I'm not always passionate for Him. It's almost as if I'm more passionate about the idea of GOD than I am about GOD Himself. It's easy to get so busy doing the work of GOD (italics added to emphasis the fallacy of the premise) that we overlook Him altogether. This is where I found myself. Change must needs come.


Thank You GOD for Your mercy.


What is the most important thing in your life? Be honest, we're not looking for a spiritual answer, just the truth. Now, examine your life and see if your answer matches reality. Matthew's Gospel records Jesus saying that the things we treasure determine our passion; our heart. If I can expand on this, the things we talk about the most are the things we're the most passionate about. Look back through your Twitter feed, your Facebook status updates… what are you talking about? Think back over your work conversations, your interaction with friends, your response to life-happens moments (to quote Forrest Gump, "It happens.")… what are you saying in each of these moments? Luke 6:45 says that we speak out of the abundance of our heart. To put this another way, our passions will rise to the surface.


I'm not sure that I can honestly say that I'm totally sold out to His Mission. There are many other things and efforts that—if I'm truly honest—I have made more important in my life than GOD. When I read about the Apostles hazarding themselves for the Good News I'm embarrassed. I've never hazarded myself. I've never put my very life on the line for GOD. Yes, I know that society and life are different now than in the 1st Century, but even adjusting for the acceptance of Christianity by society as a whole, I've never really put myself out there. Sure I've fed homeless and/or needy people, I've even been known to knock a door or twelve, but is that what equates with hazarding myself? I don't think I've ever even been close to the mindset that says, "Self be damned, I'm following GOD."


I've never had to.


I'm passionate about the things that entertain me, I'm passionate about the food that fills my belly, I'm passionate about having things my way at the moment I demand them, but… passionate about GOD?


Recently I watched a video on YouTube® of a Hillsong concert in London. They were singing Chris Tomlin's song How Great Is Our God, one of my all-time favorites. The camera panned across the stadium over a mass of people, and—while I understand the production choices of choosing the best shot—there was not a person in the crowd that didn't have their hands raised in surrender to GOD, face lifted in worship, completely lost in singing about the greatness of our GOD. I was moved to tears. I couldn't wait until our next worship experience. I couldn't wait to get in a room with other believers and worship GOD like that. The time came, I began to lead the congregation in worship, I closed my eyes and began to focus on GOD and what I was saying to Him about Himself… I was completely lost in the moment. I opened my eyes to see what was going on around me and what I saw almost took the wind out of my sails. Less than 10% of congregation was even singing. Most were looking around for something to distract them, playing with their kids or even staring blankly into space thinking about who knows what, smugly arrogant in the fact that they had all the Truth. It took everything in me to get through the remainder of the service.


This image stayed with me the rest of the afternoon. I kept going over and over the service in mind, wondering what I—as the worship leader—had done wrong. After beating my head against the proverbial wall for several hours, I began to realize that I had not been able to lead the congregation into complete and total worship because they weren't passionate about what they were doing. But this didn't make sense. The mass of people at Hillsong Live don't have all the Truth (or so I've been told), and the congregation I was leading were all good pentecostals… wait, maybe that was the problem. Somewhere along the way the good pentecostals had lost their passion for GOD while the non-pentecostals had realized that they still needed GOD, therefore were passionate about worshiping Him.


How often do we forget Who we're worshiping during a worship experience?


Now, I'm fully aware that this example isn't indicative of every pentecostal gathering around the world. For that matter, it doesn't even represent every worship experience of the congregation used in the example. I also know that because I used this example that I will be castigated further, but seriously, I couldn't care less, so do your worst. I do—however—believe that GOD wanted to illuminate something to me by allowing me to experience this. I believe that on this particular Sunday I saw us the way GOD sees us; distracted, lethargic, disconnected, going through the ritual of our religion devoid of true intimacy with our Lover. I believe that GOD was showing me how He sees me all too often. I realized that not only do I not always worship with everything, far too often I don't do anything for GOD with all of myself. More often than not I hold myself back from being truly passionate about GOD and His Mission.


If there's anything in our lives that we place before GOD and His Mission, that thing has become a god to us; whether it be our family, our job, school, entertainment, church (and here I go again—quick, name that tune), relationships, anything or anyone—if we prefer it/them before GOD, then they/it become(s) a god to us.


What does it mean to be passionate about GOD's Mission?


