“Bottled at Source’ is the proud statement printed on the bottle of spring water I hold in my hand. The rest of the message emphasises how this water contains no additives or contaminants, but only the natural goodness found at the source – the unpolluted origin. The message is clear: the further [...]]]>

“Bottled at Source’ is the proud statement printed on the bottle of spring water I hold in my hand. The rest of the message emphasises how this water contains no additives or contaminants, but only the natural goodness found at the source – the unpolluted origin. The message is clear: the further from the source, the greater the potential for contamination; the closer to the source, the purer.

This is the same idea Paul had about the message he preached. “Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on a human point of view. For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11,12

The first chapter of this letter and much of the second is focused on this concept that no human taught him this message, neither was it the product of his own scholastic efforts. Rather, this message was initiated and communicated by God directly – he received it from the source … unpolluted, original, authoritative, pure. This gospel is not subject to human interpretation, translation or misrepresentation.

He goes through great lengths to explain that he had no prolonged contact with any of the recognized leaders – in summary: “But from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism )—those recognized as important added nothing to me.” (2:6)

Paul obviously understood the importance of direct, unrestricted contact with the Light of life as apposed to a second-hand religious system that attempts to communicate truth through a man-made hierarchy. Now he undoubtedly thought it important to communicate this message, but the whole purpose of his communication (and mine) was to introduce the listeners to the Source of these truths and not to set himself up as the source of their spiritual understanding. His attitude is portrayed so clearly in this portion of one of his letters: “We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.” 2 Cor 1:24 MSG

This seems to me a very different approach to that taken by religious institutions. Most of these institutions regard themselves, consciously or unconsciously, as the guardians of truth – desiring to control and mediate between their followers and God. In the process these religious systems have become contaminants of the original message – no longer containing the pure message as derived from the source, but mixed with the additives of human tradition and popular interpretation.

No father desires a relationship with his children to be interfered with through a third party broker – speaking to his children via an interpreter. The Father, your Creator, desires a direct open relationship with you personally. He is confident in the ability He gave you to hear Him and respond .
Jesus, seeing the emptiness of religious festivals and rituals offered a much better alternative. “On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” John 7:37,38

Introduction

The free eagle
Francois du Toit has produced an exceptionally thought provoking translation of the book of Romans. Below is the introduction. The book can be downloaded from the book section. Details of how to order hard-copies can be found in the book itself … hopefully I will make it available on Lulu soon.

Introduction

The free eagle
While we were on honeymoon at Blydepoort, Mpumalanga (Jan 1979) Lydia and I met an official from Nature Conservation who told us of a fascinating incident; she witnessed the dramatic release of a Black Eagle a few weeks prior to our visit. This eagle had been captive in the Pretoria zoo for ten years.
She told us how thrilled they were with excitement and anticipation when the eagle finally arrived in its cage and the gate was opened. But only with difficulty did they eventually succeed to nudge the bird out of its cage.
It was one thing to get the bird out of the cage, but how do you get the cage out of the bird? In the mind of this eagle, it was still captive in the Pretoria zoo!
Every one was holding their breath, but this once mighty bird remained the pathetic prisoner of an inferior mindset.
Nothing changed until much later when another eagle began to call in the area. The eyes of the zoo-eagle immediately lit up, and the next moment she took off in majestic flight to soar in unrestricted space. It needed no further flying instructions!

This dramatic story left a deep impression on my mind. I knew that in the light of Paul’s revelation of the good news, we are left with one urgent priority, which is to announce to the nations with bold confidence the truth about their original identity and mirror-reflect the integrity of their innocence.

Paul’s Gospel
In His letter to the Romans, Paul gives radical and immediate relevance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a most distinguished fashion.

In studying this pivotal book of the Bible one begins to understand why Paul would so emphatically speak of his gospel.
He erases any illusion that one could possibly add or subtract from this revelation. It concerns the total wellbeing of universal mankind; how the Creator succeeded in redeeming and restoring His image and likeness in human form.
Paul is convinced that whatever happened to the human race because of Adam’s fall, is far superseded in every possible proportion by the revelation of mankind’s inclusion in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He places the fall of Adam and every act of unrighteousness that followed against the one act of righteousness that God performed in Christ as the final acquittal of humanity.
Any instruction that still places the emphasis on man’s contribution according to the prescribed rules of the law to improve himself and his conduct, limits man again to personal discipline and effort under the futile system of the law of guilt and condemnation; and ignores the completed work of God in Christ.
“Even a little leaven leavens the whole lump” he says in his letter to the Galatians. (5:9)

The revelation of righteousness by faith unveils how God in Christ succeeded in restoring man’s lost sense of identity and innocence. The etymological essence of the word, ‘righteousness’ in its root form, ‘dike’, implies the idea of two parties finding likeness in each other; with no interference of any sense of blame, guilt or inferiority.

