Simply Christian - N.T. Wright

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, Part 1 of 2 from The Veritas Forum on Vimeo.

Tom Wright & James Dunn: The New Perspective on Paul

Rachmaninov Vespers - 2 Praise the Lord (Greek Chant, Ps. 104)

Rachmaninov Vespers - 1 O Come and Worship

Pray Simply - St John Klimakos

Let there be no studied elegance
in the words of your prayer:
how often the simple and monotonous lispings of little children
make their father give in to them!

Do not launch out into long discourses
that fritter away your mind
in efforts for eloquence.
One word alone
spoken by the Publican
touched God's mercy;
a single word full of faith
saved the Good Thief.

Prolixity in prayer
often fills the mind with images and distracts it,
while often one single word
draws it into recollection.
- St John Klimakos

Ben Harper - Steal My Kisses

Prayer vs. Presumtion - John of Karpathos

12. Sometimes people find themselves brightly illuminated
and refreshed by God's grace for a while,
but then this grace may be taken away,
and they can fall into depression and start grumbling
and even give up dispiritedly
instead of energetically renewing their prayers
to call down again that assurance of salvation.
Such behavior is like an ungrateful beggar
taking alms at the palace door
and then walking off indignantly
because he was not invited in
to dine with the king himself.

- John of Karpathos

Mindfulness of Death - St Philotheos

6. The first gate of entry to the noetic Jerusalem - that is, to attentiveness of the intellect - is the deliberate silencing of your tongue, even though the intellect itself may not yet be still. The second gate is balanced self-control in food and drink. The third, is ceaseless mindfulness of death, for this purifies intellect and body. Having once experienced the beauty of this mindfulness of death, I was so wounded and delighted by it - in Spirit, not through the eye - that I wanted to make it my life's companion, for I was enraptured by its loveliness and majesty, its humility and contrite joy, by how full of reflection it is, how apprehensive of the judgment to come, and how aware of life's anxieties. It makes life-giving, healing tears flow from our bodily eyes, while from our noetic eyes rises a fount of wisdom that delights the mind. This daughter of Adam - this mindfulness of death - I always longed, as I said, to have as my companion, to sleep with, to talk with, and to enquire from her what will happen after the body has been discarded. But unclean forgetfulness, the devil's murky daughter, has frequently prevented this.

- St Philotheos of Sinai, Forty Texts on Watchfulness, The Philokalia Vol. III

John Klimakos - Three Chapters on Prayer

56. When you go out after prayer,
keep your tongue under restraint,
for it is well capable of dissipating,
in a very short time,
what you labored to gather together.

57. When you are ready to stand
in the presence of the Lord,
let your soul wear a garment woven throughout
from the cloth of our forgiveness of others.
Otherwise your prayer will be of no value whatsoever.

58. Let all your prayer be completely simple.
Both the tax collector and the prodigal son
were reconciled to God by one simple phrase -
one said: God, have mercy on me, a sinner,
and the other: Father, I have sinned against you.

- St John Klimakos

Jedus de True Wine

"A de true wine, an me Fada de one wa tek cyah ob de gyaaden. Ebry wine branch wa been jine ta me bot e ain beah no fruit, me Fada cut um off. An ebry branch wa da beah fruit, e da trim um back so dat branch kin beah mo fruit. De wod wa A done tell oona done mek oona haat clean. Oona mus stay one wid me all de time, an A gwine stay one wid oona. De wine branch wa stay ta esef an ain jine ta de wine, dat branch ain able fa beah no fruit. E haffa be jine ta de wine fa beah fruit. Same way so, oona cyahn do nottin fa God cep oona stay one wid me all de time.

“A de wine. Oona de branch dem. Whosoneba stay jine ta me all de time, e gwine beah a heapa fruit fa me Fada. Oona cyahn do nottin ef ya ain jine ta me. Whosoneba ain stay jine ta me all de time, e same like a wine branch wa cut off ta esef. Dey shrow um way an den e dry op. Dey gwine geda dem dead branch an chunk um eenta de fire, weh dey gwine bun. Ef ya stay jine ta me an me wod stay een ya haat, ya kin aks me Fada fa wasoneba ya wahn an e gwine gim ta ya. Ef oona beah a heapa fruit fa me Fada, oona gwine show people dat oona gii glory ta um, an oona gwine show dat oona me ciple dem. A lob oona same like me Fada lob me. Now den, oona mus lib een me lob all de time. Ef ya do wa A chaage oona fa do, ya gwine lib een me lob. Same fashion, A beena do wa me Fada chaage me fa do, an A da lib een de lob ob me Fada.

“A done tell oona dis so dat oona kin lib full op wid me joy. A da chaage oona fa do dis: Oona mus lob one noda same fashion A done lob oona. Ain nobody hab no mo lob den de one wa gii e life fa de sake ob e fren dem. Oona me fren ef oona do wa A chaage oona fa do. A ain da call oona me saabant no mo, cause de saabant ain know wa e massa da do. Steada dat, A da call oona me fren, cause A done tell oona all wa me Fada done laan me. Oona ain pick me. A de One wa done pick oona, fa go an beah a heapa fruit, fruit wa gwine las. Den de Fada gwine gii oona wasoneba oona aks um fa, ef oona tek me name wen oona aks. So den, dis wa A da chaage oona fa do, ‘Oona mus lob one noda.’

John 15, De Nyew Testament (Gullah)

The Resurrection - N.T. Wright

God's Mercy and Grace - John Cassian

The thief on the cross certainly did not receive
the Kingdom of Heaven as a reward for his virtues
but as a grace and mercy from God.
He can serve as an authentic witness
that our salvation is given to us
only by God's mercy and grace.
All the holy masters knew this
and unanimously taught that perfection in holiness
can be achieved only through humility.



