Ever try not judging?
Wow. Talk about a walk in humility. Try being around other people and not judging them. Try not thinking about how inappropriate their wardrobe is, or how it's bad fashion, or how bad someone smells, or EVEN how someone walks out their walk in Christ. Or how a denomination or even a local church tries to follow Christ.
Wow. It's always there. It permeated my thoughts. How can I love someone like that. How can I pray for someone when they are so blatently out of God's will. God's not going to answer that prayer anyway. Why waste the effort and air?
I was at a healing conference recently and thought how OFF this preacher/teacher was. I think,
"God, the revelation you gave of me is NOT this."Therefore this guy must be wrong, right? I need to decide that he's wrong, right? After all, the Word says we need to protect our doctrine (our belief system in God). I need to make that judgement... HE'S WRONG!
I keep looking at the word. It does OFTEN say JUDGE FOR YOUR SELVES in Paul's teachings. But it doesn't proclaim that we need to curse how other people are trying to be obedient to Him. If correction is called and God tells us we are to go to our brother and bring a correction, then we do it. But how often do we KNOW God is telling us to lovingly bring correction, or rather are we looking to argue our point, convince them that they are wrong and need to see things the way we do?
There is diversity in this Body of Christ. In his fiancee.... She has many parts. He loves them all about her. He loves her eyes, her mouth, her heart, her hands and feet, he even loves her organs and the blood that flows within her. She is us. We are SUPPOSED to be diverse. We are supposed to have different revelations of God. Think of it this way, if we all stared at bowl of fruit, some people from one side of the room see bananas and pineapple while my side of the room sees grapes, berries and oranges. Who's right? BOTH.
The Bible says we only know in part. We can't know him fully. This healing conference was going to bring forth some healings. How is that possible if their doctrine is OFF? Listen, ALL OF OUR DOCTRINES ARE OFF!
There is no denomination nor is there a non-denominational church that thinks there doctrine is wrong and yet all of their beliefs about who God is and how he operates MUST be flawed somewhere because our perfection is incomplete... our perspective is incomplete.
Humility says, I might be wrong. Humility says, you may have a greater revelation than me, different gifts than me. Humility says I need you because you have something I don't have and I want to be complete. I NEED to be complete.
So if you go to the healing conference and only a couple of people are healed, does that speak about the ministry? It doesn't say anything. It is up to God. He is where the healings come from. There is no formula for healing. Jesus did it different each time. And you don't have to follow ANY of his methods to heal anyone. He just wants us to listen to him and do what he's telling us to do the way he's telling us to do it... to the best of our ability (within our ability to hear Him).
Back to completion... to the body. We need each other. The Lutheran church needs the Baptists and vice versa. The pentacostals need the methodists and vice versa. God has poured his spirit on ALL people. He has anointed us to do His work here on earth.
Once we realize that we don't have it all... and better yet, don't NEED to have it all, then we are ready for the next step, UNITY. I hate asking for help. I'm a man. I want to acheive all the things to do on my own. It's about being victorious over something. Conquering something. I hate asking for help. I hate even asking for tools. I hate bothering people. I also hate looking foolish in front of them. "Can I borrow your table saw? Thanks. By the way, how do you use this?" In the natural world, we want to accumulate enough stuff so that we don't need anyone else's help. We want enough money so we never have to ask others for a hand out. We are perfectly OK GIVING a hand out when we see someone in need. But have you ever put your self out there in front of others asking for prayer because finances are so tight and then they turn around and give you money?
"LOOK HERE! I WANTED GOD TO GIVE ME THE MONEY. It's way too embarassing to think you have to give to me. " Have you ever had some of that money come from someone you KNOW makes less than you and lives in a smaller house and drives a cheaper car? YIKES.
But who cares, is God's response. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills THROUGH people. He has his children who own stuff and are obedient to his call and He IS going to use them.
It's just some random ponderings.
Just remember, she will be perfect, blameless and spotless w/o stain or wrinkle. His bride will be radiant and lovely and He will take all of her for His own.
It's a beautiful thought.
Every Day is Laundry Day
Who is the HeadInteresting to even consider. Jesus is the head, right? Yeah... I mean that's what I always thought (in this comparison of the Church to the Body) and what I currently thought. But in between, I felt like the eyes, ears, mouth were the Saints. And since they are a part of the head, then I thought that part of the comparison didn't hold water. But now I believe that the "head" in the comparison is the brain, brainstem, cerebellum and cerebrum. By that I mean the part of the head that processes information and tells the rest of the body what to do. THAT MAKES SENSE. We then send sensory information (what we feel, see, hear, taste, smell, pain, temperature, what position we are in, etc.) to the brain/Jesus and then Jesus tells us what to do (motor or muscle movement).
I like to ponder these things. It's awesome to think that the verse "though we are many..." stretches so deep that all the anatomy/physiology of the human body can correlate to the Church Body.
