No Ordinary Thaw

Why do we not speak with that same simplicity, that same urgency and that same absoluteness [as Paul and the early Christians]? I believe it is because we do not believe it as absolutely as Paul did, nor do we live as if we believe it. We are simply not occupied with the things that are eternal, and therefore we are unable to persuade men.¹ We need to press mankind to come to terms with eternity even though they will accuse us of being dogmatic, narrow-minded and intolerant, and yet that will be enough to intimidate many of us to silence. There is nothing more embarrassing and intimidating to the modern Christian than to be considered narrow and dogmatic.² It did not, however, intimidate Paul. Eternity is not a narrow concept. The world needs to be disturbed by people who cannot contain themselves, who are beyond the issue of taste, politeness and good manners, who burn with the reality of eternity and who take every opportunity to express the things that are Divine.

Our absoluteness is the very height of offense to a world that is relativistic and pluralistic. They do not want to be told that there is anything that is absolute, that there are only two alternatives, but they need to be told, not by people who bring (only) the correct doctrine but by those who come with a burning conviction. Do we really believe that God has fixed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness? Our apostolic task is to bring an unwanted and unwelcome message to an indifferent world, and it is a message we can only bring in the same proportion that we can demonstrate it. It is not enough to be “correct.” We have to come to them, as it were, from the eternal place.

Art Katz – The Challenge of Living an Authentic Christian Life

(all emphasis mine)

1 We’re not even persuading our own children in most instances. I include myself in this.

2 This is why the threat of slander is often satan’s final “trump card” whenever his “kingdom” is finally and actually being threatened.

Follow me, as I follow Christ.

– Paul of Tarsus (1 Corinthians 11:1)

In contemplating things in my own life and things I have had pointed out to me by others, I’ve had to confront aspects of leadership that may be required of me as to spheres for which I will be held accountable (eg. leading household, children, etc.)

One aspect I’ve had to consider is the specific pathway into “leadership” and one thing I am discovering more and more, as a bedrock for leadership, is the simple basic aspect of being a fantastic follower. I’ve noticed that the people I know in my own life who I consider “excellent leaders,” if I had to boil away all the upfront perspectives and views on who they are and why they are what they are… I’ve noticed that at base, one important, simple aspect of their lives is… they simply fantastic, stable, loyal followers. Followers of Christ. Immovable. Unchangeable. You don’t always have to get after them and “remind” them of their commitments and what their life and direction should be. They lead by following. Following fantastically. Lighting the way. Paving the path. Taking the hits. Doing the upfront work, without complaint and without notice and without drawing attention to themselves. Always reflecting Christ in their simple, base life choices.

This way of all-out following has a direct correlation to why Jesus said “Call no man ‘master,’ ‘teacher,’ or ‘father’…” No “titles.” The “Gentiles do it that way,” Jesus said. But “not so with you.” Don’t do it that way. There’s a reason why. It interferes with following. God’s Way is following, surrender, emptying. More on this last point another time. It’s a whole topic unto itself. But what a concept of “leadership” is wrapped up in the simplicity of fantastic following.

I’m currently reading an absolutely fantastic book which I’ll disclose and review here soon. What incredible word poetry the author is using to correctly (re)paint and recalibrate my view of the Kingdom amidst a world and society that has had lost to it — through a methodical “dumbing down” — of the Reality of the Kingdom of God from Heaven. But more on that later.

Here is a quote from the book, something that the author said after reading the New Testament scriptures for the very first time that has just mesmerized me since reading it:

I was struck by the Apostolic Grandeur of the scriptures…

I was struck by that quote. It’s like he stated something I have only all-too-rarely sensed and should have continued to feel every time I read them, but again, because of the “religiousness” of our “modern society,” the invention of the printing press (and now the “ePrinting Press” — the internet), we loose the sense of rarity and awe this person felt due to the (perceived) commonality and (very perceived) “familiarity” in our society (though actually the OPPOSITE is true…) and the ease with which the scriptures can be accessed.

But do we really realize just how rare the scriptures actually are? Are we struck by the enormity of them? Not just what they teach, but… I can find no better words than the ones I just quoted… Are we struck by the Apostolic Grandeur of them??!!

For those who may be unfamiliar with how the Bible was “formed”… how it was “put together”… how it was “decided” which books were “from God” and which were not… I can find no better description. That sense of Apostolic Grandeur is exactly what the “early church fathers” used in determining what was “from God” and what was not. There was a sense of rightness, a sense of awe, a sense of “other-worldliness,” a sense in which “these words, though spoken by men and one man in particular” were not just any other “religious words” — like from Confusious or something — but that they really were wrought from another Realm.
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I recently received this MP3 clip spoken by the late Art Katz. It’s got to be in the top three things I’ve ever heard because… the implications for what it means — if you have eyes to see and ears to hear!! — are so huge.

