Unity or Conformity

I hope I can wrap up on the subject of unity this week.  It has been a couple of weeks since my last post due to the sickness and death of my wife’s mother, please keep her family in your prayers.

Little did I know when I started on this subject it would cause such a stir.  Thank you all for the feed back and comments.  I guess the subject of unity is a lot tougher than I thought.  Even those who are Bible truth seekers seem to struggle with this as well.  I think by some of the responses posted my points were proven, that often we still let the little things divide us.  So if I may, please let me share my heart one more time on this subject.

In my growing up in church, I have come to a basic conclusion of what many churches call unity.  One, many religious groups, denominations feel that to be in unity, everyone must conform to the same things as all others.  They even ask you to sign such statements of faith.  Now I am not naive to think we don’t need some unmovable foundation beliefs we agree on (I will deal with this a little later).  Second, I have had many spiritual leaders and fathers who made it their mission to change everyone to fit their thinking, as if they are the only one right.

Many groups, churches, and denominations do not allow room for others to think independently, or different than them.  They are quick to condemn any one who brings up a different thought, using words such as heresy, or disruptive.  There just seems to be the ideal in religion that to be in unity means we all conform to the same mold.  Biblically we are only asked to conform to the likeness of Jesus, not to a man made ideal. (Rom.8.29, 12.2, Phil. 3.10, 12, 1 Peter 1.14, 15)

I am sorry to admit, that being raised in church and under such thinking I too acted much the same way.  I was hard in my heart towards others who did not fit my mold, or lived up to my standards.  Even though I was searching for truth and did not like what I was finding in our churches and leaders, I was being much like those I questioned.   I even found myself struggling with who I was and what I believed.  When I struggled I found myself playing the game doing whatever was needed to get along.  I knew I was called to serve the Lord in ministry.  I loved to teach and preach the Word of God, and just wanted a place to fit in.  Looking back there are many things I wish I could take back, but I can not live in the past and just thank God for His mercy.  I learned to speak the things others expected us to speak even though I myself did not believe them.  That is compromise and I do not want to go back to such a place in my life.  I feel I have grown in truth and my faith and feel very confident in what I believe, and will not change just to fit in. 

Now, I have not reached perfection, nor feel I am the only one that is right.  That is why I love to ask questions and like talking about the Word of God.  There is always more room for spiritual growth. Look at what Paul tells us  (Phil 3:12-16 NIV)  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. {13} Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, {14} I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. {15} All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. {16} Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Let me say this, I have not arrived, but thank God I have left.  I am not where I used to be, but I am striving to get where I am going. 

Let us look at the words unity, and conformity in Webster’s dictionary.

Definition of UNITY

1 a : the quality or state of not being multiple : oneness b (1) : a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation <in a table of natural sines the radius of the circle is regarded as unity> (2) : identity element

2 a : a condition of harmony : accord b : continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)

3 a : the quality or state of being made one : unification b : a combination or ordering of parts in a literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole or promotes an undivided total effect; also : the resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and consistency of style and character

4 : a totality of related parts : an entity that is a complex or systematic whole

5 : any of three principles of dramatic structure derived by French classicists from Aristotle's Poetics and requiring a play to have a single action represented as occurring in one place and within one day

        

 Definition of CONFORMITY

1: correspondence in form, manner, or character : agreement <behaved in conformity with her beliefs>

2: an act or instance of conforming

3: action in accordance with some specified standard or authority <conformity to social custom>

I feel so many times in our human finite minds we do not see the big picture.  In 1Cor. 12 , Paul uses the picture of a body and how there are many different members making up a whole body.  The picture he uses in not that everyone is the same but different, and that we need to respect and honor each other.  Then I can’t help but say we have to include chapter 13 in this subject because Paul was still on subject when he writes in chapter 13.  I truly feel nothing in all of Paul’s instructions works without chapter 13.  None of the spiritual manifestations, leadership, or working of ministry truly works without God’s love. 

 Let me use a couple of pictures for you.  God’s purpose for the church could be like a big puzzle.  When put together it makes up a big picture, but it is made up of many small pieces.  Not one piece is like another, each one has its own purpose and place.  They all have their own character, shape, and look; by themselves they do not make a complete picture.  When fitted together with others that are all different in themselves, it makes a complete picture. 