Very simply it means to prefer GOD's Mission before our own. It means that we filter every hope, dream, aspiration through the filter of the Mission, and if it doesn't fit we leave it behind. Hazarding ourselves doesn't just apply to our mortality, it also applies to our emotions, our will, every part of our being.


Are you and I willing to give up everything to see His Mission fulfilled?


GOD told Hosea to marry a whore. Gomer represented everything that Hosea wasn't. She was filth, and by marrying her, Hosea opened himself up to the ridicule and castigation of the very people to whom he was to represent GOD. And—because we all understand human nature—we know that the people had a field day with him. They probably ate more Hosea for dinner than they did lamb kabobs. Yes, this story is a story of the undying love that GOD has for His people, but there's a sub-story here that we may overlook if we're not careful. Hosea could have told GOD no. He could have refused to debase himself by marrying Gomer. He could have refused to go bring her back when she left him to return to prostitution. He could have decided that his reputation as a man of GOD was more important than doing what GOD had called him to do. He could have, but he didn't. Hosea hazarded himself for GOD's Mission. It didn't matter the cost, he was willing to be and do what GOD purposed. Hosea was passionate about GOD and His Mission.


In His humanity, Jesus was passionate about His Father's Mission. He ignore the privilege of Deity and preferred the status of a slave [Philippians 2:5-8]. The humanity of Jesus is our ultimate life example, and He sacrificed Himself completely. Who are we to think that we can do less? Jesus walked into the religious environment of the 1st Century and confronted the bloated religiosity of His people head on. He flew in the face of everything they held as sacrosanct, constantly compelling them to experience this new, more abundant life that He was offering. So passionate was He with the Father's Mission that He willingly drank the cup of every sin that had ever been or ever would be committed. Not only did He take the sins on Himself, He took the filth, pleasure, hurt, ecstasy, perversion, lust, fear, loathing of our human stink and drank it into Himself. He was passionate about His Purpose. How can I—in the face of my Savior's Passion—prefer my own existence? How can you?


Jesus said that if we will seek GOD's Kingdom first He'll take care of the rest [Matthew 6:30-34]. I like the way The Message paraphrases this Text: Steep your life in GOD-reality, GOD-initiative, GOD-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. When we become passionate about GOD and His Mission He takes care of details.


My prayer is that passion for GOD overwhelms us all until we're consumed with His Mission and Purpose. GOD burn up the religiosity that is in me. Cleanse me of my pentecostalness. Wash me of my denominational arrogance that assumes that I have arrived. Penetrate me with your Purpose until passion for You is conceived at the center of my very being.


I'm determined to hazard myself for GOD and His Mission. After all, the less of me the world sees, the more of Him that can shine into their darkness.

Fear of Identity

As recent posts of my thoughts make their way out into the ether I've noticed that there is a fear of identity that is rising to the surface of the comments that are being left. It's apparent that some of my thoughts and opinions are ruffling the feathers of traditionalists, but what is amazing to me is the fact that—even though they want to disagree with me—they are either too ashamed of their opinions to use their name, or my blathering is hitting a bit too close to home; thus the dreaded Anonymous moniker.

Let me start out by saying that I welcome opinions by any and all, whether pro- or con-. If someone comments—unless, of course, their language is not conducive—I'll allow it to stay attached to the post. I'd also like to say that there is no one out there of whom I can't learn. I am a student, therefore always seeking knowledge. I am also not so convinced of my understanding and intelligence that I am beyond being incorrect. I'm wrong a lot, but that's why I keep studying, and discussing, and questioning… I'm seeking knowledge and understanding.

We make a grave mistake when we assume that we know everything about any one subject. We also make a mistake when we assume that the people we've been listening to are the final authority on any subject. We are all human, therefore fallible. We will all misunderstand, misinterpret, misinform, misguide… you get the picture? The practice of questions and discussion is not to promote ire between factions of any group or creed, but rather to foster individual and corporate growth among and between us all.

When you're scared of a different opinion then you're unsure of your own.

We'd all learn a valuable lesson if we took on John's credo: I must decrease so that He may increase. We cannot magnify nor elevate GOD to His rightful place in our lives until we are willing to debase ourselves and our philosophies. None of us have arrived, we're all carnal, none of us have done anything of any significance; yet… for some reason, GOD still chooses to use us. But, He will not use us if we glorify ourselves.