— John Cassian

Confidence - St Symeon the New Theologian

One thing I've discovered in the writings of ancient monks is humility. They are unaware of us arrogant protestant critics bearing rocks. Unaware of us disrespectful charismatics who lift proof texts from their mystic teachers and put them in our books that condemn obedience. Unaware of how disgusting to us is their desperation to be saved.

The harder you try, the more desperate you get for help. That's why the monastics jettison everything they can, even good things, to live simply and pray for mercy.

I hope that in reading this, we do not allow our understanding of justification to override the Gospel; Jesus said a lot about obedience to Himself. Let me point out for example, something that shows up in our cultural blind spot: Responding to an altar-call is very much a work.

Praying a prayer with sincerity is also a work. Warding ourselves against any hint of legalism is a very difficult work, and a burden Jesus never gave us. That's something the reformers gleaned from Paul, using only half of what he said and no Gospel texts at all. Modernism hit the fan and we now have a new law of no-law and no one is lifting a finger to help us bear it. It's a deadly error to think that saving faith consists in doing nothing at all; that effort causes us to forfeit grace.  It might be that the effort to do nothing forfeits grace.

The antidote for despair is not presumption; it's desperate repentance and watching yourself grow up into Christ (Eph 4:15).

Be not deceived, my brethren. God loves mankind, He is merciful and compassionate. Of this I bear witness and this I confess, for it is by His compassion that I am confident that I will be saved. But know this, that it will be of no avail for those who are impenitent and do not keep His commandments with all exactitude and with much fear; they will be punished far more severely than the unbelieving and unbaptized heathen. Be not deceived, brethren; let not any of your offenses appear insignificant to you, nor dismiss them with contempt as though they do not greatly damage your souls. Servants who are grateful do not recognize any difference between a small offense and a great one. Even if their offense consist merely in a glance or in a thought or word, they feel about it as though they have fallen from the love of God, which I believe is true (III.7).

[…]

The deadly wound consists of every sin that is not repented and confessed, and of falling into despair. This depends on our choice and will. If we do not yield ourselves to the pit of carelessness and despair the devils cannot at all prevail over us. Even when we have been wounded, if we so wish we may through fervent penitence become more courageous and skillful fighters. To rise again and fight after being wounded and slain belongs to the noblest and bravest – it is worthy of great praise and most admirable. It does not depend on us whether we should be preserved from suffering wounds. To become either mortal or immortal depends on us, for if we do not despair we shall not die, “death will have no dominion over us” (Rom 6:9), but we shall always be strong if we flee in penitence to our all-powerful and gracious God.

Therefore I encourage myself and us all to display all eagerness, all patient courage and endurance by means of good deeds. Thus may we make our way through all the commandments and precepts of Christ, so that in readiness of soul we may attain to the eternal habitations by the guidance of the Spirit. So shall we be found worthy to stand before the one and indivisible Trinity and in Him worship Christ our God, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen (III.10).

– St Symeon, The Discourses

Inside Bound4LIFE 6/8/10

10 Minute Go, Episode 06

Good Go resources are hard to find (for us who only speak English).  This one (http://www.gocommentary.com/) is particularly good.

Divine Love - St Symeon the New Theologian

My dear fathers and brethren, as soon as I called to mind the beauty of undefiled love, its light suddenly appeared in my heart. I have been ravished with its delight and have ceased to perceive outward things; I have lost all sense of this life and have forgotten the things that are at hand. Yet again – I am at a loss how to say it – it has removed far from me and left me to lament my own weakness.

O all-desirable love, how happy is he who has embraced you, for he will no longer have a passionate desire to embrace any earthly beauty! Happy is he who is moved by divine love to cling to you! He will deny the whole world, yet as he associates with all men he will be wholly untainted. Happy is he who caresses your beauty and with infinite desire delights therein, for he will be spiritually sanctified by the water and blood (cf. John 19:34) that in all purity issue from you!

Happy is he who passionately embraces you, for he will be wondrously changed! In spirit and in soul he will rejoice, because you are the ineffable joy. Happy is he who gains possession of you, for he will count the treasures of the world as nothing, for you are indeed the truly inexhaustible riches. Happy and triply happy is he whom you accept, for though he be without any visible glory he will be more glorious than all that is glorious, more honored and august than all that is honored. Worthy of praise is he who pursues you; even more praiseworthy is he who has found you; more blessed he who is loved by you, received by you, taught by you, he who dwells in you and is fed by you with Christ, the immortal food, Christ our God!

– St Symeon the New Theologian, The Discourses I.3

Come to Focus In Yourself

From the moment you start praying,
raise your heart upward
and turn your eyes downward.
Come to focus in your innermost self
and there pray in secret to your heavenly Father

— Aphraphat the Persian

This strikes me as a good example of how Christian prayer is not the same as New Age or Hindu meditation. He says, "Come to focus in your innermost self" as opposed to focusing on your innermost self. There's a big difference. That we're like God is a half truth. That we are God is a complete lie. God is good and we are not.

We cannot do away with the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul prayed, let me pray this blessing for you. :)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galations 1:3-5)

Personal God - Archimandrite Sophrony

I AM THAT I AM. Yes, indeed, it is He Who is Being. He alone truly lives. Everything summoned from the abyss of non-being exists solely by His will. My individual life, down to the smallest detail, comes uniquely from Him. He fills the soul, binding her ever more intimately to Himself. Conscious contact with Him stamps a man for ever. Such a man will not now depart from the God of love Whom he has come to know. His mind is reborn. Hitherto he was inclined to see everywhere determined natural processes; now he begins to apprehend all things in the light of Person.

