Quotes

"So much of the church is in survival mode. They are simply trying to get their own desires for affirmation, attention, understanding, validation, and so forth met. But if you are still in survival mode, you can't be in dominion mode." -Andrew Kim

"Being nice is the religious counterfeit to love and being authentic. It tries to say that being a good Christian is to not step on any toes and put on a smiling mask. This is not the life that Jesus, the Apostle Paul, or much of anyone in the Bible displayed. It is an absolute distortion of the Christian life due to lack of vulnerability and genuine connection with God and others." -me

"The religious mind thinks that self-control comes by trying harder and adding more rules and regulations. While one may have to keep themselves from certain places in the process of change (i.e. one who is addicted to gambling may need to avoid driving past the casino), simply adding will-power and rules is really the unbiblical anti-Galatians approach to it. Gal. 3:3 reiterates that much. God's method of trying harder is to remove distraction from our life so as to prioritize relationship with Him, surrender and abide deeply so as to have His strength become my strength through His grace. It should be obvious then why self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not my fruit. Self-control is a descriptive word, just like all of the fruit of the Holy Spirit of what is occurring in and through the life of a Christian in proper relationship, not something one tries to strain and try really hard to get or work up." -me

I was getting in a good discussion tonight with my buddies and we were talking about how all too often the American church seems to have feminized church. First off, I would have to give respect to John Eldredge for his book Wild at Heart for not doing this. However, it seems we now make being a guy at church to be not acting in impurity. While I'd be the first to say that this is important and it is exciting how men are starting to be able to find the church to be a safe place where they can address and get free of these issues, one can fail to see that we have missed the whole point. The Christian life was NEVER meant to be about simply trying not to do something. It was always meant to be going towards something. When one truly embraces the Lord, being in His presence, and impacting those around them, it is an adventure that nothing can come close to comparing to. But since the true pleasure does not get tapped, people put false things in (because they want to feel good). So people become full of gluttony, lust, drunkenness, drugs, codependency, and so forth because they are missing true relationship. Lest one think that saying one prayer at conversion fixes this, they will be sorely mistaken. It is the ongoing delight of authentic relationship with God and being in His presence while loving authentically those the Lord gives me that keeps one from trying to get something from somewhere that they were not ever meant to get. (Of course, I am lumping all of life into one little box, these things are often a bit more complicated, for example, the joy of being in the Lord's presence might look a bit different when one is grieving).

In regards to theological debates...
"We must also ask ourselves another question: How important is this issue to the Kingdom. That is always the million dollar question. Sometimes we fight vigorously for issues that matter little." -Dr. David Seemuth

The Gospel of the Kingdom

I wrote this for seminary. I figured I'd toss it over here if anyone wanted to read it. I refer to The Gospel of the Kingdom by George Eldon Ladd in this.

I enjoyed this book, but especially the chapters entitled "The Righteousness of the Kingdom" and "The Demand of the Kingdom." The first of those two chapters show how Jesus' message at the Sermon on the Mount were messages of action. One example of this would be that one should desire to walk in purity so much that they are willing to change any part of their life in order to walk in it. Another active oriented message of Jesus' was to love those who offend them and not react to them; but rather walk in love in whatever is the best way to handle the situation (if one takes the turn-the-other-cheek passage to mean that we are called to pacifism, they must also believe that Jesus wants anyone who has had a lust issue to gouge out their eyes or anyone who has stolen anything to cut off of their hands [this is the context of the passage]. Yes, there will be times when one literally turns the other cheek, but there will also be times where less than pleasant consequences will need to occur to teach the offending party self-control. As Danny Silk states, "The goal of discipline is to teach self-control, not that I can control you" [1]). These were not messages that cause one to respond in passiveness. The call was for action. I saw this also in the second chapter I noted. There was one quote in particular that I really enjoyed:

"The basic demand of the Kingdom is a response of man's will. Man must receive it. They must yield to it. God's Kingdom does not ask us to find in ourselves the righteousness that it demands; God will give us the righteousness of his Kingdom. God's Kingdom does not ask us to create the life that it requires; God's Kingdom will give us that life. God's Kingdom does not set up a standard and say, "When you achieve this standard of righteousness, you may enter the Kingdom." God's Kingdom makes one demand: Repent! Turn! Decide! Recieve the Kingdom; for as you receive it, you receive its life, you receive its blessing, you recieve the destiny reserved for those who embrace it." [2]

