One day at a time

I am reminded afresh of Jesus’ focus on the present – the now, this day – in His Kingdom download on the mount, pinpointing anxiety as a by-product of any drift away from our faith anchored in His Fatherhood and our foundation centred on His Kingship (Matthew 6:19-34).

After teaching us that “mammon” – and the supposed security money brings – is a formidable rival for our loyalty, Jesus embarks on a lengthily discourse to combat anxiety.

Its relevance to us is both stunning and obvious; stunning, in that this passage is as relevant to us today in the twenty-first century as it was to those in the first; obvious, because we know that the human condition hasn’t improved despite centuries of  progress and advancements. We fight a modern version of an ancient problem.

Jesus’ words are profoundly simple and simply profound.

He talks about birds and lilies.

While birds have many natural predators, anxiety is not one of them. In stark contrast, stress is a leading cause of ill-health for many, many people today. As for lilies, they’re also impervious to nail-biting and immune from ulcers.

Jesus asks five probing rhetorical questions, the answers to which are so obvious they’re intended to shake us with a realisation-grabbing “Duh?!”

An example? In contrast to birds, Jesus asks: “Are you not of more value than they?”

His focus on the “present” is captured in the final verse of this particular subject:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (v. 34)

Of course, the overriding point is that as we anchor in the Father-heart of God, we can live life from a secure foundation of peace and rest¹.

However, we just cannot afford to miss the overwhelming focus Jesus puts on our faith in God’s Fatherhood in the immediate, this present day.

What about vision, goal-setting and planning?

Yes, having a clear sense of vision is essential. Setting goals, or faith forecasts, in line with this vision is extremely helpful. And unless we wisely plan we’ll be late for work, default on paying our bills and be an unreliable friend.

However, unless we start on a foundation of rest in the Father-heart of God, a sense of insecurity may spawn goal-setting and planning that is riddled with stress.

What about the hope of Christ’s return and the future age to come?

This is indeed a core subject in Jesus’ teaching and, in my opinion, is one we often misunderstand. This amazing future hope ought to brighten our present, adding vivid colour and meaning to the gift of today. Because of “that Day”, “this day” sizzles with significance and expectancy.

When Jesus taught about His coming, He gave us two parables to inspire our faith and energise our life in the now (Matthew 24:36-51). In the first parable, we’re urged to live each day conscientiously as though He may return imminently (vv. 36-44).

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (v. 44)

In the second, we’re urged to live constructively as good stewards knowing that should He tarry; we ought to be busy with what Father has entrusted to us (vv. 45-51). There are no points for putting our head in the sand or hiding in the cellar waiting for an escape.

“Blessed is that servant, whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (v. 46)

Both instructions – seemingly paradoxical at first, but perfectly balanced for living as an eschatological people – focus on “this day” in preparation for “that Day”. Both exhortations focus on the now, the present – clarifying where our responsibilities lay in “this day”: the first, emphasising our conscientiousness; the second, our constructiveness. It goes without saying that “that Day” is on God’s “to-do list”.

Too often, in my opinion, the return of Christ fuels the anxiety-levels and often adds to the paranoia of our times.

An unfortunate by-product of Messianic expectation is hype and speculation. This is not God’s problem but ours for sure. The Old Testament believers so misunderstood their Messianic hope that when He arrived, they rejected Him. Their sincerity was unbridled; their devotion unparalleled. But their speculation was off the charts and their error was monumental.

We live in a very precarious time in human history. As we “look for and hasten the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12), we ought to allow this marvellous hope to animate our present with the sublime privilege of walking in relationship with Father God, responding to His gentle promptings moment by moment … day by day.

If we can collectively resolve to turn down the frenetic speculation concerning the world’s economic fragility, the Middle Eastern crisis, weather pattern upheaval and every other news-making headline, we’d all be better for it.

I’m not suggesting that we be ignorant – there is no value in playing dumb. Keeping abreast with what is happening around our world is important and certainly, at the very least, should inform our prayer lives. But allowing what’s happening on the world stage to spawn fever pitch hype and speculation is not just unnecessary but detrimental.

When Jesus reminded us that there will always be unusual happenings on the world stage (Matthew 24:6, 7), He actually said: “see that you are not troubled” for “the end is not yet” (v. 6).

But aren’t these the “signs of the times”? While one may conclude that the increase and intensity in these events today suggest we’re in the last of “the last days”², Jesus clearly pointed to the issue that should consume our focus. He said:

“And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14)

In other words, the “end” is not determined by or dependent on events in the global arena; it hinges on our faithfulness to His Commission. Yes, informed with what is happening on the world stage, God’s people can better serve our Father’s will. However, speculation and conjecture on these events may in fact cause others to be troubled and work against what Jesus taught us here in Matthew 24.

Okay, out of this eschatological rabbit hole …

Reading Jesus’ words in Matthew 6, I realise the preciousness of this day in light of His ever-increasing Kingdom and the hope of His coming.

With this perspective …

• I learn to combat my tendency to worry
• I learn to see the deceitfulness of temptation
• I learn to slay procrastination
• I learn to resolve conflict in a spirit of love and forgiveness
• I learn to thoroughly revel in the blessings He gives
• I learn to enjoy my successes humbly
• I learn to face my failings honestly
• I learn to work through my trials hopefully
• I learn to make the most of my opportunities enthusiastically
• I learn to work responsibly towards my goals in His rest

Jesus’ focus on the “now” reminds me of God’s revelation to Moses on the backside of the desert. You may recall, bamboozled by a burning bush that was not burning, Moses encountered God.

In this holy moment, God declared:

“I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14)³

This is a remarkable statement of God’s promise to be Present – intimately close and warmly available – in our present.

Our past guilt and disappointment melt in the glory of His faithfulness; “His mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

Our future fears and anxieties evaporate in the glory of His goodness; “your heavenly Father knows what you need” (Matthew 6:32).

The walk of faith is lived one day at a time.

“Father, as I face this new year I rest in Your faithfulness and goodness. I resolve to find You afresh in this present day, responding to Your nudging moment by moment.

I place my confidence in Your ability to sustain and lead me. Help me to hear Your voice clearly and quicken my heart to respond to You fully.

I resolve to live this day in preparation for “that Day” and in light on what I understand is Your call on my life.

I love You so much”.

 

Notes:

¹ Of course, this is not an excuse for checking out of life and settling for a Lazy-Boy existence. Yet, as we’re responsible with what God has put in our hands; we are to enjoy each and every day knowing He is our Source and Sustainer.

² Biblically, the term “the last days” refers to the church age, between Christ’s ascension to heaven and return, His parousia. Thus we are living in the last days today even as the early church lived in the last days two thousand years ago (see 1 Corinthians 10:11; Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 John 2:18; 2 Peter 3:3 andJude 17, 18).

³ When God revealed Himself as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14), He used a broadened version of the word Jehovah implying the summation of all the wonderful character qualities associated with His covenant nature.

I’m not that special “The Big Tease”

God said to Jeremiah,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you …” (Jeremiah 1:5).

And “God shows personal favouritism to no man” (Galatians 2:6). What was true for Jeremiah is true for every human being. We are special.

David praised his Creator,

“For You formed my inward parts … I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made …” (Psalm 139:13, 14)

Again, God has no favourites. What was true for David is true for us too. I am special. You are special.

So why my contentious title?

Because it is my opinion that in Western-world Christianity we somehow feel the need to so harp on this point that we, mostly unconsciously, begin to think we are the centre piece around which the world revolves.

Please bear with me here. I’m facing the monster in my own heart.

Yes, every human being is special. Without gushing out all the obvious clichés (that are very true); the fact that every single one of the nearly seven billion people on planet earth is completely unique in every way is in itself a remarkable testimony to God’s creative genius and, by deference, our exceptional beauty.

But I don’t think it is unkind to point out that we, in the West, are bombarded with temptations toward self-absorption on a daily basis. The twin powers of proud individualism and rampant consumerism are overwhelming shaping forces we face at every twist and turn. And with every twist, we become more self-obsessed and ironically more ungrateful and more discontent.

So please play along with my choice of title. This article is part of a trio of articles¹ that wrestles with the topic of contentment and with the spirit of our age designed to unhinge us. While I earnestly believe that every human is unbelievably special, somehow we’ve twisted this inspiring truth to become obsessed with ourselves – which gets our own knickers in a knot and unintentionally robs glory from the One who created us.

Interestingly, in his psalm (quoted above), David was not starring at his own reflection in the mirror, cooing: “Mirror, mirror on the wall…” He was praising the Creator not the creation. His psalm is an expression of worship to God not an ode to his own “specialness”.

If you still don’t appreciate my choice of title, then quit now (perhaps try again later?). However, if you get the point I’m trying to press home then continue with me as we attempt to burst our own bubble a little more.

Given that we are special – created in the very image of God Himself; the focal point of His creation and the principle object of His Fatherly attention and affection (Wow! Read that a few times again!) – the essential question is this:

What is our application of this wonderful truth? Or, said another way, how do we live in the reality of being so special?

Do we, on the one hand, develop a spirit of entitlement – aren’t we King’s kids after all? – in which we become increasingly bratty in our demands of God, suspicious of any challenges and trials we face and expect others to revolve around our needs and wants?

In other words, do you believe that because you’re so special, everybody owes you something?

(I’m not so foolish to think that we’d actually admit this in so many words. If you’re anything like me, then you’re also notorious for giving yourself the benefit of any doubt. But as we’re attempting to be honest here, we must “man-up” to the question: do we feel a sense of entitlement?).

Or do we, on the other hand, nurture a spirit of gratitude, realising that our true beauty/potential blossoms as we deny ourselves – and die to our tendency towards entitlement – in cooperative obedience to the revealed will of God and in service of others; even when (not if²) this means enduring challenges and trials?

In other words, do you believe that because God has made everyone (and everything) so special, we³ owe Him everything?

(And this act of grateful worship outworks in, among other things, putting others first, seeking to grow through adversity and respecting the planet He created).

Obviously – if you’re still reading (and didn’t bolt when I gave you the chance) – you’ll concur with this second life-orientation: because God has made everyone (and everything) so special, we owe Him everything.

But living it, while fighting off the continual struggle to gravitate, even slightly, towards the other position, is one of our core battles as twenty-first century believers.

In fact, there is an eerie ring of parallel relevancy to Paul’s words to Timothy in the first century. After declaring that “in the last days perilous⁴ times will come” he then unmasks the “un-generation” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).

He describes people hollowed out by self-obsession – “lovers of themselves” – who are, among other things, “unthankful, unholy, unloving [and] unforgiving” (vv. 2, 3).

The prefix “un” of course means, “without”. He is thus describing people who have lost the capacity to be thankful, moral, loving and forgiving. There is also a fifth “un” in this passage; Paul describes them as also being “without self-control”.

Obsessed with self, Paul’s final description is chilling: “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (v. 5). What power does this refer to?

Does it refer to our ability to see multiple prophetic visions, float on one spiritual high after another or glow in the dark? No … it seems to me that it refers to God’s enabling power to be thankful, holy, loving, forgiving and to exercise self-control – when everything conspires against us being Christlike.

Devoid of this power, through chronic self-absorption, we become a hollow shell – “a form of godliness” – all pretence, no substance.

While any number of generations throughout history could easily wear this label, is there a more indulged generation, across the board, than ours? Has there ever been a generation seemingly more incapable of gratitude, morality, love, forgiveness and self-control? (Of course, we don’t know for sure – but we need to ask the question).

And the knock-out punch for me is that Paul may not, in fact, be referring to unbelievers in this passage (see the context, 2 Timothy 2:14-26; 3:8, 9); it seems to me that Paul may be warning us, those who do believe, of the brutal power of self-obsession.

To be a “vessel of honour, sanctified and useful to the Master” requires we abandon “youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:21, 22); “youthful lusts” that when indulged, deepen into destructive forces that empty us out.

This was and remains the crux of our battle.

However, if we truly believe the paradox of Jesus’ hauntingly simple words we have the advantage of perspective to strengthen our hand in the battle.

Which words?

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

Perspective. A powerful yet often unappreciated word.

Allow me to indulge in this concept for an uncomfortable moment (irony intended).

The way we apply the concept of being special is seen most clearly (and disturbingly) in how we treat others (particularly those in whom we have no vested interest) and how we handle adversity.

It has been said that maturity is evidenced in one’s actions. It is probably closer to the truth that maturity is revealed by one’s reactions.

Actions can be rehearsed and when we have a vested interest – we need others approval, for instance – right actions can actually be the fabrication of a very immature, deceitful heart.  (Yes, I confess I know this from first-hand experience).

When people we don’t (perceive to) need tax us or when adverse circumstances befall us, our reactions reveal our attitude; either a spirit of entitlement or … one attempting, in the grace He gives, to mature into His likeness.

Consider for a moment how materially blessed we are in West⁵. (And this is where we get up-close and personal with “perspective”).

Having lived on the African continent – and in that setting, still living a privileged life – I can candidly say that we in the West have a far tamer view of what adversity is.

Of course, adversity is relative. The problems we face are no less real than what people in the “thirty-third world” experience. And I’d be both deceitful and cruel to suggest otherwise. I certainly don’t sail through my own challenges in some “superhero outfit” and am not implying your hardships are a figment of your imagination.

However – I told you this would get uncomfortable – this is where perspective comes in. Though my challenges are very real to me, I do expect to have a roof over my head tonight and do expect to feed my family today. There are countless millions who do not have these basic privileges. And – I’m not sure how to tread on this sensitively⁶ – in many of these poverty-stricken situations, there is no hope of turning things around; the “fabric” or “infrastructure” of society, so to speak, is so smashed or never functioned in the first place.

“Come on Craig, you don’t pressurize your kids to eat the last bean on their plate with tales of starving children, do you? Why are you doing this here?”

That is not my point … my intention is not to use twisted psychology to somehow induce change in my own life or yours.

However, to acknowledge that my challenges are relative to my context gives me the gift of perspective.

Knowing that my mountain is another man’s molehill helps me to review my own perspective and also enables me to better appreciate what others face in life. In so doing, I remove the shackles of chronic self-absorption.

And when I shed my tendency to feel entitled – thanks to an over-emphasis of what it means to be special; especially because I’ve become accustomed to certain basic privileges and increasingly conditioned to believe I deserve more – I can more truly and more fully represent God in my world.

And can there be anything more special than that?

God has made everyone (and everything) so special, we owe Him everything.

Notes:

¹ The other articles in this series (and there is no particular order to them):

I can’t get no satisfaction

http://soulrecharge.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction/

I can but I can’t

http://soulrecharge.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/i-can-but-i-cant/

The article, “I can’t get no satisfaction” could probably be seen as the main article and it therefore contains content twice the length of the other two.

