Be the Church

GOD's Mission to have a Bride predates Creation. We know this because Luke tells us that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world, and we know that He gave His life to redeem mankind. As we study the entirety of the Text we see GOD's Mission displayed through typology from the Garden all the way to Apocalypse, but nowhere is it more pronounced that when first spoken to Abram in Genesis 12. GOD told Abram, I'm going to bless you, but that wasn't all that He said. GOD continued, this blessing I'm giving you is so that through you all the nations of the world will be blessed.


GOD gave Abram (the father of the faithful) a blessing wrapped in responsibility.


Jesus reiterated this responsibility when He gave His Commission: go… make disciples… teach them everything I've taught you. In other words, take what I've given you and give it to someone else. GOD's Mission to Abram in the Old Testament is the same as Jesus' Commission to the 1st Century Community, and—subsequently—to us.


When we received this Treasure that we house in our jars of clay, we did not with it receive an admonition to horde the Glory. The jars of clay were porous, thus they leaked their contents. Paul's reference to clay jars was to illuminate the typology of our own Spiritual clay jars leaking the Glorious Treasure onto the hurting world in which we live.


Jesus didn't redeem us for us to simply possess salvation. He redeemed us so that we would take salvation to the world. It's past time for those who claim to name the name of Messiah to stop simply having good church and to effectively start being the Church. It's time for the culture to shift, from the minority of the congregation being the Bible study teachers, to everyone who has been Spirit-baptized to actively be discipling people on a weekly basis. It past time for us to shine Jesus to our hurting world by demonstrating His love to them by feeding them, clothing them, visiting them. It's time for the most important thing that we do as the Redeemed to stop being about our gatherings (church services), and to finally be about what gives our GOD good pleasure, new births. It's past time for our preferences to cease determining our activity (or lack thereof). It's time for us to forget about our opinions about GOD and actually start doing what He Commissioned us to do: go. It's past time for us to stop making little pentecostal duplicates of ourselves and our tired, Text-less philosophies, and to start making disciples of Jesus Messiah. It's time for us to be rather than to have.


Church is not a verb, thus it is impossible to have church (either good or bad). The Church is a proper noun, thus must be performing the action of blessing the world around us with the blessing with which we've been entrusted. What would happen in our world if, collectively, GOD's Community would being to leave the confines of the church buildings and start actively being the Church? How many lives would be radically altered for GOD if we would shine His Love rather than our religion; go to where they are rather than forcing them to always come to us (as if we can do anything for them in the first place)?


Is this call to be the Church resonating with any of you?

Ultimate Reality

Colossians 1:15-23

Who is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn {Greek,  prototokos – begotton, or to have initial beginning and final end} of every creature: For by {Greek, en – through} him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by {or through} him, and for him {or His purpose}: And he is before all things, and by {or through} him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence {or the highest rank}.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness {or completeness} dwell; And, having made peace through {or because of} the blood of his cross, by {or through} him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him {or through His life}, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by {or because of} wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.

Three Primary Expressions of GOD

1. A Father – in judgment & creation

GOD expresses Himself as our Father in His correction and His creation. Paul tell us in Romans 14:11 shows us that GOD is our Judge. In Psalms 51:10, David teaches us to pray for GOD to create within us His will and purpose, and of course we can’t overlook His creative Word expressed in Creation.

2. A Son – in redemption & re-creation

GOD expresses Himself as our Redeemer, or as a Son, through His redemptive power, and by re-creating—or re-birthing—us according to His desires and plans. In his letter to the Community at Galatia, Paul shows us that Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the judgment of GOD (Galatians 3:13). In 1 Peter 1:18, Peter tells us that we were not redeemed with anything corruptible, but by the everlasting, precious blood—or essence—of Jesus Messiah. Jesus Himself tells us in John 3:7 that we have no choice but to be re-born in Messiah. Peter also shows us that we are re-birthed by the word—or expression—of GOD (1 Peter 1:23). The writer to the Hebrews shows us that Jesus—or the Son—was the express image—or exact imprint of the nature—of the Father:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, GOD spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us {through} his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of GOD and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs, Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV.