This quote simply warms my heart. There truly is no place in Christianity for lukewarm, wishy-washy passiveness. The whole Bible is all about getting people to make a choice and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. Where did so many get the idea that normal Christianity is only to put in an hour on Sunday, read a devotional book or the Bible for 5-15 minutes a day (if one remembers to), and pray before meals? It is not biblical. It is the furthest thing away from the first commandment of loving the Lord with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and quite possibly could resemble what the lack of usefulness and lukewarmness that caused the message to the Laodicean church of Revelation 3 to be what it was.

Here in lies the problem. When one starts to assert these things, people often react in self-righteousness ("you better not tell me that there is anything wrong with my life" to which I only respond, "I only am quoting the Bible."), or guilt and condemnation ("I just really am not living as I should."). They miss the whole point. One's past is under grace. But one can decide today to make a decision. And once that decision is made, the grace and life also comes in order to walk that out (if they truly act on the decision instead of not changing anything, except an intellectual assent). Passiveness and complacency are the antitheses of what a healthy response is to God's offer of the Kingdom.
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Of course, one should note that response is not to try to pursue more religious behavior but rather deeper relationship... but I suppose that has probably been a theme through the last few posts on here...

What I am learning and Bible Intepretation

My quote is my modifying a quote from Bernie Ooley:
There are those who twist the Bible out of context and read what they want to make it say in order to back what they feel like doing. This is a gross perversion of the Gospel, and a technique used most frequently in the Gospel by the Devil when he tempted Jesus. (For example, a guy I know told me his plans to fantasize over some strippers but then just ask God for forgiveness and all would be ok because we are under grace). Then there are those who become intertwined with the Gospel out of relationship with the Lord. As they explore and the Holy Spirit leads them into truth the Gospel may get taken out of context. This is a proven way that the Holy Spirit works started by the New Testament writers who repeatedly took the Old Testament out of context when they quote it in the New Testament. However, there is danger that one can still come up with some whacked up doctrines, so one should check their biblical revelations. If the "revelation" is contrary to the "Revelation - the Bible," one can be quite sure that what they think they got from the Holy Spirit did not come from Him. However, to not allow the Holy Spirit freedom to interpret His Word as He chooses, would be a theological principle that - if applied by the writers of the New Testament, would have caused numerous chunks of the New Testament to not be written.
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Now then, perhaps I was arrogant, but I did not know how much stuff would get changed in my life by way of spiritual formation when coming out here to the School of the Supernatural - which is really one of the most serious spiritual formation (defenition - one's own spiritual growth) centers that I have seen. I guess after spending 6 years living, eating, sleeping, drinking, etc. spiritual formation, reading a myriad of books that I could get my hands on, I figured that I'd catch a lot of review. And while there are numerous ideas presented which are very crucial and are good to be reminded of, there are three things which really have made a dramatic difference. I feel like I get blessed with so much revelation out here that I don't write a fraction of it down (from class, from seminary, and a lot of the time, stewing over different things presented). But anyway, one thing that I had never heard discussed (that are I have a bad memory or listened poorly) is the idea of "pressure to perform." I remember one thing I have always had to fight against is drivenness. I think I have a perfect temperament to become a work-aholic. I always felt like I had to fight against drivenness. But why? What was the truth I was neglecting to bring freedom? I had been asked if I am a perfectionist. I generally am not (just ask previous roommates about how neat I am, for example). I remember questioning if I was fighting against drivenness because of pride. I did not think I was. I could never figure it out. And then I came here to Bethel Church. And for the first time I heard Bill Johnson and others address the pressure to perform. And I realized "THAT'S WHAT IT IS"!

I think what maybe threw me off before now was that I heard people address performing (that is the idea that one approaches life from the standpoint to perform for people - they are an audience) numerous times and while that certainly was an issue 6+ years ago, I really did not see that in my life anymore. But the pressure to perform sure was. So what's the difference. I think the pressure is how one approaches things on their own. For example, in ministry I had to make sure that I did everything just right so I would put myself under pressure to do x, y, and z in order to hopefully ensure that the other person would get a breakthrough. I was driven on doing homework (talking after cancer days, not before) because of a personal pressure to perform. Wow. What a revelation. As freedom creeps into more and more areas of life, I have begun to see just how much a pressure to perform was rooted in me.