I do not feel any one piece of the puzzle has compromised its self to be joined with another.  It stays true to itself and must do so to help make up the picture. Its only conformity is not to another piece, but to the whole.  I have found those who often fear compromise, often do nothing and walk alone.  Our history is full of such people and most basically died off never passing on the good they did have.  It was those who were bold and stepped out in the truth they had, often giving their lives for what they believed. Those are the ones you find reaching out to others, passing along the truth and not worrying about the little things.

I remember a teacher I learned from some years ago ask “Is this mountain worth dying on, or is it one you can let go”.  I have been in services where just the word of a song upsets others.  We let so many little things divide us.  Yes you may feel it is a truth to you, but are you the only one who carries truth.  Maybe we have not found what you have found, or maybe we are right.  Let’s look at some of Paul’s writing on such matters.

(Eph 4:3-6 NKJV)  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. {4} There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The foundation we all need to agree on is right here in this scripture.  I want to be on record to say we should be able to talk about the rest with out hatred or division.

(Eph 4:13 NKJV)  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Maybe we need to look at Romans 14 and 15 and learn how to get along.  We need to stop thinking that we can only fellowship with those that are just like us.  The world that needs the gospel message needs to see us stand in unity and love.

(Rom 15:5-6 NKJV)  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, {6} that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I celebrated 34 years of marriage.  Now those 34 years have been great and I would do it all over again, yet it has been filled with grief and struggles.  We both have done things that needed forgiveness, and lots of love.  We are two completely different people; we do things differently, think differently, and even have different spiritual levels and truths.  For us to make it this far we have had to work at our unity in living together, raising our children, handling our money.  It is the true love we have for each other that helps us let go of our differences and forgive each other.  We live in unity and hope to pass this on to our children.  To me it is not a compromise but a coming together on one foundation and building a life, and family together.  Can God do this with his church?

Let me use another example if I may.  I love to golf and there are times I just have to go by myself.  I do however often play with man I met that is a Muslim.  I do nothing to make it my mission to change him; I let my life do that.  One day the subject came up with him knowing I was a preacher; he thought I would hate him because I knew he was a Muslim.  I reassured him I did not hate him and we only talk on such matters when he brings it up.  I just want the love of God to speak to him, and open opportunity to share.  If he never receives what I believe I will still love him.  You see on those times I go to the golf course by myself, I rarely play the course by myself.  You always meet another golfer or group that will ask you to play with them.  They don’t ask how good I play or who I like best in golf.  They don’t even ask what kind of clubs I play with, they just ask me to join because we have one thing in common; we all love to golf.  It is after some playing we find our style of play is different or one is far better than the other, but I have never been asked to stop playing with them just because we had some differences.  I have even learned some valuable tips from others because we respected the playing of each other. I never met another golfer just like me but I have met many who just love the game.

Can we be like that in the Church of God?  Can we learn to worship together, love each other, just because we have something in common, a love for God?  Yes, I know there are those who are struggling in their faith, but they do love God.  I know there are those who have not overcome their flesh and sins, but they do love God.  Maybe, what they need is someone to come along side with godly love and show them the way.  It’s no fun being a alone and having no fellowship.  I do understand at times it is hard to go to church where they don’t understand you.  It is hard to sit and listen to messages we disagree with, but we need the fellowship of others.  I am not asking you to put up with things that are clearly divisive, or false.  I am not asking you to sit under a ministry that is controlling and spiritually abusive.  Just stop thinking you are the only one that is right, learn to love others, and find grounds to fellowship with others. By this the world will know we are His by our love one to another.  Let’s stop looking at what divides us and build on what unites us.  I know we risk getting hurt, but God is the healer.  Can we stop fighting over how things are done and said and look at the heart of others.  They may not have the truth as you see it, but they do love God with all their heart. Two wrongs never make a right.  You may be right in letter but wrong in spirit.  Let’s check our own hearts in this matter and pursue things that build unity.

We are Divided!

