Powerful Bride

State of the Church

I often question, as many do, why the Church doesn’t seem to have the same power that it once did?  The first century church was powerful enough that the mere shadow of Peter passing over a person could heal them.  It is people’s faith (true undoubtable belief) that makes them whole, but why was their faith SO much stronger then, than what we see now?  Let me introduce you to a couple named Ananias and Sapphira.

Here we see a couple who were disciples of Jesus.  In fact, they were a very highly esteemed couple regarded as some of the most holy examples of Jesus’ teaching.  They were among the examples of Peter and John.  One of the highest examples of servant hood was to sell all of their possessions to have funds to give to the poor.  As you remember, they DID sell their lands as an example (to the people) of their holiness.  The issue was that they didn’t do it with the right heart.  They did the act of selling their property for the elevation of status among the people and disciples and even kept some of the proceeds to protect their own financial position.  They were practicing deception and wanted their own elevation of status, and did not truly believe what the position that they were seeking represented.  IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE STATUS OF POSITION!  An example that it wasn’t about the money is the example of the ‘rich ruler’ of Luke 18.  This man didn’t sell everything or give it to the ministry of Jesus and he walked away while Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead.

What does this mean then?  Let me answer with a question.  How many pastors hold their position because of the status?  Who would preach and teach without the paycheck, the free lunches or car washes by the grateful congregation?  Who would continue to teach the difficult message even if their message gained them only scorn and ridicule by their congregation of followers?  The answer to these questions, I believe, would also answer my very first of why the church is weak.  Christian martyrs will be held at a higher position than nominal, just get in the door Christians, not because of their personal sacrifice, but because of their infallible faith.  They believe enough to not only go without a paycheck and car wash, but to sacrifice their very life to help another find salvation.  THIS is where we see the bride of Christ in her whitest robes and at her most powerful.  It is important for the leadership of the Church to check their motives, because we ARE held to a higher standard based on reality and not just appearance. 

I am constantly faced with the REALITY that non-believers (atheists and agnostics) often know more Bible literature than Christians.  It takes work to know what we are supposed to believe.  It takes effort to study and understand the message that God Himself, painstakingly took the time to create, write and even manifest simply so that we could clearly understand it.  Let’s get in the gym and become the powerful bride that God would like for us to be.

Judgment or Explanation

There are many things that people judge and call it taking a stand.  You will get no argument from me that there are times where we must take a firm stand.  When there are views that are quite obviously opposed to what is intrinsically and Biblically correct such as slavery, physical abuse, genocide, rape, etc., then there must be a contingent to protect the innocent and weaker population.  There is another perspective, however, which needs to be addressed and that is one of limited revelation.

Too often Christians will picket or make bold statements (such as burning the Qur’an) which are nothing but divisive.  Is there a way of communicating some information through explanation and enlightenment rather than finger pointing and chastisement?  My answer would be yes.

I have studied many different religions with the intent of understanding what they believe, why they believe it and how it compares to the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  I have listened to and participated in many debates about whether God created anyone with the only option being that of damnation and Hell.  (This debate is founded upon a culture not having heard the Word of God and/or dying before the time of Jesus.)  Discussions with pantheists and pluralists have continually begged the question of God taking on the different personas of many religions.  Many of these religions mirror some of the traits of God as described in the Bible.  I have had very lengthy discussions, some ongoing, about God being an example of an immoral God and setting a poor example.  Many of these discussions, most by highly educated and very rational people, are very well formed with some form of merit from a superficial perspective.  So where is the truthful common ground and how should we address it?

Virtually all of the highly effective missionaries that I communicate with are non-confrontational.  In other words, they do NOT encounter a person with fingers out and a Bible prepped for attack.  They instead communicate on a very human level, a greater understanding on the truths that people already KNOW to be true. 

Rom 1:18-20 ”For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown [it] to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible [attributes] are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” It continues but I’ll stop there.

Jesus is for everyone:

Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Rom 2:26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?

Rom 2:6-16 (I’ll only post part) “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves [their] thoughts accusing or else excusing [them] in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

Prov 24:12 “If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider [it]? He who keeps your soul, does He [not] know [it]? And will He [not] render to [each] man according to his deeds?”

How about 1 Jn 3:7 “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”

In summation, God the Father has presented Himself to all people.  Jesus’ sacrifice was for all who would receive the payment of the debt.  My philosophy of this is that other religions have a window of understanding of God.  (Some, however, are cults and therefore completely errant.  Satan is real and very good at his task.)  You will notice a huge amount of similarity with Biblical truth and the ‘good’ facets of other religions.  For example, you will notice that most serious Muslims love the book of John and appreciate Jesus as a great prophet.  Muslims are essentially living under the OT regulations still and do not understand or believe that Jesus played the vital role that He did.  Tao in Taoism describes the way and is often described as the ‘eternally nameless’.  I think that Paul could give example of naming and explaining the ‘eternally nameless’.   Buddhism teaches that we are to overcome the world (senses) and take our place as part of the universe.  Aren’t we called to be one with Christ?  Shinto is ‘the way’ in life and is characterized by studying nature and applying those tenants.  See Prov 6:6 and doesn’t the entire Earth testify of God?   Hell, Naraka, Angles, demons, gods, Preta, Asuras, Devas, Brahmas, Heaven,  Bhuva Loka, Jannah, Tian, Nirvanna; all words with similar concepts.  Please, realize that these terms and explanations are in no way complete and are in fact very rudimentary, but hopefully they give insight into a concept of how God has introduced himself to EVERY person.