I really think a greater revelation of grace is about the perfect antidote. Just more of Him. Less of me. Don't look at myself to see if I have fasted lately in order to pray for another or see if I have read my Bible enough to formulize that enough has occurred for this or that prayer request to be answered (yeah, isn't that messed up?). Just go for it and look to God's grace. While it still is biblical to abide in Christ, have relationship, fast for greater breakthrough, etc. none of these things are to cause me to go back to introspection when all I need is to look at grace and the finished work of grace. Ahh, I love the grace culture of Bethel church.

Lastly, I feel like I'm really beginning to make a breakthrough in just approaching people everywhere (whether the grocery store, Wal-mart, or wherever) and just asking them if I can pray for healing in their bodies). Its a lot of fun. I recommend it to all. Simply pray a short prayer, command the pain (or whatever) to leave in Jesus name, and then ask how they are doing. Its God's Gospel... let Him be responsible to authenticate it with signs and wonders - pretty sure we are just the vessels - the jars of clay. And then let me know what sweet testimonies you get (cuz I love hearing about them!). Oh, and make sure to tell them about Jesus after He touches them and invite them to receive Christ!

Adoption

I turned this in as a forum response for seminary. I figured I'd toss it up here if anyone wanted to read. Don't worry if the opening quote bores you, just skip past it. I'm sure a certain friend of mine who did a massive Galatians paper on Sonship will be wondering, "why didn't you listen to me better?" Anyway, here is what I threw down (and I did not do close to the research others have, so be gentle with me if I'm way off)
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On page 77 of our Everett Lindsay textbook it says, "Judging from the Second Psalm, the sonship is closely connected with heirship, for the very next verse mentions the nations as the divinely appointed inheritance of the Son. This becomes the issue in the third phase of Jesus' temptation. In the parable of the wicked husbandmen sonship and heirship are closely conjoined. The son and heir will die, not because the divine appointment has been withdrawn, but because of the wickedness of those to whom he is sent (Mt. 21:38)."

First off, all I can say, is "wow." That may not be what one is supposed to say in a response for graduate school, but that is what I am left saying. Truly, being called "sons of God" in John 1:12 is more than something that sounds really cool. It is the key to the inheritance. This quote really makes perfect sense when it comes in the context of Galatians 3:26-4:7. This passage could not more clearly link sonship with being the heir of the inheritance. It is interesting to note, though, that in that passage the son is no different from the slaves while he is young - even though he has the inheritance. However, when "the time set by his father" comes as Gal. 4:2 says, that's when the difference is truly seen in the son instead of the slaves. Logically speaking, it would make sense that this would be as he would approach maturity.

Now then, something that I was wrestling with even in the last few days is that even though the Bible is full of so many promises, why the vast, vast majority of the church seems to rarely see a trace of those promises. However, when I look at the church (at least the American one, I think it probably is a different story in China), it is filled with complacency, bondage, sexual immorality, pornography, fear, worldliness, resentment, and on and on. The reality is that it does not look very different from the world, except that many in the church have a fear of reaching out to the world (not realizing that their behaviors are virtually identical). It seems for much of the church there is no concept of doing the things that Jesus called us to - evangelize, abide in Him, forgive, and so forth and a strong propensity towards worldliness, all the while accusing others who may confront them on this as being legalistic. Sadly, the true adventure of being in his presence and loving and seeing God's power flow through us in prayer and evangelism gets replaced by vicarious living (whether through relationship or media), evil, and all sorts of distorted thrills because they are inferior replacements to what God has called us to. After seeing how Galatians talks about "the time set by his father," it makes perfect sense why the church sees so few promises. There is very little maturity. How can God give a promise to someone if they will only get proud of the promise and think that they are somehow spiritually better than another and compare themselves with others because of it? This is an incredible distortion of grace!