I am not sure where to start this week on this subject.  Considering all through church history there have been so many wars and battles over things we disagree on in the Bible.  Christianity from the fourth century on has been filled with violence and blood shed.  Sometimes it makes me ashamed to be called a Christian.  Growing up in church, there are countless stories I could tell you about Christians fighting and church splits. (Maybe next week I will share a few) I could even share of some personal events that have happened to me, just because I may have believed something a little different or conducted a worship service differently.

This last weekend I attended a wonderful conference in Austin, TX.  One of the speakers, whom I enjoyed, shared some early church history and the shaping of church doctrine.  Early church history was filled with violence and mayhem.  Leaders were corrupt, thugs, and murderers, and the church today puts their trust in what these men came up with as orthodox doctrines?  We have blinded ourselves to the truth and refuse to take a fresh look into the word of God, maybe to find that we might have been wrong all these years.  I know that would take a lot of courage to do so.  A book I read last year was display of such courage, as the author admitted he was going against everything he knew before and what his own father had preached.  Yet, in a search for truth he admitted he had been wrong.

Today, Christianity makes up 33% of the worlds population.  Now, that includes every group that may be called Christian, even though there may be a few some would dispute wither they are Christian or not.  That 33% comes to about 2.1 billion Christians.  Of that 2.1 Billion Christians there are a little over 38,000 verified denominations worldwide.  This number does not include all the independent fellowships and affiliations.  This also does not count the thousands of organizations, and unaffiliated independent churches and ministries.  With about a major majority of these they can not get along with each other over some kind of believe and scriptural interpretation.  No wonder the world scoffs at us and think Christianity is a joke.  We all say we have the love of God but we hate each other.  What did John have to say about this?

 (1 John 4:20-21 NIV)  If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. {21} And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

 I thought about the brief list I gave last week and considered talking about them, but after some thought and prayer I think it would be best served to leave my own thoughts about some of those things alone.  I am not writing this to get any person angry towards me over what I would believe to be right or wrong.  For at the very core of the matter many of the things that have divided us through the centuries has not been worth the heart ache it has caused the body of Christ.  Instead I want to stir your mind with some thought and scripture to lay down the weapons we have used on each other.  Tear down the walls that have divided us, and let’s be willing to peaceably talk these things through.

First let’s take a fresh look at the word of God and see what it has to say on this subject.  We will let Paul show us how he dealt with divisions.  At the core of all the church problems is one common element, us humans.  It is an amazing thing, all through history God does a wonderful thing and gives it to man, then man messes it all up.  I guess until that day comes when that which is perfect has come (I Cor. 13.10) there will always be flaws in what we do.  I know that is hard for a lot of us to admit, but none of us has it all figured out, that is why we must put our trust in the one who does, God.

(1 Cor 3:1-4 NKJV)  And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. {2} I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; {3} for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? {4} For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

In my experience in church, I have found that every person I have met is still a human.  I would tell each and every one of you, run as fast as you can from people who try to make out that they have it all figured out.  If they say they have been given a special revelation, run.  Our history is full of people with special revelations that birthed cults and destruction.  Gather to those who are humble and willing to admit their human failings and are still on a path searching for truth.  The other thing I have learned in church is power corrupts humans.  Never give a person power over you; it will always lead to yours or their corruption.   

Let’s look a little further into what Paul had to say about our subject:

(1 Cor 1:10-13 NIV)  I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. {11} My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. {12} What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ." {13} Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

(1 Cor 11:17-19 NIV)  In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. {18} In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. {19} No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.

Notice what Paul was saying to the church at Corinth.   There must have been power hungry leaders in the Corinth fellowship trying to prove to everyone they were approved by God.  These kinds of leaders have power by making everyone around them feel less approved than they.  I have seen this done over and over in churches.  The greatest fuel to this kind of thinking has been the misused and improper teaching of the five fold ministry. Notice the following verse.

 (Rom 16:17-18 NIV)  I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. {18} For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites (for Power). By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. (for power, added by me)

(Jude 1:18-19 NIV)  They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." {19} These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

In the context of Paul’s subject from the beginning of 1 Cor. through most the book you could even say the core reason for chapters 12- 14 is still dealing with divisions and the things that were causing them. Even the use of the spiritual manifestations and of the gifts may have been causing divisions in the church.  Right in the middle of him teaching about spiritual things he deals with divisions even more. 

