We haven't put out anything on the KingdomScribes blog this last year because we've just been letting things develop in relationship to the KingdomScribes' vision. This last year of virtual silence has seen a great deal of growth in our lives and clarity from the Lord.
Having been hidden away "in the cleft of the Rock" for such a long time here in northern California, the Lord is moving Michele and me into a new field of "practical ministry". There are quite a few people near us -- about an hour away on the Pacific coast -- who are spiritually restless. They're ready to go into new places in God's "preparation of the Bride", but are unclear just what that looks like.
Which is O.K. We're unclear as well, but quite willing to move out of familiar church forms and find forms more suitable to the Move of God's Spirit today. In a sense, I personally feel like a part of me that's never yet been fulfilled is close to its fulfillment.
Just a few days ago I shared with Michele how all my life I'd loved sci-fi stories about the "end of the world". She looked at me suspiciously. Stories of the decimation of humankind due to a world-wide atomic bomb or a meteor crashing into the ocean or a Ebola virus killing 99% of the population hardly seemed very "christian" of me.
Agreeing with her (but still enamored of these stories) I asked the Lord why I have such twisted tastes in literature -- and He said it's because He created me this way. "It's Your fault?" I asked, and He told me it's the natural outgrowth of a character trait He designed in me -- He gave me a fondness for scenarios in which the entire infrastructure is destroyed, leaving people free to develop something new.
Like -- what?
Let's consider "infrastructure" first. "Infrastructure" is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the continuation of a society or activity. Like buildings, roads, power plants, fuel, communications, etc. When the Ebola virus is released, for example, every one needed to drive buses, generate electricity, repair roads, restock groceries -- they're all gone. The infrastructure needed to keep society maintained is gone. Communities have shut down, streets are empty, cars are abandoned and nobody's "home" because society's "infrastructure" has been destroyed.
Instantly, I understood His point -- especially how it relates to the Kingdom.
In order to build the Church according to new patterns, a person has to be willing to release the old, religious infrastructure -- the rituals, the programs, the familiar, friendly, previously successful patterns of what "doing church" means. Understand me -- not destroy those patterns, but be willing to release whatever Jesus says is no longer part of the Church He's building.
There is in me a joyous expectation that in releasing the traditions of men, we can enter into the Living Church that Jesus Builds -- the Church which prevails over the gates of Hell itself.
It's vital to be clear on this: There is no need to tear down existing, religious structures. To "violently press into the Kingdom of God" does not require the "tearing down" of old line churches, denominations, etc. In fact, we're certain that any such focus is a distraction from receiving the New Wine of Jesus into New Wineskins. As we've said often, our focus is simple: we're going into new places in the Kingdom, places where Jesus leads and we follow. Basically, in respect to brethren who have no interest in spiritually traveling with us, we bless them and go our way.
In fact, our primary responsibility to older church forms and even the religious tradition of our Christian brothers and sisters is honor -- honor those who have gone before, and honor the function they still have in the Church of Jesus Christ. But our primary responsibility to God is to let Him hold the map, and walk into unknown places, guided by the safety of our hands in the Father's Hand.
Having been hidden away "in the cleft of the Rock" for such a long time here in northern California, the Lord is moving Michele and me into a new field of "practical ministry". There are quite a few people near us -- about an hour away on the Pacific coast -- who are spiritually restless. They're ready to go into new places in God's "preparation of the Bride", but are unclear just what that looks like.
Which is O.K. We're unclear as well, but quite willing to move out of familiar church forms and find forms more suitable to the Move of God's Spirit today. In a sense, I personally feel like a part of me that's never yet been fulfilled is close to its fulfillment.
Just a few days ago I shared with Michele how all my life I'd loved sci-fi stories about the "end of the world". She looked at me suspiciously. Stories of the decimation of humankind due to a world-wide atomic bomb or a meteor crashing into the ocean or a Ebola virus killing 99% of the population hardly seemed very "christian" of me.
Agreeing with her (but still enamored of these stories) I asked the Lord why I have such twisted tastes in literature -- and He said it's because He created me this way. "It's Your fault?" I asked, and He told me it's the natural outgrowth of a character trait He designed in me -- He gave me a fondness for scenarios in which the entire infrastructure is destroyed, leaving people free to develop something new.
Like -- what?
Let's consider "infrastructure" first. "Infrastructure" is the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the continuation of a society or activity. Like buildings, roads, power plants, fuel, communications, etc. When the Ebola virus is released, for example, every one needed to drive buses, generate electricity, repair roads, restock groceries -- they're all gone. The infrastructure needed to keep society maintained is gone. Communities have shut down, streets are empty, cars are abandoned and nobody's "home" because society's "infrastructure" has been destroyed.
Instantly, I understood His point -- especially how it relates to the Kingdom.
In order to build the Church according to new patterns, a person has to be willing to release the old, religious infrastructure -- the rituals, the programs, the familiar, friendly, previously successful patterns of what "doing church" means. Understand me -- not destroy those patterns, but be willing to release whatever Jesus says is no longer part of the Church He's building.
There is in me a joyous expectation that in releasing the traditions of men, we can enter into the Living Church that Jesus Builds -- the Church which prevails over the gates of Hell itself.
It's vital to be clear on this: There is no need to tear down existing, religious structures. To "violently press into the Kingdom of God" does not require the "tearing down" of old line churches, denominations, etc. In fact, we're certain that any such focus is a distraction from receiving the New Wine of Jesus into New Wineskins. As we've said often, our focus is simple: we're going into new places in the Kingdom, places where Jesus leads and we follow. Basically, in respect to brethren who have no interest in spiritually traveling with us, we bless them and go our way.
In fact, our primary responsibility to older church forms and even the religious tradition of our Christian brothers and sisters is honor -- honor those who have gone before, and honor the function they still have in the Church of Jesus Christ. But our primary responsibility to God is to let Him hold the map, and walk into unknown places, guided by the safety of our hands in the Father's Hand.
1 comments:
Sometimes taking our finger off the map is the problem. God, in HIs divine wisdom, knows that we tend to get grabby or leave greasy fingerprints. Sometimes perhaps He even resorts to kind of tying our hands down so that we will let Him drive. Ugh-
If the Body of Christ is thought of for a moment as a Body- then in it there would be eyes and hands and feet, elbows and bellies, etc. When "rightly" fitted together then it is complete, nothing missing, just as He designed.
Sometimes inside the "church" we struggle--- because perhaps all try to be eyes or ears or someone looks at the arm and says you have no place here.
Honoring those who labored before us seems an honorable thing.
Serving the One who we are all to labor for, should be all of our focus.
God bless you and your dear wife as you endeavor at that which God asks you to do.
May You path be highly illuminated. & As people meet you, may they all see God. In the Name of Jesus- Amen
Mya, "imavessel"
Found your link on Redeeming Passion sight. Andrea & Troy are awesome!
Post a Comment