Knowledge of the Personal God bears an intrinsically personal character. Like recognises like. There is an end to the deadly tedium of the impersonal. The earth, the whole universe, proclaims Him: 'heaven and earth praise him, the sea, and everything that moveth therein' (Ps. 69:34). And lo, He Himself seeks to be with us, to impart to us the abundance of His life (cf. John 10:10). And we for our part thirst for this gift.

The soul knows but cannot contain Him, and therin lies her pain. Our days are filled with longing to penetrate into the Divine sphere with every fiber of our being.

From His Life is Mine by Archimandrite Sophrony

Beautiful Mercy - Laura Hackett

The whole album, Laura Hackett is good. A lot of acoustic instruments (there's a banjo, in fact ... and an upright bass) and clever arrangements. Listen through to the two-minute mark on this one.

Praktikos - Abba Philemon

Set your mind on following the path of saints.
Prefer a simple style of life.
Wear unremarkable clothes.
Eat simple food.
Behave in an unaffected manner.
Don't strut around as if you were important.
Speak from your heart.

— Abba Philemon

God's Economy

[The] notion of an overarching plan in creation and salvation history is ... everywhere in Hebrew and Christian thought; and it finds its summary statement in Ephesians 1:9, which describes "the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things." The Greek word translated here as "plan" is oikonomia (Latin, dispensatio). Etymologically, it derives from oikos and nomos, household and law. The oikonomia, the divine economy, is the principle governing all creation as well as all the events of salvation history. It is the law of God's cosmic "household."

From Letter and Spirit by Scott Hahn

Books I Ought to Give Back

I've made a hasty resolution, and I don't know if I can keep it.  But here it goes; I'm gonna read these six books before I read anything else (or at least soon thereafter), because they're all books I've borrowed and ought to give back.

Early Christian Doctrines by J.N.D. Kelly
The Ecstasy of Loving God by John Crowder
Our Father Abraham by Marvin R. Wilson
Letter and Spirit by Scott Hahn
A Ray of Darkness by Rowan Williams
The Reformation by Diarmaid MacCulloch

I'm fishing for comments, so I'll be sad if I don't get any.  Exempli gratia, "That's mine!  Don't bother reading it just give it back!"  Or, "That's a good one."

A Pure Heart - Amma Sarra

Amma Sarra said:
If I prayed to God
that all men should approve of my conduct,
I should find myself endlessly penitent
before each man's door.
I shall not ask this;
I shall pray instead
that my heart might be pure toward all.

— Apophthegmata Patrum

All Works Are Not Equal

One of the monks asked the great teacher
Abba Nistero :
"What should I do for the best in life?"
And the Abba answered:
"All works are not equal.
The scripture says that Abraham was hospitable,
and God was with him;
it says that Elias loved quiet,
and God was with him;
it says that David was humble,
and God was with him.
So, whatever path you find your soul longs after in the quest for God,
do that, and always watch over your heart’s integrity."

— Sayings of the Elders

Be Humble - Hesychius of Sinai

Snow can never emit flame.
Water can never issue fire.
A thorn bush can never produce a fig.
Just so, your heart can never be free
from oppressive thoughts, words, and actions
until it has purified itself internally.

Be eager to walk this path.
Watch your heart always.
Constantly say the prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”
Be humble.
Set your soul in quietness.

The more the rain falls on the earth,
the softer it makes it;
similarly, Christ’s holy name
gladdens the earth of our heart
the more we call upon it.

— Hesychius of Sinai

	Fr. John McGuckin - Humble Prayer .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

I was praying in the bed today, lamenting the gap between Christ and me. It's no use quoting scripture at myself when my conscience condemns me.

Many people who are experienced at prayer will tell you that as soon as you commit yourself to talk to God, the accuser [spit on the ground] will remind you of every sin you've ever committed. Or is it sometimes the Holy Spirit? It's not always easy to tell. Here's the answer though, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

If it's God reminding you about your sin, repent. Call someone you love and trust (someone who agrees with God about your sin) and tell them about it. There's an incredible freedom that comes from not hiding. This freedom is, by the way, very important to the gospel (John 3:19). Necessary, in fact.

If it's the enemy, repent. Take yourself and your shame out of his hands. Call someone you love and trust (someone who agrees with God about your sin) and tell them about it. There's an incredible freedom that comes from not hiding. This freedom is, by the way, very important to the gospel (John 3:19). Necessary, in fact.

Do you see it? Our sin really does separate us from God, not because it keeps Him away, but because it keeps us away from Him. Almost no one is willing to bite the bullet of confession so that they can pray. Instead, we convince ourselves that our sin isn't a problem but we still never pray. As if there's anything else! There isn't. We were made for Him, to obey and enjoy Him forever. If we don't have that, we don't have anything. The doors of hell are locked from the inside.

So this morning I asked God to crush me and set me on fire (Luke 20:18, Luke 3:16, Luke 12:49). Sometimes I have the grace to throw myself on his mercy. Other times I can't even do that. But He is faithful to undo me and let me try again (Lam 3:22-23).

No sooner had I prayed for this, to be crushed and burned, than Isaac came toddling bleary-eyed out of his room. "I wake up! Can I have some chocolate milk please?" Oh Jesus! Your yoke is easy and your burden is light (Matt 11:30).

Love of God - St Maximos the Confessor

Love of God is opposed to desire, for it persuades the intellect to control itself with regard to sensual pleasures.  Love for our neighbor is opposed to anger, for it makes us scorn fame and riches.  These are the two pence which our Saviour gave to the innkeeper (cf. Luke 10:35), so that he should take care of you. But do not be thoughtless and associate with robbers; otherwise you will be beaten again and left not merely unconscious but dead.