Here is a quick quote to ponder:

There are a couple of words that need to be restored… one is “fellowship”… “Fellowship” has become some kind of easy, soft, pappie, slap-on-the-back and chuck-under-the-chin “how ya doin’, brother?”…

Art then proceeds to properly redefine “fellowship.” It’s a whole lot more than what most of us have been brought up to think. If you can excuse me for saying so, most of what we call “fellowship” is a cheap, cotton-candy substitute for the real thing. And why shouldn’t satan invent and push such a definition on us? His “kingdom” is only threatened by the Real Thing. So, he does his “work” by changing definitions. And we are the losers for it.

This isn’t just about “fellowship.” This is about a missing Reality in the world today (by and large) of an intertwined, resurrection, “daily in public and from house to house,” “all things in common,” kind of unified Life that Jesus prayed about in John 17 that is absolutely necessary for turning the world upside down now as it once was as depicted in Acts. Missing “fellowship,” missing truth (which is way more than just “doctrine”), missing Reality and missing Expression of all of those things are what are discussed in 30 short minutes.

I hope you’ll listen to the clip, pray through it, and see if you can see the picture repainted in God’s Way. Only through the Reality of the Kingdom as God intended — and not a watered down version that suits our fancies and lifestyles — can His Glory really be manifest in the earth.

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• The Church Prepared for the Return of Christ

Here’s an excerpt from a story some CHILDREN wrote a number of years ago. Unexplained really. See if you can “make the connection.” Breath-taking and stunning at the same time if you can “catch on to” the implications in the allegory.

Background: The story is fictitious non-fiction. That is the period and many events in the story are non-fictitious, but told from the stand-point of fictitious characters. The excerpt is of a fictitious character, Ezra, speaking with the non-fictitious character in Jesus’ day, Jairus, the synagogue ruler:

Ezra sighed, “I do wish father could have come. We both have yearned to see and worship at the temple again,” Ezra paused as he stared into the crackling fire, “and to sit under the teaching and guidance of the scribes and Pharisees.” He leaned back on his hands and looked up into the stars. “Jairus, my father specifically asked me to see what the leaders in Jerusalem say about Jesus—whether He is the Messiah or not. The teachers of the law know the Scriptures well. Surely when they meet and hear Jesus, they will listen to and acknowledge the words He speaks. Don’t you think?”

In a clear, serious tone Jairus spoke, “Oh, Ezra, I’ve heard our leaders speak many times in the temple. I’ve seen them worship and carry out their duties. Some do seem to have a heart for God, and yes, some may listen. But many live only external lives, desiring mainly to be seen of men. Some do care about the law and about doing everything right, but they seem to never yield their hearts. They hold that our traditions are equally as important as God’s commands. In fact, I don’t think some can tell the difference anymore!” Jairus shook his head and gazed into the flames.

Startled by what Jairus was saying, Ezra asked, “You don’t think some can tell what difference anymore?”

“The difference between the traditions established by our fathers and God’s own commands,” Jairus repeated carefully.

“Give me an example.” Ezra could feel a slight apprehension rising in his heart.

Jairus waited a moment before he responded. “All right, Ezra. We could talk about the thousands of ‘extra’ interpretations and explanations by mere men. We could discuss the mighty grand Sanhedrin and how an invention of man has become ‘Yahweh’s Voice’—or men wish it so. We could discuss Saul and the King’s administrative positions and rule versus Samuel’s God-given rule of anointing—man wants impressive stature and postion while God wants heart and spirit. There are hundreds of examples that few today ever question. It seems we are drunk on our traditions and too fearful to ask, ‘Why?’! But now, shall we consider the synagogues?”
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Been listening to Francis Chan lately. I really like this guy’s heart. He’s a real person without a doubt. Here are some quotes from his Crazy Love book we’re reading with some others right now. Something to think about:

It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity.

In the United States, “numbers” impress us. We gauge the success of an event by how many people “attend” or “come forward.” We measure “churches” by how many “members” they boast. We are “wowed” by big crowds. Jesus questioned the authenticity of this kind of record keeping. According to the account in Luke 8, when a crowd started following Him, Jesus began speaking in parables so that those who WEREN’T genuinely listening, WOULDN’T “get it.” When crowds gather today, speakers are extra conscious of communicating in a way that is accessible to everyone. Speakers [today] don’t use Jesus’ [truth and righteousness and wisdom] to eliminate people who are not sincere seekers.

The fact is… He just wasn’t interested in those who fake it.