Listening to our own headlines, believing our own press, drinking our own Kool-Aid… you call it whatever you want, the practice will destroy us.

I want you to feel safe in your identity as you interact with me. So, I'm going to bare my soul in the hopes that you will see that the water's fine, and be willing to jump in.

Traditions

I believe that traditions of men are exactly that. While there is biblical precedent for the teaching of traditions, there is never license given to morph these traditions into Doctrine. Because of this I believe that organizational standards are traditions. The Text does not lay out a set of minimums by which we are to live, therefore neither will I; I chose, rather to live in the maximum of GOD's Illumination. 

All this being said, there are traditions to which I live and teach to my family. While I believe that I can demonstrate the biblical principle of each of these traditions, I do not assume that this gives me the right nor responsibility to bring you or anyone else subject to the practice of my family. Call me crazy, but I expect the same courtesy from everyone else. For example, I'll be glad to remove my wedding ring when I minister to your congregation if you're willing to put one on when you minister to mine.

One final thought on the subject of traditions, I don't believe that traditions that have been established in our lifetimes have the same importance and spiritual significance of those that Paul and the rest of the Apostles taught. Nor do I believe that just because GOD called me to be a teacher that my opinions or interpretations are necessarily GOD-breathed. I have made mistakes before, and will most likely again, therefore I leave GOD a wide berth in establishing doctrine and providing Illumination. Anyone who thinks that their teachings or sermonizings are on a level playing field with those of the Apostles thinks far too highly of themselves.

Religion

In my opinion, religion is the greatest weapon in our enemy's arsenal. Religion convinces people that their religious efforts are efforts toward GOD. This couldn't be farther from Truth. Religion in all of its flavors is humanistic at best. Whether we call them denominations, organizations, fellowships… a rose by any other name is still a rose, and all of these are but nicknames for religion.

Religion separates man from GOD, while relationship reunites GOD with man.

Because of my belief about religion I tend to shy away from the status quo. I'm not attempting to be relevant or relative. I'm neither emerging nor emergent. I'm neither liberal nor conservative. Please don't bulk me into any of these groups as I don't fit comfortably into any of them. I'm trying to be a disciple of Jesus, nothing else.

If your views on any subject are a result of your denomination, your circle of friends or the collective Kool-Aid jug at which you gather from time to time, your views aren't your own, you're being a parrot. Well, I refuse to be a bird-brain for anyone. I do my best to allow GOD to shape my opinions and views in His direction.

My view and understanding of the origin and purpose of religion throughout human history has also made me very intolerable of sacred cows and envelopes. In my opinion, sacred cows should not only be tipped, they should be shoved over a cliff. As to envelopes, if they're there, I'm going to push them (consider it a type of OCD).

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All this being said, I love a good debate, and I don't always have to win. I also love a good discussion. So, relax a bit. Take off your mask of religiosity. Be confident in your position and leave us your name. Don't hide behind anonymity, be true to yourself.

But most of all, learn to live clear.

The Joy's in the Ride

While there may be some who think that the journey is referring to Steve Perry and the boys, I'm actually talking about this life-altering, day-by-day, relationship between GOD and me.


Although I was first Spirit-baptized when I was a young warthog of 12-years-old, I didn't truly begin my journey until just after my 30th birthday. This isn't something of which I'm proud, just the reality. It was around this time that my pastor, Jeff Morgan, introduced me to transparent Christianity, and I haven't looked back since. Brings to mind that old Gospel tune, …drinkin' of the wine, the wine, the wine…, but I digress.


What I can't understand is the fear and loathing within the Apostolic Movement for referencing our walk with GOD as our journey. Are we not in day-by-day interaction with GOD; do we not experience good days and bad days; are we not daily learning more about Him and His Mission in our lives?


Are we scared of calling it a journey because we've listened to our own headlines for too long and are now convinced that we do—in fact—have all Truth and have arrived; that this is truly the epitomy of everything GOD has for us in this life? Are we really this arrogant?


Could it be that we're afraid of a journey because this realization lessens the congregation's dependence on a dictatorial overseer who calls all the shots from a hiarchial poteum that was constructed by organizational methodology rather than in the Text?


Are we afraid of the journey because this understanding reminds us that each of us should work out our own salvation individually, with reverence and sobriety?