St Maximos the Confessor from Four Hundred Texts on Love, The Philokalia Volume II


I laughed out loud when I read this.  Seems like it's supposed to be funny, actually, and at the same time deadly serious.  St Maximos does something typical of earlier fathers with this parable; he applies it to the interior war.  He was a monk, that group of Christians which is notably serious about being made holy; not afraid of "offending the Cross" by doing everything possible in their efforts to please God and be free of sin in their thoughts and actions.

There are key words that need to be understood here. The first is 'desire'. In this context it's a Platonic idea, but one that's widely accepted by the Greek Christian fathers. Desire is (I think, I don't have the Greek text to double check this) the work of one part of the soul, according to Plato's tripartite model. None of these parts are evil by nature (not after regeneration, at least). But this part especially, "when not transformed by positive spiritual influences, is susceptive to the influence of negative and self-destructive forces". If this is accurate, it's not a stretch to read this as 'lust' in the broad sense.

The other word is 'intellect,' probably nous in Greek. It deserves an explanation, since this is not at all what we understand by the word. From The Philokalia glossary:

Intellect (νους - nous): the highest faculty in man, through which - provided it is purified - he knows God or the inner essences or principles of created things by means of direct apprehension or spiritual perception. Unlike the dianoia or reason, from which it must be carefully distinguished, the intellect does not function by formulating abstract concepts and then arguing on this basis to a conclusion reached through deductive reasoning, but it understands divine truth by means of immediate experience, intuition or 'simple cognition' (the term used by St Isaac the Syrian). The intellect dwells in the 'depths of the soul'; it constitutes the innermost aspect of the heart.  The intellect is the organ of contemplation, the 'eye of the heart'.

No getting off the hook of Jesus' commandments to do stuff.  No assurance of salvation except what the Holy Spirit gives you directly.  In fact, the two go together (cf. John 10:27, Matt 7:21).  Welcome to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Finger of God

Finger of God began as a short film about God's miraculous power. I had no budget, no script, and no idea what this movie was ultimately going to look like. I teach storytelling and film at a University in Chicago, and here I was breaking all of my own rules.

But that's where I found myself, and I quickly discovered that God is an incredible film producer. He funded the whole film (I never had to ask for money), took me around the world, and introduced me to some truly incredible people.

So what is the film about? Well, now that it's finished, I can finally answer that question. On the surface it is about the miraculous. I originally thought I was making a film that simply tried to capture miracles on tape. But as the story progressed, things began to change.

At its core, it is about the heart of God. It's about how He views us, and how He is desperate for a relationship with us. Along the way, He places his finger on our lives, touches us deeply, heals us, shows His creativity, and generally surprises us with every move He makes.

The film's international cast includes a wide variety of people, ministries, and personalities. But just to whet your appetite, here is a partial list of some of the things you will see and hear about in this film:

Manna in the Pentagon
African children who perform miracles every day
Incredibly rare footage of the Chinese underground church
Eastern European Gypsies radically changed by God's power
Amazing stories of the miraculous
Hundreds raised from the dead
Gemstones appearing out of thin air
Saddaam Hussein's old palace is now a church
And much, much more.

-Darren Wilson, Director

Bloodmoney Trailer

BloodMoney is a documentary film that exposes the truth behind the Abortion Industry from the Pro Life perspective. This film will examine the history of abortion in America, from the inception of Planned Parenthood and the profitability of abortion clinics, to Roe v. Wade, to the denial of when life begins, to the fight to save the lives of innocent babies, and the devastating effects it has had on the women that have had them.

Jesus, I plead your Blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America.

Bound 4 Life

Jesus, I plead your Blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America (The Life Prayer).

After 50 days of round-the-clock corporate prayer and fasting for the 2004 elections, a group of prayer warriors — young and old alike — packed up their sleeping bags and headed to Washington, DC filled with purpose and confidence that prayer can change the course of a nation.

For 31 days they stood at the United States Supreme Court with the word “LIFE” written raw on a piece of red tape that covered their mouths. Their silent prayers rose day after day to the Court that’s higher than the highest court in the land–31 days for 31 years of legalized abortion in America. What was birthed during that time of intercession has gone on to impact the entire nation in a very short period of time.

If you go to the Supreme Court today, you will find a company still there. Through rain, blizzards and scorching heat they have never abandoned the siege. They are there until the Judges reverse the decree of death.

And its spreading.

Bound4LIFE is a grassroots prayer mobilization movement targeting the ending of abortion, the increase of adoptions and the reformation of government and society through spiritual awakening. Our mission is to mobilize a groundswell of prayer through:

“Silent Sieges” in front of courthouses and abortion clinics across the nation.

Millions of Christians wearing “Life Bands” and making the Bound4LIFE covenant–PRAY, VOTE & OBEY.

When LIFE tape is placed over our mouths, we are identifying with the silent screams of the unborn and of those who have no voice. Our stand is not a protest, but a silent prayer meeting. We make our appeal to the Judge of the earth and ask Him for speedy justice to be released. Oh that God would subpoena the conscience of the nation!

The media has taken hold of this image and spread it everywhere. It has quickly become a phenomenon that catches the eyes and hearts of the world.

In our silence, we intercede on behalf of our nation and cry out to God for mercy. It is a silence that speaks louder than words. We must build up this wall! May our tears soak the sidewalks, and may a silent cry go forth all over our land!

Local Bound4Life Chapter (Columbia, SC)

Fruit of the Spirit Song

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity;
The work of the Spirit will make you faithful, He'll make you gentle, He'll give you self-control.

There is no law against such things.
So when you find out you're a king;
Don't make one.