The American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a “nice marriage,” children who “don’t swear,” and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is RARELY considered. That’s for the “radicals” who are “unbalanced” and who “go overboard.” Most of us want a balanced life that WE control, that is “safe,” and does not involve suffering.

(all emphasis mine)

That approach and Wisdom is not something we see exhibited around us, is it? How is it that Jesus is the most loving person who ever lived, and we think we have a “better way” than Him? That we actually “love people” more than Him by our accommodation and compromise of the true gospel — and therefore our MISrepresentation of who He really is, and also therefore, in effect, our altering of the gospel? Jesus purposefully told people, “Shhh! Don’t tell anyone I told you this!” He purposefully spoke in parables to keep the pretenders and the people who wanted Jesus only for His perceived “benefits” (to themselves) from truly understanding Him. Can you imagine? He purposefully told people when He did miracles on a number of occasions, “Don’t tell anyone I did this,” “Don’t tell anyone what you just saw here.” Can you imagine?
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I normally don’t post twice in one day (or even in one week), but this was so totally jaw-droppingly real — when I read it, was like “YYYYEEEESSS!!!” — I had to post this today. Just terrific:

A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough… It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again,” to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again,” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daises alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.

–G.K. Chesterton

Man, if that doesn’t just tickle you to the bone, if that doesn’t just resonate with you as “Yeeessss!!” I don’t know what will.

There actually is a progression of Spiritual Life that John alludes to in 1 John 2 that depicts our lives spiritually as progressing from children, then fathers, THEN Young Men. He wrote it twice to make sure we wouldn’t miss it. The spiritual progression of men and women is from childhood to fathers/mothers (taking responsibility in God’s house) THEN to Young Men and Women — warrior/priests who are absolutely taking it to satan and busting him in the chops (1 John 2:12-14).

The progression is toward who God is. And God is Young.

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• Children, Fathers, Young Men

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us… The most pretentious fact about any man is not what he at any given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.

–A.W. Tozer

Or put another way, the closer one’s conception to the Reality of God, the closer one is to the highest purity, perfection, satisfaction, holiness, and Christ-likeness. Who God “is” is already set. God is Who He Is. God said that: I AM WHO I AM It is not within our prerogative to decide who God will be. But only to align our thoughts and perceptions to Who He Actually Is. Nothing else matters.

And when we’ve seen Jesus for who He is, then we have also seen God for who He is as well (John 14:1-6).

An email passed on:

From: Don

Now, as always, God reveals Himself to “babes” and hides himself in thick darkness from the wise and prudent. We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few). We must put away all effort to impress, and come with the guileless candor of childhood if we do this, without doubt God will quickly respond.

When religion has said its last word, there is little that we need other than the life and love — of, in, through, and to God Himself. The evil habit of seeking God-”and” effectively prevents us from finding God in full revelation. In the “and” lies our great woe. If we omit the “and”, we shall soon find God, and in Him we shall find that for which we have all our lives been secretly longing.

We need not fear that in seeking God only we may narrow our lives or restrict the motions of our expanding hearts. The opposite is true. We can well afford to make God our All, to concentrate, to sacrifice the many for the One.

–A.W. Tozer

Because the pursuit of only God is the pursuit of the One Thing — the One Person — who will require the most expansion our hearts. Everything and anything else will not require the same amount of space and our space polluted with other things leaves less than the optimal space for Him (John 8:37).

Recently we received two things that I believe are inexorably linked and related. A couple of days ago, we received in regular snail-mail an advertisement, an invitation to and an appeal for yet another new “church” in our area. There was a consistent message, it was very artfully and professionally done, and it’s location is on or close to a major university campus. And today I received a PDF teaching called The Astonishing Day of Christ. The relationship between the two was striking.

So as for the “church advertisement,” we’ve seen a number of these “new churches” spring up since we’ve lived here — and more are already on the way. Just on the east side of the TC alone probably no less than five or six of these have popped up and all of them have a very non-denominational feel and appeal. All of them are marketed very, very well. And I would definitely say that I can tangibly sense the earnest and sincere appeal behind them all. So I’m not questioning people’s motives at all. If anything, it’s continued evidence that people everywhere feel there is something wrong with “church” as we’ve classically known it for the last 2000 years. “Something’s missing!!” is one of the silent cries behind the artful invitations and color coordinated, thematic literature. And I understand and empathize with that.

But unfortunately what I also sense is a yoking with the world and the world’s methods to make that appeal. Good, honest, sincere people who mistakenly believe that a consistent marketing message and approach as well as “appealing to the current culture” is going to produce different results. Einstein stated once that “Doing the same thing over and over again and yet expecting different results” was the very definition of insanity. And despite these types of renewed “efforts” at “church,” we see the insanity of pretty much the same fruit.
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