In his Epistles Paul declares in no uncertain terms that he did not make any effort to learn or borrow his revelation of the gospel from the original eleven disciples of Jesus.
“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that I preach is not man’s gospel.
For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
But God separated me from my mother’s womb and identified me through the revelation of His grace.
It pleased Him to reveal His Son in me, in order that I might preach Him in the Gentiles, I deliberately did not consult with anyone.” (Gal.1:11,12,15-17)
One would think that Paul missed out on a golden opportunity immediately after his conversion in that he did not study at first hand the detailed eye-witness information which the apostles had to offer him about Jesus of Nazareth.
But the impact of his encounter had distanced him even from the value he had previously placed on his own noble birth.
Whatever gain he felt that he might have had as descendant of the prominent lineage of Benjamin is discounted against the revelation of the greater spiritual identity of man. “From now on therefore I no longer know any man from a human point of view…” (2Cor.5:16.) “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, nor slave nor freeman, nor African nor Chinese, nor European nor American, neither male nor female…” (Gal.3:28)
Nothing distinguishes the individual more than the revelation of his original identity as preserved, restored and revealed again in Christ.
In Christ the image and likeness of the invisible Creator is accurately displayed again in human form. “It is in Him that God gives a full and complete expression of Himself. Moreover, your own completeness is realised only in Him.” (Col.1:15, and Col.2:9,10. Phillips Translation)

“He is not far from each one of us” Paul reminds the philosophers of Athens, “In Him we live and move and have our being; we are indeed His offspring…” (Acts 17:27,28.) The inner mirror of Christ says it all! Our likeness to Christ revealed within us brings real transformation; this realisation is so much more effective than wishful thinking, mere ‘window shopping’ or the exercise of our willpower! (2Cor.3:18)

Not once in Paul’s Epistles does he make mention of any miracles performed by Jesus, neither does he refer to any parable told by Him.

His mission and message was not to proclaim Christ revealed in history, but Christ revealed in us! (Rom.8:10)
He celebrates the harvest revealed in the single grain of wheat that would have remained alone, had it not been sown into the earth and died. (John 12:23,24)

The mystery that was hidden from generations of people was not understood by any of the rulers of this world. God documented this mystery in Christ’s incarnation for man’s glorification. Had they understood this they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. (1Cor.2:6-9) But they did not understand the mystery of God’s plan, how mankind was to be fully represented and included in Christ; how one would die for all, and how simultaneously all indeed died in His death. (2Cor.5:14) They did not know that all of humanity would be represented in the single act of one man and thus disarm the claim of darkness and ignorance over all people. “God has overlooked the times of ignorance.” (Acts 17:30)
History recorded the death and resurrection of one individual, eternity recorded the death of mankind and the new birth of the human species.

We have in our ignorance given far too much credit to the devil. He is defeated and disarmed! In the revelation of the gospel he is brought to nought and rendered completely powerless! (1Cor.2:6-8, Col.2: 14,15) His sole aim has always been to keep mankind as ignorant as he himself was concerning their inclusion in Christ. It was our ignorance and unbelief that empowered him to do so.

The only reference in the Old Testament to the resurrection on the 3rd day includes us! “On the third day He will raise us up!” (Hos.6:1,2) This is the scripture which ignited Paul’s understanding that we are all co-included in His death and triumphant resurrection. On whose terms were we qualified for inclusion?
“All this is from God,” says Paul in 2Cor.5:18; “Of God are we in Christ” (1Cor.1:30) “The ends of the earth in their future generations will know that the Lord has wrought it!” (Ps.22:31) This was accomplished on our behalf while we were still dead in our sins; while we were hostile and indifferent towards God. (Eph.2:5,6) Because we were raised together with Christ; let us now engage and occupy our thoughts with Throne Room realities and not with the futile contradictions and distractions of a lesser life. (Col.3:1-3)
After 3 years spent in isolation in Arabia Paul visits Jerusalem for two weeks and deliberately sees only two of the Apostles, Cephas and James, the Lord’s brother. What was it that distinguished Peter and James, the younger brother of Jesus, from the rest of the disciples? Why was Paul attracted specifically to them? Both these men shared a rare revelation with Paul: they no longer knew Jesus from a human point of view; they had discovered their own true identity in Christ.

Paul refers to Peter as Cephas in order to to emphasise the meaning rather than the familiar sound of his name! In Greek, the written language of his day, the word for rock was “Petros”, but in the spoken language, the Aramaic the word was “Cephas”.
In Mathew 16 Jesus asks the most important question in the Bible, “Who does man say the son of man is?” By revelation Simon asserts in response that Jesus is not the son of Joseph, but the Messiah. He is the promise of man’s redemption, the image and likeness of God restored to and fully displayed in human form; the son of the living God.
Notice how Jesus responds to him, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father. If I am the son of God then so are you! Your surname is no longer derived from your natural father in the flesh but from the Rock that begot you! (Deut.32:18, “Look to the Rock from which you were hewn.” Isaiah 51:1) Upon this Rock I will build My church. Greek, ecclesia.
The church is God’s answer to man’s lost identity. The word ‘ecclesia’ which Jesus introduces here does not refer to a building or an organisation, but to the original divine identity of mankind restored and revealed anew in Christ as in a mirror. The Greek preposition, ek, always refers to origin or source, (1Cor.1:30, Heb.2:11) and klesia, from kaleo means to surname or identify by name. The essential meaning and purpose of the church then is to extend the ministry of Jesus Christ which is to unveil the true Christlike identity of every man. “We were born anew into a living hope when Jesus was raised from the dead.” (1Pet.1:3)

