In Truth New life to serve
THE CHURCH INSIDE YOU OUTLINE Over the past ten years I have researched, reflected and written on the great flaw in traditional church operation, The result was a view of man made operations so far removed from true original church faith experience as to seem 180 degrees apart, exact opposite in most ways, in effect the anti - true church ( from kirche ,or kurios - the Lord's) Some points of difference:
- It will require a revolution in the mind, or mind set, from all our prior concepts and expectations - my motto has been question EVERYTHING - that is indeed the case. Happily, reform of old,or a new system will NOT be needed. Probem is NOT in the system , in the leaders, or in the policies or teachings, as many claim, The true problem is in the PEOPLE - ALL US humans ,who insist on remaining only that, in spite of KNOWING what we must do! Be all God wants you to be ? Thanks, but no thanks.
- Some speak of Simple church - no frills, overhead. Church in you is as simple as can be. Our only task to redirect folks to the One who makes it possible - the gift God's Holy Spirit of Truth.
- We need NO ORGANIZATIONS. NO COMPLEX OPERATIONS. Reform has proven impossible, and No human replacement would do any better. Loyalty to our Lord ONLY possible when is NO group to DIVIDE loyalty!
- Some say we need tell some "true Gosple" instead of so called " false ones ". If only that were true! Would have been done by now! Everyone, in and out of the old way, knows the simple truth. It is not the knowledge we need, but the DESIRE.
- Rethink you old identity - belong ONLY to christ? or mostly to some subgroup? Be honest!
-All preach same true theory - "put christ first" - then, inside subgroups make that IMPOSSIBLE!
-The results you get are limited by the system you use. Stay with old system, get same old results. That much is certain!
-Christ himself, gave us the complex systems antidote- The 2/3 Principle.
- Old system claims 2 or 3 hundred are better 2 or 3 thousand better still. BUT, Jesus DO NOT SAY THAT!
-He said whenever 2 or 3 gather in my name. Lets at least TRY it his WAY.
- He said , whenever 2 of you agree in what you pray for.
- HE SAID IF YOU ARE WRONGED , SETTLE IT 1 ON 1 , THEN MUST BE PROVEN BY 2 OR MORE WITNESSES.
- HE Sent disciples out to the towns, IN TEAMS OF TWO. ( later, the Apostles followed this practice, of course)
- Some say church need be like a living thing ( "organic") No, it is IN a living thing - in each on us.
- Some say it should be like our tri - part - NO, it is the trinity within us.
- Some, very few, by God's Spirit power, have discovered true life in christ - on their own, in spite of old church diversion. The process and experience of these pioneers is the pattern we are to copy and share. - The "Dones, " who res done with old church ways, are in perfect position to focus in true church - internal , continual, anywhere, everywhere. 24/7. Ideal message for modern media forms.
- To be a church planter well now mean plant the church seed in each individual. We will bring true church with us when we meet, not expect a magic add on when together.
- The man made, man operated , imitation of church can NOT be other than it is, why try to make something else? That is formula for endless frustration.
- With focus on simple true, internal faith experience, instead of organizations, policies, ceremonies, the unity which christ prayed for us, can become possible!
A TEN YEAR QUEST
My ten year quest of discovery shows how many tiny bits and pieces now fit so well together. What a relief! No longer confused and concerned, hopeless and overwhelmed, now confident, calm and energized! What a huge difference! Over the years needed to use term radical, but asked what IS so radical about what was saying? Now finally, concept fits the term!
I was guided by the principle - Question EVERYTHING, yet took long time to get beneath all the odd ball teaching and practices to question actual concept of church itself. - now, that really is everything! Spirit comforted me in frustration urging change on unchanging church system, with message - " church of future is already here, for it exists inside you. "
Only now do I see what that really means. Only a week or so after full insight, was given -practical comfirmation, as couple old church / organic churchy group showed exact same same organizational weakness! ( the people problem) So, I can see that all I HAVE DONE, "ON MY OWN TIME, " fits perfectly with what we need encourage all peoples to do. I feel calm, confident now, not overwhelmed by the size of the problem. We need only point each person to the solution, no need to build huge, complex, new subgroups or structures or policies, as has been the past, always futile attempts.
I even see why term "assoiciation" was added to LMNC - the get together IS NOT church- rather in each IS always part of the true church, which from time to time, may associate with other parts, for support and encouragement and cooperative ventures! I see christ himself gives us true blue print for association of the parts of his body - the 2/3 principle - no more is needed, and most likely IS ALL we feeble humans can handle at one time! Near all my best faith experience has been with one or two others, how about you?
I now see my words at MCLE a few years ago - "do not feel bad if your team only 2 or 3 , as I have found when get just one other on your side, you have a majority! " - now has far larger application.
I now see that 2 years ago, as I urged the FBC pastor to consider what I called the "ultimate small group"- one on one, any time, any place the 2 agree on, ( TO replace old small group schedule,"as time for traditional small groups, may have passed, in this busy world") is NOT ultimate SUB UNIT, rather the ultimate MAXIMUM organization unit needed,or desired!
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We must end the division of fragmented theory -logy that brings shame on the name of Christ.
So we must restore the simple original message: "The risen Jesus, the Christ, is God, so trust him to know and want what is best and ONLY THRU THE POWER of God's Spirit help you to do it." ("Those who love me WILL OBEY.")
So know that if you got it, you WILL do it.
If you don't do it, you know you don't got it.
So ASK God for it, (pray) and KEEP ASKING for more!
In our self centered view of the world, we have assumed the 7,900 verses of the New Covenant, God's new agreement with mankind, are "instructions" for us to follow, and we feel overwhelmed
No way we can learn it, let alone do it!
Some do try, and fail.
Truth is, these are the PROMISES of the works GOD WILL DO IN US, and the works others will be able to see God do thru us, to show today his power and glory, as he showed us how God really is, thru Christ. Tell people the one thing they can and must do, remember to tell the truth, one thing does not mean just once. To live it, you must keep asking for it. May God bless you,
CHOSEN Led by GODS SPIRIT to OBEY
THE WAY, The PROMISE and the HOPE CHRISTIAN