The Old Testament reading that we are working with this Sunday is I Samuel 1:4-20. As I read and reread this Scripture, what stands out to me is that Hannah is a woman defined, both by herself, her opponent (Elkanah’s less favored wife, Peninnah) and Jewish society at large. Hannah’s label, or definition, was that of ‘Barren One’; her inability to conceive was a label that was cruelly applied to Hannah, and what a cutting label it was! It reminded her of what she lacked, and could not have; it reminded others that she could not provide a proper family for Elkanah. For Hannah, nothing else mattered—not her many positive qualities, not the great love that her husband had for her; all that mattered to Hannah was that she was barren. It was a label given by society, and one that she took willingly upon herself.
I wonder if we are all like Hannah, in our own way. We all have flaws, secret sins past failures, that we allow to define us, sometimes for life. We allow ourselves to be pigeonholed by what we lack, or by our greatest weaknesses; rather than seeing ourselves as God sees us, as men and women created in His image, we see a label that we often allow to be thrust upon ourselves.
We will never be happy until we are willing to let go of what defines us. Hannah needed to accept that Elkanah loved her for simply being Hannah, and did not hold her barrenness against her. She needed to accept that she was so much more than a person who could or could not conceive, and see herself as a person uniquely created by God, with unique talents, strengths and skills. We, too, need to realize this, moving out of our preconceived ideas of who we are into the fullness of who God desires us to be.
I close with some a scene from the move Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer, truly one of the most theological movies of our time. Rudolf is a misfit, and doesn’t fit in with the other reindeers; he is defined by his nose. As the movie progresses, Rudolf becomes friends with Hermey, an elf that desires to be a dentist, and who is defined by his odd career choice (odd, at least, for an elf). Rudolf also makes friends with Yukon Cornelius, a reckless adventurer who doesn’t fit in with ‘regular’ society. Over the course of their adventures, the three friends end up on the island of misfit toys. All of the toys here are defective in some way: a Charlie in the Box, instead of a Jack in the Box; an elephant with bright spots; a toy bird, which swims instead of flying; a ‘dolly for Sue’, which suffers from depression; and many others. Each toy (and character) is defined by their abnormality; in the end, however, they all rise above their labels, and Santa is able to find a home for all of the misfit toys.
We are all like misfit toys. Sure, we come with flaws, warts and defects. Certainly, we’re not perfect. In God’s eyes, however, we are something special. We are not misfits, but rather, misunderstood, being unable to see that, in God’s eyes, we are diamonds in the rough, that God can, and does, shape into perfect, scintillating jewels.
You are so much more than a mere label.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Greetings, from Bp. Kevin Higgins
Kevin Higgins, on of our Bishops, recently emailed this out to all of the Archbishops and Bishops in the CEEC. It was so inspiring, that I thought I would post it here, for everyone to be blessed by.
Dear Fellow Bishops,
Blessings and prayers....
It was such a great blessing to be with you all at our recent Synod. Thank you for the good letter that you signed for the brothers in Pakistan. Though I have not been able to show it to them yet, it has been an encouragement nevertheless.
May God uphold you each...speaking of which:
I have been drawn twice to Psalm 23 in a special way over the past few weeks. Once in a Bible translation conference and once in a devotional time led by someone from another mission organization. I commend it to you. Of course, it is one of the most well-known passages of the Bible, and when I was first led there I assumed I would find little new or fresh, though all my experience with God's Word should have prevented that idea!
"He restores my soul..." I know that I am not exactly using the language correctly here, but what hit me as I pondered this verse is the concept of "stores", in the sense of supplies. What happens to us when we run out of supplies? When the cupboard and storeroom becomes empty? When there is just nothing left? In such a situation, we have no more to give to others or even to ourselves. We become hollow, empty, and barren.
But the promise is that He can re-store us, re-supply us, re-fill all the empty places in the storerooms of our hearts and minds and spirits. We are nourished, and able to nourish and bring satisfaction to others.
Brothers, may He re-store us with fresh supplies!
Kevin Higgins
Dear Fellow Bishops,
Blessings and prayers....
It was such a great blessing to be with you all at our recent Synod. Thank you for the good letter that you signed for the brothers in Pakistan. Though I have not been able to show it to them yet, it has been an encouragement nevertheless.
May God uphold you each...speaking of which:
I have been drawn twice to Psalm 23 in a special way over the past few weeks. Once in a Bible translation conference and once in a devotional time led by someone from another mission organization. I commend it to you. Of course, it is one of the most well-known passages of the Bible, and when I was first led there I assumed I would find little new or fresh, though all my experience with God's Word should have prevented that idea!