Why, in addition to Peter, did Paul also visit James? (Gal.1:19) What had happened to James since the time when he had been standing distanced and indifferent to his brother Jesus’ ministry? (“Even His brothers did not believe in Him” John 7:5) What had brought him to write that our birth is of the Father of lights who brought us forth by the word of truth? Our true beginning is in God; we are God’s invention. And “if any man hears this word he sees the face of his birth as in a mirror.” He also states that it is possible to forget what manner of man you are, if you are being distracted from a faith-informed focus in the mirror of likeness, and revert again to to the double-minded opinion of the flesh. (Jam.1:17,18,24)
In 1Cor.15:7 Paul specifically mentions that Jesus had also appeared to James after the resurrection. I believe that the meaning of the ministry of Jesus dawned on him there. He now knew that his brother was indeed the Messiah. He suddenly understood that just like Jesus, his own genesis began in God; as indeed every man’s true birth, now represented and revealed in the resurrection. Joseph and Mary could not parent their original spirit origin.

Paul is convinced that something happened to mankind in the death and resurrection of Christ. The resurrection mirrors everyone’s new birth. This happened even before we knew about it. “He made us alive together with Him while we were still dead in our sins and raised us up together with Him.” (Eph.2:5) When Paul preaches the resurrection in Acts 13, he uses Psalm 2 as his text, “Today I have begotten you!” (Acts 13:30-33)
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1Cor.15:22) Jesus was not the second but the last Adam. The old things, (the old Adamic race) have passed away. ”The first Adam became a living soul, the last Adam was a life giving Spirit.” (1Cor.15:45)
“I am persuaded that because one died for all, therefore all have indeed died. From now on therefore I no longer regard any man from a human point of view; in Christ man has become a new creation, the old things have passed away, behold, everything has become new.” (2Cr.5:14,16,17)
When did all of mankind die? In Paul’s logic this happened when Jesus died. Jesus in His person represented all of God in human form and at the same time the whole of mankind.

Jesus did not come to start the Christian religion; He came to reveal every man’s true origin, identity and innocence. When the gospel was first preached to he Greeks, Barnabas was sent by the church in Jerusalem to investigate the reports. He saw the grace of God evident in them and instead of reporting back to the leadership of Jerusalem he immediately fetched Paul and gave him his first public pulpit. He knew and understood Paul’s revelation of Christ in man. It is no surprise to learn then that it was here in Antioch where for the first time believers were called Christians. (Acts 11)
“Ask of me the nations and I will give you the ends of the earth as your inheritance!” (Psalm 2:7,8) The conclusion of the cross is that the ends of the earth shall remember (their forgotten identity, Deut.32:18) and turn to the Lord. (Ps.22:27)

“I proclaim Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was concealed in silence in the sequence of timeless ages, but now is made publicly known, mirrored in prophetic scripture.” (“Surely He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement that brought us peace was upon Him and by His stripes we were healed.” Isa.53:4,5) And now the God of the ages has issued His mandate to make the mystery known in such a way that all the nations of the earth will discover the lifestyle (obedience) that the hearing of faith ignites.” (Rom.16:25,26) “The conclusion is clear: it took just one offence to condemn mankind; one act of righteousness declares the same mankind innocent! The disobedience of the one man exhibits humanity as sinners, the obedience of another man exhibits humanity as righteous! (Rom.5:18,19)

The principle of faith then is to see what God sees. God calls things which seem not to be as though they were. (Rom.4:17) “While we look not at the things that the senses observe but we look at the revelation of the unseen as it is unveiled in the mirror reflection of Christ in every man. (2Cor3:18, 2Cor.4:18)

Heb 2:8 “Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to man.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Heb 2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Heb 2:11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.” (English Standard Version)

We can no longer ignore the hidden facts. Our whole value system is shifting to suit the needs of individuals. Our entire social structure is reshaping to serve the passions of its participants. On a massive magnitude, the global world is reapportioning power from the “somebodies” to [...]]]> RUN! . . . THE LAITY ARE COMING!

We can no longer ignore the hidden facts. Our whole value system is shifting to suit the needs of individuals. Our entire social structure is reshaping to serve the passions of its participants. On a massive magnitude, the global world is reapportioning power from the “somebodies” to the “nobodies.”

These facts forecast a transfigured “laity,” and Christendom will not escape their transformations.

The Christian “movement” now encompasses more than the “church.” Christ’s mission now embraces more than “religion.” For spiritual leaders are showing up outside the established church, and “unbelievers” are becoming “believers” outside our sacred “systems.”

At the same time, we see an unprecedented transfer of divine power from the ordained to the ordinary, from the educated to the uneducated, from the empowered to the unempowered. God is breaking the constraints, in other words, on who and what a “pastor” is. Spiritual leadership is being redefined, and the implications are enormous.