I’m sure that you may have heard the parable of the three blind men who encounter an elephant. One touches the trunk; another touches the tail; the third touches the leg. Each believes that they have learned all that there is to know about elephants.  Later, they describe their encounters to each other. The first says that the elephant is clearly like a snake. The second is no less convinced that the elephant is like a rope. The third man thinks the first two are out of their minds. The elephant is obviously like a tree. They become embroiled in a heated argument; shouting that only their experience could possibly describe the “real” elephant.  (http://seemslikegod.org/archives/god-is-like-an-elephant) 

Christianity is quite different from other views of God in the respect that it paints a far more complete picture than any other religion.  It solves the problem, answers the questions and clarifies the enigmas left by an incomplete plan of God.  Our struggle is not to destroy the ideas of God that different groups have, but rather to further explain where their concepts are unfulfilled.  There is a very real presence which God impresses upon everyone and to attempt to make someone deny that tangible presence is a losing proposition.

I hope that I have not simplified this concept too much.  My attempt is to be concise but clear.  I would love some insight that you may have about this concept and would cherish any success stories.

WHAT'S happening in the Middle East?!

Middle East Update

It is quite apparent that our planet is in a state of change.  Is this change significant, long lasting, beneficial or even expected?  That is a complex question requiring a look at history, prophecy and current trends to see if there are any correlations. Since many to most are not familiar with world events or trends, I will try to be both brief and concise.

Lets first look at a Muslim movement considered by many as “The most influential Islamist movement in the world today”.  This group is called the Muslim Brotherhood and was founded in the 1920’s as a reform group to bring Islam to the forefront of Muslim life.  This would include politics, economy and daily familial governance.  It originated in Egypt and was ruled illegal by the dictatorship of Egypt due to it’s ideological focus instead of that of growth and the greater good of the wealth of the state (which was also of a particular family or party).  Obviously greed and selfishness often overrules theology and ideology, and often holds most of the organized power therefore it would be decades before there would be enough momentum to gain military impact.  The Muslim Brotherhood began as a militant revolutionary group, but evolved into a conservative governmental party representing approximately 60% of Muslim society.  In the 1980’s and 90’s, the Brotherhood gained a foothold in Egyptian government and in the most recent days has spawned revolution.  Current representatives of the Brotherhood proclaim peace and non-violent action even though it’s mantra is “Islam is the solution” and it’s moto is “Allah is our objective; the Qur’an is our constitution; the prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations”.  You ponder that one.  One quote by one of it’s leaders, Muhammad Ghannem, said, “After President Mubarak steps down and a provisional government is formed, there is a need to dissolve the peace treaty with Israel…The Egyptian people <should> prepare for war against Israel…The Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime…The people should be prepared for war against Israel, and the world should understand that the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.”

Another example, which is probably better known, is that of Hezbollah.  Hezbollah is a similar group, which began as a revolutionary movement and has grown into the veto power wielding political party in Lebanon.  Hezbollah gets its support from Iran and Syria which are both (the majority class) devoted to the overthrow of Israel and the reclamation of its lands to the Muslim world.   

The Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah have called for revolution in many Muslim nations controlled by authoritarian rulers.  Mubarak has been overthrown and King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria are both being directly threatened through public protests.  Libya is in a state of civil war.  Afghanistan and Oman are in a constant state of division and even Djibouti is facing revolt and military action. 

Now does this follow historical precedent?  Yes.  Typically a country under authoritarian rule will develop an influential middle class, which wants progress and a sense of peace (typically quite legitimate and ultimately selfish goals).  Once stability is obtained, the ideologies begin to become more influential again and the country is ripe for seizure by the charismatic idealists.  With immediate needs of food, clothing and housing met, it leaves time for higher thought.  Examples would be Germany moving from the Kaiser to the Weimer Republic to finally reach the Nazi party.  The Shah of Iran was overthrown in favor of a provisional democratic government and ended up with the Ayatollah Khomeini.  Russia was ruled by the Tsars, transitioned through a provisional government of liberal rule to end up with the Bolshevik revolution resulting in communism.

How is this significant to our lives?  As a Christian, we should immediately see prophecy unfolding.  Zechariah 12, Jeremiah 49, Ezekiel 38 and 39, Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17 and 19 are being enacted right before our eyes.  There will be a time of peace for Israel just before an attempted annihilation.  After this, Israel will once again obtain all of Jerusalem.  It’s not a particularly pretty time, but it is eventful.  With wars, rumors of wars and the Earth trembling, we may want to pay VERY close attention.