² The Bible emphatically teaches that we will face adversity – not “might”, “perhaps” or “if you do wrong”.

If you don’t believe James: “count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2); the Master’s words are just as clear: “in the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33).

³ The use of the word “we” instead of “you” is deliberate. When we truly grasp what it means to be special, from God’s point of you, our proud individualism gives way to a humble interdependence.

⁴ Interestingly, the word “perilous”, in the phrase “in the last days perilous times will come”, appears only twice in the Scriptures; here and in Matthew 8, where the demon-possessed man from the Gadarenes is described as “exceedingly fierce” (v. 28). Thus, we may conclude that “perilous” refers to days inflamed by a quantum increase in demonic activity.

⁵ The irony, of course, is that material blessing can be a curse. Of course, Biblical wealth is not a curse; but it easier to mistake the comfort and ease of the “American Dream” – and the deceitful “pursuit of happiness” anthem – for Biblical prosperity than we think.

It is sobering to realise that shunning the wealth of the West is one of the core lessons missionaries from the remarkable Chinese underground church are taught.

⁶ Unemployment is a real factor even in Western nations. I cannot pretend to speak into this issue with any wisdom or knowledge.

I can’t get no satisfaction “The Big Tease”

Most people on plant earth suffer from a chronic case of discontentment. And it is not just a disease that plagues those without Christ. Many Western believers endure the same malaise – and ironically, in some ways, suffer even more from it. In this article, one of a trio of articles around this subject¹, we explore why.

We’re constantly looking for “something” ahead of us, in our future, to bring us the sense of contentment we believe we’re missing now. Whether this “something” is a promise we hope for, a breakthrough we anticipate, an achievement we aim for, a new spiritual discipline we plan to implement, a life goal we seek … we could be on the same “treadmill” anyone pursuing the proverbial “American Dream” is.

Yes, we may not be lusting after a fifth car or a third holiday home but we may be swaying to the same destructive “carrot-dangling” tune. And because what we’re pursuing is defined in spiritual language we often don’t realise the trap². (I suggest you view this footnote for an important qualification).

In fact, it seems to me, that a lot of Christian teaching or ministry may actually encourage us to embrace this “spiritual treadmill” version by unconsciously – mostly anyway – implying that …

• unless we do A or
• discover B or
• pray C,

… we’re not going to experience the “deeper life” … or … we’re going to fall short of “maximising our potential” … or … (add the latest hip promise).

How many Christian books and messages fall into this, “Do A, get B” mantra? In this sense, many sincere Christ followers may in fact be suffering from a more chronic and resistant strand of discontentment.

The bottom-line is simply this (even though it so hard for us to simply believe):

True contentment is found essentially in our relationship with Father God (and in cooperating with His revealed will for us³)

Yes, everyone will nod in agreement to this last statement. In fact, some may even yawn and say, “Duh! That’s just Salvation 101”. (And after the yawn, there’s a good chance they’ll jump back on the treadmill and get back to chasing down another deceptive dead-end).

But if you really want to get to grips with this, and quit the treadmill for good, bear with me as we explore the genesis of this conundrum.

God created mankind in harmony with Himself, one another and with the world He had created for them. In this divine connection, mankind had a healthy sense of personal-worth (our identity), for a lack of a better phrase, being secure in relationship with God, and one another, and significant in fulfilling the work He had entrusted to them (Genesis 1, 2).

In a nutshell …

Adam in union with God (secure and significant in Him: personal-worth in surplus)

God’s life overflowed from this union into …

Healthy inter-personal relationship with Eve

+

Fruitful God-given stewardship of the garden given to him

Part of the effects of The Fall was that mankind’s sense of security and significance, formerly attributes fulfilled in God, now became driving needs disconnected from God (Genesis 3:1-7). Mankind became driven to fill the inner void in order to find security – a sense of belonging (or affection) – and significance – a sense of becoming (or achievement) – in sources other than God.

In another nutshell …

Adam disconnected from God (insecure and insignificant: personal worth in deficit)

Now our identity is sought in …

Needing to find security from others

+

Needing to find significance in our achievements

In this sense, our fallen human nature is self-centred and contrary to God. At the core of being human, we’re not really seeking God; we’re driven by self-preservation, self-improvement and/or self-advancement in order to meet our need for security and significance. This is our identity problem.

Yes, God is merciful: He reveals Himself in human need in order to reconcile us to Himself and restore us to our original orientation.

In the salvation miracle, we recognise our real Need in the midst of our felt-need (to feel secure and significant) and become realigned with God’s creation genius. We’re now completely secure and significant in Him – we just have to believe it!

However, until we learn to cooperate with God’s shaping process, which the Bible calls repentance (a continual response to Him); we remain driven by these needs for security and significance. The tragedy for many believers is that they continue to seek for that which they already have.

You see, in order to meet our need for security and significance we, in our mind, establish a goal that we believe will be the solution to scratch our inner itch:

• “I need (… take your pick …) to feel secure” or
• “I need to (… take your pick …) to be significant”

This goal is determined by basic assumptions, our belief system, we have unconsciously developed from our family upbringing, our background, our education, our religious worldview, from authority figures and through positive and negative life experiences. We are then, often obsessively, motivated to obtain this goal.

However, this belief system, stored in the unconscious mind, is based on a fair number of false assumptions. To put it in a more telling way, these false assumptions are “lies” – untruths – that we unconsciously accept (and believe). And in the midst of the obvious lies there are also any number of half-truths that, though more subtle, are just as debilitating.

Therefore, by way of example, even the apathetic couch-potato is driven. In his case, he is more than likely driven to avoid responsibility. He doesn’t so much need more motivation; what he needs is a new vision – delivered from his fear of responsibility (and the pressures or expectations that he has come to believe are inherent with it).

Then, as we blindly pursue our “established goal,” one of three outcomes is likely.

Despair/Hopelessness: Unrealistic Goal

Many of our goals are unrealistic and may never be achieved (e.g. expecting a career or a ministry or our marriage to be ultimately rewarding/satisfying⁴). Consistently missing this illusive goal breeds a sense of guilt and despair, and in finally accepting that it’s beyond us, we may become overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness. This is one reason many are cynical and battle depression.

Frustration/Anger: Blocked Goal

The fulfilment of many of our goals may (seem to) be blocked through circumstance or people. In our minds, someone (e.g. our family, ex-lover, a work colleague, an authority figure), or something (e.g. a lack of money or opportunity) has robbed us of the opportunity to achieve our goal. The inevitable outcome is frustration and anger. We can become bitter, resentful and may wallow in self-pity.

Disappointment/Fear: Achieved Goal

Many of our goals may actually be achieved. We obtain them … wow! We enjoy a sense of satisfaction … temporarily that is … and then face the reality that it did not deliver on the promise. We still have a deep, unscratched itch in our soul. So we then establish another goal and begin again. Over time we become increasingly disillusioned and anxious. We can even become fearful and resign ourselves to the notion that true peace and joy is impossible.

All of the above scenarios have one thing in common. They are learnt behaviours. We have learned these responses through repeating this vicious pattern of chasing goals that lead to depressing dead-ends (often after copying how influential others in our lives pursued their assumed goals).

Yes, practice makes perfect (and often permanent) – both for good and bad. Practising wrong responses time after time reinforces unhealthy patterns of thought and action.

So what’s the point?

Not only do we face this circular madness as simply being part of the human race but, in my opinion, much Christian ministry and teaching actually plays – mostly unintentionally I’m sure – to this insanity.

As followers of Christ we usually begin this faith journey overdosed on idealism. And while idealism is not in itself a bad thing (for it contains the precious gift of innocence), maturity means we nurture our innocence while shedding the idealism. In other words, we’re to lose the childishness but nurture our childlikeness.

This is no easy feat of course; especially if we underestimate the importance of being part of a spiritual community – one that is grounded in reality – and are prone to gullibly taking on board so much of the current Christian pop-psychology and me-centred ministry present today.

Take for example the wonderful gift of prophecy⁵.

Not only have I been the beneficiary of this gift but I find myself gratefully used from time to time in speaking prophetically to others. (For this reason, I’ve have been just as guilty in the past of adding to the problem I’m trying to diagnose in this article. Having realised the temptation, I’ve tried my best to exercise more wisdom in receiving and giving prophecy).

While New Testament prophecy needs to be judged (1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21) – not swallowed hook, line and sinker – and should be edifying (1 Corinthians 14:3), it is too easy to speak words that appeal to another’s ego and to inflame a false sense of importance.

What does it help if I prophetically say to someone responding to a ministry call, for instance, in a massive conference style setting, “I see you teaching thousands” (or worse, “The Lord says …”) when, given the model of platform based ministry, it will more than likely imply that this person should expect to be, at some point, on a similar stage addressing an audience of thousands.

That this person’s life may be a model to follow and that many people will be influenced by their life over the course of the ensuing decades is more than likely the application, assuming it is a correct prophetic word.

The prophetic picture of this person’s life having influence would indeed be a tremendous encouragement to them but in projecting (even unintentionally) a certain model in which it will unfold often carves out a deep lust for something not in the Spirit of God, setting them on a pursuit that may inevitably lead to a head-on collision with disappointment.

As one who believes in the gift of prophecy, I need to be sober in how I communicate the prophetic hunches I may get.

As one who has been swamped with many prophecies of this type, I need to be sober in how I receive these well-intended but oft inflated proclamations (usually, I think, the problem lies in “our” interpretation of a genuine sense in God).

This is not intended to be a diatribe against prophecy⁶. So to be clear, thank God for the gift of prophecy; it has played a definitive role in my life and ministry over many years. However, I use it as an example of how well-intentioned ministry can create false hope in us.

I have walked with a number of people who labour with a sense of regret or disappointment for failing to see some “glowing” prophecy, they received many years ago, fulfilled. Knowing most of these people well I can honestly say, in my opinion, that the gist of the prophetic word has been fulfilled in their life and ministry; the fact that it was delivered in such flowering terms means they still labour after an ideal that is not in keeping with their God-given gift-mix (and God-allowed limitations).

So what’s the answer?

Pray this prayer three times every twenty-four minutes and … just kidding!

There is no quick, hey-presto formula but there is a clear solution. As mentioned, since we’ve learnt unhealthy behaviour patterns, we can unlearn them.

First, we have to unlearn our default tendency to establish an unrealistic goal based on false assumptions and then learn to curb our fallen drive to try to full the emptiness in our own soul. The Bible calls this process repentance and the renewing of the mind. Then we have to learn to accept and believe God’s Word, not just in a notional, propositional way but in reality and application. The Bible calls this process faith⁷.

Part of this mind renewing process involves prayerfully identifying the wrong goal we habitually establish to find a sense of security and/or significance and the unconscious strategies we adopt to attain this illusive goal⁸.

Repenting of these trivial pursuits, we’re to embrace God’s Fatherhood, accepting by faith our security and significance in Him. Contrary to the infamous U2 song, we already have what we’re looking for. We simply – boy, is that a difficult word at the best of times! – have to believe it. And faith like repentance is a continual response to Him as we become increasingly persuaded of the truth that sets us free.

In like manner, contentment is something we have to learn. To the church at Philippi, Paul wrote:

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13)

We cannot get contentment from a book, a formula, a spiritual discipline or a prayer. We learn contentment through processing what we go through – the highs and lows – from Father God’s perspective, seeking His counsel through personal relationship with Him and communal life with others⁹.

Both discontentment and contentment are learnt behaviours.

So, what did this mean for me?

I was absolutely spent having worn out my umpteenth version of the religious treadmill. Learning that I was no more yet no less than a child of Father God – this is our supreme and sublime pleasure – brought a full experience of salvation to my entire being. Finding my security and significance in Him, I learnt (and am still learning) to avoid trying to quench my thirst in artificial sources outside of Him.

So is contentment found just in cuddling up to Father God?

Yes and no.

Yes, contentment is only possible in an essential and functional¹⁰ relationship with Father God. (Miss this and miss the entire ball game; in fact, miss this and there is no ball game!)

And no. Contentment is consummated; so to speak, as I learn to cooperate more fully with His revealed will for me. (In this sense, God has designed our contentment to be fully realised in cooperating with His will).

Think again of our genesis as the human race.

Adam walked in complete harmony with God and, from this essential union, derived great pleasure from his fellowship with Eve and reward in fruitfully tending the garden God had entrusted to Him.

First, Adam didn’t need to use Eve to get his security fix; nor did he tend the garden in order to prove his significance¹¹. The quality of his relationship with Eve and his work were an overflow – the consummation – of his communion with God.

Yet, God never intended him to space out under a fruit tree all day singing “Kumbaya”. Rather, God brought Eve (relationship) into Adam’s life and entrusted a garden to his care (stewardship).

Thus, our contentment in God is consummated as we walked in healthy inter-personal relationships and faithfully steward our God-given “garden” fruitfully.

Remember those nutshells …

Me/you in union with God (secure and significant in Him: personal-worth in surplus)

God’s life overflows from this union into …

Healthy inter-personal relationships

+

Fruitful God-given stewardship

So the questions for me to consider (and regularly review) are:

• Am I content in my relationship with Father God? Or am I attempting to satisfy my soul-cravings in artificial thirst quenchers?
• Am I walking in authentic relationships with people God has brought into my life? Or am I neglecting or under-valuing these relationships?
• Am I being faithful in the “garden” God has entrusted to me? Or am I comparing myself with others and/or striving to enlarge my own ego-garden?¹²

Amen? Or O-me!

P.S.

I suggest you follow up this article with the other articles in this series: “I’m not that special” and “I can but I can’t”.

 

Notes:

¹ The other articles in this series (and there is no particular order to them):

I can but I can’t

http://soulrecharge.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/i-can-but-i-cant/

I’m not that special

http://soulrecharge.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/im-not-that-special/

This article, “I cant get no satisfaction” could probably be seen as the main article and it therefore contains content twice the length of the other two.

² It goes without saying that believing for something from Father God is very much part and parcel of our relationship with Him – “Our Father … give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:9, 11) – but the point is that our contentment is not dependent on that which we ask for.

³ I’ve added the second part in parenthesis for an important reason. The first part – that is, true content is found essentially in our relationship with Father God – is the crux of the issue. However, it is not complete without stressing that out of a deeply satisfied love-life with the Father, our contentment is expressed (or consummated) in obedience to what God leads us to do. This cooperative obedience – out of a response to His love and leadership – is very much the way we’re designed to optimally, if I can use that word, “live and move and have our being in Him” (Acts 17:28). The reformers taught that we are saved by faith alone but not by a faith that is alone; that is, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).