 (1 Cor 12:13-27 NIV)  For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. {14} Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. {15} If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. {16} And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. {17} If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? {18} But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. {19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? {20} As it is, there are many parts, but one body. {21} The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" {22} On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, {23} and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, {24} while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, {25} so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. {26} If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. {27} Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Then Paul stops to say that Love must be at work in all we do, this is how true ministry should work.  Should we be able to celebrate each other and not fight over our differences? Yes and many times yes.  Should we be able to talk about our differences and allow a true flow of ministry?  Yes and many times yes.  Could this be what is stopping a true flow of God’s spirit and ministry in today’s churches, us not getting along with each other?  I think it is a strong possibility.  We all have been hurt and seen many of God’s truths misused, but that should not make us afraid to step out and set a new standard for others to see.  Actually it should be a return to the old standard, the teachings of Jesus.  

The true church of Jesus Christ must come together in unity of the faith.  Like I said last week, our main faith must reside in the knowledge of who God is and who Jesus is. 

 (John 17:3 NIV)  Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

(Eph 4:1-6 NKJV)  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, {2} with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, {3} endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. {4} There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; {5} one Lord(little L, authority, added by me) , one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

(Eph 4:13-17 NKJV)  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; {14} that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, {15} but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; {16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

It’s time for the church to grow up.  Put away our childish behavior and build the church of Jesus.  What is at stake?  This lost and dying world is what is at stake.  We have been told that the world we live in is just its fallen nature.  They tell us we have to accept the changes in our world and let what is sinful and ungodly be. The only ones interested in church are church goers.  What if we started showing true unity and love first among ourselves, then to others?  What do you think might happen? What if all believers got on the same page as to who God is and who Jesus is?  What if we all shared the same true gospel message instead of all the junk we see in many churches and television?  What if we were able to start reducing the number of denominations, organizations, and fellowships there are?  Do you think the rest of the world would maybe start paying attention to the church of Jesus Christ?  I read in the book of Acts that this is what exactly happened and what an impact it made on the whole world. 

Let’s stop majoring on the minors and minimizing the majors.  Let’s come together on what is most important, who God is and His son Jesus the Christ.  Then let’s let God deal with all the rest.  Let nothing be between us but love.  Don’t let the human side of you and Satan divide us.  Unite for the Kingdom!

Things That Divide Us

As I have mentioned before I grew up in church and have had a wide range of church affiliations.  It did not take long for me to understand if I was to make it in the church world there were a few things you just avoided talking about.

  Christianity is a wide sweeping word in today’s culture.  It seems just about everyone that is affiliated with a church is called a Christian.  I feel that the very meaning of Christian is lost and misunderstood, because of how it is used today.  Now, it may not be my place to determine who is a Christian or who is not, I think their fruit should bear that out.  I don’t want to spend a lot of time trying to determine what makes a person a Christian.  In my own opinion from my understanding what makes a Christian is a born again believer of God and His Son Jesus the Messiah, who follows the example of Jesus’ own life and teachings.

As I learn from the Bible, history, churches, and current events, I find there are so many things that divide us rather than bind us. I know that there are things that I nor would I expect anyone to compromise on.  I will not spend a whole lot of time on that right now.  I do however believe that ones understanding of God and His son Jesus are the very cornerstone of our faith and spiritual growth.  There are a few other things I feel very strongly about and maybe later I will talk about those.

What I want to talk about is the many things that divide us in the body of Christ that I feel should not.  It just seems today we want to pick at the little things and let them divide us rather to stand in unity in the things we agree on.  Then what is lost is the integrity of the message to those who need it.  Let me put it this way.  If you where to listen to many of today’s personalities and some leaders they think all Christians are crazy.  They watch us fight among ourselves and disagree over scriptures, showing hatred toward any who disagree with us.  The so many churches seem to reject anyone that thinks differently.  Is this what God had intended when He birthed the Church of Jesus the Christ.   What did Jesus tell his followers? (John 13:34-35 NIV)  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. {35} By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Christianity today is divided into denominations, which I feel is not what God wanted when he began His church.  I feel God still is not in the divisions of men.  Of coarse this is nothing new in our history.  The writers of the New Testament had to deal with divisions.  Many a church today are in existence because of divisions.