New Players on The Playing Field

“Cutting edge” churches talk big about each member having a “ministry”–about the importance of the “laity”–about the “priesthood of all believers.” For most churches, though, nothing has changed. The old English word laite (or “laity”) still means the same: It means everybody else–the “un-clergy,” the “un-ordained,” the “un-empowered. Or, we could call them the “Sunday spectators,” the “church-goers,” the “religious crowd”. . . .

. . . in other words, all those one step removed from God.

But behind the scenes, a new laity emerges. They are spiritually yearning–yet institutionally alienated–trailblazers. They are often the unwashed, unwanted, and unrefined. Or, more to the point, they are “not-us.” They are “alien” believers no longer satisfied to be marginalized, to be excluded, or to simply support someone else’s program.

They are leaving their spectator seats, and they are refusing yesterday’s “manna.”

Of course, these believers still need belonging, and they still need redemption. Most of all, though, they need empowerment. They’re tired of old illusions. They want a true “priesthood of every believer.” And, they want a totally new relation between the dispensers and receivers of sacred information.

In short, they want a new way of thinking.

And they won’t wait. Already, they’re finding ministries beyond the religious sector. They’re discovering the power of widespread, creative networking. They’re taking their place as players on the playing field. In other words, they’re becoming inspired participants in the real world.

Though we may refuse the idea, they are Christ’s brothers and sisters. They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And, they are leading Christianity into lands where old maps no longer work.

John Wesley is hidden in their DNA. Wesley said if a person’s heart is in the right place and they are obedient to the Lord, he cares

not a straw whether they be clergy or laymen. (For) such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.(1)

The True Story

Today, we’re forced to admit our idea of “laity” was never the intention of the early church. To say “laity” (or laos in the New Testament) was simply to say “Christian.” In other words, the laity were not a subspecies of anything.(2)

Free and spontaneous worship gave central place to all participants. “Spiritual leadership,” in fact, was widely shared. Lydia and Onesimus, for example, did the work of “pastors,” yet they were not “clergy.” Indeed, they may not have been even members of a “church.”

And, though we may not believe it, men and women shared equally in praying and prophesying.(3) And society’s outcasts–rebels (Simon), fanatics (Paul), thieves (Onesimus), corrupt officials (Matthew), and worse–were the leading saints of the early church.

It was only later that Ignatius and Clement argued for the dividing of “clergy” and “laity”–the severing of superiors and subordinates. After the first disciples, however, the power of the church came not from the hierarchy. It came from the monastic movement–ordinary believers who turned their back on an increasingly secular church to seek God above all things.

Let’s face it. The monastic movement saved the church!

But history repeats itself. So, once again, shamed believers like Martin Luther complained,

It is pure invention that pope, bishop, priests, and monks are called the spiritual estate, and all princes, lords, artisans, and farmers are called the temporal estate. This is indeed a piece of deceit and hypocrisy.(4)

What’s-His-Name

Yet, nothing has changed–even in the Prostestant church. Today’s church is still a “Christendom” church–a centuries-old legacy of the Roman Empire. It ignores the signs of the times–the raw truths of a pre-Christendom heritage and the sober warnings of a post-Christendom reality. It has become irrelevant to the Lord of History.

“Christendom” churches restrict things “religious” to certain times, certain places, certain people–”sacred” programs, “sacred” pews, “sacred” privileges. . . . Their little “kingdoms” are their only community, and their little communities are their only “calling.” So their very existence requires pulling people in and never letting them go.

It’s a survival anxiety, a maintenance mentality.

In Christendom churches, all “religious” energies must be focused toward the church. That means “professional” Christians must get the “amateur” Christians to “fill all the slots.” That means a command-and-control structure must prompt a silent consensus to work all the in-house programs.

It is a closed system, of course, with lockstep procedures, fixed agendas, and authorized leaders. So spirit-led laity and creative self-starters need not apply. And all the others must never stray from official guidelines

God help you if you make a mistake.

Obviously, these churches invest more in programs than in people. And, when necessary, they are ready to sacrifice people on behalf of their “first love.” In other words, if you’ve not chosen your own cross, they are more than happy to choose one for you.

And like most wars, “the soldiers are expendable.”

It’s no surprise that Christian “movers and shakers” outside the church feel totally underutilized–totally out of the loop. They’re told, for example, “Put your dream on hold and come support a real ministry.” That “real” ministry, however, turns out to be a frustrated club of part-time, spiritual dilettantes. And the clergy respond to their inevitable complaints by “getting what’s-his-name to read a prayer.”

And you ask, “Where are the disciples?”

But pity most the multitudes of hand fed sheep–the passive churchgoers blindly following out of habit or duty. Or grieve especially for those lethargic conformers already seduced by the addictive consumer church. Long ago, someone higher up decided these laity were “needy”–that they must be taken care of–that they must be given carbon copies, hand-me-down reports, of someone else’s story.

So they stand in line for their cupful of stale, second-hand spirituality. And, they’re given, instead, this meanspirited paradox: “. . . a Spirit that is much too obvious to see and much too close to reach.”(5) The damage done is incredible.

Each of us is an active, proactive, creative agent. Each of us “kick-starts” our moment in history–no matter how big or how small that moment may be. And, regardless of our ineptness, God still works through each of us to accomplish His purpose.