I wrote this to help me (us?) memorize the fruit of the Spirit, it's in Galatians 5:22-23.

What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?

It's the Way

It's the way your hand rests upon us
You are moving all around us now
It's the beauty of your will in motion
And we see You moving

It's the way You light just the path ahead
Not too far, but enough to see
It's the way You speak so clearly, deeply
Not loud but gentle, calling

   Lord, let us hear your quiet voice
   We'll sing the words you give
   Your will done in us

   Lord, lay your hand upon us now
   Impart the gifts we need
   Your will done in us

We have come to love You and trust You
Because of what we've seen You do

Mike Bickle - A Simple Outline of the Book of Revelation

I am Anti-Choice

Jesus, I plead Your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America.

Archbishop Okoh "The Gospel of Jesus Christ"

Christ our Passover

Pascha Nostrum
I Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; I Corinthians 15:20-22

Alleluia.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,
     therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness,
     but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more;
     death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once;
     but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
     but alive unto god through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Alleluia.

Christ is risen from the dead,
     and become the first fruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death,
     by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die,
     even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

The Letter to Smyrna

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ (Rev 2:8-11)

The letter to the church at Smyrna is one of two that had no rebuke (the other was the letter to Philadelphia). Christians are suffering persecution today all over the world. China has one of the worst human rights records. Here is one woman's story.

The Letter to Ephesus

2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

Here the Lord Jesus reminds us of the mystery of his simultaneous transcendence and immanence. He is at once both the One who "holds the seven stars [angels of the churches] in his right hand" and the One who "walks among the seven golden lampstands [churches]". This is a necessary reminder to the Ephesian church and to us if (when) ever we lose the fear of Him or the desire for His presence and His glory.

2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

The Ephesian church was praised for its performance and adherence to sound doctrine. I beg you not to read this as permission to find fault in the ministries of others. It's in the context of discerning spirits that John says this: Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Being terrified of deception is misguided, and it should be a warning to pursue greater intimacy with God (John 10:27).

4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Now it becomes clear where they fell short; they didn't love God anymore. It looks like they were satisfied just to know about Him and to work for Him. He said he "walks among the seven golden lampstands"; perhaps this was a warning that He didn't care to stop in Ephesus as He made his rounds. Perhaps they needed to be reminded of this because they didn't mourn his absence.

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (Rev 2:1-5)

(Nicolaism was an early heresy, probably tolerant of sexual immorality; probably founded on teaching taken out of context. Thank you Wikipedia.)

Despite their faithful efforts, Jesus warns them to repent, returning to the work of loving God. This is the great and first commandment (Matt 22:37-40). He graciously closes with another compliment, a word to loose their ears, and a conditional promise.

We must be desperate for grace to love God with all our heart, soul and mind (1 Peter 1:13) distinguishing between mercy and grace. Mercy is an opportunity to repent; grace is the power to love God (Eph 2:8).

Thrice | The Earth Will Shake

He who sins is not free (John 8:34-36) but the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners (Psalm 69:33). Hate your slavery. Kiss the Son (Psalm 2:12).

Silver Wings - Thrice

This is the last song from the sub-album entitled Air. It follows the pattern set out in the other three sub-albums (Fire, Water, Earth) in speaking prophetically from the viewpoint of the element.

From tender years you took me for granted
But still I deign to wander through your lungs
While you were sleeping soundly in your bed,
(Your drapes were silver wings, your shutters flung)

I drew the poison from the summer's sting,
And eased the fire out of your fevered skin.
I moved in you and stirred your soul to sing;
And if you'd let me I would move again.

I've danced 'tween sunlit strands of lover's hair;
Helped form the final words before your death.
I've pitied you and plied your sails with air;
Gave blessing when you rose upon my breath.

And after all of this I am amazed,
That I am cursed far more than I am praised.

Fling Wide - Misty Edwards

Holy Shit Jesus!

Watch the whole thing. At 8:00 minutes or so God heals a girl's wrist and her back. She had scholiosis. Now she doesn't. Then she prays:

"Holy shit Jesus! Come into my heart. Right now; I give You my life now. Holy Spirit fill me up."

It's so beautiful. God is always good.

Glory Will Cover the Earth - Justin Rizzo

There's A Gap - Laura Hackett

Here's a promo for the single from Laura Hackett's self titled album which I just downloaded. So far so good! :)

Bridegroom of Blood

Rabbinic commentary on this passage holds that Jethro (Moses' father-in-law, and the "Priest of Midian") was not a worshiper of YHWH. The Rabbis are not fully in agreement about when or whether Jethro converted to Judaism, but he did bless God after the Exodus (Exodus 18:10).

This may explain why Moses' son hadn't been circumcised, and why Moses' wife was reluctant to do it. She eventually did, apparently to keep God from killing Moses in His anger.

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Moses Returns to Egypt

18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand (Exodus 4:10-20).

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Bridegroom of Blood

24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:21-26).

There remains one glaring difficulty with this passage: God sent Moses to Egypt on a mission. God told Moses that the Egyptians who wanted to kill him were dead now. Then God sought to kill him before he got to Egypt.

Explanation number one:
Moses could go to Egypt, talk to Aaron, help Aaron liberate Israel "as God to him" -- all after having been killed by God.

Explanation number two:
Because Moses' son wasn't circumcised (wasn't a Jew, wasn't in covenant with God) he would have been killed by God with the Egyptian sons. Moses couldn't win the argument with Zipporah to circumcise his son, so he decided not to go to Egypt after all. Zipporah only relented when it was clear that Moses was going to die for his disobedience.

