Authentic Honest Reality

In the response from my previous blog some great points were brought up. What follows is my rambling attempt to answer these points.

I encourage feedback. I don't mind be challenged or disagreed with. If you disagree have at it. I am bold enough to write it out... I am bold enough to defend... and if need be apologize. I have been wrong before and been bettered by the challenge.

It was brought my attention that there is a generation that is disconnected and dissatisfied with our not being relevant to this generation.

Speaking of dissatisfaction, I believe this dissatisfaction and disconnect speaks to the insidious nature of some of the ideas and philosophies that are a part of our cultural meme, and not a product of personal spiritual questing for meaning.

To point to the "good works" of celebrities, masons and other religions to in some way discredit what we have done and are doing is a faulty and flawed perspective.

The Billions of the U.N. has not fixed the social ills of the worlds poor. The Combined Billons of Bill Gates and the ultra rich has not placed a significant dent in the poverty and troubles found through out our world. To connect these sorts of causes and in some way lift these things on some equal footing of the basic premise and purpose of the Gospel is flawed.

The intrinsic values of the New Birth message is the very best we have to offer.

Relevancy is over rated.

Jesus was not very relevant. He was crucified by his culture. The church was not very relevant by the popular culture... they were persecuted to point of death.

I think our problem is not a lack of relevancy, but a lack of depth of spiritual questing. We feel a personal spiritual deficit and become distracted by the crowds and fame and "acceptance" of a lesser gospel. The Gospel is counter culture.




Starbucks Generation

Some in this generation of preachers are consumed with Starbucks and fashion trends and sporting events and what others think about them. Facebook demonstrates that everyday.

What birthed this "Apostolic" "Pentecostal" movement was people driven to the point of personal abandonment because they were captured and overcome by a spiritual experience and Biblical revelation the world needed. This produced a rich spiritual wealth and depth.

It is that dieing, crucifying, fasting, cross bearing that produced a spiritual satisfaction, yet craving that gave meaning and drive. They gave all, left all, abandoned all... not for a summer missions trip... but a life time of sacrifice for a cause bigger than themselves.

Today, if we were to contrast that generation... we have educations, soft lives and affluence... but a basic spiritual dearth. I am reminded of the Church of Laodecia.

Marketing does not equal Magical Church Growth

I believe we are mesmerized by the marketing and masses of commercialized Christianity. While stepping into the flow of the ideas and concepts that flow from this, we lose sight of what the Bible states and what we know to be true and feel this ..."They are so Good and Prosperous, they have to be doing something right.

Catalyst and the image makers of our day have hypnotized some into thinking that marketing is this all powerful church growth machine. The easy smiles of Osteen and the powerful communication of Jakes surrounded by the adoring crowds...there are voices that demand legitimizing what they are saying while ignoring what is being left unsaid.

"...there are voices that demand legitimizing what they are saying while ignoring
what is being left unsaid."

And so... there are many voices ... deceiving spirits... doctrines of devils... and we find ourselves surrounded by the howling winds of mighty words and the seductive song of the sirens wooing us into the shallow waters of shipwreck.

I am not talking about what I have heard... I have been there.

I speak of things I know. I have felt the grip on my own identity of these things. I have spent sleepless nights and countless hours looking in the mirror of my own soul... searching for meaning and direction for my own ministry.

I have emerged from that and I find myself passionate about our message and purpose.
What my generation and those that are following need is to reconnect where our previous generations failed us.

Previous Generations have failed us

This is not universally true, but it has happened enough in known and visible ways that we have seen it so much that we all have had a bad taste we had to wash out of our mouth more than once. It is very easy to judge others singular mistakes and then discount all that they were and are. However, if we live long enough, we might make a few disastrous mistakes in judgment ourselves God forbid... hopefully our spiritual offspring don't discount us the same way.

It seems that at times we were given rules, regulations and expectations. We were given status to strive for and symbols of success to attain. We have seen talent celebrated and character ignored. We have seen politics and agenda put on the forefront and sin and darkness swept under the rug.

However, that is not the crux of who we are ... or the seed of where we come from.

I believe we can be a Josiah generation... where we rediscover the scrolls of simplicity and honesty. Childlike sincerity. The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.

We need to repent of our pride and politics. We need to cleanse ourselves of the filthiness of the flesh and spirit.

We need to return to the roots of righteousness, not just a code of conduct full of loopholes and exceptions.

This Message of being Born Again... Acts 2:38... Jesus Name Baptism, Holy Ghost infilling has the power to transform now as it did in the book of Acts and on the street of Azuza.

Our roots come from the Holiness of movement. Deeply prayerful and sincerely consecrated in living a life of holiness.

We must return to the better angels of our past....
We can not throw out what we have that is right... because of some things that have been wrong....

I am for authenticity, honesty, sincerity and reality.

This will not be found in "Socializing the Gospel."

It will be found in hours of humble prayer and days of fasting and a spirit of humility, submission and serving each other.

My challenge to this generation of ministry is simply this.

Don't make the mistake of Rehoboam and listen to your peers for advice. Be open enough to receive advice, correction and rebuke. Be able to admit you may have drifted and humble enough to make amends.

Include people in your life that will disagree with you and challenge your hair brained ideas. Don't demand idealogical homogeny.... but strive to be challenged and balanced by those who can provide a neccessary angle in our decisions and doctrine.

Don't be dulled by the outside influences of commercialized christianity...but be sharpened by those who you share a common pentecostal experience and apostolic ideals and doctrine.

Lets be sure our doctrine is true to the Apostolic model, and not a permissive, watered down version purposely leaving things out that we feel are just too much truth for our generation.

Let us be Authentic in our Apostolic Message.

Let us be honest with ourselves of where we are and where we need to be.

Let us strive for a Supernatural Reality that transforms lives and hearts, beginning with ourselves.