Methods and Systems

When we see Christianity as a method of cleaning up world systems, we are not seeing the full potential of our faith. At its root, seeing Christianity as a means to reform the world stems from seeing Christianity as a means to build better independent self. The result of this view is the attempt at “Christianizing” world systems. This is folly. The world system is diametrically opposed to the plan, purpose and nature of God: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” Contrary to popular Christian belief there are far ore aspects to “friendship with the world” than sitting in the bar or cheating on your income tax.

We demonstrate friendship toward the world when we adopt the systems and methods of the world. When we set up “Christian political action committees” or practice “Christian psychology” we are befriending the world. We display friendship with the world by forming any manner of Christian organizations modeled after the world’s pattern. When we run our fellowships like social clubs or corporations we are similarly befriending the world. When we try to “Christianize” the world’s ways of doing things and understanding things we are trying to put a mantle of respectability on systems that have already failed. Christians show the worst example of this error when we modify the message of Christ (and/or the practice of this message) to make it more acceptable to the unbelieving world. When you stand on the truth you cannot move off that point without moving toward falsehood. It is not the responsibility of the followers of Christ to make the Lord palatable to the unbelieving world.

Rich

Birth Pangs

It stands to reason that any level of understanding of a realm so completely different (foreign) from our own requires a total rethinking of our view of reality. Further, a plane of existence that is so different from our own experience is completely beyond our full understanding. We can only have the level of understanding of this realm we have been called into that the Father chooses to reveal to us. “No one can receive anything except he receives it from heaven”. Please read some earlier thoughts that have flowed into these from here.

As I ponder on what I have said here, what comes like a piercing arrow to my thoughts is much akin to the total all consuming display of wonder and delight on the face of Lucy who in one moment before standing in one realm and then in the next step blown away as she stepped into the realm of Narnia.

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

This past Saturday I was invited to attend in a (gathering) conversation with Wayne, that being with Wayne Jacobson. This gathering was being held at the Fletcher residence, parents of Janna, and Paul LaFrance, just east of Toronto Ontario. What a day it was for us all, I traveled there with a good friend and brother, Ron just for the Saturday, as we could not make it for their first get together Friday evening.

I am still basking, soaking in so much that was graciously poured out in our mutually time of listening and interacting. As a side note I was reacquainted with a brother and his wife from our former city we use to live in, it had been 18 long years since our last time together, what sheer delight to see and hear his heart song and deep love affair with Jesus!

What I believe I am being exposed to over and over from different angels, different siblings in Christ is a distinct and more in focus understanding of the blue prints for the church, Christ said he is building. Without a plan, blue print, the Lord building the house, the labourers are building in vain.
As there were succinct and exacting definitions, descriptions, within the blue prints handed to Moses from God regarding the building of the tabernacle (tent of meeting) and all that pertained to the worship of God which needs to be seen here and now but a mere shadow of something so much more permanent and eternal!
I’m talking about the blue prints given to our brother Paul when he was caught up in the unfolding revelation of the ascended and glorified Christ.
Let me tell you right up front, these heavenly designs were not about forming or establishing the home church movement, or the organic or missional movement or anything to do with man’s poor limited rendition of trying to bag and tag what Christ alone is doing!

Like our brother Paul, I see there being so many other siblings living but for one purpose, to see His Church coming into plain view, and Wayne being but one of the many.
There is so much exploding within my heart about all of this, but I will try to wrap it up shortly here.

Within our flesh there is madness, a perverted sickness that lust’s after a “methodology” that can be implemented to bring forth that which only comes into being as a result of the Spirit of truth breaking the encrypted code of Christ in us the hope of glory! Ergo the need of the re-birthing, but that in and of itself apart from the continued work of His spirit can soon become something detached from Him.
What has and is being offered to us is NOT a method, but a message, one God the Holy Spirit is in charge of in deciphering, this has nothing to do with loading us down with more academic ego bloating, but is in fact a transmission, a transmitting of revelation knowledge of who is in us as us! This knowing is not available to the wise or prudent scholars with a parade of letters before or after their names, but is only available to those who are secure in the utter weakness ergo, “thank you father that you have hidden this message from the wise guys and made it known unto the children.”

It was during the Saturday gathering that I freshly observed some observations I hope to share in additional thoughts in another blog entry, dealing with some observations that dawned on me, simply watching and observing the looks on many different faces as they were listening, hearing, maybe some for the first time, the message of pure 100% unconditional love and grace.

Rich