Think of this too, the brain communicates electrically and chemically. Electrically via nerve impulses. Some of the motor responses we have are built into us and require no communication to the brain (reflexes, things like recoiling your hand back from putting it on something hot, or balancing or blocking something that is coming at you). None of these things requires and OK from the brain. It's survival stuff. The body is automatic when it comes to survival. It doesn't need the check with the cognititive section of the brain to see what it's response to a probably damaging stimuli should be. It protects itself. Simple.
Now, how does that relate to the church? I don't know. Let's ponder it together. There seems to be a difference with regard to the body and the Church. The body is geared at survival. Staying alive. It will sacrifice all it's other functions (bowel movements, digestion, pancreas, kidney function, etc) to stay alive. In fact, there are actually 2 modes the body can run in. Sympathetic (fright, fight or flight) and parasympathetic (daily living, maintenance, etc). The more sympathetic the body goes, the less parasympathetic it will be. For example, you've heard the "I was so scared, I defecated in my pants" or you've heard some other version of that saying. That's a physiologic function. There are a lot of speculations about the "why" the body does that. It might be that it just shuts that system down and when that system shuts down, it causes an emptying. Or it might even be more purposeful like if i release all this stuff in me, i will be able to run faster to get away from this impending danger. Is the Church in danger? That could also be open for debate. There are enemies (or The Enemy) that seek to kill, rob and destry the Church and anything that sets itself up as "of God". However, I don't think we have reflexes designed to keep us alive.
But do we have autonomic reflexes (which avoid the brain) in the Church? I think we should. Howeover, it should be in functioning in His love and Unity that we should be autonomic.
I want to finish this later. Thanks for letting me ramble. I enjoy taking all these revelations that God has given me in bits and pieces, and putting them in writing.
Every Day is Laundry Day
Who is the HeadInteresting to even consider. Jesus is the head, right? Yeah... I mean that's what I always thought (in this comparison of the Church to the Body) and what I currently thought. But in between, I felt like the eyes, ears, mouth were the Saints. And since they are a part of the head, then I thought that part of the comparison didn't hold water. But now I believe that the "head" in the comparison is the brain, brainstem, cerebellum and cerebrum. By that I mean the part of the head that processes information and tells the rest of the body what to do. THAT MAKES SENSE. We then send sensory information (what we feel, see, hear, taste, smell, pain, temperature, what position we are in, etc.) to the brain/Jesus and then Jesus tells us what to do (motor or muscle movement).
I like to ponder these things. It's awesome to think that the verse "though we are many..." stretches so deep that all the anatomy/physiology of the human body can correlate to the Church Body.
Think of this too, the brain communicates electrically and chemically. Electrically via nerve impulses. Some of the motor responses we have are built into us and require no communication to the brain (reflexes, things like recoiling your hand back from putting it on something hot, or balancing or blocking something that is coming at you). None of these things requires and OK from the brain. It's survival stuff. The body is automatic when it comes to survival. It doesn't need the check with the cognititive section of the brain to see what it's response to a probably damaging stimuli should be. It protects itself. Simple.
Now, how does that relate to the church? I don't know. Let's ponder it together. There seems to be a difference with regard to the body and the Church. The body is geared at survival. Staying alive. It will sacrifice all it's other functions (bowel movements, digestion, pancreas, kidney function, etc) to stay alive. In fact, there are actually 2 modes the body can run in. Sympathetic (fright, fight or flight) and parasympathetic (daily living, maintenance, etc). The more sympathetic the body goes, the less parasympathetic it will be. For example, you've heard the "I was so scared, I defecated in my pants" or you've heard some other version of that saying. That's a physiologic function. There are a lot of speculations about the "why" the body does that. It might be that it just shuts that system down and when that system shuts down, it causes an emptying. Or it might even be more purposeful like if i release all this stuff in me, i will be able to run faster to get away from this impending danger. Is the Church in danger? That could also be open for debate. There are enemies (or The Enemy) that seek to kill, rob and destry the Church and anything that sets itself up as "of God". However, I don't think we have reflexes designed to keep us alive.
But do we have autonomic reflexes (which avoid the brain) in the Church? I think we should. Howeover, it should be in functioning in His love and Unity that we should be autonomic.
I want to finish this later. Thanks for letting me ramble. I enjoy taking all these revelations that God has given me in bits and pieces, and putting them in writing.
Every Day is Laundry Day
Tho we are many....I read about Katrina and the aftermath. I see TV interview of a fire in Racine that takes down an apartment complex in Racine. Tragedies? Yes. But why? Why does God allow this. If it's just evil. Why? He could stop it. Free will? Yes. But then it's just a waste. A waste of lives. And then it is JUST TRAGEDY. I don't think it's just free will. Just like the drunk driver who kills a young person who was just "in the wrong spot at the wrong time." I believe that "all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to His Purposes in Christ Jesus." I see GOOD. Now when i say GOOD. This isn't like... "i've seen you look better, but you look good." Or "how was that meal." It was good. Those things sound "adequate" or "satisfactory". This GOOD the Bible speaks about is "the way God designed it to be"... "the way He needs it to be"... "the way He purposed it to be." I will not say perfect, because he made us and we aren't perfect, but he said we are GOOD (at least he said that about Adam). GOOD-ness is a fruit of the Spirit. Something that happens in us as we allow God to grow us, water us, lead us and direct us. When we submit to his plan and "abide in Him" then we produce fruit that lasts, like GOOD-ness.
