Perservering to power

Do you want prophecy? The gift of healing? Are you disappointed with "where you're at", telling yourself, "if only I'd obeyed God in that situation, last summer... then I'd be on the fast-track. The anointing of God was on me when that revivalist from Africa was in town. But that anointing lost its freshness like an open bag of Sun Chips. I'm stuck waiting until I roll another lucky seven in the Holy Spirit."

Wrong. I wonder if God doesn't say to us, when we ask for new power, "well, what did you do with what I gave you in the past?". Concerning a word of time-sensitive prophecy we failed to deliver-- have we repented and are we doing now, naturally, what we can in light of that prophecy? Oops; we weren't just looking to deliver a dramatic word, were we? How interested were we in the natural follow-up? If the word was revelation that we never proclaimed, did we let it sit only because the ringing left our ears? Is that word any less true now? Are we being faithful now to proclaim it, even though its taste is dulled? We didn't just want to feel tingly while preaching it, did we? Are we still using the revelations that God spoke to us in the last ten years? Or have we cast them off-- as if they went out of style with our high school clothing? This is about repentance. True repentance leads to action, and true repentance for failing to respond to the Spirit's prompting may interest the Spirit in prompting us again.

The truths we heard and the power we felt are still here. Nothing has changed between our past heights and now. We must not be discouraged if our pool of Bethesda is still. The point is not that we missed out on some splashing, but that we're now standing in the pool. The same God is right here, right now. Ask Him to stir your soul in memory of what you saw when you failed to jump in. God doesn't want people standing around, staring at the pool, pining for past tremors. He wants people sitting in the pool, getting pruney-skinned in His still goodness, souls desiring to tremor before Him. Staring up at Him. Then He can use us easily.

-andrew

In Response to Andrew's Question

So here is part 2…

So in response to Andrew’s question: “And what of political and economic action? How far should the church go into these arenas and still call itself “The Church”? I'm not going to try to answer that. Maybe Kevin will share some advice?”

Well I’ll try to…I’ve been struggling with the questions ever since I gave my life to Christ, and God is constantly giving me new understandings.

In our current political arena we are presented with two parties that are really quite similar, with only a few differences that separate them.

So to sum it up (from my point of view) we have the Republicans who try to impose morality laws upon the country via the state. Although teaching and bringing about small bits of morality to the country is good, it still lacks the basis of conviction from Christ, hence non-believers (and many believers) seek to live morally out of fear of the state. [So… pros & cons]. Along with morality laws we have the Republicans in an alliance with the corporate interest’s side of free market enterprise. Republicans seek to protect free market capitalism, and remove any state influence in it, and in general remove the state from economic affairs. This again has pros & cons, when working in perfect competition it leads to a strive towards innovation and quality at lower costs, but also Capitalism is a system driven by personal gain and greed, and in order to succeed (max profits) you either need to work with or take advantage of those around you (and the environment). [Unfortunately it seems that a social-capitalist mix economy seems the best one I can think of, until of course Jesus return.] Finally since Reagan, the Republicans have taken on a militaristic approach towards foreign policy of actively reshaping the world to better suit American interests (especially corporate interests, and political power interests) through militaristic coercion and economic coercion.

On the other hand we have Democrats who generally support reducing the amount of morality laws the state imposes, helping to keep a clearer sense of separation of Church and state, but also leads to greater immorality. Along with that the Democrats seek to limit the abuses of free market capitalism by to a greater extent protecting workers rights, the environment etc… The pro being protecting people and trying to institute morally good things, but it also creates a dependency on the state for protection & to be taken care of (as opposed to God), along with that it limits some the free market. Finally after Reagan, the Democrats have sought to continue to advance American interests but rather through greater cooperation internationally, still using American military but generally to keep the peace rather than complete reshaping of countries.

So finally here is my advice as to how Christians should enter into politics, (this being the basis for the reasons why I political act)

1. Christians should be at the fore front leading/spear heading (but not excluding others) social movements and trying to fix social problems. Doing this not only helps create a better more just society to live in, but it give us the opportunity to show (through action & words) Christ’s love and concern for all people how doesn’t just care about your spiritual well being but, restoring all creation including government and law. (for what is righteous laws but tokens of the righteous government to come). Also it gives us great opportunity to work with other non-Christian groups, to communicate with them and to impact them.