“There is anger over the hogging of ministry by professionals; anger over not empowering all Christians for ministry; anger over not releasing the spiritual potential in every believer.”(6)

A Team of “Spiritual Entrepreneurs”

But angry believers won’t have to wait long. The old notion of “professional Christians” is now questioned. For today, a new synergy–a horizontal synergy–is emerging between clergy and laity.

Already, authentic leaders are changing from harvesting to cultivating, from manipulating to mentoring, from teaching to modeling. Already, they are changing from programs to people, from “doing” ministry to “equipping” ministry, from managing institutions to making disciples.

Of course, the secular world had already discovered this shift from “hierarchical, competitive, aggression-based criteria of excellence to supportive, collaborative, interactive ones.”(7) And it has rediscovered, as well, the Latin word “authority,” which means “to help others to grow.”

So–better late than never–the church now toys with a shift from vertical style to horizontal style–from rank and status to love and grace–from patron-client roles to (believe it or not!) Christian brotherhood. It is a shared journey, a pilgrim companionship, a common walk. It is a non-coercive connectedness, a mutual mentoring, a paradox of following while leading. And no one rises above advice or critique.

It’s not so much a top-down structure. It’s more like a “solar system” where each planet has its own orbit, its own “gifts.” In other words, it’s more like a team of “spiritual entrepreneurs” where each believer supports and encourages the other’s inspired destiny.

St. Augustine got it right:

“What I am for you terrifies me; what I am with you consoles me. For you I am a bishop; but with you I am a Christian. The former is a duty; the latter a grace. The former is a danger; the latter, salvation”(8)

Spinning Off Totally New Riffs

So tomorrow’s spiritual leaders will build leaders who build leaders. They will make disciples who make disciples. And, they will equip apostles who equip apostles. Over, and over, and over. . . .

Jesus didn’t say, “Go change the city.” He said, “Go make disciples.”(9) In other words, ministry is through us, not about us. Through visioning, modeling, mentoring, equipping, risking, and midwifing, the new clergy will empower others to act. They will release the gifts, talents, passions, and energies of all.

That means anyone, anywhere, anytime, and any way. It means incognito missions of every kind–ministries in any walk of life–inspired creativity wherever it’s found–entrepreneurship in all Christ-like events. It means both within their community and beyond their community–cross-cultural and counter-cultural–local and global.

This new network is the new notion of “team.” It’s the paradox of diversity, yet unity–fluid spirit relationships, yet the same Spirit–distinct ways of witnessing, yet the same Word. It’s like a jazz ensemble intuitively following the leading of an inspired motive, then creatively responding to variations of that motive. All the while, though, each player supports and encourages the band’s unity. Then, suddenly, the band spins off totally new riffs in hot pursuit of the Lord of History.

Getting the Keys to the Car

Does anything go?

As long as the laity are aligned with the mission, they need a long “leash.” In other words, they need permission to do their own thing, to feel in control of their own destiny, to dream of more than they’ve ever dreamed to be. That means removing all the unnecessary barriers, all the things that stifle growth, all the constraints on new ideas.

Such permission, of course, includes permission to make mistakes. Of course, the apparent anarchy and seeming chaos of these mistakes drive perfectionists and control freaks crazy. But risk is a necessary ingredient of creativity, and novices need plenteous room to put their inspiration into play.

Sooner or later, they must be given the keys to the car.

This permission doesn’t mean laity have total freedom. And it doesn’t mean leaders relinquish total control. For the leader does not ignore his own anointing or sacrifice his own conviction. And, he’s not a pushover or a Casper-milquetoast pastor.

Sometimes, he must step in. He must rescue the participants, hold them accountable, or even throw out the “bad apples.” He may allow mistakes, but he doesn’t allow mistakes to “take over.” He may permit some things, but he doesn’t permit all things.

We confuse permission with permissiveness.

>>

Finally, though, transfigured laity mean transfigured leaders. The success of leaders, for example, is no longer the harvest, but the planting–no longer power, but empowerment–no longer personal gifts, but other’s gifts.

It’s a different success.

And, the sculptor Michelangelo knew this difference. Patiently–but passionately–he chipped away the excess marble while allowing God’s own vision to emerge.

© 2006 Thomas Hohstadt

ENDNOTES

1. John Wesley, http://prayerfoundation.org/books/book_review_heroes_john_wesley.htm.

2. See the following random Scriptures: Matthew 23:8-12; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12, 14:26;
Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21; James 3:1,2; 1 Peter 4:9-11.

3. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15, 26; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19.

4. Martin Luther, http://www.sspxasia.com/Documents/Archbishop-Lefebvre/Luthers-Mass.htm.

5. Ken Wilber, A Theory of Everything: An Integral Vision for Business, Politics, Science, and Spirituality
(Boston: Shambhala, 2000) p 141.

6. Leonard Sweet, SoulTsunami: Sink or Swim in New Millennium Culture
(Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1999) p.58.

7. Derrick de Kerckhove, The Skin of Culture (Toronto: Somerville House Publishing, 1995) p. 62.

8. St. Augustine, quoted in Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Vatican II Council, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents
/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html.