⁴ Just so that I’m not misunderstood here: marriage, a career and ministry ought to be rewarding in many, many ways – and will be if we find contentment in Father God first and foremost. Out of a secure sense of identity in Him, we ought to enjoy these blessings. If we expect any one of these blessings to ultimately satisfy us in itself, we’ve set it up as an unrealistic goal and booked a date with despair. (Actually, to be completely blunt, the Bible refers to this as idolatry).

For example, if my personal-worth (and contentment) is dependent on my spouse or career or ministry, not only am I in for a truckload of disappointment but I’ll actually use (manipulate) my spouse, career and others in an attempt to fulfil the chronic emptiness in my own soul. How tragic! Selfishness may be the sinister driving force behind my actions even when I think I’m being a loving spouse, responsible in my career and a faithful minister.

⁵ The reason I use the example of prophecy here is simply so that I can speak from my own mistakes rather than from pointing fingers at others.

⁶ As another example, so that you know I’m not picking on prophecy, those who know me will know how much I believe in the value of affirmation as a vital component and practice in a healthy relationships and spiritual community. But again, affirmation can easily become flattery where we pat each other on the back and say inflated things to make ourselves feel better.

⁷ Both repentance and faith are often viewed merely as theological concepts. But until we grasp them as lifestyle responses of unlearning and relearning they will remain intellectual ideals that are ‘heady’ – enough to swell the pride – but not ‘hearty’ – not enough to transform our lives.

⁸ Again, the value of an authentic spiritual community with spiritual fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters who can add objectivity to your own prayerful reflection on these issues is a gift from God.

⁹ The learning process again involves repentance and faith, continual responses to God’s shaping work in our lives.

¹⁰ I use the word “functional” here in contrast to the word “notional”. For many God is notionally a Father; as a concept but without any practical clout or substance. It is the overwhelming message of the Bible that God desires to be a functional Father in our every day lives (see for example, Hebrews 12:5-11).

¹¹ Before Adam even sucked in his first breath of oxygen, God blessed him (Genesis 1:26-28). It was never about man’s performance (or lack of it); it was and is always about Father God’s love for us.

¹² We’re so conditioned to equate a bigger “garden” as a sign of success. God gives different measures of grace to different people and we’re to be faithful and fruitful with the measure given to us (Romans 12:3-6). Paul said that to compare ourselves with others is “not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12) – which is a polite way of saying, “it’s stupid!”

We are to learn to be content in God as we’re faithful and fruitful in the “garden” He has entrusted to us. Whether or not He chooses to enlarge our “garden” ought to have no bearing on our contentment. In fact, to one who is content in Him, an enlarged garden is greeted with humility, gratitude and a sobering sense of increased responsibility. Credit is not taken, ego is not tickled … rather; further grace is sought in a deepened recognition of one’s need of God alone.

I can but I can’t “The Big Tease”

Paul declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

While having a can-do attitude is certainly vital in a can’t-do world, if it is not coupled with an awareness of our God-given limitations, it is a sure recipe for disappointment. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12). And anyone acquainted with it, knows how toxic the stuff is.

There are many things I can’t do … no matter how much faith I have.

For one, I cannot fly – no matter how hard I flap my arms. “Come on, don’t be silly …”

Okay, okay … some real world issues then.

I cannot be an evangelist despite my youthful desire to emulate an evangelist who God used to inspire my life¹. Even though I know I have a gift to teach, I cannot be a Bob Mumford (even if I parrot all his messages)².

And if you’re sick in hospitable and need comfort, don’t call me! I score -0.00 on any scale when it comes to having a gift of mercy. And when it comes to that expression of this gift that is able to translate God’s compassion into acts of comfort for the sick or traumatised, my score is in the dark red.

I admire those who can; in fact, I’m inspired by their ability to do so. But I’ve been known to stand in the odd bedpan, get entangled in a drip or two and when I say, “So … uhhh … how are you?”  the obvious grimace on the one I’m trying to comfort speaks louder than the words: “Duh! What do you think, me being in hospital and all? Get off the bed; you’re sitting on my crocked leg!”

Hey, if my friend is admitted to hospital, I’ll be there – even though I may add to his woes. But this is not something that I’m going to be good at … ever. It’s not something that I’m ever going to ace with an air of grace.

In fact, there are many, many good things I cannot do or be. But here is the point, I’m not supposed to³. (By the way, I think it is worth checking out this footnote).

In my opinion, too much gift-projection occurs in our world (whether this is in the business, church ministry, political or sports arena) which results in grave stereotyping and the inevitable fallout of chronic disappointment that we’re looking at in this article – and the trio of articles under this theme⁴.

What do I mean by gift-projection?

We type-cast what it means to be a successful “whatever” (business person, church leader … anything) – failing to realise that their success is in large part due to their unique gift-mix – and then we project this image of success onto others who don’t have their gift-set (despite that they may, in fact, work just as hard⁵). We expect them to attain the same success even though they are wired very differently. As a famous little parable put it; it’s like to expecting a duck to climb trees and a squirrel to tread water.

Books are written and seminars are delivered in the name of “Because I did it, so can you!” and while “profits” – financial and otherwise – are made by the “successful” guru (which makes each successive book and seminar even more ‘untouchable’), disappointment for most is off the charts. Ironically, we then pay good money to deepen our sense of despair.

God had given each of us gifts and strengths. The God who gave the duck and squirrel the “equipment” to be what they are has given you the “equipment” you need to be you.

However, along with this God-given “toolbox” come God-allowed limitations. In fact, Paul’s teachings in Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 speaks as much into our limitations as about our gifts.

Both these passages are often used today to encourage believers to find their gifts. While this is certainly valid, it seems to me that Paul’s emphasis was different. He focused on the metaphor of the “body” and the importance of its “parts” (“members”) finding meaning within the “whole”. That is, while we ought to certainly accept the gifts God has given us, the point is to learn to appreciate others and the gifts they have – recognising what we don’t have and acknowledging our interdependence on others.

Paul exhorted us to “not think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think” (Romans 12:3). Yes, there may be some validity to the argument that many think too lowly of themselves and an understanding of their gifts may help them to shed a “worm” complex. Personally I believe that a good spiritual family that values and practices affirmation and admonishment – usually in ratio of around 10:1 – will (lovingly) squash any “worm” mentalities. Too often, in my experience, a focus on discovering “the gifts” through a me-centred program spins a cocoon from with an inflated ego hatches⁶.

Paul called us to “think soberly” about ourselves and he clarifies the context of this sober assessment: “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (vv. 3-5).

In other words, for clarity sake, Paul’s teaching on the gifts is more about learning to appreciate our need of others – and by implication, accepting our own limitations – than it is about “getting our gifts working”.

Discovering our gifts and strengths happens in two main ways. First, an honest personal inventory in which we prayerfully reflect on our lives⁷. Second, and more objectively, inviting the counsel of others into our lives; especially those with whom we walk together in spiritual community.

These are those brothers and sisters (and fathers and mothers) who know us personally and who can affirm us in love and truth. While doing a spiritual gifts course may have some merit; it can never replace the affirmation from those living in community with us, who seek our best. Even if – when, is probably more truthful – this means curtailing our ego or, at the very least, our subjective assessment of ourselves.

In one survey of the most popular Bible verses, Philippians 4:13 came in third place⁸. But what did Paul mean when he stated: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”?

Contrary to so much “I can” teaching, he did not mean …

• you can have whatever you want, or
• be whatever you desire, or
• achieve whatever you really set your mind to

– IF you pray enough, give enough, do enough … blah, blah, blah.

Paul’s context is, amazingly, the subject of contentment. (Most people are absolutely flabbergasted that they haven’t seen this before). Ironically, the above “do more” philosophy does guarantee one thing: discontentment!

To the church community in Philippi, people very dear to him, Paul spoke honestly about his challenges; explaining that he experienced both seasons of abundance and suffered periods of lack:

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Despite every challenge, being stretched to the max – he was grateful for God’s mercy. In the face of much blessing, enjoying success – he was thankful for God’s grace. In all things, Paul learnt to be content⁹. And he could only do so through Christ’s strength.

Thus, in spite of the rollercoaster ride of ups and downs; Paul learnt to be content. And – here is what he meant – in Christ’s strength he was able to do this regardless of his personal and circumstantial limitations.

Am I against having a positive attitude? Certainly not! Nothing is more defeating than a negative attitude. A negative Christian is a contradiction in terms.  Like a painless pregnancy or a safe nuclear bomb. But there is nothing positive in believing a lie.

If I buy the lie that I can do anything I want – without being honest about my God-allowed limitations – I am doomed to disappointment and despair. And there is nothing positive about depression.

When David heard about Goliath he didn’t deny the existence of the giant with an air-head attempt at being positive: “What giant? I don’t receive this negative report!” Instead, with a real and robust faith, David said, “There is a giant alright and … he’s big! But my God is bigger!”

David wasn’t the least bit negative … but his positive attitude was rooted in reality, both the present circumstance he faced – yes, there is a giant; yes, I have the flu; yes, I’m financially in the red – and the more substantial reality of God’s ability – YES! God is bigger; YES! God is my healer; YES! God is able to deliver me from debt as I bring my thinking and accounting into line with His.

With a healthy understanding of the “toolbox” God has given us – including a humble acceptance of our limitations – we can do all God has called us to.

This will mean that – at many points on my journey – I’ll have to dig deeper than I think I’m capable of in order to break through preconceived misconceptions that would otherwise be a barrier to growth and progress in Christ. (Accepting my personal limitations does not mean I accept mediocrity; where “whatever” becomes my perpetual resignation from life).

But because of a healthy understanding of who I am and who I’m not – strengthened by a spiritual community who are committed to me in love for excellence – there are many, many things I know I cannot do.

In these things, I need you … and the rest of the Body of Christ.

Notes:

¹ Yes, of course, I can do the “work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5); that is, we’re all responsible for the task of evangelism. But the gift of an evangelist is a wonderful God-given grace that He gives for some to equip those – like me – who don’t have the gift. Their faithful use of this gift enables us all to be more responsible in the work.

² While I’m confident that God has given me a gift to teach, there are also different measures of this gift. And I’m content that I am at the low end of this spectrum. This understanding gives me great freedom to be the best I can be in the grace I’ve been given. I don’t need to compare or compete with others.

³ Yes, it is important that we grow in the various responsibilities as a mature believer. Every gift of God has a corresponding Christian responsibility. Some are gifted to evangelise (Ephesians 4:11); we’re all called to evangelism. Some have gifts to serve (Romans 12:7); we’re all called to serve. Some are gifted leaders (Romans 12:8); we’re all called to lead others as examples. Some are gifted teachers (Ephesians 4:11; Romans 12:7); we’re all called to teach through our life and influence. Some have gifts of mercy (Romans 12:8); we’re all called to show mercy. And so on.

Maturity means that we grow more responsible in all these areas – often as we learn from, and catch the grace of, those who are gifted in them. Yes, even I’ve learnt better hospital visitation manners over the years. A mature believer doesn’t back off from what they should do by playing the “that’s not my gift” card.

But this does not negate the fact that while we all have some gifts, we have numerous limitations in the areas we are not gifted in.

⁴ The other articles in this series (and there is no particular order to them):

I can’t get no satisfaction

http://soulrecharge.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction/

I’m not that special

http://soulrecharge.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/im-not-that-special/

The article, “I can’t get no satisfaction” could probably be seen as the main article and it therefore contains content twice the length of the other two.

⁵ I make this qualification – “despite that they may, in fact, work just as hard” – because the successful person, in cases such as this, often attributes their fruitfulness to their own hard work rather than acknowledging their God-given abilities. For sure, they may have worked hard – fruitfulness does require putting in a good shift – but often those wanting to learn from the successful person work just as hard. However, they will never enjoy the fruitfulness in the same area (or to the same degree) if they have a different set of gifts (and their own set of limitations). They will, however, be fruitful in the area which aligns with their own gift mix as they labour in the strength the Lord gives.

⁶ Yes, this doesn’t have to be the case. Doing a gifts course in the context of a healthy spiritual community can be a very fruitful exercise. My point is – first, nurture a healthy community; then, as a community, use what resources are available to facilitate meaningful dialogue around this subject.

⁷ These four questions have helped many in the process of taking a (regular) personal inventory:

1>   What am I motivated to do? (You don’t have to ‘psyche’ yourself up for it).

2>   What seems to come naturally to me? (It’s relatively easy; there’s no struggle).

3>   Where can I distinguish clear fruit from my actions? (There are results).

4>   What do I do that strengthens and fulfils me? (You’re not drained from it).

 

⁸ In first place, and no surprise, was John 3:16. “God helps those who help themselves” came in at second. Of course, this is not a Bible verse but a statement popularised by Benjamin Franklin.

⁹ Notice, contentment is learnt behaviour! We cannot get it from a book, a formula, a spiritual discipline, a prayer, etc. etc. We learn contentment while processing what we go through – highs and lows – from Father God’s perspective, seeking His counsel through personal relationship with Him and communal life with others.

An “act of god” or the Acts of God

“there will be earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7)

Having lived most my life in Johannesburg South Africa, weather and the elements were never an issue. If you ever mentioned the weather in a discussion it was more than likely because you were down to the bottom of the barrel in a conversation stalemate. The weather was as predictable as a tummy rumble in a three day fast.

Arriving in Australia five days after Black Saturday (7/02/2009) – the start of the Victorian bushfires – we experienced our first earthquake three weeks later. While it only registered 3.4 on the Richter scale it was a new and unnerving experience for us. Since then we’ve had unbelievable sand storms in Sydney, locust swarms described by the secular media as “of Biblical proportions,” widespread devastating floods in the states of Queensland and Victoria and a cyclone in the mix too.

Christchurch, New Zealand has now suffered two massive earthquakes in the past six months – and of course the daily unearthing earth-tremors continue. I was in Christchurch a few days after the first quake and my first tremor measured 5.2 on the Richter scale, lasting for more than 20 seconds. This is certainly not a long time but it felt like an eternity as the earth groaned making me feel dreadfully frail. I got a small taste of what many where experiencing daily.

The earthquake and tsunami that has devastated Japan, north of Tokyo, and the subsequent nuclear threat is another tragedy in an increasing line of incidents that have shaken man’s confidence and revealed our fragility in the face of the elements.

There are now prophetic warnings by a prophet, who has several accurate predictions under his belt, predicting a quake/tsunami happening in the Bass Strait which, as you may know, lies between the island state of Tasmania and the city in which we live, Melbourne in the state of Victoria. In fact, there are an increasing number of prophecies targeting many areas of the planet.

These incidents are often referred to by the legal term “acts of god;” that is, they are beyond the scope of human control. The phrase is used to indicate that “no one is responsible” and is not technically meant as an accusation against God. You may remember the movie, “The Man Who Sued God” as a witty and irreverent play on this phrase in which Billy Connolly’s character sued the Church establishment.