No, I'm not advocating a rejection of pastors; however, I am encouraging a biblical understanding that we must all find GOD for ourselves. We will not be able to hide behind our pastor when we stand before GOD to answer for our individual actions. I've said it before, our pastor is a gift from GOD, not our intermediary between us and GOD. Why are so many of us waiting to hear from GOD through His man? What is wrong with spending time with GOD every day, and hearing from Him individually? Sure we need authority over us, but that doesn't negate the importance of personal relationship with the Lover of our soul.


This relationship is our journey to salvation. We haven't arrived, we're on the path. We may see the prize, but we have to keep walking until we obtain.


Don't be scared of the journey. As Amanda Marshall sang back in the 90s, …the joy's in the ride…. When was the last time you allowed GOD to court you? When was the last time you flirted with GOD? When was the last time you curled up in His arms of grace and mercy and allowed Him to whisper in your ear sweet somethings of His Character and Essence?


I dare you to try it.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Daisy St,Trabuco,United States

Returning to Antiquity

I was recently asked why I place so much focus on the rabbinic ministry of Jesus, and why I reference Hebraic tradition so often. They continued, "Why listen to rabbis when we have the Messiah?" So, I figured I'd take the time to explain my passion for 1st Century ethos.


First, while it's a very good educational practice to question modern rabbis, it would be a huge mistake to follow any of them. The only Rabbi that we should follow is Jesus. For this to make any sense you have to first understand that Jesus lived His earthly life and conducted His earthly ministry according to the rabbinic tradition. He gathered disciples, He traveled around Judea and the Decapolis interpreting the Torah and the Nevi'im and He commissioned His disciples with His yoke (or doctrine) at the end of His earthly ministry. Throughout the four Gospels Jesus is referred to by His followers as Rabbi (or Master: KJV; or Teacher: ESV and others). It is important to note that He came in the ministry of interpreting the Torah, and thus fulfilled the Torah with His sacrifice. Denying His rabbinic ministry denies an integral aspect of His Mission.


The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century Community is because of Diaspora. Diaspora loosely refers to the spread of the Good News that occured after the Day of Pentecost. Diasporic Communities sprang up all across the known world—as far even as the Brittanic Islands—almost overnight. Luke reference this in the second chapter of his Acts, where he says that GOD added to the Community daily... Before Paul's Illumination, and even before he wrote his first letter to the 1st Century Community, there were thousands of Diasporic Communities in homes who had already dedicated themselves to following their Rabbi, Jesus Messiah (Jesus Christ, or Jesus the Savior, or Jesus—YHWH's Salvation). Not since the 1st Century has there been such a vast and rapid dispersion of the Good News; no, not even Azusa.


The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century is because of the advent of 4th Century cath holos (Roman Catholicism) that perverted and merged GOD's Community with human religion. Far too much of what we call Church Tradition has it's genesis in cath holos rather than in the Missio Dei (Mission of GOD). As a result I am calling for a return to biblical antiquity, a return to the 1st Century ethos that is dedicated and sold out to our Rabbi, Jesus—GOD's manifested Salvation.


I believe that GOD has called me to rip the facade off of denominationalism and religiosity so that the Light of His Illumination can shine again in the hearts of His Community, so that we return our focus to His Mission and His Kingdom. GOD didn't commission us to construct organizations and fellowships that are more akin to humanistic religion; He baptized us with His Spirit and Essence so that we would spread His Yoke, shining His Identity, building His Kingdom.


I wholeheartedly believe that the time has come to lay aside the trappings of denominational religion and return again to biblical antiquity; primarily 1st Century antiquity. When GOD's people today allow themselves to have all things in common, and to live in common unity, as the Ekklesia did in the 1st Century, we will begin to see a 1st Century outpouring of GOD's Spirit.


I've dedicated my life and the lives of my family to this return. We welcome you to join us on the journey.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Snapdragon St,Trabuco,United States

Just How Weak Are You?

Recently I was involved in a Twitter conversation concerning weakness vs. strength. The catalyst for the conversation was the following statement:


"Cater to the weak, the weak get weaker. Cater to the strong, the weak get stronger."


In my opinion, this credo sums up the fundamental flaw with present-day pentecostalism. Yeah, I know, you're thinking, "Here goes Monte on another sacred cow tipping adventure," but please look past my normal brashness to the heart of this statement. While this thinking may be a vitally important leadership principle in a secular sense, there is no biblical basis for the theory. 


