Whose Kingdom is it?
Epicenter: spiritual formation for Kingdom impact put on by the BGCT this past Spring:
“It is possible to participate in church expansion and unintentionally be an agent for shrinking the kingdom of God,” Jeff Christopherson, pastor of The Sanctuary in Oakville, Ontario, said at Epicenter, a spiritual formation and missions event sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
I guess after having been on the mission field doing volunteer work for 7 years I've come to wonder more and more about sects within my denomination.
Probably one of the most eye opening comments I heard was from this Pastor in Canada as he talked about when you cross a certain line in your authority you actually begin working for the dominion of darkness.
Knowing what I know... it seemed the community of the IMB was being led to "group isolation." It's okay to know these "other" denominations but don't partner with them.
Our "brand" church first and Jesus a close second. Our new authority isn't from the King, Jesus but from our corporate idenity. Does it have a "Southern Baptist" name on it? And even though they might not come right out say it... you MUST conform to our way or find yourself another way.
Thus our mode for changing the world becomes no better than the crusades years ago in heart motive. Where is the "follow God" in conformity? Where are the leaders who say... we will support you as God leads you?
AND the one of the most defining things... the energy comes from competions. You know how I know it comes from competition? Numbers. Right? The missionaries are told you can't partner and one of the reasons was there will be inaccurate counting of "believers"... you and this other entity can not count these handful of believers for both your churches. Since you are with the SB then they must be SB or you must move on to find other believers to disciple. Competition.
How are we not crossing over a very fine line from the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of Darkness?
I praise God daily for men and women who take a stand to call us back. My prayers are with them as they continue. May they continue to fight the good fight, stand up for what the Word of God says and always point to where we are compromising our own beliefs or leading people astray. So that we may walk together and serve God well.
the Spirit of Judgmentalism
Today I'm troubled in my spirit by a Christian's ability to judge another Christian.
One Christian who says to another - if you are not as confrontational in life, relationally, in witnessing... if you are more "passive" which is what I mean by non-confrontational then you are wrong, in sin and inferior.
One Christian who says to another - I know based on what I know of God, his word and your life that you did not hear correctly from God.
One Christian who says to another - you are so stepping on egg shells and no one's willing to call anything what it is, we'll just sweep it under the rug without regard to the hurt that has already been inflicted, the sorrow another heart feels. And that the soft spoken, submissive to the wrong people, "passive" person is inferior and worthy to be judged and condemned for not living a truly godly, whole-hearted life.
Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ... You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. .... If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. - Romans 14:4, 10, 15-16 (NIV)
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor? - James 4:11 - 12 (NIV)
What does that word slander mean? To speak impiously, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil. Impiously? Lacking piety or reverence for a god; lacking due respect or dutifulness. Piety is a desire and willingness to perform religious duties. So basically without regard for the other person you hold them in distain and the basic tenants of Love and Grace are not applied to what you say. It is a misuse of freedom... even if you keep your mouth shut and these feelings, thoughts still rule in your heart it is the same.
It is an offensive odor and reeks in the spiritual realm.
Matthew 7:3-4 & Luke 6:41-42 speak to us of the danger we fall into by condemning another person when we ourselves are not clean, when we have problems just as big... stepping on egg shells, jealousy, despair, giving up, anger, bitterness, self-depreciation. Jesus said we have a plank ( a huge board) compared to our brother's speck.
Pray against the spirit of judgmentalism.