"He restores my soul..." I know that I am not exactly using the language correctly here, but what hit me as I pondered this verse is the concept of "stores", in the sense of supplies. What happens to us when we run out of supplies? When the cupboard and storeroom becomes empty? When there is just nothing left? In such a situation, we have no more to give to others or even to ourselves. We become hollow, empty, and barren.
But the promise is that He can re-store us, re-supply us, re-fill all the empty places in the storerooms of our hearts and minds and spirits. We are nourished, and able to nourish and bring satisfaction to others.
Brothers, may He re-store us with fresh supplies!
Kevin Higgins
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Hung by the Tongue by Gary Eby
Some people just have a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. They are being, “Hung by the Tongue!”
A state trooper pulled a man over for speeding on a deserted road. Since the road was clear and the weather fine, the trooper had indicated that he may not give the man a ticket, and let him off with a warning. He even complemented both the man and his wife for wearing their seatbelts. At that point the woman leaned over and said, “Well, officer, when you drive the speeds we do, you have to wear them.” That’s when the trooper wrote the ticket. Hung by the Tongue!
Gene and Carolyn were entertaining for the first time since the birth of their baby. Everything ran smoothly until one of Gene’s buddies arrived with his new girlfriend—a woman whom Carolyn did not particularly care for. She beckoned her husband upstairs with the excuse that they had to check on the baby. In the privacy of the nursery, she spoke freely of her disdain for the new guest. When they went downstairs to rejoin the party, they were greeted with an awkward silence—except for the occasional murmuring of the sleeping baby that came from the infant monitor sitting on the table. Hung by the Tongue!
There is an ancient Japanese proverb that says, “A tongue three inches long can kill a man six feet tall.”
If you are continually being “hung by your tongue,” you can be “loosed from the noose” if you would just learn to engage your mind a little bit before you speak! Here’s the process: Think... then speak! I believe that we need to make our words sweet—just in case we have to eat them!
The words of your mouth are a creative force. They play a big part in predestining your future. Your words are the architects of your life. The tongue is like a tool. We need to use our tools of the present to build the future we desire.
You see, your future will someday be your present. Your present will someday be your past. You can chart the course of your future by your compass... your tongue. It will guide you like a rudder... into either troubled waters or a calm sea. But, don’t be misled... it WILL guide you.
If you can change what you think about, you can change what comes out of your mouth. What comes out of your mouth will someday be in your future.
The words you speak create an atmosphere. If you are going to have a meeting and you really pump it up and build it, what happens? People come with expectancy! They come excited. Your words have set the stage for success! One of the foundational revelations of a wise leader is to learn to control his or her words!
Remember, Samson slew 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Way too many businesses, lives and relationships are destroyed with the same weapon.
Be loosed from the Noose! Refuse to be... Hung by the Tongue
A state trooper pulled a man over for speeding on a deserted road. Since the road was clear and the weather fine, the trooper had indicated that he may not give the man a ticket, and let him off with a warning. He even complemented both the man and his wife for wearing their seatbelts. At that point the woman leaned over and said, “Well, officer, when you drive the speeds we do, you have to wear them.” That’s when the trooper wrote the ticket. Hung by the Tongue!
Gene and Carolyn were entertaining for the first time since the birth of their baby. Everything ran smoothly until one of Gene’s buddies arrived with his new girlfriend—a woman whom Carolyn did not particularly care for. She beckoned her husband upstairs with the excuse that they had to check on the baby. In the privacy of the nursery, she spoke freely of her disdain for the new guest. When they went downstairs to rejoin the party, they were greeted with an awkward silence—except for the occasional murmuring of the sleeping baby that came from the infant monitor sitting on the table. Hung by the Tongue!
There is an ancient Japanese proverb that says, “A tongue three inches long can kill a man six feet tall.”
If you are continually being “hung by your tongue,” you can be “loosed from the noose” if you would just learn to engage your mind a little bit before you speak! Here’s the process: Think... then speak! I believe that we need to make our words sweet—just in case we have to eat them!
The words of your mouth are a creative force. They play a big part in predestining your future. Your words are the architects of your life. The tongue is like a tool. We need to use our tools of the present to build the future we desire.
You see, your future will someday be your present. Your present will someday be your past. You can chart the course of your future by your compass... your tongue. It will guide you like a rudder... into either troubled waters or a calm sea. But, don’t be misled... it WILL guide you.
If you can change what you think about, you can change what comes out of your mouth. What comes out of your mouth will someday be in your future.
The words you speak create an atmosphere. If you are going to have a meeting and you really pump it up and build it, what happens? People come with expectancy! They come excited. Your words have set the stage for success! One of the foundational revelations of a wise leader is to learn to control his or her words!
Remember, Samson slew 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Way too many businesses, lives and relationships are destroyed with the same weapon.