3. The Spirit – in comfort and keeping power

GOD is our Comforter and Sustainer because of His intrinsic character—His very nature. In John 14:18 Jesus told his disciples that He would not leave them comfortless, but that He, Himself would come to them. Peter shows us that Jesus is the Keeper—or Caretaker—of our souls (1 Peter 4:19). He also tells us to, cast all [our] cares on Him, for He continually cares for [us] (1 Peter 5:7). This is the intrinsic character of the Eternal GOD. Because this is His character, then we are connected to the eternal GOD-ness through our intimate knowledge of His Spirit.

The Blueprint of Creation

The Text insists that Jesus is how GOD put things together (Col. 1:17). It is here that Paul points out that in some mysterious way, Jesus is behind it all. Jesus is the arrangement, the design, the intelligence.

As Christians—or disciples of Christ—we aren’t to follow Christ’s teachings because they are a nice way to live a moral life. We should follow them because they are the best possible insight to how GOD really works. Jesus’ words teach us how things really are.

I don’t follow Jesus because I think Christianity is the best religion. I follow Jesus because He leads me into Ultimate Reality; He teaches me to live in tune with GOD’s Reality. When Jesus said, No one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6), He was saying that: His ways, His words, His life is our connection to the essence of how things really are, which is GOD. For Jesus, the whole point is to help us connect with Ultimate Reality, GOD.

Even Paul tells us not to be so caught up and encumbered with religious relating to GOD: These religious acts and rituals are but shadows of the true Reality. The reality of the body is found in Jesus Messiah, (Col. 2:17).

Labels

It is a dangerous thing to label things Christian. The word Christian first appears in the Bible as a noun; a person, place or thing. The 1^st Century followers of Jesus accepted the moniker Christian because they had devoted themselves to living the way of Messiah. The moniker was used as a noun; a person—a person who follows Jesus, referring to a person living in tune with Ultimate Reality. 

Modern thinking has turned the word Christian into an adjective; a word used to describe a noun. The problem with turning a noun into an adjective—then tacking it onto words—is that this can create categories within the definition of Christian that limit the truth. This assumes that everything labeled Christian is both true or good.  For example, not all Christian music is good music; some is played with very little talent or regard to proper musical structure (not to mention that the goodness of music is very subjective). Movies are sometimes portrayed as Christian, but do all of them project the Character of Messiah? What if a preacher preaches or teaches something that is not biblically sound. Bear in mind that he is a Christian talking to other Christians in a Christian environment; yet he can still speak false doctrine. Just because you buy a Christian book in a Christian book store, doesn’t mean that every word of the text is founded in biblical truth. Christian is a great noun, but a poor adjective.

To be Christian is to do whatever it is that you do with great passion and devotion to Jesus Messiah. We do this because our actions reflect on our GOD, thus our actions are sacred as they are worship and consecration to Him. Paul said, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus Messiah, (Col. 3:17). He goes on to say that whatever we do, that we should do it heartily, as if it were worship to GOD, (Col. 3:23).

As Christians everything we do must reflect the passion that we have for Him and His purpose. This is why our life-performance (job performance, school performance, etc.) should be the best we can make it—it is worship to our GOD. If I’m not giving my best in everything that I do, then I am not reflecting Ultimate Reality. If I’m not giving my all in everything, then I’m not giving my all in anything.

This is why it is impossible for a Christian to have a truly secular job. If you follow Jesus—and you’re doing what you do in His name—then it is no longer secular work. You are there; GOD is there; the difference is our awareness.

This truth has significant implications for how congregations function. Actions or talents don’t have to be part of a church service to be for GOD. A church is a community of people who are learning how to be His disciples wherever they are, so they can do whatever it is they do in the name of Jesus Messiah. The goal isn’t to bring everyone’s actions or talents into the church. The goal is for the Community to be these unique kinds of people who are transforming the places they live, work, play, exist.