(Rom 16:17 NIV)  I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

(1 Cor 1:10 NIV)  I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

(1 Cor 11:18 NIV)  In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

I looked the word denomination up on Wikipedia and it starts out with this: A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and another are defined by doctrine and church authority. Issues such as the nature of Jesus, the authority of apostolic succession, and papal primacy separate one denomination from another.
I know this may be my own opinion and who am I, but I feel we are spending to much time on things that may not really matter to our eternity.  Then on matters that are important we hammer so much on them we forget the real measage of the Kingdom.  Then what is lost is real growth in people who do believe but need real answers to life troubles and how does what they believe help them overcome in day to day struggles.
At the core of our faith is the knowledge of God and Jesus His son, and all that that intells.  Jesus the perfect man, sacerfice and first born of the reserection, elevated to the right hand of God, and will return.  Upon this we build our faith and grow in the Lord.

(2 Pet 1:1-9 NIV)  Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: {2} Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. {3} His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. {4} Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. {5} For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; {6} and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; {7} and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. {8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Now with the things that divide us let me make a small list and see if they are really worth fighting over.  Should we be able to talk about them? Yes.  Should we be showing hatred or refusing to hear others? No!  If our message is lost it is lost to those who need it and are perishing.  Like I have already mentioned we cannot compromise on the cornerstone of our faith, but that does not give me the right to treat others as I have been treated.  The rest I am willing to talk about it. I may not change my mind on some things, but I want to still be loved and also keep my heart right toward you and before God.
Below is the list of many of the things that divide us today.
Communion: How it is taken and how often.  Do we use juice or wine, are we worthy or unworthy?  As a pastor I have been confronted many times with this when people would come to join our church.  Then I have watched churches divide or fellowships fall apart over this very thing.  I don’t want to make any issues here, but I do believe in it and think I have a clear understanding.  Yet, I do not want to fight over this one.

(Rom 14:19-21 NIV)  Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. {20} Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. {21} It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

Baptism: Dunk or sprinkle. What words should be spoken, Matt. 28.19 or Acts 2.38.  I do believe in baptism, it is a testimony of ones’ confession.  The debate I have seen over the years has been astounding to me.  I remember a time when I was traveling with an evangelist (I was 18).  We were ministering at an oneness church for a week and the evangelist was Trinitarian, he just did not talk about what he believed.  One night they were having baptisms and before the service a church elder was sitting in the office with us.  He turned to us and talked about baptism and mad a statement I think just to see what we would say.  “You know those trinity people if they don’t get baptized right they are all going to hell”. We both just shook our heads and changed the subject, and the man left.  I will never for get what the evangelist said to me. “I guess the pastor thinks this is the greatest revival they ever had, seen many miracles this week and souls saved, all by a man who’s going to hell, only if he knew”.     

For the sake of time I will make a quick list of many other things of some may even seem silly but they are issues to some. We will cover some of them over the next few weeks

Wars, strong drink, how we dress, jewelry, makeup, hair, moral issues, divorce, race, prosperity, faith, the end times, grace, music, structure of service, Sabbath services, festivals, traditions, hell, heaven, Bible translations, death, the law, tithes, tongues, spiritual manifestations.  There may be many other smaller issues I have missed.  What I have seen over the years is the hatred and ugly words given through disagreement over many of these things.

There are those things I feel the Bible is very clear about and I have shared a few of these already.  Like tithes I feel it is not an eternal issue, so I feel it is not worth fighting over.  If one wants to follow the law in their giving so be it, just don’t get angry with me if I don’t.   I promise you I will not get angry at you if you do, but can we talk about it, and if I cannot change your mind about it I will still love you and encourage you to seek for truth in God’s word. 

As I have heard a friend of mine say many a time let’s keep the main thing the main thing.  Let’s work on things that edify and build up the body of Christ not divide.  Let’s build upon the cornerstone of our faith and help each other to overcome in our daily struggles.  Let the love of God shine through our hearts and lives.  Let the world see there is hope and peace in Jesus not division.  Read I Cor 12, where Paul talks about the body.  Read the following scriptures and lets talk some more.