Off the back of the recent surge in earth-shaking phenomenon, there are numerous and varied opinions raging from different corners of “church world”. On the one hand, we have those preaching a strong message of repentance proclaiming that God is judging the nations. On the other hand, we have those down playing any God-association in a noble attempt to avoid using His name in vain.

I myself am trying to listen as broadly and humbly to these, at times, contradictory voices. I am certainly not a prophet and desire to listen to what God may in fact be saying through those He has graced as prophets. Yet at the same time I find I have to process this Biblically – at least as Biblically as I can – otherwise one can be pulled from the proverbial pillar to post or, in this case, from panic to paranoia.

My aim in this exercise then is to first attempt to understand these incidents in the light of the Scriptures for myself and then, to know how to best offer hope in the midst of these kinds of disasters in which so many suffer so much.

We are His Body; His heart, His hands, His feet and His voice. While the secular world may chalk these phenomena up as an “act of god;” we, as the ekklesia, are called to demonstrate the true Acts of God. We are to reveal His compassion and show His sacrificial love in both word and deed at all times, especially at times such as these.

Please then hear my upfront qualification. This is my attempt to make sense of the times in which I live. You may have a very different take on the matter. My hope is that engaging in this discussion will help others as I process my own thoughts.

First, a general principle …

It seems Jesus went out of His way to correct the Jews’ cause-and-effect theology. They believed that if something ‘bad’ befell you (the effect); it was an indication that you were out of sync with God in someway (the cause). Of course, one may suffer if one is out of God’s will, but suffering is not guaranteed proof that one is out of God’s will. The entire Book of Job attempted to correct this erroneous thinking. Job, you may recall, suffered because he was in God’s will. His concrete faith in God despite his suffering was God’s ‘weapon’ to confound the devil in a spiritual battle Job had no idea was waging ‘over’ him.

In contrast to this cause-and-effect theology, two incidents in Jesus’ ministry spring immediately to mind; first, was the man “blind from birth” recorded in John, Chapter 9 (vv. 1ff). Considering this man’s plight, Jesus’ disciples asked: “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (v. 2). As mentioned, this question reflects a worldview typical of the Jews then and many Christians today: if he is suffering (the effect), someone must be to blame (the cause).

Jesus answered emphatically: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (v. 3).

This man’s suffering had no “accused” in some generational witch-hunt. There was no one to blame … a fact that did not go down well with the meddling Pharisees who were furious that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath (vv. 13ff). In the face of the clear miracle before them, they still turned over every stone to find someone to tar and feather. Exasperated, they eventually condemned the healed man: “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” (v. 34). The irony lay in just how much their religiosity blinded them from reality.

Jesus’ explanation – “but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (v. 3) – is very interesting. It seems to me that Jesus is implying that we live in a fallen world; therefore God’s creation has suffered, and continues to experience, a degree of corruption. We live in a world where things erode, de-evolve, rust and run down¹; where sickness and disease happen and yes, where platonic forces shift resulting in volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis.

Jesus’ words here also contain a wonderful promise, especially when He added: “I am the light of the world” (v. 5). God desires to reveal Himself through the fallen-ness of this world, restoring His creation from one degree of glory to another. He is the Light that dispels every dark spot that blights the created world.

In this man’s case, in John Chapter 9, he was healed of his blindness. In the case of a devolving, groaning earth; we have an other-worldly hope that in Jesus’ parousia², He will restore His creation in fullness.

The second incident that I’m reminded of is found in Luke’s account (Luke 13:1ff). In discussion with Jesus, some people brought up the massacre of a number of Galileans at the hands of the cruel Pontius Pilate. As these Galileans were offering their required Jewish sacrifices in Jerusalem, apparently Pilate’s soldiers murdered them for some reason we are not told. Jesus’ answer indicates that those who brought up this incident may have again concluded that these poor victims were somehow to blame for their own demise.

Jesus said: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (13:2, 3).

His point? God was not punishing the victims of Pilate’s brutality for some wrong they had done; none of them merited this tragedy by virtue of some ‘sin’.

Then Jesus brings up another tragedy known to His audience; this time an incident that could fall into the “act of god” category; that is, it was beyond human control. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (vv. 4, 5).

The incident in Siloam would surely have made the front page of the equivalent of a Jerusalem Herald; it would have left every Jew with this question on their mind: “What sin did these wretched fellows commit to merit such an awful death?” Again, Jesus made it clear that this was not the case; there were no sin (cause) to merit such a fate (effect).

In both accounts, Jesus teaches us that our response to hearing of the tragedy of others is to search our own hearts not point fingers. These kinds of incidents reveal the brevity and fragility of life – and ought to bring us to a sober fear of Lord; yes, compassion towards those who have suffered, gratitude towards God for every breath we still have to serve Him.

Thus, as a general rule, I ought to be slow to attribute God’s judgment to the suffering of others; instead, quick to search my own heart: If it is my time to die in similar tragic circumstances, am I ready to face my Maker?

Second, discerning the times …

With this first point, a general principle, settled in my mind I am able to – with a purer perspective, I think – consider a second common teaching of Jesus. He spoke of discerning the times in which we live; living with a sense of urgency should He return today (Matthew 24:36-44), while wisely investing in the next generation should He tarry (Matthew 24:45-51)³.

In my opinion, a lot of “discerning the times” has been relegated to a focus on events on the world stage alone. While there is a place for this I’m sure, placing one’s overwhelming focus on it seems to me to be what Jesus actually cautioned us not to do.

Jesus taught, “Take heed that no one deceive you” and then continued “you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation … And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8).

Notice first that He described the typical “signs of the times” that usually attract the headlines – “wars … famines … earthquakes …” – but emphatically explained: “but the end is not yet” (v. 6). He urges us to avoid fear – “see that you are not troubled” (v. 6) – and warns us to be wary of being deceived (v. 4). It seems to me that, at the very least, Jesus cautioned us to avoid being deceived by an over-focus on these secondary, on-the-world-stage events.

In my experience, it is this over-focus on global events that instils fear in God’s people. I’m convinced that any end times teaching that promotes fear rather than faith is not in keeping with Biblical truth; in fact, the very concept of “hope” in the New Testament is centred on the coming of Christ (see Hebrews 10:36-39; 11:1)⁴. Without a hope-injected eschatology, we live by fear not faith and will shrink back in the day of opportunity. We’re a confused army, we have a sword in one hand and a suitcase in the other; we’re not sure if we should fight or fly⁵!

Second, Jesus describes these “signs of the times” as “the beginning of sorrows”. What does this mean? Well, at the very least, Jesus was stressing what He had already explained: “the end is not yet”. These incidents are not indications of the end but merely signs of the age in which we live.

Thus in referring to “the beginning of sorrows,” Jesus prepared His disciples – who were struggling to shrug off an idealistic view of what God’s Kingdom actually meant– to expect suffering as part of the package; dispelling any false notion that He was advocating a problem-free utopia in this age⁶. Yes, the Kingdom of God is here now but it will increase, like yeast that leavens the whole meal (Luke 13:20, 21), until its full manifestation – in inverse proportion to the collapse of this fallen world and those who continue to ally with its demise.

This statement then, along with others, prepares us for the reality of the hardships we face in every generation; there is simply no place for an idealistic ‘triumphalism’ in our call to be overcomers (see for example, Revelation 2:10, 11). In David’s square off with Goliath, he never said, “Giant? What giant? I don’t receive this negative report!” Rather David said, “Yes there is a giant all right and yes, he is huge … but I come in the Name of the Lord … I serve a God who is much bigger still … and this oversized bad-breath is coming down!” David did not deny reality, he simply plugged into a greater reality (1 Samuel 17:1ff).

Should we expect an increase in these “acts of gods” as this fallen world unravels at the seams? For sure. Should we expect the world’s economies to collapse as we continue to rape our environment, borrow from future generations to fund our present greed, gorge our every appetite and stroke our every whim? Without question. In this sense, it seems to me, the Bible accurately explains that things will get worse and worse as a statement of the obvious (see for example, Matthew 24:12, 13; 2 Timothy 3:1, 12, 13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 9-12). It is not rocket science – and certainly not worth the hype that often surrounds “signs of the times” paranoia.

However – and here is where we’re fuelled with divine hope and faith – while God’s time clock is not set against events on the global stage, He has made it very clear where our focus ought to be: “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

“And then the end will come”.

When?

As we focus on our mandate to demonstrate the “Gospel of the Kingdom”⁷.

As His Body – His heart, His hands, His feet, His voice – we are to “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13 KJV); serving a world spinning out of control, igniting Kingdom exploits to see His glory fill the earth. God’s time clock is locked into His ekklesia’s faithfulness to His dominion mandate.

Few passages capture this tension between a “world imploding” versus a “church prevailing” better than Paul’s eighth chapter to the Romans. He describes the de-evolution of the world in powerful imagery: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with pangs together until now” (Romans 8:22). The very creation itself is groaning, suffering in birth pains … why?

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). Wow! This de-evolution – described by Paul as “groans” and by Jesus as “sorrows” – is not just inevitable but pre-empts our full maturity as the ekklesia, the “sons of God”. An increase in the activity of the natural elements calls us to take our place as God’s Kingdom people, urging upon us a renewed urgency to see His Kingdom come and His will done on earth just as it is in heaven.

This is not a moment to shrink back; this is yet another moment to step forward as the ekklesia, the cabinet of the King⁸. Creation waits for us to fulfil our destiny; our original design, imprinted by God in our very origin: “fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion …” (Genesis 1:28). Even before the fall, God created an earth that required subduing; a world that required His sons to fulfil their dominion purpose.

Third, a word on judgment …

In our English language, the concept of judgment has negative connotations; and in the mouths of fundamentalists, it always has horrific implications. It is perceived to be synonymous with punishment. So to claim that God is judging others through an earthquake, for example, is to portray God as fitful and angry; punishing His creation like some vengeful god of the Greek pantheon.

In Hebrew thought, judgment does not have these negative connotations; in fact, just the opposite. To the Hebrew mind, judgment is divine intervention bringing balance to the world in order for justice to prevail and truth to be established. It was anticipated with joy and expectation. The 98^th Psalm is a powerful example of this eager anticipation:

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvellous things … He has remembered His mercy … All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God … Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth, break forth in song … For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world and the peoples with equity” (vv. 1, 3, 4, 9)

The psalmist declared: “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Psalm 98:3). In other words, the Hebrews viewed judgment as salvation not punishment; judgment refers to a revelation of God’s truth and justice that restores a fallen and broken world.

Therefore, on the one hand, insensitively associating God’s judgment with the suffering of others can easily misrepresent God and thus, for me is something that I’m loath to do. On the other hand, understanding the subject of judgment in its Hebrew context, we can conclude that God uses all things to bring His judgment – His truth and justice – to save His creation. Yet since Peter explains that “judgment begins at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17) this means our default response is, again, not to point fingers but to search our own hearts.

I’m convinced that if I say, for example, “God is judging the city of Christchurch through this earthquake” I am, to my English speaking audience, misrepresenting God. I’d be claiming that God was punishing them; and I’d be perceived as condemning them from my ivory tower of self-righteousness. This, in my opinion, is not consistent with God’s heart nor does it position me to offer the hope that is desperately needed.

However, if I conclude that God is using these earthquakes to address our hearts – yes, all of us – begetting a renewed sense of the fear of the Lord, soberness and vigilance; I am certainly closer to a Biblical understanding of judgment. And of course, in this light, pointing fingers is the last thing on my mind. Instead, in a spirit of repentance and intercession, I’m seeking how I should cooperate with God in bringing His salvation and hope to people so in need of it.

My conclusion?

While I’ve avoided making any comments on my view of the nature of prophecy in general and the ones doing the circuit now in particular, I try to weigh such prophecy against the backdrop of the above thoughts. Having been enriched and enlarged by prophecy on many occasions, I treasure this gift from God. However, we are taught to “judge” prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29); to “test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 c. v. 20). And as some of these current prophecies have eschatological notions, it is important that we be discerning.

I’m totally unconvinced of where we are in the countdown to Christ’s return. (Yes, you read it correctly; I’m completely unsure of how close we are to Jesus’ coming). And according to Jesus, I’m in good company: neither is He sure. Or a least this is my understanding of His statement: “But of that day and hour no one knows … but My Father only” (Mathew 24:36).

Whether we are in the last of the last of the last days⁹ or not is, in my opinion, not really the issue. The real issue is this: are we living in such a way that we “look for and hasten the coming day of God” (2 Peter 3:12)?¹⁰ Are we living this day – and every day – in preparation for “that Day”?

The sad reality is that it sometimes takes a natural disaster to renew this sense of urgency. And yes, through these tragic events unbelievers are often awakened to their fragility and more open to consider the claims of God on their lives.

Regardless of where we are in the run in to the end, irrespective of what the natural elements do, our heart cry ought to be: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). This is not a nice theological sentiment; this ought to be a burning, life-shaping conviction.

And with this urgency, let us actively be about our Father’s Kingdom business (Luke 19:13); bringing divine hope to a world that is so desperately devoid of it.

The last thing the world needs is more fear – it is just about bursting at the seams on the toxic stuff already.

Notes:

1 Science calls this the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

² The New Testament does not actually use the phrase, “the return of Christ” or even the “second coming of Christ;” rather it refers only to His “coming,” a Greek word (parousia) used to describe the official coming of a king whose arrival would be permanent and whose impact would be lasting. The coming of Christ refers to the arrival of the King whose occupation would be permanent and lasting. The implication is that King Jesus is coming to occupy; we are to prepare for the King’s return not for our own escape. We should be talking “occupation” not seeking a “getaway”.

³ In my opinion, all end times teaching should lead to this faith-injecting conclusion. Regardless of how you slice your eschatological bread, we have to live in the tension of this paradox:

• Living a holy, humble life knowing Jesus could return immediately – “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
• Living a faith-filled, fruitful life knowing Jesus’ return may not be in our lifetime – “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Matthew 24:45, 46).

⁴ Please see our blog-article entitled, “Divine Hope” at http://soulrecharge.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/divine-hope/

⁵ It seems to me that the correct metaphor would be that we have a spade in the one hand and a sword in the other; a spade to establish His Kingdom come and a sword to confront the principalities and powers that seek to oppose God’s purposes. How and when the “rapture” occurs is not the issue at all. We’re called to overcome: praying for His Kingdom to come to earth; not bent on escape, hoping to go to heaven.

⁶ The apostolic writers continued to prepare us in this regard; in fact, it is one of the most distinctive differences between the Old and New Testament perspectives. In the Old, God’s people shunned suffering as if it were a punishment from God; in the New, God’s people welcomed suffering as part of their warfare against darkness. If Christ, their King, had suffered; who were they that they should be immune to it? See for example, Acts 14:22; 1 Peter 4:12-17.