I remember when I first started pressing it to see God heal people that I prayed for. I could not figure out why God would answer all sorts of other prayers in my life but not heal someone. It was not until I truly got a revelation of Acts 3 with Peter and the healing of the crippled man that I realized that Peter's response is the key, "Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?" When I truly got the idea that healing had nothing to do with me and that it was God's grace working and that God had to receive the glory like Peter gave him, was when healings started to occur around me. It is something so simple, but it really comes down to the smaller things. Could I let the Lord speak something insightful through me without getting proud about it? Could I avoid even being proud about having a Bible that is full of underlining and highlighting? Could I avoid spiritual pride when people complimented me about preaching well? If I could not even do this, how in the world could God possibly trust me with anything more? Truly, the process of growth involves greater and greater realizations of His grace both in and through me. It involved being concerned a whole lot less with man's opinion and a whole lot more with God's.

The preceding paragraph makes sense when one reads Millard Erickson's understanding of adoption. From p. 322 of his Introducing Christian Doctrine book, he says: "Adoption involves a change of both status and condition. In the formal sense, adoption is a declarative matter, an alteration of our legal status. We become God's children. In addition, however, there is the actual experience of being favored of God. We enjoy what is designated the spirit of sonship. The Christian looks affectionately and trustingly upon God as Father rather than as a fearsome slavedriver and taskmaster (John 15:14-15)." This truly is a profound revelation, which backs up my point. I see many Christians today just trying to get the Lord's favor, but they do not realize that they already have it! We are sons! Even bad fathers give their sons favor. How much more will good fathers (Mt. 7:11)! God just does not want His children to be arrogant because they walk in pride in regards to how they handle His gifts. And so He waits for me to grow in maturity so I can receive what He wants to send to me without it destroying me.

relationship vs. striving

At the risk of over-simplifying...
I think striving for righteousness is a sure sign for insufficient relationship with the Lord... either lack of depth, neglect, faulty understanding of God and His love, improper realization of the identity He has given me, a block in expressing God's love to others, or whatever. Where depth in relationship checks out, religious striving checks in. Because what one can only do through relationship tries to be done through the man's perversion of holiness - religious striving and effort - which does not work. If it did and relationship with God was only for religious leaders, then why did God send His Son to die on the cross so that all would have relationship, not just the high priest entering the Holy of Holies? To neglect relationship and to begin religiosity shows man to be more like the Pharisees than carriers of the kingdom of God.

What I also think I have seen is that it can be very easy for us Christians to go to the one of these things (the first list) that has been of help before and overemphasize it. For example, I went through a phase some years ago where I would share tons with the Lord on prayer walks, but neglected reading the Scripture to change my views of God. So what was my faulty answer if I felt frustrated at this point? For me, then it was that I just need more prayer walks (since that was the only place I was getting some help). I was not realizing that I had neglected major portions of my relationship. Similarly, some can spend their whole life coming to an incredible knowledge of who God is and man's identity and can know these things like the back of their hand, but lack connecting with God. We were designed for deep ongoing connection based on truth! The Gospel really is quite simple, Love the Lord with all of your heart and love your neighbor.

Quote

I saw these on two different friend's facebook accounts. What good quotes...

"When your memories are bigger than your future, you are already beginning to die" - Kris Vallotton

"If we don't live on the edge of impossibility we will reduce ministry to what we are capable of doing through our own gifts."
Bill Johnson

Friend of God

A common thought (although many wouldn't be honest with themselves to admit that this is true in their own life) is that as Christians we spend only as much time with God as necessary to try to manipulate God into giving us what we want from Him. And while there is nothing wrong with believing God to work in certain ways or pressing in for more (purposely left very open ended... more of whatever), there is a much greater delight in being a friend with the Lord. When one enters friendship and openness in relationship with the Lord, the friendship is in and of itself a blessing. And, on top of that, the Lord blesses His friends! There is a better way! The key of David, intimacy with the Lord, opens doors that no man can shut and shuts doors that no man can open!

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I think one thing that is becoming apparent to me while I am out at Bethel Church in Redding is the paradigm shift. While many churches seem to emphasize what to do and not to do, school here emphasizes who you are, walking in relationship with Him, and what the Lord has blessed you with authority over and how to walk in that. I think I like that. Doing is a byproduct of being. If it one simply tries to do without any connection and relationship, that really seems to be the starting point of religion, putting up masks and fakeness (because for the most part it is only through Him that true and lasting change occurs). So we have relationship or religion... one Jesus died so that we could have and the other was what Jesus attacked the most!