(Rom 14:1 NIV)  Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

(2 Tim 2:23-26 NIV)  Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. {24} And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. {25} Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, {26} and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

(Titus 3:9-11 NIV)  But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. {10} Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. {11} You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

(1 Cor 10:23-24 NKJV)  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. {24} Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

This week I will attempt to wrap up my thoughts on worship.  To begin we will need to go back to John chapter four.

(John 4:23-24 NIV)  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. {24} God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

We have talked about what worship is and to who it should be directed to.  Then we need to get into the core of worship in its self.  Jesus told the woman at the well that the Father is seeking for true worshipers.  So, I guess the question should be who is a true worshiper.  If we were to ask any person that believes in God, if they are a true worshiper, most likely they would say they were.  But, to get that answer we need to look at the Word of God, and even see what Jesus said.

We are living in a society where the term or label Christian is so widely used.  I feel that the truth of who God is paramount to knowing who we are and how we worship.  To see Jesus the Christ for whom he is, can we truly know how to reflect the Fathers image on this world.  Jesus being the only begotten son was the Fathers perfect representative to the world.  Jesus said “you seen me you seen the Father” (John 14.9).  Jesus was not making a claim to be God, but God’s true representative, the image of the Father.  The answer to today’s problems and issues can be found in our relationship with the Father. 

We have so many debates on who is right and over so many issues, that what is lost is the truth of who we should worship and what that should be to us.  We as Christians fight over so many issues and judge everyone who disagrees with us.  We look at our country and world around us and condemn for its sins.  The question I ask, is all these people truly born again believers?  Are they true worshipers of the One God whom Jesus spoke of and his disciples wrote about, or have they just bit the religious fruit, or so to speak been drinking the traditional Kool-aid.  Until the true believers start getting it right, how can we expect a lost world to get it right?  You can not speak for God effectively if your life is not a refection of who He is.  Until we become true worshipers we will always struggle with all the issues of life.  There is not a sin worse than another, as Paul put it we all have come “short of the glory of God” (Rom 3.23)

With that said, it does not matter what the issue may be, we have no right to condemn until we get it right.  I think it was Jesus who said get the “plank out of your own eye” (Matt. 7.4-5) before trying to get the speck out of someone else’s eye.  How can one condemn one for war when we have wars among ourselves?  How can we judge another for abortion, when we have spiritually aborted many, or our young ones are running around in sexual sins?  How can we say what is a righteous union in marriage when we have forsaken it ourselves and the divorce rate is just as high in the church if not higher, and we continue to let our leaders to hide their sexual sins.  Let’s get back to the heart of worship.

So, what did Jesus mean when He said the Father is a Spirit and He is seeking for true worshipers?  I think the answer can be found in Adam and Eve, and then Jesus who shows us the Father.  Adam and Eve were created in the perfect image of God.  They knew who he was and had perfect harmony with Him.  There was no shame, nothing was hidden from God their relationship was open and honest.  It is evident in Gen. 3 that God came down on a regular basis to visit with them; they were so pure that they did not know they were naked.  When they disobeyed God (the opposite of true worship) their eyes were opened and all of a sudden there was shame, so they hid themselves from God, worship was lost. 

Then Jesus comes along to restore the worship that was lost (Paul called him the second Adam 1 Cor. 15).  He came to show us the Father and His desire to be connected to us.  So let’s look at what Jesus said.  

Jesus said to connect with the Father it must be done in spirit and truth, so what did Jesus mean by that?  I feel we can find a two fold meaning in both of the words, spirit and truth.  To start lets look at the words in the Greek, and then take a close look at what they mean. The word for spirit is pneuma, pnyoo'-mah; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.  This word is a very widely used word meaning everything from God’s own Spirit to air or breath.  So, what does it mean to worship the Father in spirit? 

I feel that worshiping God in spirit has two parts, please let me explain.  Jesus told his followers that he would send a helper called holy spirit.  He personified this gift to be given his followers, but never claimed it to be God Himself.  In the understanding of the word used for spirit by Jesus we should see he was telling us that it is the power and breathe of God though Jesus that was going to be given to us. Let’s look at some of Jesus’ own words.