Be loosed from the Noose! Refuse to be... Hung by the Tongue
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
LOGOS Saturday Seminar
LOGOS Christian College and Graduate SchoolsSaturday Seminar, November 14, 2009
PTH202/602 Principles of Discipleship
Jesus told us to "go and make disciples." Discipleship is the process of equipping those who have made a decision for Christ to enable them to be successful followers of Christ. It's a word that has weathered the storm, though its relevance has not been diminished. The secret to the church's future lies in its ability to make disciples. This fast track seminar will equip you with the tools needed to become an successful disciple and effective discipler.
The class may be taken on the undergraduate or graduate level. The appropriate syllabus is available through email for registered students. A post class assignment will be due for successful completion of the class. Earn three credit hours toward your educational and ministry goals in one day of fast paced study.
The seminar will be taught by Dr. J.L. Rivera, President of LOGOS Christian College and Graduate Schools, at the Ponte Vedra Beach campus of Christ the Redeemer, 190 S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. For more information you can call 904-273-4452 or email LOGOSCCGS@gmail.com.
What? LOGOS Saturday Seminar - Principles of Discipleship
When? Saturday, November, 14, 2009, 9 AM to 3:30 PM
Where? Christ the Redeemer Campus, 190 S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
'Church Incorporated', By Dr. Warner Palmer
In every generation and culture, one of the fundamental challenges for the people of God is to recognize what aspects of their culture they can embrace, what aspects can be redeemed and what aspects must be resisted and refused. In American culture, one area that must be resisted is the corporation and its resultant mindset.
In American law, the corporation is an artificial person. It is granted many of the privileges of real persons, such as the ability to open bank accounts and hold property in its own name. It can also be granted tax exempt status if its purposes meet the legal criteria for non-profits and charities.
However, there is a dark side to the corporation. Believers are warned in Scripture of the dangers of the world system. The Greek word "Kosmos" used in the New Testament means essentially "the way things are done" - and by implication, apart from God. It can be seen Biblically as an invention of Satan that accomplishes two of his main goals:
1. It offers human beings the means of living apart from dependence upon their Creator; and
2. It creates a number of paths that, when followed, take individuals in directions that pervert or destroy the purposes for which they were created.
The corporation is an artifact of the world system. In its DNA are all of features necessary to accomplish the satanic goals listed above. Perhaps the most diabolical feature is that it works, and in the short term creates results that we tend to view as good and beneficial.
Dr. Leonard Sweet begins his book "So Beautiful" by telling the story of a World War II medication called the "APC” pill (for Aches, Pains and Complaints). It was extremely effective, and as a result very popular, and became standard issue for the US Military. It was a combination of drugs, one of which was discovered to cause cancer with long term use. Even so, it was very hard to get people to stop using it, and after it was banned a black market version was still available for quite some time.
Dr. Sweet's point in sharing the story was to note that there are aspects of our belief systems and church practices that are very popular and seem to be extremely effective in the short term. In the long run, some of them can kill us spiritually. I submit that corporation culture is one such practice.
The corporation does not accept the complete human being, only those aspects that are useful and profitable in the fulfillment of its task or mission. It insists upon the person using a subset of behaviors that are referred to as “professional”. This encourages the creation of a persona that is not fully representative of God’s creation. Thus, the corporation teaches human beings to reduce and divide themselves.
As an artifact of a system hostile to God and man, the corporation provides a large number of situations that are destructive. For those who can be destroyed or corrupted by ambition and accomplishment, the corporation provides paths to that end. For those who can be destroyed or corrupted by wealth or power, there are provisions for that, plus the opportunity to negatively interact with those who can be destroyed or corrupted by the abuse of power. Those who can be destroyed or corrupted by poverty are likewise victimized by the corporation, whether they inside or outside of it.
The hierarchical structure of the corporation stands in direct contradiction to the words of Jesus:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 ( NIV )
Who were the rulers of the gentiles? One can imagine Jesus speaking these words to the disciples as a troop of Roman soldiers marched by in the distance - certainly there was no doubt in their minds as to the reference. The Romans were the supreme organizers of the ancient world both militarily and administratively. They organized their conquests and their society so that the few could successfully rule over the many through the exercise of an authority that was virtually unassailable. If you wanted to live in the empire and avoid punishment or execution, you lived under the hierarchy.
The corporation is organized in precisely the same way. Jesus said that His people were not to do this among themselves, and yet the corporate mindset leads us in that contrary direction. When we fail to heed His command and organize ourselves along the lines of the world system, we get the world's results.
Consider the observations of Jeffrey Nielsen, a management consultant dealing with the results of rank-based leadership:
“Consulting with dozens of companies from every industry, I have made two observations you can take to the bank:
• Genuine communication occurs only between equals
• Secrecy frequently breeds corruption and abuse of power
In the absence of equality, you’ll seldom have honest, open communication. You tell those above you only what you think they want to hear, and you tell those beneath you only what you think they need to know. This creates not only low levels of trust between individuals, but a growing gap between business reality and the world of the top executives, a gap that is endemic in almost every corporation today.