Like a Tree - Justin Rizzo

The Revelation of Jesus Christ - Chapter 1 with Notes

Prologue

1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Greeting to the Seven Churches

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God [a], “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Vision of the Son of Man

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last [a], and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels [b] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Notes

[a] This is affirmation of Jesus' divinity. He claims the title, “the first and the last” just verses after the Lord God uses it. (“Alpha and Omega” are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.)

[b] Gk. angelos, Lit. 'messenger' Here it's reasonable to interpret this as referring to pastors or prophetic leaders of the churches. Seven angels release Jesus' judgment using trumpets (Rev 8) and pouring out bowls full of the wrath of God (Rev 15:6). These judgments are reminiscent of the plagues of Egypt, released by Moses.

The 'linen' symbolism in Rev 15:5 is given in Rev 3:4 and Rev 3:18, speaking of humans. Both Jesus (Rev 1:13) and the seven angels in Rev 15:6 are depicted with golden sashes. The prophecies to the seven churches seem to correlate to the respective plague angels in Rev 8 and Rev 16. More on this later, it's interesting, albeit speculative.

How 'Bout Them Apples! Psh!

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,

that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.

For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,even as we hope in you (Psalm 33:18-22).

The fear of God is one of many things you absolutely cannot understand without believing in Him.  But if you believe, it's pretty simple. God is a real person, complete with unprecedented prerogative to do whatever He wants; with or to whomever He wants, because it's his Word that keeps it all from collapsing (Col 1:16-17).

He's not disinterested. If He stopped paying attention, we would all vanish like a bad dream. Since you're still here, it means He loves you. :) God loves us and we have to fear and love Him in return.

Instead of trying to explain the fear of God, let me just pray for Him to impart it to you, and you should pray to. Here's a prayer you might try:

Father, release the spirit of the fear of God into my heart. Release the lightning and thunder from Your Throne to strike my heart (Rev 4:5) with Your majesty, that I might live in awe before You. Release Your presence and holy dread that makes me tremble before You. Unite my heart to your heart and Word and cause me to delight in the fear of God.

I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me (Jer 32:40).

The Lord…you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread (Isa 8:13).

Unite my heart (to Your heart and Word) to fear Your name (Ps 86:11).

His delight is in the fear of the LORD ... (Isa 11:3).

From the Fellowship Prayer Guide by Mike Bickle.

If you try to serve God without fearing Him, you start down one path with two names; Legalism and Lawlessness. Legalism is the heresy that says what we do matters. Lawlessness is the heresy that says what we do doesn't matter.

God says, "Eh ... do you realize I'm in the room? It matters if I say so. How 'bout THEM apples! Psh!"

The truth is we are bound to obey the voice of God. Since He's a real person, it's discourteous and silly to try to act like we know exactly what He will always want everyone to do or not to do. It's also discourteous and silly to demand He address us personally when there's a book full of things He said and did we never bother to read (Luke 24:25-27). Maybe the fear of God is the opposite of presumption. I have to say, presumption toward the God I know terrifies me, and I see it everwhere.

Maybe we should be slower to explain God, and quicker to introduce people to Him (Prov 23:1-2).

I NEED A PAPER FOR A PENTHOWL! xD

Hate Your Slavery, Kiss the Son

Reading the psalms can sometimes be difficult. You know, like when David flips out. David will straight up curse a dude (Psalm 109:9-10). Let me encourage you to read them anyway and wrestle with God, remembering that God determined the content of the Bible (2 Tim 3:16). One thing you'll learn if you read the Psalms is that David says absolutely whatever he wants to God. I do to. God can handle it. I'm sure he appreciates it. (I don't know if He appreciates when I drop the f-bomb in sincere prayer, but He hasn't struck me down yet!)

If you're going to complain, complain to God! Believe that He's in control and call Him on the things you don't understand. Be careful not to write Him off because of bitterness in your heart. (Beware that sometimes it's impossible to see bitterness because of presumptions about what you deserve. We don't deserve anything at all.) Be faithful in thanking Him for his mercy and for the life you have. Don't you know that His mercies woke you up today (Lam 3:22-23)? It's good to praise God for the air in your lungs.

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.

When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners (Psalm 69:30-33).

This passage says that "the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners". Tell me, are you free? Are you free when the fear of man falls on you?

He who sins is not free (John 8:34-36) but the Lord hears the needy. Hate your slavery. Kiss the Son (Psalm 2:12).

The Final Quest

This book is good, short, and cheap.  It's at major bookstores.  It's compiled from a series of prophetic dreams and visions that God gave to Rick Joyner.  The introduction explains how he received the dreams and visions.  It's in the first person; he just wrote it all down like it happened.  If you ever get a chance to hear the man speak, you'll believe that this came from God and not him.  It's just too good (no offense Rick, I love you).

I think you'll come away with the same understanding if you just read this book.  It contains some of the lessons God taught Rick, by which he is now a man of great integrity that stands with Christians who others stand against.  His reputation among men truly means nothing to him.  Todd Bentley is a great example.

Todd apparently had some sin issues (come on, that guy had a target on his head the size of Texas) and Rick Joyner is one who is helping him get back up while almost everyone is chucking him under the bus.  Take heed when you think you stand lest you fall and everyone says "I told you so" (1 Cor 10:12).

Jim Bakker too.  Jim published a book called "I Was Wrong".  I think he wrote it in prison.  Anyway, he was ACQUITTED (which nobody knows, turns out he was innocent by law) and is now ministering again thanks to Rick and some others who love men who fall.  I'll get "I Was Wrong" to make sure, but I'd wager Jim is now untainted by the prosperity gospel.