(John 14:17 NIV)  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

(John 7:37-39 NIV)  On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. {38} Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." {39} By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

(John 15:26 NIV)  "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

(John 16:13-15 NIV)  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. {14} He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. {15} All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

It is the power and presence of God in us as believers that helps us to become true worshipers.  It is God’s gift given to us to bring us to that perfect place of worship.  It is that power that can help us live out (Mark 12. 29-30) in its fullness, loving God with our whole life and being. Then the other part of the spirit is our own true self, without shame or sin.  It is God’s gift to us that through Jesus we can come boldly to the throne of God. 

One could read Romans 8 for all its fullness and see what we have in the spirit.  I love the way Paul starts out that chapter (Rom 8:1-5 NIV)  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, {4} in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. {5} Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. When we truly love God from all of who we are through Jesus we begin to be true worshipers.  Like Adam we can love and worship without shame.

Let me put it this way.  I can say I love my wife and even have a piece of paper that says I do, but it is my actions and nature that says I do.  If I am never around or try to hide parts of my life from her, she would doubt my love.  My very nature, daily life must say I love you to my wife.  There should be no doubt in anyone minds by the way I live and act that I am in love with my wife.  Just because you go to church and have a certificate of membership, or even went down to an alter and repeated a prayer does not prove your love for God, it is your daily actions and life that should leave no doubt in the hearts of those that see you.

Truth is a hard subject today because everyone has their own version of truth.  (Rom 3:4 NIV)  Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."   There are those who will always reject truth or come up with their own version, but look what Paul said about them.  (2 Th 2:10 NIV)  and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 

The Word in the Greek for truth as Jesus used it is: aletheia, al-ay'-thi-a; truth:--true, X truly, truth, verity.  It may seem simple, but to me it is where most of us struggle.  To truly give God the place he deserves in or lives we have to be honest and naked before him.  We have to stop hiding like Adam and stand before God as we are.  It is Jesus who has cleaned us and made us righteous.  The truth of who we are is only found in Jesus.  I could never stand before God in my own righteousness, but I can through Jesus and the truth he has given.   (John 14:6 NIV)  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  (Heb 4:16 NKJV)  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (1 John 4:17-19 NIV)  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. {18} There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. {19} We love because he first loved us.

Then, Jesus tells us that the spirit the he will give will reveal truth. (John 14:17 NIV)  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. Don’t let traditions and modern teaching drown out the truth.  We often start out with a great passion for God to know him for ourselves, but often over time we settle for the traditions and lose parts of truth to just fit in. (Gal 5:7 NIV)  You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? We worship in the truth of who God is, who Jesus is, and the Word of God being rightly divided (2 Tim 2.15)

Like the marriage example a couple starts out on fire for each other living on the emotional and physical experiences.  It is over time when we see what they have is real.  They will either fall apart due to difficulties or they just settled into coexisting together because that is what they are supposed to do.  It is true love that is lived out and demonstrated that stands the test of time and trials.  It is knowing each other truly and accepting the good and bad that makes their love possible.

  Jesus spoke in (John 14:15 NIV) “If you love me, you will obey what I command.  He set the standard of worship and truth, revealing the Father to us.  In this worship that God desires we will find life and true peace.  When we recognize His complete authority in our lives, come before him in purity and spirit.  We humble ourselves before him and submit completely to His ways not ours.  Worship is not just an act, but a part of who I am.  It is how I live and carry out my daily life that is worship to God.  If I truly love Him I will bring all of who I am and how I live under His commands.  His very Words will be life to me and His spirit given to me will bring me to that place of complete victory over sin and self ambitions. That God will have the same words to speak about me as he did David “a man after my own heart” 

Let’s learn to be true worshipers and start showing the world how to live by our example, not our empty words.

Worship to the Father

Who do we need to worship?  Now days there is so much controversy surrounding worship and what would be proper.  I think Paul may have helped clear that up in Acts 17.  I think every believer needs to understand that it is in God the Father we move and have our being.  Then it is in Christ the risen savoir we have been restored to that place of fellowship with the Father. 

