Drunken Mystic

Wow.

Looking back over the last year, I began with a handful of things on my heart to share about and had to stop myself with 20. This wasn’t necessarily the best series for me to try to tackle on a blog since the topics were big and took a lot of discussion from me. At least, I had a lot to say about each one. It would make a better book, although these blog articles would only be skeletons of the larger essays I would write with more research and less rambling. But I would like to put it together in one … someday soon.

Let’s take a look back at the 20 things I decided to address.

1. Friendship Evangelism
2. Asking Jesus into Your Heart
3. Christian Entertainment
4. Seminary Education
5. Denominations
6. Dressing Up For Church
7. Priest Class Under the New Covenant
8. Ordination of Man
9. Political Action
10. Having a Building
11. Registered Membership
12. Christians as Sinners
13. Day of the Week
14. Specific Ministry Positions
15. Preparing for Sermons
16. Order of Worship
17. Christian Tithing
18. Material Wealth as a Sign of Faith
19. End of the Gifts of the Spirit
20. Changing the World

Looking back, it seems like I have systematically questioned what many consider foundational Christianity. Maybe I have. But ultimately I only want to experience the complete freedom in Christ that results in great joy, power, authority and peace. I find that greatly lacking in most of the Christians I meet from day to day.

Actually, I kinda spoke too early. I not only want to experience complete freedom in Christ myself, but I also long to see the Body of Christ experience the complete freedom that exists in loving her Husband and Him alone.

I find another thing looking back that I must address. I must apologize for where I might have unduly judged another brother in Christ. Speaking the Truth is honorable, and I believe that God put each one of these topics on my heart, but as married people may learn, it is not just WHAT you say but HOW you say it. I am to speak the truth in love, and there may have been times when I overstepped the bounds of judging someone who is not my servant. And you step precariously when you judge one of God’s servants too harshly. Just because my words may be right does not make my expression of them right … it is something I am still learning and may for some time to come. God is patient with me.

What I hope to point people to is not judging one another and causing more division. I hope to point people more to Christ and the freedom from religious acts to true righteousness and joy. This can only result in a more healthy body and a better expression of Christ to a lost and dying world.

Of course, while I hope to not cause division, I know that I make this call from some place outside the camp, as it speaks about at the end of Hebrews. And to fully grab a hold of Christ we must often release what is already in our grasp … it’s that whole repentance thing. And if you look at that list above, I have found many in the Body of Christ who hold on to those things with a grip … pun intended. And if you cannot support those things with the Bible you claim to believe, that seems like a problem to me.

But I am one man, one vessel who has blessedly found kindred hearts along the way that look me in the eye and comfort me by saying, “no, you’re not crazy for saying that. We get it, too.” I think the disciples comforted Jesus like that at times, even though there was much they did not understand. John the Baptist had disciples, too … maybe they comforted him in this way. I think the ones that comforted him the most, however, were those disciples of his that left him and followed the One he spoke about. I know that is the greatest blessing for me.

Of course, we are sharing God’s heart, as well. Only those outside the camp truly do. Sometimes you have to walk in the camp to love those there and call them out to where you are. Just don’t stay in there too long, however. You may get comfortable not wearing the skins of animals and feeding off of locusts.

But don’t worry. I’ll be there to call you back. Lord willing.

Peace.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 17th, 2006 at 4:16 pm and is filed under ticfitb series. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.