There is an obsession in the Apostolic Movement with leadership. We have leadership conferences where we are taught to focus on leading people and are indoctrinated with the latest team-building guru's enlightened drivel. I'll be the first to admit that there is some good that is to be gleaned from these types of sessions, but I'll also be the first to admit that these sessions do—in fact—rob our attention from our true purpose: disciple making.


When did GOD call us to be great leaders?


Appreciating the political irony of Ayn Rand's novels doesn't mean that her economic views gee-haw with the Text (especially what with her being an atheist and all). Too often we form our spiritual opinions and posture by our social and political view, rather than allowing our relationship and mission from GOD to shape every other aspect of our lives.


To reference the statement: cater to the strong… This flies in the face of GOD. Jesus demonstrated to us that the Good Shepherd will leave the 99 [strong] sheep to go searching for the one lost [weak] sheep. In fact, if you take the time to study the Text from Genesis to Revelation, you won't find one instance of the weak being ignored for the sake of the strong. You will find, however, plenty of examples of the strong being admonished to bear up those who are struggling or in need.


In my opinion, this obsession with leadership stems from the deification of our processes, or denominational structures. We're so drunk on power that we can't live without the euphoria of leadership. For so long we have lived our lives within the confines of these organizations or fellowships that were created by man and for man that we've actually started to drink our own Kool-Aid. Well, lest a new generation die on the streets of our denominational Jonestowns, let's face the fact that our structures are drifting us far from GOD and His Mission.


I have recently been accused of wanting to water down Truth for the sake of convenience. This accusation was hurled by individuals who have sat at the feet of their own headlines for so long that they've forgotten their purpose, so blinded are they to their myriad additions to the Text. GOD never called us to build churches full of strong people. GOD never called us to build art galleries full of perfect people. GOD never called us to punish the weak members of our congregations by ignoring their struggles and character flaws. GOD called us to make disciples. A disciple maker's job is to teach and instruct a weak individual into strength. If anything, the strong should be ignored because they've got their crap together. What was it Jesus said? Something about if you're not sick you don't need a doctor…?


I'm sorry, far be it from me to actually utilize Text to shift the discussion.


Here's a thought: consider for a moment that you're an under-shepherd entrusted with the care of the Shepherd's flock while He's gone on business. When He returns you tell Him that rather than present Him with a flock of sickly, worn down sheep, you simply put all your focus on those who never got sick, who never drifted off on their own, who never had to be taught to eat the right grass, etc. Then you tell Him that because you were focusing only on those sheep who were strong that you decided that the weak sheep would learn by example to simply return to the flock when they'd drifted off, or would see all the strong sheep eating the good grass and see that they should change their eating habits, or see that the other sheep weren't sick and thus heal themselves. Then tell Him that those weak sheep who wouldn't learn from the example of the strong sheep… well, you just let them go, because they were holding the flock back from their full potential. Then, when you've told the Shepherd all of this, show Him His flock. Do you really think for a moment that He's going to be pleased that only a few sheep remain? Do yourself a favor, read W. Phillip Keller's book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23; it will change your opinion on the true role of a pastor in the lives of the congregation. Understanding our role as under-shepherd realigns us with our true purpose.


When we forget our purpose we create our own doctrines and missions; hence, religiosity and denominationalism.


Paul admonished us to glory in our infirmities. And no, he's not talking about physical infirmities, he's referencing our spiritual worthlessness. Isaiah told us that—in GOD's eyes—our best attempts at appearing holy are as if we were to wear clothes that have been used to clean human excrement or to absorb menstrual discharge (do the study, you'll see that I'm correct). Could it be that we're so covered in all of this that we've stopped diffracting His Light and Glory?


We need to stop lying to ourselves. We all struggle with issues. There are times when we're all weak, and there are time in which we are all strong; although I'd be willing to bet that the weak moments far outweigh the strong ones. GOD didn't call us to be dictatorial leaders who's desire for global conquest drive us to create uber-humans. He called us to make disciples by imitating His own life, and by teaching His yoke.


I'll leave you with this statement: Cater to the strong, your kingdom will grow. Heal the weak, bear them up, teach them where they screwed up, pray for them through their humanity… do all this and you'll be advancing GOD's Kingdom.