The first and up most part of our heart worship needs to be to the Father in whom we have life and being.  We need to completely surrender to the God of all living and the provider of salvation.  It is God who sent His son and gave him for a ransom for all our sins.  It is God who raised his son up on the third day to be the first born of the coming resurrection.  This is the very reason I have hope in the promise that God will raise us all up one day if we should die before that day.

(1 Cor 6:14 NIV)  By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

Now, last week I had a short list of things we often wrongfully worship. I did leave out unintentionally angels, but I hope to clear up that list and thought.

These days in our churches there are so many songs that direct so much attention to Jesus, or simply written about him.  Many of these songs accredited him for things that belong to the Father.  Then there are songs that give recognition to angels and others.  I want to make clear that praise and honor to one who acts in obedience to and for God could be praised for their works.  But, still it is God alone who created all things and gives life.  Jesus himself said he could do nothing outside the Father and even told one person that there was none good But God the Father (John 5.18-19, Mark 10.17-18)

You will not find one single scripture that has any worship directed towards Holy Spirit.  Even in Revelations we find the Father and His son, but where is the Holy Spirit.  Yet, today we have preachers and books telling us to direct such worship to Holy Spirit.  I feel this is wrong.

In the understanding of worship believers need to rediscover worship toward God the Father of all things.  We need to humble our hearts in submission to the God who is the giver of life.  Our very life, how we live and treat others should be a part of our worship to God.  Look in the Bible, discover who God is and turn our hearts toward Him.  This is what Jesus was confirming in Mark 12.28-31, as he recited the Hebrew Shema.  We are to love the one and only God with our whole life and effort.  This is not just words spoken from our hearts, or songs that we sing in a service.   Just going to church and calling it a time of worship makes it true worship.  It is what we do from day to day in honor to God that creates a lifestyle of worship.  Everything we do or say in the everyday experience of live can be worship to our God.  The writer of Hebrews says, (Heb 11:6 NIV)  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  In pursuing God you can’t help but become a true worshiper.

Concerning Jesus the son of God we can direct praise and worship as long as we know why.  Jesus did obey the father completely even unto death.  It is through Him we have salvation and access to the Father. (Eph 2.18, John 14.6)  It is Jesus who authored our salvation and will return to establish God’s kingdom.  It is in Jesus we have life and we are renewed.  I worship Jesus for the work He has done and the life he has given me.  He is the giver of holy spirit, that gives me power to overcome in this life.  It is Christ in us the hope of glory, ( Col.1.27).

Yet in my worship to Jesus I recognize that it is also giving honor to his Father.  Jesus is the perfect representative of the Father and he works in perfect unity with the Father (John 17).  Is it OK to worship Jesus as long as we know why and understand his role?  Yes. We may worship him as the son of God, but not as God.  God the Father gives glory and honor to His son and speaks of worship to His son.  Read the following verses.

(Hebrews 1:6 NIV)And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

"Let all God's angels worship him."

Luke 24:52 NIV Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

Matthew 14:33 NIV Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Revelation 5:11-14 NIV Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

This now brings us back full circle. God is the object of our worship, Jesus is the perfect image of that subject so worship can be directed to him in thanks giving and honor to his work and obedience to the Father.  Worship to the Father is what Jesus was trying to drive home to the woman in John four.  In verse twenty-two, he makes it very clear that the Hebrew people were the example of how to worship.  Read the book of Deuteronomy and see God’s heart and desire for worship.  Even to this day every Jew learns the Shema that Jesus also learned (Duet. 6.4-6).  Everything the Hebrew people did in their daily lives was to be an act of worship in thanksgiving to their God for their daily provision. 

Jesus directed the woman at the well toward worship in spirit and truth.  He told her that the father is seeking such worshipers.  This is where we will pick this up next week.  Until then get in the word and ask God to direct you in your worship, I just know he will.  Don’t be like so many in our churches today and even in Jesus time. Matthew 15:8-9 NIV “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'"

Hebrews 12:28 NIV Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Revelation 22:8-9 NIV I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!"

Revelation 4:10 NIV the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: