Ok, I just spent the whole morning reading one of the most troubling stories of modern-day church conflict. I bounced from blog to blog, website to website, reading letters, comments, legal documents, and more. It was a situation of which I have had some awareness in the past and it is grievous enough to match some of the worst in church history. So far, no one has been murdered, but reputations and ministries have been destroyed and the stress has been the cause of some life-threatening illnesses.
No, I am not going to tell you who I was reading about, just that it is long and involved. Amazing - disgusting - deeply concerning. The question in my mind is this: Why is it so common/easy for people and ministries who claim to have superior doctrine and values to overlook their own sin and compromise?
Let me offer my own answer. Those who focus on sin and performance fail to have Jesus as their Center. When Jesus is not the Center, be sure that the flesh will find a way to prosper. It may be seen in the way money is spent or how people are treated. It may be seen in the inconsistencies of applying the Scriptures. But it will be seen.
Jesus is not a system of doctrines or lifestyle issues. He is a Person. He loves His people and He hates the sin that moves them to hurt each other. His love and grace are the message of the gospel. The gospel is not the establishment of some list of rules. Watch out for ministries and people who want to give you a list to live by. Chances are that they don't even know the Person who is our Life.
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Christianity is a relationship! It is far more than a set of dogmas or rules. Jesus Christ is real and active. I believe that He wants us to learn to walk and talk with Him. We will be talking about Him, about performance spirituality, and about a few side topics that touch my heart as I walk with Him.
How much sin is on your account right now?
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Lloyd-Jones on the grace message
There is a sense in which the doctrine of justification by faith only is a very dangerous doctrine; dangerous, I mean, in the sense that it can be misunderstood. It exposes a man to this particular charge. People listening to it may say, "Ah, there is a man who does not encourage us to live a good life, he seems to say that there is no value in our works, he says that 'all our righteousness are as filthy rags.' Therefore what he is saying is that it does not matter what you do, sin as much as you like." . . . There is thus clearly a sense in which the message of "justification by faith only" can be dangerous, and likewise with the message that salvation is entirely of grace. . . . I say therefore that if our preaching does not expose us to that charge and to that misunderstanding, it is because we are not really preaching the gospel. - David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
A. W. Tozer on grace for the heart
"But the evangelical rationalist today is still wearing our uniform. He comes right in wearing our uniform and says what the Pharisees said while Jesus was on earth (and they were His worst enemies), “Well, truth is truth, and if you believe the truth, you’ve got it!”In His day or in our day, such people see no beyond and no mystic depth, no mysterious heights, nothing supernatural or divine. They see only I-believe-in-God-the-Father-Almighty-Maker- of-heaven-and-earth-and-in-Jesus-Christ-His-only-Son-our-Lord. They have the text and the code and the creed, and to them that is the truth. So they pass it on to others. The result is we are dying spiritually.
Now, what about the evangelical mystic? I do not really like the word mystic because you think of a fellow with long hair and a little goatee who acts dreamy and strange. Maybe it is not a good word at all, but I am talking about the spiritual side of things—that the truth is more than the text. There is something that you must get through to. The truth is more than the code. There is a heart beating in the middle of the code and you must get there." (Faith Beyond Reason)
Now, what about the evangelical mystic? I do not really like the word mystic because you think of a fellow with long hair and a little goatee who acts dreamy and strange. Maybe it is not a good word at all, but I am talking about the spiritual side of things—that the truth is more than the text. There is something that you must get through to. The truth is more than the code. There is a heart beating in the middle of the code and you must get there." (Faith Beyond Reason)
I Am in a church and in a home group that is suggesting that the more we become sinless the more we will see the sighns and wonders. I think that is legalism. I think the more grace is preached and the more you speak of Gods love and the more you tell the church they are free aand sinless in Gods eyes the more we will see sighns and wonders taking place
Yes, I agree. I apologize for taking so long to answer. I am on vacation right now and haven't checked in for a while. The more we focus on sin, which is what happens when we try to become "sinless", the more we take our eyes off Jesus. He is the only Source of power and strength. If signs and wonders are to be seen, they will be seen in relationship with Him. Of course, there are always those who manufacture fake signs and wonders, but the real ones only come from Jesus. We are sinless and free in grace, so why not tell people the truth and release them from the pain of failing performance? You are on the right track!
Hi dave. Go to www.graceinflood.blogspot.com
it is my friends blog. download the teachings. it is also where i managed to find your blog.
be blessed and continue to walk more and more in the freedom that He has to offer.