Ecclesiology #6

Spiritual growth only occurs in the context of community. Doesn’t that make sense? How can I apply the worship I supposedly gave to God without practicing it on the body? Post-Pentecost Peter needed it because he was still a cowardly sinner even after his life-changing call to be an apostle and “feed my sheep” (Galatians 2:11-14).

What you do after service matters a lot more than how you felt during. I can have all the warm feelings, but if right after I’m thinking about my kingdom and my agendas then something is seriously wrong! Am I in a rush to go home right after benediction instead of desiring to fellowship? I thus count my worship Cain-like in its fake self-seekingness. What a waste of a morning. The proof of worship is thus the application after service versus the reflection time during.

Ecclesiology #5

You can tell how someone’s doing in their relationship to Jesus from how they’re relating to people in the community. Don’t make an excuse for them, such as a propensity towards an awkward disposition or not finding much common interest with particular people. If Jesus would only come to me based on common interests, I’d be so screwed.

Therefore, not having an outreaching attitude speaks clearly to one’s priority in preserving the self instead of allowing oneself to be vulnerable. We can afford to be vulnerable because of Christ’s vulnerability shown towards us. So what do we do about this awkward individual? You allow them into your life and watch the spirit break down the walls (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

My working definition of accountability takes into account how people interact with others more than their spiritual disciplines. Accountability groups can unfortunately degenerate to pride festering in the form of “oh, look how open I can be about my sin” or “oh, look how diligent I am.” I don’t need to know how diligent your devotional life has been when I can see it in your interactions with people and myself. The main question in accountability is, “Is there something affecting our relationship? If so, what are we going to do about it?”

Oh, you’re struggling with lust. With pride. With anxiety. Great, let’s restore you in Christ and restore our relationship. Contrast this with how a judging pharisee does accountability and their priority in identifying the root sin. Don’t we do this a lot in the name of godly accountability? This objectifies and distances the person. Instead, you humanize him by making the restored the relationship the main priority.

Pharisees keep people at a distance. We come into the mire with people because that is what Jesus did for us.

Ecclesiology #4

We’re called to be peacemakers, not nicemakers.

The world simply shows tolerance. Christians show forgiveness. Call sin sin. Without truth, there can be no love.

Ecclesiology #3

Surveying the work of Jesus’ ministry, in performing his miracles through the Holy Spirit, we see him never using any of this miraculous power for his own sake but for others and the Father. This is especially clear in his temptation in the wilderness. I wouldn’t count the sneaky ninja disappearances (John 8:59). Indeed, how meek is our savior! (Philippians 2:5-8)

Those of you with gifts, and that is any sincere believer, how are you using them? Or are you using them? Failing to perform your miracles means failing to see a regenerated community, and perhaps proof for a lack of any regeneration within oneself (Mark 16:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Countercountercountercounter-cultural

Intense prayer and emotional recharging is supposed to happen at Sunday services, school, home, and work. Retreats are supposed to be chillout times with God and God’s family.

How do you know when a person is humble?

When you come out of a conversation with them, you’re all energized and refreshed. It’s refreshing to talk to a humble person.