“Why do some go to church all the time and show no change of heart or behavior?” was the question raised at our Bible class last night. It’s a fair one, for sure, and has many possible answers. The primary one is that we (Christians) allow our majestic message of total conversion, of new birth, to be reduced to what Willard calls, ‘the gospel of sin management.’ (The Divine Conspiracy) Instead of boldly proclaiming that the Spirit will make a man new, using techniques of behavior modification we try to make him marginally better. Then, too, we are guilty of implying that the Gospel exists to make us happier, more well-adjusted people rather than godly servant of the Most High! Jesus Christ did not come to live among us, to die for us, and to rise again to make us nice people and good citizens. He came to buy us back from the Devil, to give us eternal life, and to call us into the service of the King!
The Lord has promised those who serve Him amazing, transformative power through the Spirit! He tells us to ‘go and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything I command.’ His commission is an impossible challenge to those who attempt to fulfill it with gimmicks, church growth techniques, or clever oratory. It is spiritual work which can only be done by the Spirit working deeply in and through us.
Moses met the Lord at the burning bush and was told to go back to Egypt and lead the people of Israel out to freedom and the Promised Land. He knew immediately what he was up against and protested by pointing to his inability. "Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:11-12, NIV) "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:12, NIV) The whole account is a fascinating and revealing interaction that is a primer of how not to respond to God’s call! Moses looks at his own weakness, God refocuses him, time and again, on His power!
Disciple, our work is not to help people live more successful lives, while adapting to the slavery of Egypt! We are deliverers who are called to lead them out. It’s a simpler task to explain how to be a better slave in Egypt than it is to tell people that there a Promised Land waiting, which they can possess. Seems to me that the Church has developed great skill at explaining sinful urges and helping us to co-exist with the Devil, in the best possible way. All this is not to imply that we should discard education, understanding of leadership, or psychology. These things are tools that can help us to accomplish our task, but the true Power for deliverance is not our cleverness, but His Power which is found only when we come, like Moses to the end of Self and get desperate for intimacy with Him.
Ponder this word from the Word, dear friend. Don’t turn them into a simplistic jingle, another religious cliché. Instead, make them your challenge. Let them drive you to quiet, contemplation of the Lord’s power. May they create faith in you to expect great things as He works deeply in you, making you a true deliverer of those He loves from slavery to sin to glorious freedom in Christ!
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here." (Zechariah 3:7, NLT) “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." (Zechariah 4:6, NLT)
____________________
Quiet my mind
And draw me near You.
Silence my thoughts
I just want to be with You!
Open my heart,
To hear and listen!
Not my way God,
But your Vision!
And all my fears fall away
In Your presence,
Waiting on You;
Waiting on You.
(BRIDGE)
And as you come to me,
Send your Spirit to minister
Because I am truly desperate
For the promises that you keep.
Waiting On You
-Terry Keenan
No comments:
Post a Comment