⁷ This phrase contains a mouthful yet is beyond the scope of this article. Simply, notice the stress on the “Gospel of the Kingdom”, not merely the gospel of salvation or the gospel of the church. Also, take note of the phrase “as a witness”; the Gospel of the Kingdom is to be demonstrated through our Christ-centred lives and Christ-filled communities as a “witness” lived not just a “word” preached (see 1 Timothy 3:15). Please see our article entitled, “The King and His Kingdom” which can be downloaded from this website address: http://www.crosswaveglobal.com/Resources.html.

⁸ The Greek word ekklesia, translated “church” in our English translations, was not a religious word in Jesus’ day; it was, in fact, a politically charged word. Jesus had a habit of using explosive contemporary words – such as “Gospel” and “Kingdom” – to envision His government on this earth.

The word ekklesia referred to people selected, called out from the general populace, to serve in a civil capacity as a governing arm or cabinet of a governor or king: technically, “a civil body of selected officials.” Yes, we’re called out of darkness into light but more specifically (and accurately) we’re selected to serve as the “cabinet of the King,” Jesus’ governing arm on the earth: the governmental executive of the Kingdom. Please see our blog-article entitled, “What does ekklesia mean?” http://crosswaveglobal.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/what-does-ekklesia-mean/

⁹ The apostolic writers frequently used the term “last days” referring to the church age; the time period between the first and second coming of Christ (see Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 John 2:18; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 17, 18; Hebrews 1:1, 2). Thus, they accurately defined the days in which they lived as the “last days”.

While we tend to turn Christ’s coming into a time-line on the calendar, the early church instead nurtured an eschatological attitude. And filled with this divine hope, the early church lived with a mesmerising sense of destiny and riveting sense of responsibility; believing that they could be, not necessarily would be, the generation that Jesus would return for. They gave themselves with abandon in such a way as to be the Bride who would wow Jesus’ heart that He might say, “Father, she’s ready! I’m going!” In a phrase, they were a “given generation”.

Every generation should nurture this same outrageous attitude of hope and live with this same gripping responsibility. Peter said Jesus was “being held back” – the literal meaning of “whom heaven must receive” – “until the times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). What exactly must be restored before Christ’s return is a subject upon which many opinions are stacked. Yet our opinions here are not essentially important. What is essential to Christian doctrine is this: Jesus is coming back and we are to nurture an eschatological expectation, “in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11, 12).

¹⁰ If you have the nerve, consider reading our thought provoking study on the end-times, entitled, “Living at the Edge of Time” which can be downloaded off our website: http://www.crosswaveglobal.com/Resources.html.

Roles First, Then Goals

“But seek first the kingdom of God …” (Matthew 6:33).

I’m all for having goals in one’s life; I certainly have my fair share of targets that I’m aiming for. As the saying goes, “If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time”. Or “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. There is an element of truth in both these pithy phrases. Goal-setting is a powerful way to lift up our vision and direct our energies. And if our goals are managed well – for example, if we relate them to time frames with a good dose of the twin powers of faith and humility – they also help measure our progress, enabling mid-course corrections where necessary. However, there is a dark side to goal-setting.

First, goal-setting can easily be birthed in the lair of ego. Come on, we’ve all embarked on a “noble goal” that was actually the offspring of selfishness and pride. Or at least I have … and it wasn’t pretty. (The word “monster” comes to mind; a monster with an unending appetite for more).

Second, even goal-setting that is correctly conceived in faith and humility can still play to our base, driven motives. It is tremendously easy to dip into the cesspool of one’s own strength and energy to try to accomplish what may be a true and noble goal. And in doing so, we stroke our egos at each gain made. Again, I’m speaking from hard experience.

These two dangers of goal-setting are easily detectable and relatively easy to avoid – as we walk in the fear of the Lord and the counsel of others.

What is a little less obvious is how easily we can begin to define ourselves by the goals we have; finding our identity in what we do, or more specifically, what we intend to do. This third danger is just as insidious as the first two.

Whether we have set goals for a new year or a new decade, a new career or a new business period, a new relationship or a new ministry initiative, in seeking to achieve them we can easily start to find our sense of personal-worth in chasing these noble aims. Then our identity becomes precariously locked into our progress (or lack there of) and we begin to slide perilously close to the edge of madness.

Yes, this is not an overstatement. Many people do lose their minds, trading their soul in the chase for a goal. At the very least, the lust for the “end game” can justify whatever means we think will help us achieve our objective; when this happens, the life drains from our soul.

Again, it may be worth clarifying that I certainly don’t think goals are wrong in themselves. However, before we set and then launch out in pursuit of our goals we ought to first define, or affirm, our roles. Roles first, then goals.

What do I mean by “roles”?

By “roles” I refer to those God-given responsibilities of life that define who you are. Of course, our identity ought to be secure in the Father-heart of God. This means that we are essentially – foundationally, primarily, significantly – a son (or daughter) of Father God – first and foremost. As I often say, we’re a son first – then a servant, a steward and a soldier¹. If we fail this sonship issue, we quickly end up as slaves, hoarders and renegades instead.

Out of this sense of being a child of God, a secure identity connected to the Fatherhood of God, I am able to fully engage with the “roles” He has entrusted to me.

For me, I am essentially a husband to Lorna, a father to my children, a brother to my spiritual family, a minister² to others and a witness to the world. The first three roles – as a spouse, a parent and a brother – define my foundation for the second two, a minister and a witness. Out of my vital relationship with Father God I am to faithfully reveal His heart to Lorna, my girls and those I am in covenant community with. Before I think of pursuing some noteworthy, in my own mind, ‘world-changing’ goal-set, these relational roles are essential to who I am. Far too many spouses, children and spiritual families are sacrificed on the altar of some individualistic pursuit of a goal (or three).

If you are unmarried, your “role” as a son or daughter to your own natural parents is very important. Of course, it remains important for me to rightly honour my own parents but now that I have a family of my own it is no longer as defining a role as it was before I got married. And for those not yet married, your “role” as a responsible adult seeking God’s will concerning if³ or who you marry is one of the most defining aspects of who you are right now⁴.

The second two categories I mentioned – a minister to others and a witness to the world – are deliberately broad as how I minister to others, for example, will be very different to how you fulfil your role as a minister. The substance of your role in these areas will be shaped by your unique God-given sense of call, gift-mix, personality and life-experiences. But – and here is the important point – what your actual contribution may look like is secondary to who you are. Too many people, in making their specific contribution the primary focus, have muddied the identity-waters and lost a sense of who they are.

I am a minister; you are a minister. (For clarity: I’m again not referring to some clerical appointment or ordination). Being a minister – serving others out of a secure sense of sonship – is a defining role of who we are as children of God.

I am a witness; you are a witness. Again, how we live – how we treat others, how we react to crisis, how we use our time, how we handle our finances, how we view the world, etc. etc. – ought to testify of God’s own character and His unfolding purpose on this earth. We are the only Bible most people ever read. It is good to ask ourselves regularly and pointedly, “What message am I portraying?”

Thus, as for me, my roles are simple yet profound. As a child of God my responsibility lies in being a husband, a father, a brother, a minister and a witness. You may be a wife, a mother, a sister, a minister and a witness – but make no mistake these “roles” define who we are. And it is finding the grace and rest of Father God in these roles that determines whether we enjoy life content in God; not whether we achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.

Regularly I carve out some time to, beyond my usual devotional life, reaffirm my sonship to God my Father. In this time, I re-engage with these life-roles He has entrusted to me. Where I feel I’ve fallen short in any one of them, I seek His mercy. Then I reconnect with His all-sufficient grace for all of them.

“As a son of God; I am a husband, a father, a brother, a minister and a witness. In these roles I find rest,” I confess as I cut loose the fallen motives from my heart that cajole me to lust for more (as if there was more to life than these sublime privileges).

“It should not be any more complicated than this,” I then remind myself, riveting this truth again in my soul.

As I have practised this discipline over the last five years, I have lived with far more rest in my life and way less stress and anxiety in my soul. Anyone who knows me will know that I can boarder on being a workaholic. Okay, that’s an understatement … the ‘first step’ is to acknowledge one’s problem …

“Hi. I am Craig … and I am a workaholic”.

But the good news is my driven-ness is a thing of the past. I am no longer a workaholic. I have found rest and freedom in reaffirming these life-roles in my sonship with the Father. As the psalmist declared, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2).

Regardless of whether you have workaholic tendencies or just the opposite – even an apathetic couch-potato is driven; in his case, he is driven to avoid work or responsibility – the importance of defining, and regularly affirming, our life-roles is absolutely essential.

The next time you introduce yourself to someone for the first time, rather than explaining yourself by what you do or your life-goals, try to introduce yourself by your life-roles. It’s not always easy to do, nor does it always seem impressive. But it is a far more accurate snapshot of who you are. We are human beings after all, not human doings.

So what of goals then? This article would not be complete if I didn’t clarify the value of goal-setting.

After affirming my life-roles, I find God identifies so clearly the areas in which I can grow. My confidence lies not so much in my ability to hear His voice but in His ability to lead and perfect me. I am prone to miss it, He is not. I am can be faithless, “He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13)

Thus, life-goals stem naturally from our life-roles. They arise with surprising clarity and liberating ease from an honest reflection of these roles. And with them comes an amazing sense of grace from above to cooperate with His perfecting work in our lives – to become what we in ourselves are unable to achieve.

In this context then, goals ought to be a SCAM: Specific, Challenging yet Achievable (in the grace of God) and Measurable.

Specific?

“I want to be a better husband” is a great sentiment but what specific goal will help me to be a better spouse?

Challenging?

The point is not to scrape home with the least amount of effort; the point is to cooperate fully with God’s best for me.

Achievable?

Aiming to be the best husband in the world is a romantic but probably naive notion; aiming to be the best husband I can be is doable.

Measurable?

How do I know I’ve grown or made progress in the goals I’ve set? If it’s not in some way measurable, goal-setting is simply hot air. (And who needs more of that!?) However, in measuring our progress we can make necessary mid-course adjustments; but also, through this vital reflection, new faith-filled goals often arise with fresh purity and proven maturity.

Goal-setting is a powerful skill one can learn.

However think roles first, then goals.

Notes:

¹ In the article, “The Father-Heart of God” I put it like this.

“SONS FIRST! When we define ourselves as sons first; we find our sense of personal worth in Him and Him alone. Then …

• …we can be faithful stewards, saying, “I’m a son, and therefore I look after all I have as a gift from Father which I will ultimately return to Him for account” instead of, like a hoarder, thinking: “I have worked for all that I have and will do whatever I must to keep it. Everything ultimately depends on me. If I don’t look after number one, no one else will”.
•  …we can be faithful servants, saying, “I’m a son, and therefore serve for my Father’s pleasure and delight” instead of, like a slave, thinking: “I use others to fill my own need for affirmation, approval or recognition”.
•  …we can be faithful soldiers, saying, “I’m a son, and therefore I only fight the battles my Father deems important” instead of, like a renegade, thinking: “I fight the battles that trigger me off; battles that validate my sense of worth or that move my sense of injustice”.

 ² I am not referring to being ordained as a pastor here. I am referring to being a minister irrespective of our specific call or gifting.

³ We forget that it is not a New Testament assumption that everyone has to get married (1 Corinthians 7:1ff). Some choose not to in order to devote themselves more fully to the Lord’s purposes. Those who feel called to such a life should be honoured not held in suspicion as so often is the case.

⁴ Be true to your God and yourself … and treat every person of the opposite sex with the respect you trust someone else is showing to your future spouse.

Our Decisions Define Us

“Therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

In a primary sense, the Bible is the Story of God and His unfolding plan for mankind. In a secondary sense, it is a record of how men and women have responded to God in His dealings with them. And in this sense, it is a collection of stories outlining the choices men and women made; decisions that defined them for good or evil.

If you think about it, we are who we are based on the decisions we have made.

Right now … this minute … I am who I am because of the choices I make.

Let me amplify on this by pointing out what I am not.

I am not a product of my past. People with far worse baggage have overcome the restrictions of their past by making choices in their present that redefined their futures.

I am not a victim of circumstance. People facing greater challenges have risen above their plight to become victors in life.

I am not the sum total of my genetics, my upbringing and my weaknesses. People dealt a hand far poorer than mine have shed their limitations to live lives of significance.

I cannot blame something in the water, something in the air or something in the food. Nor can I point the finger at the place of my birth, the colour of my eyes or the bully in fourth grade. And the nature versus nurture debate can only take you so far¹. The “raw materials” I have been given through my birth and upbringing are not a prison cell; they merely provide the context from which I am to make decisions to boldly go where I have not been before.

I have to accept – deep in my soul – that who I am right now is based on the choices I make, the decisions I have made over a life time. My decisions have defined me.

Now over to you …

In a very real and sobering way, you are – right at this moment – the sum total of your decisions; the choices you’ve made in the context of the “raw materials” you have.

The great news is that if the trajectory created by your life’s decisions has you on a crash course with a dead-end, you can – in God’s mercy and grace – set a new trajectory by realigning your choices with His will for your life. The Bible calls this 180 degree change in orientation, repentance.

Even at your very worst, good is just one decision away.

Make no mistake, our decisions define us.

When we make spineless, self-gratifying choices we weaken our will and mind and starve our inner man. If I’m consistently making selfish decisions in the small things, is it any wonder that my will is like jelly and my brain like porridge when I’ve got to make a big decision?

In stark contrast, making courageous, selfless decisions strengthens our will, ignites our mind and feeds our inner man. Even brave choices that turn out to be wrong, when repented of, can bring incredible growth and blessing. Failure is not fatal; it is simply the opportunity to choose more wisely next time.

In fact, the most debilitating scenario is not a wrong choice. (To be clear, I’m not referring to a cowardly choice of self-preservation or self-advancement – this is always destructive). More debilitating than a courageous yet incorrect choice is to avoid making a choice altogether … the vacillating predicament of indecision.

Some may argue that “not making a decision” is actually making a decision. I would reply, “Yes, technically you’re right. But so what? How has that improved or enlarged your life? Not only have you missed the opportunity to grow but you’ve now settled for a lame-duck excuse to miss out next time too. I would like to suggest that by avoiding the decision you’ve only settled for mediocre and have taken a large step back in life”. (I’m quite sure no one reading this article would be satisfied with a technicality? Come on, make a decision! ²).

James explained that “a double-minded man” – literally, one who has two minds; vacillating between purposes or directions – is “unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

This statement is terribly unsettling.

James reveals that habitual indecision is a reflection of an internal meltdown of our inner man.

Now throw into the chaos the whirlwind of the 21^st century.