A good example of this could’ve been with the issue of combating climate change, under Christian leadership, we could’ve tackled the problem and insured a working out come, but avoided having them use mottos like “save ourselves”. Also in the long run under Christian direction we can help prevent the anti-Christ from using this in aiding his rise to power.

Unfortunately what do we do now that Christians are not leading the fight against global warming? Well (imho) we still get involved and seek to redeem it.

2. Christians should seek and call for peace(violence). We all know that there shall be no peace until Christ returns, but we can still look to see some peace now. I really don’t know the full extent of how this should be applied, but I want to specifically address the conservative Christian justification for going into Iraq being that we removed Saddam to aid in converting Iraqis and all Muslims to Christ. First off not only are we failing in that respect (and it was a bad plan) but also it seems to me that we are using human methods to accomplish Heavenly goals. First off we are not: the kingdom of heaven, Christendom, Israel nor even a Christian nation for that matter. Along with that we are not led by God and neither does it seem we are capable in fighting a war justly [check out just war theology]. I could go on about this for awhile, but rather I would prefer relying on heavenly methods of redeeming a nation, and example being the early church or currently the church in China. (you know the stories).

Along with this we should seek and call for justice in all our foreign policy dealings.

3. We should call for morality within our own society. For example calling for an end to abortion, or limiting violence and sexuality on TV, or the internet etc…etc… [all the while be careful of giving the state to much power with censorship, or the state will likely abuse it]

4. Finally we should learn to critique & support our leadership, in hope of building them up rather than tearing them down. This was mentioned at the call and in other places, I’m not sure completely how this goes, but we need to find the understanding in how we interact with the government while remaining biblical.

Anyway. So this was much longer than expected, but it still all feels very brief, in that I could’ve explained each one much more. But it took me quite a long time just to write that. But, I hope you read it (and understand what I meant) and you tell me what you think... “as Iron sharpens Iron…”

~Kevin

In Response to "A Christianity Only the New York Times Could Love"

Ok…. So I’ve finally sat down to write my response to the articles & blog entries. (Almost 3 months since Julia requested my response…sorry). So after a lot of reading and re-reading, pacing around, prayers for guidance & some dinner this is what I’m going to respond to. [I realize there are a lot of points in the article; I’m just picking up on a few].

So what do I think? Well I think Dave Sliker is mostly right on. The type of Christianity that Barrack Obama appears practicing seems to be rather humanistic sort of Christianity, that seems to basically just thank God for giving us good morals. But than again isn’t recognizing God as the reason behind our morality not a testimony to God’s power & influence? You see this is why I think Dave Sliker went to far in stating that this sort of Christian faith that Obama & to a lesser extent Clinton are practicing is “outrageously anti-messiah in spirit and in truth.” Their faith is severely lacking in many respects, yes it ignores the under lying causes of these problems & it looks to man for solutions (which is very bad), but in it’s own small way it can draw people to God. For example Obama repeatedly reiterates throughout many of speeches how his compassion for people and the solutions to these problems which he is addressing are because of God in his life. And this does eventually draw people closer to God. For example people may ask to themselves ‘Who is this Jesus person who leads people such as these to act in such away?’ or they may think ‘they care about me because of God in their life, that must mean that God does care about me.’ And at the very least this does leave people with a positive rather than negative about God & Christianity, and therefore more open to learning about Christ.

[In a side note about Obama, he gives God all the glory for that as well as just running for office, which hints at (which he may mean) that he wouldn’t be able to do this but for God, but this isn’t something that all Christians of this type do (I realize that I’m brining in outside information, but go on you tube or other video sites to listen to Obama’s speeches)] but this act also leads people to Jesus in a small way.