In fact, Rick's ministry bought Heritage U.S.A. (Jim's Bakker's unfinished hotel thing, I think that's what it was called) and it's now the site of Heritage International.  It's a hotel/
conference center in Fort Mill, SC.  It's still unfinished as far as I know.  That's just the sort of thing the Lord loves to do, redeeming fallen people and their stuff for His own glory.

Anyway, this is really fun to read whether or not you are a Christian.  I bet you'll finish it in a couple days.  It's like a good fantasy novel stuffed to the brim with truth.  You'll never look at the Church the same way, I promise.  

More and More Lord

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Phil 1:9-11).

50th Anniversary

[This is a repost from Pastor Terry's Blog originally posted Thursday, 3/11/10.]

This April 3, marks the 50th anniversary of the Charismatic Renewal in the mainline Protestant Church. On that date in 1960, Dennis Bennett, the Rector of the fashionable St. Marks Episcopal Church, in Van Nuys, California, received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Although many of his congregants followed him into the experience, many others rejected it. The incident created such a furor that the national news media picked up the story and carried it nation-wide.

Being a humble man, Bennett resigned his parish to quell the conflict. The embarrassed officials in the Episcopal Church re-assigned Bennett to a small, inner-city parish in Seattle, Washington, with the hopes that this controversial issue would go away. St. Luke's in Seattle was about to close anyway, so they gave Bennett liberty to continue practicing and teaching his new-found Pentecostal experience.

But St. Luke's didn't close. Within a matter of weeks it was the largest parish in the region, with some 2,000 people attending services every week. Episcopaleans and other Christians were coming from everywhere to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit -- complete with tongues. (Dennis Bennett later told my professor, Dr. Synan, that for twenty years at least twenty people each week received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in that church.) This spiritual fire quickly spread throughout the Episcopal Church and then into every Protestant denomination, becoming a major movement known as neo-Pentecostalism, or more commonly, the Charismatic Renewal. (Charismata is the Greek word for the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit.)

Many Charismatics left their mainline churches and joined Pentecostal churches, bringing refreshing to "tired" Pentecostal churches. Many left to form new, non-denominational churches. Many others remained in their mainline churches, hoping to bring renewal. Some entire congregations, like St. Luke's, remained with their denominations, but were fully Charismatic. But there was not a corner of the Church that was not affected by this move of the Holy Spirit. The Roman Catholic Church would also experience this renewal (as I shared in yesterday's post) and even the Orthodox Church. Jesus said, "The wind blows where it will." (John 3) The Holy Spirit will not be confined to or prohibited by denominational structures, but goes where people hunger and thirst for God.

Today in America, more than half of Evangelicals (Bible-believing Christians) are Charismatic/Pentecostal. Worldwide, 60% of Protestant/Evangelical/Orthodox Christians are Spirit-filled and that percentage is increasing daily. Centuries ago the prophet Joel predicted that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28). Peter applied that to the Day of Pentecost. That was the "former rain." But there was to be a "latter rain," just before the harvest. How fortunate we are to live in these days of prophetic fulfillment!

Repost from Pastor Terry's Blog.

Pentecostal Catholics

[This is a repost from Pastor Terry's Blog originally posted Wednesday, 3/10/10.]

Today's post will mean more if you read yesterday's post first. I shared how two events were occurring simultaneously on the same day – January 1, 1901: In Rome, the Pope was leading a prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and in Topeka, Kansas, the Holy Spirit was being poured out on a group of protestant Bible College students. The Catholic church didn't experience its own Pentecost until 1967, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on students at Duquesne University. Shortly afterwards, a similar event occurred at Notre Dame. From these initial sparks the Charismatic Renewal spread throughout the Catholic Church.

NOW, FOR THE REST OF THE STORY: Today, in Topeka, Kansas, on the very spot where once stood that Bible College, now stands a Roman Catholic Church – a charismatic Catholic church! Since 1967 more than 5,000 Catholics have received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues at this church! My professor, Dr. Vinson Synan, spoke there for a week of meetings in the late 1980's and led 120 Catholics into Spirit Baptism that week. While there he took the priest to the foundation stones of the Bible College, where the rectory now stands, and told him the story of the 1901 outpouring on that spot. The Charismatic Renewal is continuing and increasing, especially in developing nations, and among all kinds of people. Truly, God is pouring out His Spirit "on all flesh" (Joel 2:28).

TOMORROW – I'll talk about the Charismatic Renewal in the Mainline Protestant Churches.

Repost from Pastor Terry's Blog.

Pentecostals and Catholics

[This is a repost from Pastor Terry's Blog originally posted Tuesday, 3/9/10.]

I want to tell you a true story every student of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement knows well:

On January 1, 1901, at a small Bible College in Topeka Kansas, a student named Agnes Ozman received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This event sparked a revival that has since spread all over the world and has come to be known as the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. Today, over 600 million Christians worldwide speak in tongues or identify with those who do.

But blessings always carry hidden dangers. In this case, Pentecostals face the subtle temptation to think that God is only moving among us and people like us. Such exclusivism not only indicates spiritual pride, it manifests plain old ignorance. Let me tell you another story few Pentecostals/Charismatics know.

In 1897, in Lucca, Italy, a Roman Catholic nun by the name of Elena Guerra, wrote to Pope Leo XIII, asking him to proclaim nine days of prayer to the Holy Spirit, beseeching Him to come again, just as He came at Pentecost. The Pope complied and went a step further. He called Catholics to a new appreciation for the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. All over the world millions of Catholics began focusing on the Holy Spirit as never before. The Pope also proclaimed the coming twentieth century the "Century of the Holy Spirit." On January 1, 1901, He led prayer for this at the Vatican, and even led the faithful in singing "Come Holy Spirit."