In our consumerist age where sensory overload is every person’s daily experience, a lack of decisiveness is as widespread as the next “everything must go” clearance sale. Bombarded with tens of thousands of insignificant choices, thanks in the main to the power and success of advertising, we’re increasingly numbed to making the few significant decisions that do present themselves. 

Take for example, the vehicle market. It wasn’t that long ago that Henry Ford said: “People can have the Model T in any colour – so long as it’s black”. It wasn’t that long after Ford’s statement that Charles Kettering from General Motors opened up Pandora’s Box: “Business must have as its mission the creation of dissatisfied consumers”.

Seems “business” is doing a pretty good job.  

To say that modern man is spoilt for choice is a gross understatement. That we have the choices we do is a blessing for sure; that we’re drowning in them is often a curse³.

However, the malady of indecision is not just a modern day hiccup but an affront to our creative genesis and genius.

What distinguishes us from the beasts is our God-given ability to choose, to decide from a range of options. While animals survive on pre-designed instinct; we are, of course, created in God’s image and He intends that we thrive making choices that release our God-given potential.  

And an intrinsic part of God’s nature, and ours, is the ability to create. We create or destroy – the misuse or abuse of our ability to create – through our decision making. This is mind-boggling. We are like God in our ability to choose and thus create. We are so unlike God when we use this ability to destroy.

For example, if I choose to hold a grudge against another, I foment one kind of future for me and my offender; choosing to forgive, I create another kind of future entirely. My choice to forgive creates a future of hope and opportunity for this other person and myself. My choice to harbour bitterness instead incites a future of pain, distrust and despair.

In our genesis God invested into us His genius, His ability to choose and hence to create. This is the overwhelming gift and sober responsibility entrusted to mankind, the pinnacle of His creation.

King David was likewise blown away by this reality. As he sat mesmerized by the moon and the stars in the night sky, he gasped, “What is man that You are mindful of him” (Psalm 8:3, 4). Then in a moment of dazzling inspiration, the answer came forth: “You have crowned him with glory and honour. You have made him to have dominion over the work of Your hands” (vv. 5, 6).

Made in God’s image, we are entrusted with the gift of choice. When we use it to glorify Him we’re godlike⁴. When we use it to advance our own cause or exploit others, we stoop to being worse than a beast. In fact, referring to such ungodly behaviour as “being like an animal” is often an insult to animals. Considering the unbelievable potential for good we have as human beings, few things must break God’s heart more than our tendency to use this potential for evil.

We live in a world where everyone seems to know their rights but few know their responsibilities. Yes, we have the right to choose, but we also have the responsibility to choose right.

The options we choose and the decisions we make not only reveal a lot about us, they also – for better or worse – define us; that is they shape our present and pre-empt our future.

If we’re going to chart a bright future we have to make decisions that are in a line with God’s best for us – even when His best is the difficult option. Living life to the full requires making right choices even when we’re hurting; in fact, especially when we’re hurting. It is often in a moment of offence or disappointment that we tend to make choices that take us backwards.

Today, you’re living in the fruit of the choices you made yesterday. Tomorrow you’ll live in the fruit of your choices today. Our decisions define us.

The ability to choose is without question God’s greatest gift to mankind. I’m fully persuaded that using this gift for His glory is the greatest gift we can give back to Him.

Notes:

¹ The nature versus nurture debate revolves around whether our genetic inheritance or our childhood upbringing has greater shaping influence on us. Both, of course, give us a mixed bag of raw materials; some clear advantages and some obvious limitations. Whether we gratefully benefit from what nature and nurture may have given us is determined by the choices we make; whether we overcome the restrictions of the hand dealt us, is again determined by the decisions we make.

² Of course, many decisions require persevering prayer and patient consideration of the opportunity costs involved. Jesus taught us to “count the cost” (Luke 14:28). I’m not advocating making decisions in haste. I’m merely urging those who think that avoiding a decision is in fact a good decision to consider the emptiness of such a stance.

³ Just to be clear: I’m for choice if there was a debate between “no choice” versus “choice”. I’m grateful that we have options in a world full of colour. I’m just so aware that too many options often lead to a fragmented mind.

⁴ By godlike, I obviously do not mean we’re “gods”. Just a partial acknowledgment of the fallen tendencies that seek to re-exert their influence in our hearts will silence any insanity in this regard. By godlike I mean we can, by His grace, be Christlike. In fact, David’s words in Psalm 8 are profound. He declared, “You have made [mankind] a little lower than Elohim” (Psalm 8:5). The translators incorrectly translated this word “angels” – more than likely out of disbelief at David’s revelation. The Hebrew word “Elohim” of course means “God”. David’s point is that we’re made a little lower than God, not merely a little higher than the animals (c. v. 6 and vv. 7, 8).

Refreshing the Sabbath Rest

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).

What is the Sabbath and just how important is it?

I reckon that neglecting the Sabbath is one reason that upwards of 70% of illnesses today are stress-related. When God created mankind, He made it clear that the principle of the Sabbath is essential for health and fruitfulness by literally modelling it Himself (Genesis 1:31; 2:1-3). It goes without saying that God did not need to catch His breath for His own sake.

So important was the Sabbath principle that God even included this in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11), which are, of course, a baseline from which we are distinguished from our beast nature¹.

But what was behind this fourth commandment?

The Hebrew word (shabath) means, “to desist from exertion”. As we all know, work can easily become addictive; a self-gratifying expression of our own effort and drive. Essential to our worship, the principle of the Sabbath means we “desist;” that is, we stop working in order to acknowledge God as our Source and Sustainer. We rest and in resting, we honour God … and in resting, we respect our own human limitations².

Thus, the purpose of the Sabbath principle is a matter of worship; honouring God and respecting our God-ordained make-up.

But specifically what does the Sabbath rest involve?

Biblical rest has very little to do with a passive, feet-up-on-a-lazy-boy all-day movie-extravaganzas or a stress-inducing, gut-expanding splurge in a cash-depleting “holiday”.

In seeding this pattern into the created world, God rested by modelling a vital, intentional action.

He reflected on His work.

God begun the seventh day, reflecting on all He had made; pressing meaning and value into it: He affirmed his creation as “very good” (Genesis 1:31) and then “rested from all His work” (Genesis 2:2, 3). The implication is clearly that once finishing His work, He brought meaningful closure to it through reflection.

Reflection.

The Sabbath is God’s designed rest in which we intentionally reflect on who He is and how we have stewarded what He has given to us. 

• Only as we reflect can we express appropriate gratitude to God in worship.
• Only as we reflect can we clarify our boundaries and affirm our responsibilities.
• Only as we reflect can we take ownership of any short-comings and mis-goings.
• Only as we reflect can we discern where we need to reinvest in ourselves or make restitution to others.
•  Only as we reflect can we press meaning into life.
• Only as we reflect can we learn the lessons of the past to march into the future.

Allow me to get a little grubby …

Failing to intentionally reflect is like failing to intentionally wash.

If I don’t shower every morning my hair will get oily, my body clammy and at some point, I will have a hygiene problem. The build up of dirt becomes the breeding ground for bacteria and, if I persist in avoiding a good wash, body odour will be the smallest of my problems. I may, for some reason, skip a shower from time to time (on those holidays when a day without a shower … taking a dip in the sea instead … makes me really feel like I’m relaxing) but if I do so regularly I’m in trouble.  

If we fail to reflect we, in the same way, allow “dirt” to build up in our soul. This “dirt” may be unresolved emotions, simmering bitterness, unfounded anxiety, unmet expectations, uncompleted obligations or simply too many to-do-list “loose ends” that have yet to be tied up. These issues are more important than oily hair and sweaty armpits; it may not smell like it, but to leave these things “unwashed” leads to a diseased soul. And in an entire other dimension of stink, we pollute our environment.

There are few things better than getting into a hot shower after a soccer game. To feel the hot water flush away the perspiration, dirt and blood off the grazes (wounds of war!) is a tremendous feeling. But no amount of standing there is going to do the job properly unless I intentionally use the shampoo to wash my hair and the soap to wash off the sweat and blood (boy, does that sound macho! I won’t mention the little squirms of agony that I attempt to keep muffled).

In the same way, there is reflection and then there is intentional reflection. In one sense, we all reflect. Our mind is always active (some more than others of course). But having an active mind does not mean we are processing what we need to process anymore than standing in a shower does not scrub what needs to be scrubbed. In fact, just like water can turn a bloodied shin into a muddied and bloodied shin just randomly thinking about our life can turn a cluttered mind into a muddled and cluttered mind.

I recall seeing a T-shirt that had these words emblazed across it: “I’m out of my mind but feel free to leave a message”.

Put another way …

If you take a walk down a forest path your pants, socks and shoes are sure to pick up thorns and burrs along the way. After a time, you will have to take a break to remove the irritants and possibly an odd pebble from the shoe too. To walk on without these moments of “de-burring” would serve only to increase the irritation and if that pebble is not removed, cause damage to your foot. Reflection serves to “de-burr” is you like. Many people live with a sense of irritability and soul-damage that is unnecessary if they would develop the habit of regular, intentional reflection.

In our hectic, frantic, crazy-busy “instant” age where yesterday is too slow, the art of reflection is worth more than gold. In a day where we’re encouraged – no, bullied – to “get all we can, can all we get and then sit on the can” … the principle of the Sabbath is not a luxury option. With stress and depression at an all time high, while contentment and gratitude is at an all time low, it is vital to re-engage with God’s antidote against workaholism and materialism.

Too often we mistakenly try to find rest from a life of work; God’s design is that we work from a life of rest.

Without intentional reflection …

•  one day fades into another, weeks melt into each other, month’s whiz past, years tick by … and we wonder, “Where did time go?”
•  one event dissipates into another, relationships become entangled, memories get fuzzy, responsibilities become muddy … and we wonder, “What’s the point?”

From another angle, without Sabbath rest …

• we under-value the blessings of God,
• we under-appreciate the preciousness of life,
• we under-estimate the effects of the general wear and tear of living,
• we over-extend our limitations to please others and validate ourselves and
• we over-stretch ourselves through unmeasured goals and a lack of emotional closure in relationships, and
• we over-rate our capacity to keep it all up.

Unless we learn to push “Pause” we’re contriving against our own long term quality of life and fruitfulness, securing an engagement with burn-out or a date with the proverbial brick wall … which ever comes first. (Both are ugly and neither has a nice personality).

When we learn to push “Pause” – or “Selah” as the psalmist defined it³ – and take the time to reflect, we learn to live life from a Divine point of view.

Jesus modelled the Sabbath principle and invited His disciples into its otherworldly perspective. Having returned from their first recognisance mission, Jesus stressed the importance of reflection when He urged: “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).

The word “rest” (Greek: anapauo) refers to an “intermission,” literally a break from the mission. Too often people, burnt out, seek an escape from life. Escapism – whether this manifests in isolation, addiction or thrill-seeking – is a knee-jerk reaction to habitually exceeding one’s boundaries. The Sabbath rest is God’s designed break from the mission in order to take stock, refuel and re-engage with His mission.

Through reflection we give account for each segment of time, derive value from it and then step into the next segment of time stronger.

One practical pointer here:

• Building reflection into core sections of your diary – for example: once a week, once a month, once a quarter and once a year – will help you make the time for this vital principle … or else you’ll never find the time. (Denying this basic law of time is like trying to deny the law of gravity).

We cannot hope to make life-advancing resolutions until we embrace the Sabbatical principle of life-reflecting rest.

Moments of resolution are borne in seasons of reflection.

Why?

Because true life flows from a rested soul.

Notes:

¹ Contrary to popular belief, the Ten Commandments are not the high standard of heaven. I can’t imagine Gabriel having to pull himself away from worshipping some idol or Michael having to fight off the temptation to steal another angel’s harp. (I’m being silly to make a point). The Ten Commandments are the baseline of what it means to be truly human; the first four reflect our choice to love God, the last six to love others. When man slips below this baseline, he acts like a beast.

In contrast, filled with the Spirit of God, we are enabled to live upwards from this baseline. For example, Jesus taught that we can live completely free from the beastly lusts that the Ten Commandments distinguish us from (see Matthew 5:21-30). In other words, while the Ten Commandments represent the starting point for a godly life; Jesus represents God’s fullness.

² Jesus made it clear that the Sabbath is a principle for our benefit not a law to our detriment: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-28). How one applies this principle as a date and time in the diary is a matter of personal conviction (Romans 14:5, 6); neglecting the principle, however, results in a deterioration of one’s mental and emotional capacities.

³ Most scholars agree that the word Selah in the psalms refers to a musical interlude, a pause to worship or meditate. It appears mostly in the psalms of David (71 times).

Making Disciple-Makers

“Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19)

WARNING: Admittedly, this is not a warm and fuzzy article. But if you’re a bona fide, pedal-to-the-metal, bonfire follower of Christ, I think this is an important piece and well worth the read.

Jesus’ commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” is as straightforward and emphatic as you can get. This is what it is all about. We call this the Great Commission not the Optional Extra or Grand Elective. Yet in the midst of the seeming unending spiritual diet of many others things, disciple-making usually gets one of three inept responses.

Either it simply invokes a vigorous head-nodding token gesture; vigorous in that we know it’s important, yet token in that it does not grab us by the throat and shake us into world-shaking action. Or we assume it is happening because our schedule is loaded and our calendar is full; for us, activity (sadly) equates to disciple-making. Or we shelve it because it just does not sound spiritual enough; in fact, it smacks of hard work and may even sound too clinical in our quest to be “led by the Spirit”.

And I’m not pointing fingers here or trying to be frivolous – I’ve gone through all three responses too often for my own liking.

Yet, these are the marching orders Jesus gave to us. If I’m a follower of Christ, these words ought to define how I view my life-purpose of this planet. It was Francis Xavier who said: “Give up your small ambitions. Come and save the world”.

We can pray for hours, worship all night, prophesy til we’re blue, lay hands on people til they’re bald and even glow in the dark … but I’m fully convinced that when we face the Righteous Judge we will have to account for how we have participated in this mandate.

For this reason, it is my opinion, we cannot be provoked enough in this area. I hope you will hang with me in this article as we fuss with this issue – and I’m hoping to push the envelope too. My title is a deliberate attempt for us to go beyond the concept of making followers of our group or our ministry, but – in the spirit of Jesus’ words – to make disciple-makers; apprentices of Christ (born into His life and mission), who themselves make disciple-makers, multiplying the life of God.

Before we look at this rather outlandish idea, it would be important to state that “making disciples” involves at least two aspects. First, on a broad scale, it involves educating society with the counsel of God. It is the responsibility of the church to teach (and demonstrate) – not control, police or dictate – God’s ways to every mind-moulding area of society; from politics, to education, to family, etc. etc. This is an extensive subject and beyond the scope of this article.