This leads me to a second point which Sliker raises and that is “In my opinion, the initial by-product of my faith in Christ should not be to stir men and women to good works and worthy causes… (but to be) …stirred to 1. Know Jesus (and study the Bible) and / or 2. Pray more.” I do agree that those should be the by-product of my faith, but I disagree with the insertion of the word “initial” there. For as stated earlier even if the initial by product isn’t those two things, there are many opportunities where it isn’t appropriate or maybe even harmful to act out your faith with an evangelistic message or intimacy based message, but just by championing righteous laws you will hopefully eventually lead people to want to know Jesus in a greater way.

Ideally a candidate should just trust in God and live out his faith completely directing people to God and trust that God will take him/her to where he wants them to be. But if we are using human methods to do God’s work the above strategy makes good sense. But I definitely agree Barack Obama’s faith from what I can tell is heavily compromised as he isn’t sure if he believes in the after life (pg. 3), but from what I can tell he is Christian, but I am not a good judge of such things. Clinton I have my doubts as to whether she is even a believer.
Anyway, tell me what you think!

~Kevin

Birthpains

This world suffers the "beginning of birth pains". As I think of what lies ahead, I realize that I had dreaded it, as if I have been condemned to share this world's final death throes. But the suffering of the last days is not described as birth pains-- not death throes.

Like other birth pains, these trumpet the arrival of a new stage of life. This is not the end of all things.

This is only the beginning.

-a.

The Cross in the Soul

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. -- 1 Peter 1:3-9, NKJV

Every month I feel like I never knew what faith was before.

Our faith is founded on resurrection. We claim that His resurrection power, in us, is integral to the transformation of our born-again lives. Paul says the Gospel would be worse than a fallacy without the resurrection of Christ. But do we embrace His resurrection, in us? What is resurrection, in us?

Resurrection is walking through death.

Jesus sought His cross. We've abrogated God's glorious call to the Cross, choosing instead our petty complaints of suffering. I complain about having "too many calls on my life" and that "people don't understand me". But my complaints are not the Cross. They're just the interplay of my faults and the Curse, sprouting up around me. The Cross is what we're running to embrace. Jesus won't inflict the Cross on you. If your cross is on the ground and not your back, it's not The Cross. If it's not embraced, you're just hurting.

So what does it mean to embrace the Cross? And what value does suffering bring? I had nominalized it to a teacher of patience. But the stocks will teach patience-- and they don't require any effort on your part. Instead of a submission to stillness, the Cross demands an active submission-- the willful embrace of suffering. The Cross demands everything. And it gives us more: The love of God for God, in us. The pleasure of God in us, to us. Our love is demonstrated by our faith, which is the fountain of God's pleasure in us. Smiling at God through tears while suffering for Christ is good, but God's heart is ravished by lovers who will love Him straight through death. 'To the very [would-be] destruction of their souls. A lover that devoted will be denied no gift. When we have that love for (faith for) Him, we'll walk in His resurrection power. He will be free to do with us as He pleases because any pleasure He has in our doings will please us. The one who walked into the jaws of death without considering himself will raise the dead without conceit.

Which death am I talking about? It's whatever you have. Maybe the deepest death is in you-- the "great darkness" cast by the dark lamp of the eye that can't see God today. What greater submission and faith are shown than faithfully walking through inner (that is, complete) darkness? When hope itself is stolen from us, will we choose him? Do we have a faith that says, without bitterness, "though He slay me, yet I will love Him?" The spiteful statement "I don't even care" is no longer good enough. Bitterness is too heavy. When our ship is sinking, we must throw it overboard to stay above the waters.

I suspect that God is more free to bring happy resolutions to our pain if we embrace the Cross instead waiting out the suffering. Perhaps He is too interested in our good to let us down from the Cross until we take His way out.

If, like me, you've been wasting your heart bearing up suffering and aren't eager to run straight into the mouth of death, take hope. If we embrace the Cross in faith, walking in the Spirit, our innermost being stands away from our affliction. The flesh and heart are seared, but our spirit stands fast. We shall neither be spiritually oppressed under suffering nor shall we collapse into the dust.

Standing in God's spiritual strength while we bear the cross in our weak flesh is amazing.
It's like side-stepping bullets through the fourth dimension.
It feels like walking through walls.
It's His resurrection power to bear our burdens. The Cross.

-andrew