Think about that. On the same day the Pope was singing, "Come Holy Spirit" at the Vatican in Rome, Agnes Ozman was receiving the Baptism in the Spirit at Topeka, Kansas! God was working simultaneously in two very different groups of people – and neither group was aware of the other. That's just like God! He's bigger than the little boxes we tend to put Him in.

But there's another part of this story that makes it even more exciting. God answered the prayers of those Catholics in another way that went far beyond Topeka, Kansas. DON'T MISS TOMORROW'S POST. I'm going to share "THE REST OF THE STORY."

Repost from Pastor Terry's Blog.

A Big "So That"

I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that words within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
(Eph. 3:14-20)

Authentic Community

Authentic Community - The Local Church as a Family - Jayson Sherrod

The Lord has set up the Kingdom of God in a way that Believers with various callings live life with one another. Foremost, individual Believers pursuing the Lord’s calling on their life and operating in their spiritual gifting is crucial to the health of the Church. Their role is to edify the Church (1 Cor. 12, Eph. 4:11-16)

The Church is God’s primary instrument for establishing His Kingdom on the earth. But the Church is more than an instrument. Jesus, the chosen King of the Kingdom calls the corporate Body of Christ His Bride (Isa. 62:5; Matt 9:15; Rev. 19:7; Rev. 21:2, 9, 22:17). Immediately, He establishes the Church in her Kingdom identity, and forever declares relationship and intimacy with God to be the context of His Kingdom’s government (Rev. 21:3, 7).

He also secures us in our identity as individuals, who make up the collective Church. We are Sons and Daughters , bearing this seal by His Spirit, who testifies it so (Rom. 8:14-17; Heb. 12:5-6; Lk. 15:11-32) and we are also, individually, the Bride of Christ , those in whom He delights (Isa. 62:4) and has strong affection for (Isa. 62:3), even strong jealousy (Ex. 34:14; Jas. 4:5; Rev. 18:20).

The Lord’s moral standards for individuals and community have been established by Jesus’ explanation of the value system of the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5-7). These are not special ideals reserved for radical Christians. This is Christianity 101. There are no exceptions for a busy 21st century age. The Sermon on the Mount is forever the standard of Kingdom living in this age and in the age to come (Isa. 9:7). It was Jesus’ value system, as we see by his life and teachings (Gospels), and since Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15), we see it as also the standard of God’s righteousness and justice (Isa. 9:6-7), which are the foundation of His Throne (Ps. 89:14) and His standard for judgment (Rev. 19:11).

How does this relate to the local Church community? A community of Believers is made up of intermingling relationships. We are called to pursue the Lord as a family. We are not complete in ourselves, only together as the Body of Christ (Col. 2:10; 1 Cor. 12:12-25). This can’t happen in isolation.

The way I understand Authentic Community is essentially twofold:

Authentic : We strive to be authentic in the way that we’re transparent, honest, and vulnerable with one another. It is integrity that keeps us honest with ourselves that we wouldn’t pretend to be someone we’re not, or pretend to be godlier or more righteous than we are. Yet, having only these traits does not yet make us Christian.

Community : We strive to be a community in the Biblical sense, which is drastically different from a community as defined by the world. Even evil men know how to give good gifts (Mat. 7:11), and the unjust judges, worldly justice (Luke 18:1-6). Even unbelievers trust one another with their weakness and their broken lives. A Christian community isn’t just a gathering of people with similar and different interests who enjoy each other’s company, even bearing one another’s burdens; true humanists do this well. True Biblical community is defined by a communion or fellowship, understood by the Greek word “koinonia”. Koinonia in the context of authentic community is essentially intimacy and fellowship with one another, because we have intimacy and fellowship with God.

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…” 1 Jn.1:7

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 Jn. 1:6

“…and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” 1 Jn. 1:7

True fellowship in Scripture required sharing God’s life and revelation with one another (1 Jn. 1:1-5). To fellowship in the way the Bible describes, people must pursue pure lives with holy speech and have vibrant spirits in the Word.

Confession, forgiveness, and repentance are required for weak and broken people to live together in authentic community. While we are striving by the Lord’s grace to walk in fellowship with Him and living by the value system of His Kingdom, we hurt one another, we must forgive (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13); we sin, we must confess to God and to one another for healing and purifying (1 Jn. 1:9), and we must truly repent (change the way you think, change the way you act); (Acts 2:38, 3:19).

Since we are all works in progress, confession and true repentance are a process for each of us and for the Church, and should be practiced regularly; the Lord is sanctifying us.

What are we striving for? To be rooted and growing in the truth of the Word of God, and who the Lord has called us to be individually and collectively.

To assess the true measure of our spiritual maturity as individuals and as the Church living in Authentic Community, we must maintain the humble posture of confession and repentance; and we must see ourselves by the standard of the Word of God, not by the society or culture around us.

The standards of God’s Word are not unreachable ideals if He has given us His Spirit and His Word, and his righteousness is what is intended for us as Believers and as His Church. If we’re not yet found in these truths in God’s Word, let’s grow in it and walk it out together as an Authentic Community.

“The glory that you have given to me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one…that they may…be with me where I am…that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:22, 24, 26).

By the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Jayson

What encourages Authentic Community:

• Conversing about the Lord in fellowship.

• Asking for prayer.

• Setting our hearts as a community to pursue, by the Lord’s grace, God’s standards of godliness and holiness.

• Refusing to tolerate sin in our lives.

• Staying committed to other believers.

• Spending time together, immersed in the Word.

• Praying together regularly.

What hinders/discourages Authentic Community:

• Fellowship as a Popularity Contest (Few, if any Churches are immune).

• Becoming isolated from the group.

• Sin with our words.

• The Lack of forgiveness.

• Sin in general

• Unconfessed sin

• Exclusivism

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