9. Matthew 28:18-20.

If you would like to see an article on a specific topic, please feel free to e-mail Dr. Hohstadt at suggestions@futurechurch.net

· Focussed

Let’s consider the following scenario. The city of Galatia never even heard of Jesus Christ before Paul and Barnabas arrived there. (Acts13:14-) From the time that Paul first preached till the time they left was about four months.

They leave these new, fresh, ‘baby’ Christians with nothing but the message [...]]]> Revolution Part 2

· Focussed

Let’s consider the following scenario. The city of Galatia never even heard of Jesus Christ before Paul and Barnabas arrived there. (Acts13:14-) From the time that Paul first preached till the time they left was about four months.

They leave these new, fresh, ‘baby’ Christians with nothing but the message they heard. They leave them without an institution or organisation to support them. They leave them without any professional clergy to keep them on track. They leave them without any leadership! (Leadership within churches only developed many years later, but always remained very low-key. These believers had to learn how to be brothers before they learned how to be elders. This is also why Paul’s letters are never written to the leaders at churches, but to the whole church. Leaders weren’t really an issue – they were simply brothers who served more than others). They leave them without a Bible! They leave them without any training material. But what do they leave?

They left them with the sobering reality that the message they heard is either true and contains within itself all the sustenance they need, or it’s just another man-made religion that will fall flat in the absence of all the support structures needed to keep man-made systems from falling. All they had was Christ in them and brothers around them. They found out that’s all they need. It is all we need also and once we take away all these artificial support structures we will once again discover the sustaining power of the original message.

In the absence of all the things we thought were essential to our Christianity they discovered that a clear focus on Christ was the essence of their faith. This message-focussed quality was a vital part of what made first century Christianity revolutionary.

· Lack of control

We have a few records of people informing the apostles in Jerusalem of what God has done in other places. We have no record of people coming to ask permission to take this message to another region. There was no way to stop it! It was, and is, a way of life.

This total lack of control caused wonderful and unexpected results. This message transformed ordinary people into God’s own personal ambassadors. This absence of official control was undoubtedly one of the key elements that made this church so dynamic and revolutionary.

The good news of Jesus Christ – the revelation of who God really is and the revelation of who man really is – still has those revolutionary qualities in it today. But we are required not to mix it, and dilute it with teachings that deny the very essence of it. When Paul eventually wrote to the Galatian Christians, He did not start with an apology for leaving so soon. Neither did He try to check up on the program or use it as an occasion to introduce some new rules, or ordain that pastor they never got. No, thank God no. His message was to assure them regarding the freedom they found and warn them not to submit to any regulations, even religious regulations that would try and undermine this freedom.

I read a delightful account of the history of the Celtic Christian communities in Britain. When the Roman Catholic Church arrived they were a bit disgusted that Christianity was already present and they did not introduce it! Although the Catholic ‘church’ was successful in assimilating just about every Christian community into its system, they found the Celts just impossible. They just wouldn’t conform to the system. (It took hundreds of years to make them forget the message and fit into the system) I had to smile when they mentioned that the Galatians were originally Celts and that the Christian faith was brought to them through their family contacts with Galatia. Paul would have been proud. The first letter Paul wrote was to warn these Christians to not submit themselves to religious traditions and regulation. They obviously learned this lesson well. May we learn it anew.

· Lack of building!

Another unique feature of these early Christians is that they did not have a building of their own. All other religions of the time had their own sacred meeting places, but these Christians just met in homes! This was not just a coincidence, its strategically part of God’s plan. There are no religious buildings numerous or big enough to contain the intended audience of the gospel. But there are enough houses! It is also in the setting of a house that the previously discussed values, flourish naturally.

It was about 300 years after Jesus’ resurrection that the first Christian buildings were built by the emperor Constantine. I remember when I first learned this as a child. I thought that it was great that such an important person accepted Jesus and built buildings for the Christians. Today I have come to know that it was probably one of the greatest curses introduced to Christianity. What used to be a ‘lay’ led movement, focussed on a glorious message, free from institutional control, living in the reality of brotherhood, was reduced for the most part to just another man-made institution. What Satan failed to achieve through persecution, he almost succeeded at, through the introduction of church buildings and the reduction of our understanding of church, to a man-made institution. No matter how much lip-service we pay to the truth that people are the church, if a building and professional clergy remains at the centre of our Christian fellowship, we have exchanged the values of true church for something less.

As our focus returns to the treasure within us, may we remove everything that distract from the simplicity of knowing and living Christ.

By Andre Rabe
andre.rabe@gmail.com
http://hearhim.net/

In this series we’ll be looking at what made the first century Christians (church) so revolutionary. This was a revolution that turned their world upside down and our desire is to see the core values and message that made this so.

- Brotherhood

Never before was there a religion or philosophy that so [...]]]> Revolution Part 1

In this series we’ll be looking at what made the first century Christians (church) so revolutionary. This was a revolution that turned their world upside down and our desire is to see the core values and message that made this so.