Doing things for GOD happens all the time. Throw yourself into your life and give it all you’ve got; because you’re living your life in worship and commitment to Him. This is why labels ultimately fail. No matter how useful they are, they don’t always reflect the true meaning of the word.

We have to learn to distinguish between dark and light; GOD and flesh. The ancient Hebrew rabbis would say, The first thing GOD does is distinguish between dark and light, and the rest of Scripture is GOD teaching man how to do the same. The Text is filled with examples of GOD teaching His people how to think, how to discern, how to sort and shift and figure out what is or is not Ultimate Reality.

Being a Christian is about engaging the mind and heart more and more; not shutting them off and letting someone else think for you. Peter admonished the Community to be alert, (1 Pet. 5:8). Paul instructed the Thessalonians to test everything and hold on to the good, (1 Thess. 5:21). The danger of labeling things Christian is that it can lead to our blindly consuming things we’ve been told as fact; we assume they are acceptable simply because they’ve been taught to us by people we respect. When we turn off our discernment radar dangerous things can happen. We have to test everything. Everything that we see or hear must be run through the filter of the Text. If it doesn’t gee haw with the Character and Essence of GOD, we should discard it.

Don’t follow anything blindly; because if you do then you are ignoring the passion by which you should live your life. Don’t swallow what I’m teaching uncritically; wrestle with it; challenge it; make sure it is founded in Ultimate Reality. No one has it completely nailed down; we’re only contributing to the discussion. GOD has spoken, everything else is commentary.

Then what is Ultimate Reality?

Ultimate Reality is GOD Himself; His very character, His expressions of Himself—ultimately, His purpose—is Ultimate Reality. Every aspect of our lives—our very existence—must reflect our complete and total devotion to His Ultimate Reality. Anything less than everything is nothing at all.

Listening to GOD

Listening to GOD is the first step toward obeying Him. We can go back to when Moses and the Israelites entered into a covenant with GOD, and Moses commanded them to hear, learn and follow His statutes. As Christ-imitators, we also have entered into a covenant with Jesus Messiah and should be responsive to what He expects. Moses' threefold command to the Israelites is excellent advice for all GOD's followers:

1. Listening is absorbing and accepting information about GOD. 
2. Learning is understanding its meaning and implications. 
3. Obeying is putting into action all we have learned and understood. 

All three parts are essential to a growing relationship with GOD.

Listening for GOD is training in humility. Another example is with Elijah, he knew that the sound of the gentle whisper was GOD's voice. He realized that GOD doesn't reveal himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for GOD only in something big (crusades, conferences, highly visible leaders, etc.) may be to miss Him, because He is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart. 

Spiritual listening is always followed by action. It is important to listen to what GOD's Word says, but it is much more important to obey it; to do what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of our study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. 

Do you put into action what you have studied? Are you listening for GOD? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life, and listen humbly and quietly for His guidance. It may come when you least expect it.

GOD is great

Sometimes you just have to say, "Wow!"


Look how great our GOD is. Look at the world He created by the power of His voice. Look at how wonderfully we were made. One of my all-time favorite songs is How Great is Our GOD by Chris Tomlin. Chris, you definitely connected on this one.


It's very difficult—at times—when we're totally surrounded by the negativity of this life, to remember just how great our GOD truly is. So—to let you in on a personal practice and secret—when I'm just about overwhelmed by the nay-sayers and doubt that is inherently in my psyche, I begin to remind myself how great GOD is, and has been in my life. I think about all the times that He's delivered me, is my Provision, is my Healer, is continually my Savior, His Mercy, His Grace (wow, I could spend a month or more just talking about His ever-present Grace in my life)… I think you're getting the picture.


Sure, there are those who don't understand me, those who only see my myriad faults, those who can't seem to forget my past… In fact, more often than not, I personally fill all these roles of negativity and many more. The fact is, it doesn't matter how negative I am, nor anyone else is, GOD is still GOD. He still became sin to purchase expiation for the sin in which we were born. He still delivers, heals, saves, comforts.


He still deserves all our worship.


In a world filled with negativity, of this I am positive: my GOD is great.

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.