Second, on a personal level, the Great Commission involves making individual followers of Christ. By this, I’m not referring to an individual, me-centred gospel. Making disciples is a community exercise; there are no Lone Ranger believers in the New Testament. We are parts of one body; an arm without a body is … well, disgusting … and dead! However, making disciples requires that individuals place their faith in Christ and in so doing, are born into His life and mission in the context of a communal, spiritual family.

In explaining Paul and Barnabas at work, Luke records: “when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples … they appointed elders in every church … commending them to the Lord” (vv. 21-23). Paul and Barnabas aimed to make followers of Christ, who in the context of spiritual community, would impact their world – making new followers of Christ who would continue to multiply the life of God.

It is this dynamic of the Great Commission – making individual followers of Christ in the context of missional community – that is the focus of this article.

Having made that qualification, let’s consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20.

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The emphasis of His statement is to make disciple-makers.

First, notice that we are not so much commanded to be baptised¹; we’re authorised to baptise others, which of course, requires that we ourselves are baptised in the first place. So, while we should certainly be baptised, Jesus’ marching orders do not stop with us being baptised as good little Christians who, having done our religious duty, now get on with making the most out of our own little lives. Rather, being saved and baptised ought to inject us into the huge life and mission of Christ, thrust into the task of making disciple-makers.

And, related to this point, baptism is not just a powerful and profound public statement of Christ’s invasion of our individual lives but it is also a beautiful and emphatic commitment to embrace the mission of Christ as part of a missional community of faith. Baptism is not the first step in attending a full schedule of a Christian organisation’s meetings; it is a radical, white-hot engagement with the mission of Christ – a mission that requires a communal “body” of which we are “body parts” (Romans 12:12ff) ².

Second, Jesus commanded the apostles to teach others to observe all things that He commanded them. And while, this may immediately bring to mind the many, many teachings and principles He imparted to them, this is not the “main point”. Jesus “main point”, if I can use those words, was to make disciples who would continue His mandate. Jesus made it clear that, even before the cross, His work was to establish apprentices who would become His vessels or body here on earth. “Father,” Jesus prayed just before His Garden of Gethsemane ordeal, “I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work You have given Me to do”. What work had He finished before the cross? Jesus continued: “I have manifested Your name to the men who You have given Me out of the world” (John 17:1, 4, 6)³.

And while Jesus taught them many things – which we, of course, should learn and impart to others – we can error in making Jesus’ lessons the “main point” (and then forever settle for teaching and teaching and more teaching⁴) and fudge the “main point” which is His mandate to make followers of Jesus – who are empowered to also make followers of Christ ad infinitum. Learning and imparting His teachings are the very necessary means towards this holy end. (But merely sitting, soaking and souring … is one sure way to become God’s frozen people).

It is amazing to me that Jesus wasted no time in sending His disciples into the fray. He didn’t require three years of theological classroom teaching before handing out some token task. Rather, having secured the disciples commitment, He immediately thrust them into the mission of God (see, for example, the sending out of the twelve in Luke 9:1-6 and then the seventy in Luke 10:1-9).

Jesus even admitted that they were like “lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3) – not just sheep but lambs … mind you, even sheep aren’t renown for their blinding speed or combat abilities – yet He had the audacity to know that faith in Him was all that they needed. When they return, overwhelmed at the experience (Luke 10:17), He could not contain His joy: “Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit…” (v. 21). This is, of course, the heart of one who lifts others onto their shoulders rather than keeping others in their shadow.

In this, Jesus worked on a simple discipleship process:

• I do, you watch
• I do, you help
• You do, I help
• You do, I watch

All teaching served to facilitate this process. Eventually, Jesus physically left His disciples – empowered by His Spirit for sure – to multiply the life they had themselves received; that is, to make disciples-makers. In my opinion, any teaching forum or process that does not then “leave” (or more accurately, “commission”) the students to actually do the work of ministry fails in the task of discipleship.

Furthermore, it is important to point out that the objective is to make followers of Jesus, the Way and the Truth, not clones of our particular way or our version of the truth. Only then will we see His Life multiply; man’s seed can never reproduce the life of God. The sad reality is that a lot of missions and ministry often, unintentionally for the most part, produces converts (or consumers) of “our brand”⁵. And admittedly, this is far too easy to do; a temptation far too easily succumbed to. For this reason, we ought to heed Paul’s caution to the Ephesian elders:

“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29, 30).

Paul warned of “savage wolves” who would hurt and damage the “flock”. At the mention of “wolves” and Paul’s phrase, “speaking perverse things”, we may mistakenly picture some new age cult practitioner promoting witchcraft and sexual orgies. However, the warning is far more subtle than this.

First, the “wolves” would either “come in among you” – the implication is that they would not be easily detected – or “from among you”; that is, from there own number. This seems to imply that Paul is identifying wolfish attitudes and motives that may not be intended or intentional. Second, the phrase “speaking perverse things” simply refers to “misleading talk;” communication that leads to confusion. Misleading from what? Anything that misleads God’s people from the life and mission of Christ, or in Paul’s words: “the Kingdom of God” (v. 25).

Finally, and here is the cliff-hanger, Paul diagnoses exactly the M.O. of this ravenous beast-attitude: “to draw away the disciples after themselves” (v. 30). Whether it is too feed our own ego (driven by selfish ambition) or out of simple ignorance (unconsciously finding our identity in being needed by others: fostering co-dependent relationships), Paul warns us of this temptation to draw people after ourselves – an approach that effectively devours the Christ-life from them.

I find this a tremendous and sober challenge. Paul’s words to the Corinthians believers offer a brave way forward: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). In other words, we are to model Christ’s life to others, pointing to Him and Him alone. My aim is not to raise my own disciples who pay homage to me as guru; rather, my aim is to wholeheartedly model Christ, pointing others to Him as the Master and Teacher. My life is only worthy of imitation to the degree I imitate Him. My footsteps are only worth following to the degree I am walking in His footsteps. My example is only inspirational if it is Christ’s light that shines through me. Everything else is wood, hay and straw. Anything else misses the point badly.

So where to from here? What do I do with this?

Drench yourself in the Gospels once again.

(If you have never drowned your self-life and religious inclinations in a thorough and intentional reading of the Gospels, walk-the-plank quickly! You’ll never regret rocking the boat … you may just walk on the water!)

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes as you devour the life and teachings of Jesus and be sure to allow the conclusion, as stated in the words of Great Commission, to ram home the urgency of the day and the clarity of the mission.

Resolve to be an apprentice of Christ in a missional community.

The word “disciple,” of course, means “a learner, a follower, an apprentice”. For all that we cannot learn from the Star Wars movie saga, the concept of an apprentice is something we can, especially in our day of proud individualism and rampant me-ism. First, we have to aim for wholehearted obedience and Spirit-led application of what we learn. A head full of knowledge impresses no one; a heart set on life transformation impacts everyone.

Second, imitating Christ in others – as they imitate Him – is vital. We cannot pass on what we have not experienced. To know others we need to be known by others; to teach others we need to be taught by others; to love others we need to be loved by others … to lead we must learn to follow. This is the way of Christ.

As a simple church community, ask yourself this essential question:

If our mandate is to make disciple-makers not run meetings (or fellowship, or Bible study, or pray, or “do outreach”, blah blah blah⁶), what would our church experience look like?

Then make the changes necessary; cut off the excess, remove the fluff, blow away the husk. Come on, it’s time to turn the world upside down (see Acts 17:6)!

Then …. for Christ’s sake, do it!

I think the above pointers are important and I trust you will give them the appropriate weight of consideration. But by giving this counsel I urge you to not allow anything to hinder your obedience to Christ’s mandate.

In fact, allow Christ’s promise to enlarge your capacity and stir your vision.

Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The King of the Kingdom, the Head of the church, the Shepherd of the sheep and the Lord of the Harvest promises to be “with you always”. Christ, by His very present Holy Spirit, promises to lead us and guide us. We have access to all the firepower of heaven. Make no mistake, we have all we need! (See John 10:27; 14:16, 17; 16:7; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Peter 1:2-11 for starters – feast up!)

Notice, that Jesus said, “I am with you” not “I will do it for you”. He doesn’t promise to do it for us; He promises to do it with us. This is the consistent promise He made to all the heroes of the faith (see, for example, Joshua 1:5).

Amazingly – inconceivably, to be honest – Jesus calls us to partner with Him in this wonderful thing called the Kingdom of God. Yes, we’re the very, very junior partners in the equation for sure (lest we forget); He is the Senior Partner. The “government rests on His shoulder” – not ours (so we can die to any messiah-spirit we nurture and rest in Him!) – and “of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6, 7). We are commissioned in His divine authority to do His work (Matthew 28:18). His promise is that, as we put our hand to the plough (Luke 9:62), He will be with us.

If this doesn’t light your fire …

If this doesn’t galvanise your confidence …

If this doesn’t urge upon you the demand of God …

If this doesn’t shake you awake and call you to greatness …

… nothing else will!

Come on, go for it! Walk out on a limb … that’s where the fruit is!

 Notes:

¹ No version of the Great Commission commands us to be baptised (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8); the emphasis is on us baptising others. It is implied, of course, in Mark 16:16: “He who believes and is baptised…”; but even here the emphasis is on being commissioned to do the work of God (vv. 17, 18).

² In my yet to be published manuscript, “Living at the Edge of Time”, I explain it like this:

“Teaching without true discipleship is very limited (and is overtime, counter-productive; a full head with little application is, in fact, dangerous according to Scripture⁷³). Discipleship must begin with a foundational engagement with mission not meetings.

Most new believers are born into a meeting-mode of Christianity:

“Now that you’re a follower of Christ, you should attend the worship celebration on Sunday morning and a small group meeting on Wednesday evening … oh, you’ll also enjoy the evening worship celebration on Sunday night … and then it is important to do the foundations class on Tuesday night (which of course, begins you on a training track every Tuesday for the rest of your life) … and yes, an accountability group on Thursday evening will be beneficial … and if you’re really committed you should come to the prayer meeting early Friday morning. And if you have a night free, the church has other meetings you would benefit from too!”

Numbed by meeting-fatigue, we forget that Jesus said, “I have come that you may life, and that you may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10), not “I have come to give you meetings and meetings until life is mere redundancy”. It is not an over-exaggeration to say that unbelievers often have the impression that being a Christian actually equates to attending Christian meetings.

Instead of a meeting-mode of Christianity, new believers ought to be born into the mission-heart of God. In salvation, we catch an overwhelming sense of God’s saving love for the world. Our baptism in water is the first public confession of our faith to our spiritual community and to the world. Our baptism in the Spirit is the introduction into a Spirit-filled life of mission and witness in the world.

Engaging with the mission of God will, of course, require that the new believer commits to meeting with other believers in a variety of ways. But these meetings are not viewed with a meeting-mode, “raise then release” attitude. They are not waiting until they somehow “qualify” for action in the future. Rather having jumped into the action, they realise the privilege and pleasure of learning to worship and minister to the Lord with other believers, of being equipped for further effective living and ministry, of living in covenant community with others for brotherhood and spiritual sharpening.

Meeting together becomes a pleasure; it is a sublime joy to meet with those we do life with. Meetings are no longer the “hoop” we need to jump through to graduate to a new level of performance; no longer the card we clock into to prove ourselves as one of the “qualified”. Now, on mission and already qualified because we are indwelt by the Spirit Himself, we gather together with our spiritual family because we’re having the time of our lives”.

³ Of course, Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension completed the redemption plan of God in all its majesty, mystery and glory. Yet the issue here is: Why did Jesus spend three and a half years labouring on planet earth? A teenage Messiah would have been hot news in the day. Besides, revealing the glory of God through His life, teaching and wonders to all, He spent three and a half years intentionally and deliberately imparting His life into a small band of men, who – through His death, resurrection, ascension and the outpouring of His Spirit – would become the sons of God; manifesting the Kingdom of God on earth, multiplying God’s life through making other disciple-makers.

⁴ This is not to suggest that, at some point, we eventually grow above being taught – not at all! Only, that teaching for teaching sake – especially if it is divorced from discipleship – becomes meaningless … and in fact, can be counter-productive. As Paul warned, “Knowledge [by and of itself] puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).

⁵ While I’m not questioning whether people get saved – God’s grace is so wonderfully generous and He, above all else, responds to a person’s faith irrespective of the means or mode used – I’m convinced that unless we’re diligent and prayerful, it is too easy to make clones of ourselves that is not just a tragic adventure in missing the point but also retards and restricts the multiplication of God’s life.

⁶ I trust that it is obvious that I certainly do believe that fellowship, Bible study, prayer, worship, service, outreach and the like are vital Biblical ingredients to communal life. My point is that none of these are the mandate. Mission is our mandate; a community alive, in love and on mission will find themselves enjoying all these activities and more. But when we make the means the goal, we’re certain of missing the goal.

Positional Power and Celebrity Adulation

“that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29)

There are no great men of God today … actually, there never has been – there is only a great God. And in His great and astonishing mercy He uses ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things. We have the privilege of being a vessel in His hands. John’s glimpse of heavenly worship reveals that the “twenty-four elders” – a reference to redeemed humanity – “cast their crowns before the throne” (Revelation 4:10): even the rewards we receive, for faithfulness to His call, will be quickly laid before Him as we acknowledge that it is all from Him and for Him. As Jesus emphatically said: “for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4). These seven words should be emblazed in our hearts so “that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29).

One of the dark spots on the history of the church has been the rise and fall of notable men and women of God. When a veteran or well-known saint falls into gross transgression the damage has enormous repercussions. Not only does it discredit the Name of the Lord but it often leads to the shipwreck of those whose faith is weak. And while, yes, we should not “look to man,” this advice is often too-little-too-late for some; whose entire church-world experience has too often been conditioned to become reliant on celebrity-like men and women of God.

This article is not a criticism of those who have fallen from grace. While this is of course a travesty, I heed Paul’s advice with fear and trembling: “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). I know the frailties of my own heart and can honestly say, without meaning to be clichéd, “but for the grace of God there go I”.

So what’s this article about? So glad you asked. It is my strong conviction that we, as human beings, were not built for positional places of power or for celebrity-like adulation. We were never created to be put “on the stage” in people’s hearts and minds. God never intended us to build one-man ministries in which one man becomes so far removed from reality that he evolves into a law unto himself. We just cannot handle it; we’re simply not made for this purpose. As vessels made to worship, we implode when made the focus of worship.

There is far too much truth in Lord Acton’s well-known statement “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” for us to simply nod our head in agreement … and then get on with our church-world version of power and prestige, thinking somehow we are immune to such corruption.