- Brotherhood

Never before was there a religion or philosophy that so completely removed the barriers of class and status as the message that was embraced by these early believers. Neither was this an intellectual or philosophical equality, but it produced a community in which the slave and his master, the Jew and the Greek sat next to one another as equals, acknowledging the image of God in one another.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In a society, much more class conscious than our own, this new-found truth of man’s identity in Christ, caused people who previously would not even look at each other, to sit and eat and converse around the same table. They ate a real meal with a symbolic meaning – as they all partook of the same wine and bread they were reminded that they were all equally included in the work of Christ when His body was broken (as the bread) and His blood flowed (the wine). The meal was real and the meaning symbolic not the other way round.

This total absence of class distinction, race distinction and any other barrier between men, was one of the most revolutionary characteristics of this new way of life. It was not politically correct or socially acceptable, nevertheless it was the undeniable result of believing that we all have the same Father, who values and esteems us all the same.
The word ‘brethren’ or ‘brothers’ is one of the most popular words in the New Testament, used more than 340 times! So are the words ‘among’ and ‘one another’.

In that time, just as now, subtle deception, that brought awareness of position, levels of importance etc, tried to creep in unnoticed. James spoke very sternly about this in chapter two of his letter to a church. He said that if we reserve a better seat for a person that obviously has greater importance than another, then we violate the very essence of this gospel.

This revelation of the brotherhood of all men, our equality in His eyes, displayed in our esteem of one another, is an essential key to the revolutionary results of the first century Christians. Let’s grasp firmly this revelation again. Let’s bring back some of the revolutionary elements of our faith.

- No professional Clergy.

Christianity was the first ‘religion’ in the history of humanity that did not have its own religious buildings or own professional clergy. Even ‘eldership’ was secondary to ‘brotherhood’ In Paul’s letters he speaks of brothers 134 times, elders 5 times, overseers 4 times and pastors 1 time. He spoke of these concepts in proportion to their importance. It was the revelation of brotherhood that was much more essential to the faith than the eventual emergence of elders, or those mature in faith, to describe it differently.

These communities learned brotherhood long before (many years) they learned ‘elderhood.’ Even the word ‘leadership’ is deceptive in speaking about those who stood out. They stood out because of their servanthood.
Mat 23:11,12 “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

Because this movement was led by ‘lay’, unprofessional, uneducated people, it became the most revolutionary movement ever. This is an essential quality of these radical new communities called church. The time of restoration has come!

This is the very quality that made duplication of this faith so easy! You did not need a qualification, a certificate or any other training to minister Christ to others. All you needed was the relationship you enjoyed with Him, displayed in the way you valued others.

Those with religious titles and positions were particularly disturbed that uneducated men were able to manifest God in a more real way than what they ever knew was possible.
Act 4:13 They couldn’t take their eyes off them–Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus,

Let’s take a firm grip on this essential quality that made ‘the way’ the most revolutionary movement of its day. A new revolution is brewing, or more like an old one, coming to its grand finale.

By Andre Rabe
andre.rabe@gmail.com
www.hearhim.net

Into the heart of the matter.

Previously we simply established that there are different systems in which authority is communicated, namely: Organizational, top-down systems and secondly organic systems. Let’s examine these further:

· Official versus relational.

In the organizational system, authority is delegated to a position without much regard to [...]]]> Understanding Authority Part 2

Into the heart of the matter.

Previously we simply established that there are different systems in which authority is communicated, namely: Organizational, top-down systems and secondly organic systems. Let’s examine these further:

· Official versus relational.

In the organizational system, authority is delegated to a position without much regard to the changing character of the person filling the position. Whoever fills the position stands within the authority of that position for as long as he retains the position. This is the type of authority we see in the Old Testament religious hierarchies and within the current governmental institutions. A dramatic example of how a person can personally violate God’s commands and still retain authority is that of Saul. Even after the Word tells us that the spirit of God departed from him, he still retained the authority of his position and therefore, David still showed respect because of the position he was in.
This is one of the major problems with that system and therefore God changed it in the way His ‘ekklesia’, church operates. The organisational model is dependant on titles and official positions without much connection to the current spiritual condition of the person filling the post.

In all of Paul’s letters to the churches, he seems completely unaware of any organizational structures. There were many words available to Paul that could express position and official leadership, but he deliberately chose not to use one of them. Here are some examples:
The word ‘arche’ which means a ruler or leader, specifically related to rank, is completely absent for all his writings. ‘time’ means officer or dignitary – nowhere to be found. ‘telos’ the inherent power or authority of a ruler (authority related to position) – he never describes any believer in this way. ‘archisunagogus’ is a synagogue official or religious official. Surely this would have been a useful way to describe church leadership? Sorry, but the New Testament is absolutely quiet. ‘hazzan’ means a public worship leader. Just about every organized church I have visited, have one of these. “Surely it must be in the Bible”. My apologies, Paul was obviously not as sophisticated as we are. ‘taxis’ means a post, position or rank. Now, although we have found these words very useful to bring order in congregations, we have one small problem: they are not in the New Testament! ‘hierateia’ means a priest’s office. Once again, completely missing from the New Testament, when describing the church.

Could it be possible that they took the words of Jesus seriously when He said that organisational type authority would not be the way His church operates.
Mat 20:25 – 28 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The most popular word used by the apostles to describe church ‘leaders’ is ‘diakonos’ which means servant!