I see hints of this Church (or body as it were) coming together in UNITY to be Jesus to these people who lost their lives, their loved ones, their stuff, and even their pets. They are the hungry, the homeless, the thirsty and the naked the Bible talks about. They are the widows and orphans we are supposed to feed, love, and care for. We think that Church happens on Sunday. It doesn't. Church happens every day. Because Church is not something we do, or a service we go to, it's the end result of why he is rescuing all thos that are lost, that can't find their way back to Him. UNITY. Being the Body. Being one like Jesus prayed about in John 17 (I think). "Father, help them to be one like we (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit-my addition) are one." Do you realize that UNITY is the answer? You may ask "what is the question?" Doesnt matter. Unity is the answer to getting things done. To getting Jesus to come back (he's coming back to a spotless bride w/o stain or blemish or wrinkle). To truly minister to people.
This denominationalism was us trying to figure out how to do Church. Interestingly, it caused us to move further away from Being the Church. Remember in the Old Testament? When the people were building the Tower of Babel? Why were they building it? To make a name for themselves. Why is that a problem? Because we arent supposed to be trying to make a name for ourselves. We are supposed to be serving/loving God and serving/loving each other. Not build our pride. The Godhead didnt like that too much. They were concerned. They said, "if we let them do this, there is nothing they can't do." What does that mean? Certainly they won't ever reach heaven. But that word also means sky. Couldnt it be that they wanted a building that was a monument to man's ability? I think so. But why was God concerned. The people had figured out something. UNITY is the answer.
You might say here: "Mike, you've gone off the deep end. Isn't that a stretch?" Is it? So if man can build a tall building, there is nothing we can't do? In other words, if man builds a tall building, he can do anything? We have succeeded in building some very tall buildings. I might say our buildings might even be taller that the one in Babel. Have we succeeded at reaching our "WE CAN DO ANYTHING" phase of humanity? Hardly. But listen to this: what was the solution God came up with? DIVISION. Why? Because they had figured out UNITY. He separated them by language and distance so that they couldn't do this again.
Interestingly enough, UNITY is what He is asking us for. Something we will be judged for. Why?
It tests our humilty. Are we humble enough to not agree on everything or are we full of pride?
It tests our love. Is our heart for these "neighbors" of ours (which is EVERYONE) enough to overcome our annoyances, our frustrations, our desire to judge and condemn others?
These are 2 things the Bible (hence God) says over and over again. Cloth yourselves in humility. God give grace to the humble. Humble yourselves and seek my face and i will heal your land. And Jesus said of our 2 greatest commandments, "love God... and love our neighbors". To give to the least of these.
So what do you think? Unfortunately, even though I think we can DO the UNITY thing, we need to do it with the right heart. Not just to make a name for ourselves or for our local church or for even Christians in general. We need to do this because we NEED each other. We have work to do that we realize we are ineffective w/o each other. We love each other and HATE to be independent. We HATE to be lone rangers. We long for the Fellowship of the Saints.
I dont have the answers. I only know that if we pray for UNITY, God will grant it. If we seek opportunities (like Jerry and Tracey did with this apartment complex in calling all the churches together to minister to these people who have needs... some gave time, some gave money, some gave "stuff") to come together and try to stay in love, God will bless the works of our hands, and there "will be nothing [we] can't do".
We need to avoid doctrinal discussions, strife, judgements, gossip, slander, back-biting, and all other forms of tearing down that we seem to enjoy doing. Truth is we don't enjoy doing it. We just do it because we have this sinful flesh that likes to feel better about ourselves and the best way to do that is to put someone else down. We need to seek to encourage, to give love, to give hope, to become a family, to keep short accounts with one another, to understand that I don't understand the place (stage or walk with God) that my other brothers and sisters are at nor do I probably DON'T have the revelation from God of the call on THEIR life. We need to love and encourage first. If correction of the brethren is needed, it should come from those that love them, that DON'T want to be the one to correct them because they don't want to hurt them, but love them enough to know God is asking them to go and encourage them to repent and to help them when they "turn a different direction" to not go back to what they know. Loving people should be our first inclination. We need to practice that. IT WON'T COME NATURAL.
UNITY is the answer. It's the GOAL. It's really the end result when we submit ourselves to God and to each other. It's GOOD. It's the way it's supposed to be. It's the way God intended it. The Original Plan and the Final Outcome.
God is so GOOD. I'm glad he's in charge.