Having personally served in a mega-church setting nearly two decades ago, I have since then – initially out of circumstance and then intentionally, as I came to this realisation – attempted to be part of a church ministry experience that is decentralised; that is, purposing to release leadership and multiply ministry. Along with those that I’ve had the sublime pleasure of walking with, we’ve always tried to build into Christ and away from ourselves; avoiding hierarchical structures and micro-managing systems. In a nutshell, we’ve tried to work – sometimes successfully, sometimes unsuccessfully – from a simple church perspective; one that is organic, relational and fluid rather than institutional, hierarchical and rigid.

Thus, through these past eighteen years, I’ve come to a concrete conclusion about the phenomenal beauty found in the redeemed heart, on the one hand, while also coming to grips with the insane tragedy that is the fallen human ego, on the other hand. It seems to me that no matter how sincere we are, no matter how close we walk with God, if our ego is stroked with the promise of positional clout or human adulation, none of us are immune to straying over to the dark side.

I am certainly not saying that there is not a place for mutual affirmation of relationships or sincere honouring of those who serve. There is for sure; in fact, this is a Biblical imperative (Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3, 4). Nor am I saying that we should fail to appreciate gift ministry and leadership. Again, this is a Biblical must (Hebrews 13:7, 17; Philippians 2:25, 29). However, too much of what fuels our church-world “celebrity adulation” today is an ego-stroking lust for fame; more akin to the world’s ideals than the Kingdom’s values.

Have we simply capitulated to the world’s pressure or is this the inevitable consequence of distorting the way God has made us? The answer is probably a little bit of both. But before we just write it off as mere worldly compromise, let’s explore the fallen human ego; otherwise, we may settle for making cosmetic judgments rather than laying the axe to the root.

Consider Saul, Israel’s first king.

Most of us think of king Saul as a wicked monarch; a man notoriously headstrong and throttled with jealousy and rage. And yes, this was sadly the end of the man. But he didn’t begin this way; in fact, it seems he started out as a humble man, sincerely amazed at the call of God upon him.

When Saul was on a seek-and-salvage-mission to find his father’s lost donkeys, he asked Samuel for help (1 Samuel 9:1-14). To his utter surprise, the donkeys were in cahoots with God’s plan to ordain him as Israel’s first king (vv. 15-20). While certainly not nearly as sensational as Balaam’s talking donkey, these rather dumb animals’ hide-and-seek game brought Saul to the open door of destiny.

Yet the first words out of Saul’s mouth, in reply to Samuel’s announcement that he was to be king, was this self-effacing confession: “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?” (v. 21)

This is hardly a man looking for fame and fortune. Rather, he was a faithful son fulfilling his father’s request. This is not a man looking for a shot at stardom, hoping to get a prophet’s endorsement that would propel him to instant-popularity. Instead he, at cost to himself and his servant (vv. 5-10), sought the help of the prophet only to aid in the search of his father’s pets. He was looking for a donkey and got a throne. And even when presented as Israel’s king, Saul was modest and shy (1 Samuel 10:14-16, 20-22).

So what happened to this bashful, self-effacing and faithful man? Power corrupted him; absolute power corrupted him absolutely. And this was not an isolated case either, rather it happened exactly as God had predicted. Saul was, in fact, an example of what was to follow throughout Israel’s sad plunge into captivity; through a succession of kings, twisted by power and fame.

Let’s have a look at the undoing of a good man so perhaps we can prevent the undoing of other good men.

First Israel demanded a king, “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5), and then added further to their list of requirements: a “king [who will] judge us and go out before us and fight our battles” (v. 20).

Samuel was displeased with this childish, misguided notion but his irritation was the proverbial drop in the ocean to how God felt. Broken-hearted, He said: “they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). God took this as a personal assault against His loving Fatherhood.

And then, as is His longsuffering nature (see Psalm 106:13-15), He conceded to their juvenile request but made it emphatically clear, outlining in detail, the consequences of such a demand. To Samuel He said: “solemnly forewarn them and show them the behaviour of the king who will reign over them” (v. 9).

Now listen to Samuel’s prophetic warning and notice the stress on the king’s actions in the word, “he will”.

“This will be the behaviour of the king who will reign over you; He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots … He will appoint captains over … [he] will set some to plough … and some to make his weapons … He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks and bakers … And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves … He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day” (vv. 10-19).

The end result, in sharp contrast to Father God’s heart for them to be priests and kings under His loving rulership, is desperately tragic: first, “you will be [the king’s] servants” and second, “the Lord will not hear you” when you then cry out for relief.

The next verse is horrifying; even though God had solemnly warned them, “Nevertheless the people refused … and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us’” (v. 19).

Now enter Saul.

First, he had some natural qualities that made him the perfect candidate for king. He certainly had the “look”. “There was not a more handsome person among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:2). While there is nothing wrong with being tall, dark and handsome – these qualities certainly made him even more susceptible to the lure of an inflated ego.

Second, the position of power and elevated popularity would then play to his base nature, seducing and deluding him. Eventually, despite his original noble intentions, he would expect the people to serve him and do his will – rather than using what seemed, at first, to be an opportunity to serve them and do God’s will.

Like Saul, we have noble intentions too. We want to help others. We desire to be an answer in a world full of problems. But positional power and celebrity fame, without question and without prejudice, appeals to our fallen human ego. And once it has drawn us into its warm, deceptive embrace, it throttles and chokes the life out of us.

Did God set Saul up for a fall? Was he just a pawn God used to make a point? I don’t believe so. God empowered him with “the Spirit of the Lord” (1 Samuel 10:6) and “gave him another heart” (1 Samuel 10:9) – both phrases referring to all the supernatural enabling possible to set him up for success. And God was careful to point out the choices Saul would have to make (v 7).

Through Israel’s blind demand for a king and how easily Saul, and most of the kings who followed him, were duped by the seduction of power and adulation, we are taught this important lesson. In fact, given the Scriptures’ weight of focus on the failure of Israel’s king it must be one of the most important lessons we learn from the Old Testament. After the nation divided into two kingdoms, all 19 kings of the northern kingdom were wicked – not one righteous! – and only 8 of the 20 kings of the southern kingdom were righteous. Even Israel’s best king, David, abused his position of power in the most heartbreaking way, seducing Bathsheba and murdering her husband. And of course, we all know what happened to king Solomon. The phrase, “from hot to not” does not even come close to describing his fall from grace.

The Biblical record pulls no punches; surely one of the chief lessons we learn from its flagrantly honest account of Israel’s kings is that we are simply not wired to handle positional power and celebrity adulation.

These 410 years of tragedy was forewarned by God and could have been avoided. These four centuries speak to us today with chilling accuracy and should bring to an abrupt halt the celebrity adulation we give to “Steve Stunning, the Evangelist” types. It should also drive those who are given a large sphere of influence to a wholesome fear of the Lord and an otherwise “hidden” life (Colossians 3:3).

Even in creation, when God made mankind in His image and entrusted us with the dominion mandate, He did not appoint Adam and Eve king and queen to rule as lords-of-the-manor. Rather He created them to be a mother and father who, in tending the “garden” given to them, would beget children who in turn would also reproduce family after their own kind – even as they tended the “gardens” given them. Thus, little-by-little, family-by-family, “garden-by-garden” God’s rule would establish the earth. Without question, the dominion mandate is about authority and rulership; however, the “vehicle” that it is ushered through is spiritual family (communities) not human power (institutions).  

Jesus could not have been clearer. In referring to the institutional systems that propagate fallen man’s corrupt lust for power over others, Jesus seemed to almost indignantly envision His people otherwise: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them … yet it shall not be so among you … whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:25, 26).

I recall reading a renowned secular magazine that studied the corruption of morals that occurred in top businessmen, sports men and men involved in politics. (In this case study, they focused specifically on men not women). The result? They concluded that power and adulation ultimately leads to one of four A’s: Arrogance, Aloneness, Adventure-seeking and/or Adultery.

Remember this is a secular magazine studying the real failings and flaws of once successful men in the sports, business and political arena. Of course, these facts speak to the very issue I’m addressing in this article. The same cesspool of sin characterised the fallen kings of Israel and has sadly characterised many men and women of God who have fallen today. And the same consequences lie in wait for me if I don’t heed the warning: “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Yet still we’re tempted to say, “But I can manage the responsibilities involved, after all many haven’t fallen”. Or “I’ve learnt from the mistakes of others and compensated for this by building up a team around myself to whom I’m accountable”.

First, I contend that even though many don’t publicly fall, positional power and celebrity adulation corrupts all to some degree; it creates untold, unnecessary stress upon them and their loved ones; it (often unintentionally) perpetrates a worldly model of ministry that indulges people’s desire toward hero-worship, robbing from God’s glory; and tempts many others, especially good young men, to jump onto the red-carpet of ministry fame – often to their undoing. (The full list of consequences are too numerous – and depressing – to register).

Second, while accountability and team ministry are without question non-negotiables, neither are safe-guards against a construct that God Himself has warned will ultimately end in abuse. For me – having felt this very demonic urge ripple through my own ambitious heart in the past, and having personally seen its devastating effect in people I’ve known – the drama plays out something like this:   

The person becomes convinced of his own self-importance; the world definitively needs his message or vision, he comes to believe his own propaganda. Thus, nothing is more important than his ministry – right now. He comes to believe that “his cause” is solely God’s cause; thus, everything else and everyone else must fit into “his cause” to have any validity. The adulation of others serves to fuel this inflated sense of significance; while criticism from others is worn like a badge of honour, serving only to confirm his higher meaning. This self-deception distances him from reality and filled with pride, he becomes a law unto himself.        

Accountability, in this case, is little more than lip-service; in fact, it provides a veneer of respectability further strengthening his place in God’s priority. And team, in this case, means a group of “yes-men” committed just as blindly to the cause, often vigilantly defensive of the senior man; they come to believe that he must be defended at all costs. And should one of this team challenge the senior man, allegations of insubordination and mutiny quickly silence his voice. And when this “team” is the senior man’s staff, and their job security is on the line, can they honestly be objective? (Or even if they aren’t the employees, the threat to their place in the pecking order and the vested interests they clutch with both hands, means their voices are entirely subjective).

Perhaps I’ve been too dramatic in the last two paragraphs. But the tragedy does unfold in this way, to one degree or another. The litmus test is this: Can I lay down my cause, my ministry, my message?

Of course, in response to this challenge, I’m tempted to quote Jeremiah – “I cannot hold my peace” (Jeremiah 4:19; 20:9) – and feel urged to remind you of the importance of my cause again (and again – as if intensity equals truth.) Yet all this proves is how tied to it my identity lies.

Or, I will claim that I have laid it down before; in fact, several times. But in reality, my cause is my god and to truly lay it down would kill me. (Of course, this dying to self is just the death that I needed but boy, my ego fought tooth and nail against it).

Personally, I have been so blessed; I’ve been saved from myself.

In those early days I had no spiritual fathers in my life and, with resources to burn, my peers and I had the church-world at our feet. We were out of the starting blocks at break-neck speed; we had no idea where the finish line was but we knew we would get their first. Don’t worry God, we’re here!

Concerts to run (the bigger the better), seats to fill (by hook or by crook), messages to preach (more ear-tickling than the next), music to play (the trendier the better) and conversions to count (and double count if the first count wasn’t so good), the only way was up – bigger, fuller, better, trendier, more.

The problem with peers-spurring-on-peers is that while you may get a great fireworks display, it doesn’t last long (probably just as well); all flash-in-the-pan, yet no lasting fruit. (God is still cleaning up the mess!)

Then I met a true spiritual father. A man whose influence was enormous in the country of my birth but whose life was “hidden”. On the “outside”, there were no bells and whistles; no glitz and glamour. This precious man took the time to disciple me. A man who wasn’t impressed with my gift; he would only be impressed if I stewarded my gift wisely. However, I didn’t exactly take it meekly.

This change in my world was a terrible shift to my hugely inflated ego. Yet, for some reason – I still don’t know why – I hung in there, dying to my lust for power and adulation. It was nearly three years into serving with this precious servant of the Lord that I finally realised how deep this lust for power and fame ran in my heart. It took that long for the gravity of my previous self-deception to strike home … and make me sick in the stomach.

God revealed Himself to me in an amazing display of mercy when I got saved. But He then saved me a second time, from myself, by bringing a spiritual father into my life after church-world had resurrected my ego, the very ego the cross had put to death.

Now, I’m committed to a “hidden” life. For sure, I want to be about my Father’s business today and play my part in the church’s finest hour on planet earth. Without question, I desire to see the multitudes in the valley of decision be loved into making the right decision. Without doubt, I trust for countless thousands to find Christ in power. But I also know that positional power and celebrity adulation will sabotage these holy desires; firstly, through them I will end up disqualified; secondly, through them people will be misled and ultimately abused.

Jonathan Edwards said, “A true saint is more suspicious of his own heart than anything else”.

A hidden life? Didn’t Jesus call us to be the light of the world and warn against putting a lamp under a basket (Matthew 5:14, 15). Yes, for sure. But this has nothing to do with glamorizing a personality, promoting self or sensationalising ministry. Jesus was certainly not implying we should shine our ego-lamps, fuelled by a worldly spirit. Rather He was clearly talking about “good works” that “glorify the Father” (Matthew 5:16); that is, works that reveal God’s counter-worldly nature, according to what Jesus was teaching in the Beatitudes (vv. 3-12). (That is, those who are “poor in spirit … [those who] mourn … the meek … the merciful … the pure in heart … the peacemakers” and those “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” – which is unequivocally different to the spirit of this world that props up positional power and celebrity adulation).

And, for the record, the gift ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11 exist for the sole purpose of equipping believers to “do the work of ministry” (v. 12) so that the believers’ “good works” shine brighter and add more flavour in a world so void of light and substance. This is in sharp contradiction to the flagrant self-promotion of gift ministries and fan-club adulation propagated too often by church-world today.

Again, I turn to Paul’s words: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Post editorial musings …

Having finished my final edit of this article, I realise one criticism of it will be that I’ve been guilty of over-generalization. And I will be quick to admit that I have.

I pondered long and hard about re-writing it with less animated drama but decided to leave it as it is. And here is my reasoning.

By being overdramatic I’ve painted a worst case scenario, a picture that – and pardon my blatant honesty – elicits strong feelings of disgust and loathing, at least to me. It makes me say, “There is no way I want to go down that path – ever!”

And then as I look into my own heart I realise that the same destructive seeds of seduction are within my fallen ego. And while I’d like to believe it is presently restrained, I know oh so well that it is capable of breaking out with venomous hostility in a heartbeat should I ever minimize the evil I’ve attempted to unmask in this article.

So please forgive me if you feel that I have attacked a certain ministry or aimed my sights at any one person. I have not. I actually had no person or ministry in mind when writing this article; not because I’m above that, it is just that I didn’t need to. I simply looked into my own soul and saw the dark potential I’m capable of if my own ego escapes from its cage.