Organic authority is rich in words that describe function. Words like serving, shepherding and overseeing. The God kind of authority is recognized in what it does. Organic authority knows nothing about title or position. Just as your hand does not require a new title or official position to obey the head, so our relation to Christ has no connection to official positions. The idea that there are professional positions of authority in the body of Christ and the rest are just ‘laymen’ is contrary to the scriptures. In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter declares every believer a royal priesthood. We all have exactly the same access to the Father!

To conclude: Organic authority is linked to function. It is fluid because it is much more linked to the character of the person, specifically his serving and childlike meekness. Position and titles are completely missing from this concept.

Organisational authority is rigid and based on a top-down level, without much connection to the attitude or character of the person filling the position.

· Responsibility versus mindless obedience.

Positional authority takes away much of the responsibility of those in subjection to it. Official authority does not have much space for discussion. It is only concerned with a simple response of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The subordinate is discouraged from asking if instructions are right or wrong; the responsibility of whether they are right or wrong lies with the official that gave the instructions. This system keeps its subjects in continual immaturity. No wonder Jesus changed this system in the church. He believes in every person’s ability to personally hear and respond to His voice.

It is actually much easier to just walk in the slip-stream of another person’s relationship with God. It requires much less effort to thoughtlessly obey than to take responsibility yourself for what you believe and do.

Do you realize that Paul’s letters to the churches were never addressed to the leaders of the church! They were addressed to the whole church without any official acknowledgement of local leaders. It’s as if He did not know of their existence! The reason is they did not exist in the way they do today in most church organizations, in the way we have re-introduced Old-Testament-professional-priesthood-type leadership. Even when He addressed serious problems, he addressed the whole group of believers, the whole church and encouraged them to solve it. He never removed the responsibility from the individual person and placed it on a select few.

Can you imagine what would happen in most of our modern day ‘churches’ if someone wrote a letter to be read to the whole church without first informing the officials of its content!. In this letter it addresses the issues that everyone is avoiding and it makes no mention of leaders! Paul would have been labelled a heretic by most of our organizations.
I mean, does he not know that baby Christians can’t deal with these real issues. These things should be dealt with secretly by the select few who can decide on behalf of everyone else.

Well, obviously these New Testament churches did not exist in the form many exist in today. Paul spoke to them as equals and encouraged them all to take responsibility for one another. His confidence in ALL is reflected throughout his writings:

2Co 7:16 I rejoice that in all things I have confidence in you all.

Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Conclusion: Organisational authority removes much responsibility from its subjects and therefore keeps them immature.
Organic authority believes in the ability of each part of the body to hear the instructions of the head. Everyone is therefore placed in an environment of personal responsibility and therefore growth.

· Subordination versus voluntary submission

Paul never pulled rank in his communication to believers. In fact his attitude towards organisational authority becomes strikingly clear in the book of Galatians. In chapter 1 and 2 Paul describes how this message was not delivered or explained to him by any other man, but by revelation. (there was no hierarchy of revelation) To those who thought the apostolic ministry (servanthood, lest we forget) is just another way to justify positions and titles in the church, Paul leaves us with a sobering comment.
Gal 2:6 As for those (the other apostles) who were considered important in the church, their reputation doesn’t concern me. God isn’t impressed with mere appearances, and neither am I. And of course these leaders were able to add nothing to the message I had been preaching.

Those who cannot see beyond hierarchical type of authority might think that Paul could say this, because He was uniquely chosen and placed on an equal or higher level than the other apostles. But let’s read his words again “God isn’t impressed with mere appearances, and neither am I“ It has nothing to do with position or title, because that is man-made. God does not regard it and therefore we should not regard it either!

Organic authority uses the language of persuasion; it has no title to rest on so its appeal is to the conscience of man.
2Co 8:8 I’m not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians’ enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you.
Philemon 1:8,9 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. But because I love you, I make a request instead.
Rom 12:1 So then, my friends, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you:
Rom 15:30 I urge you, friends..
1Co 1:10 By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends

This is not the language of a superior religious official, ordering the ignorant masses how and what to believe. This is the language of a friend, an equal, appealing and urging his brothers to be persuaded by the truth.

Conclusion: To voluntarily submit to the appeal of a friend is the way in which God wants His authority to be manifested among us. Eph 5:21 And be submissive one to another, in the love of the Messiah. We voluntarily recognise and respect the authority of God in one another. It is a beautiful thing to see.

Organisational authority exists in the world and we are told to obey our governments in the scriptures, but in the church such authority is a perversion of what God desires. This does not mean He does not bless people involved in those organisations, it simply means they miss out on His best. When Israel rejected God’s personal rule over them, and chose a King instead, He still blessed them as much as He could. They did however endure a lot of hardship because they rejected His theocratic (organic) type of rule and chose instead the organizational type.

Go for God’s best! Live in the constant awareness of zero distance between you and Him. Respect and value all men alike; their outward appearance means nothing to God and neither to us!

By Andre Rabe
andre.rabe@gmail.com

http://eclesia.blogspot.com