Similarly, with the lack of genuine communication, organizations become obsessive about controlling access to information, and secrecy comes to dominate corporate life. With secrecy, positions of power seduce even good people into taking undue advantage and abusing their privileges. This is important to remember – even good, decent people can get caught in this dynamic. It’s not a character problem as much as a context problem. And the context, as I have come to discover, is that of rank-based power and authority.”
(The Myth of Leadership by Jeffrey S. Nielsen, pages 4 – 5)
What is perhaps most fascinating about Nielsen's observation is that he notes that even good people can be corrupted by the system. Good people – godly people – men and women with good intentions seduced and corrupted by what the system has to offer. For church leaders this is a critical observation.
Having served in churches as small as 40 and as large as 4,000, as well as having been an employee in secular corporations ranging in size from 10 to 80,000, I can only conclude that Nielsen’s statements do not merely apply to the secular setting. In touching a number of church employees and ministers through Logos Educators Network and other organizations I've been associated with over the years, I can sadly report that these observations are completely true within the church, and within Christian para-church organizations.
Pastors become and senior leaders can and do become disconnected with the realities of their churches or organizations. Lower echelon leaders, employees and congregants become discouraged and crushed as their gifts, desires and concerns are pushed aside in order to accomplish the organizational goals. Sometimes some will rise up in opposition to the system, cause a split, and eventually start or become part of a new work only to adopt the same structures and methods.
When the church adopts the world system's methodologies, it gets the world system's results - ALL OF THEM. There may be numerical and financial success in the short to medium run, but in the long run there is also the corruption and destruction that accompanies the system. Like a mold, the system shapes the raw materials poured in, and whether they are jello or concrete they take on the characteristics of the mold into which they were poured.
The result makes perfect sense. Satan has a set of problems that must be solved if he is to kill, steal and destroy. He is not omnipotent, omniscient or omnipresent, and so he is personally limited. Fallen angels and demons do not breed, so his resources are finite. The world system is an elegant solution that allows him to exercise influence over large numbers of people through a relatively small number of actual actors.
So, how can this dynamic be addressed? The answer is not to surrender to chaos, which is as bad or worse with faster results. I don't claim to have many answers, but I have a few points for consideration.
Form Follows Function. There are things we decided to do that obligate us to certain forms. If we want to be tax-exempt, for example, we become obligated to adopt the forms dictated by the government. Since living human beings are not granted tax exemption under US law, a corporation or similar organization must be created to apply for status, hold bank accounts and receive donations. And while individual human beings can own real estate, only a non-profit can be exempted from property taxes.
So then if we choose to engage in activities that require the existence of a corporation, we must squarely face the consequences of that action. The very institution creates a predictable set of problems, or to use the vernacular – it’s the structure, stupid. We can’t just hope that we will be better people than those who have come before and we will learn from their mistakes. The system is too well designed for that.
Some will choose to abandon corporation-like organization in favor of a primitive simplicity, and for them it may be the God-ordained solution. For others, it is wise to treat the corporation or other legal structure as an interface into the world system rather than as the identity of the living church. Its functions should be limited to those necessary, and its board members should have no power beyond the ability to enforce compliance to the civil law. As the American founding fathers said about government, it makes an unruly servant, but it is a fearful master.
Life vs. Legacy. Someone once said that churches pass through four phases. They begin with the vision and calling of a man, grow into a movement, are refined into a machine and ultimately fossilize into a monument.
Long ago a group of people said “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4). There is a deep desire to create permanence on the Earth, to leave something behind to those who follow after. Contrast this desire to those who are referred to in Hebrews 11 as the heroes of the faith.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 ( NIV )
If God is building a living church, made with living people, then there are aspects of life that we must take into account. Living things are born; they grow, reproduce and ultimately die to make room for the new generations. The Lord is in the process of gathering a people for all eternity, but until the final ingathering all other dwelling places are temporary.
Life is Self-Organizing. God created the human body, which is one of the most highly organized entities in the world. Yet, its organization is organic and un-self conscious. It doesn't come with a constitution or articles of incorporation and by-laws. Its component parts understand their mutual relationship and interdependency by nature.
The church is the Body of Christ, and for the most part the seductive nature of the corporation has stolen His immediate headship from its day to day life. The move of His Spirit is seen in terms of breaking in and interrupting rather than as indwelling and incarnating. And if we're really honest about it, our services are so well structured and programmed that He doesn't need to show up for us to have a pretty good meeting. That is tragedy of cosmic proportions.
The church has both structure and leadership, but not in the mold of the world system. More than anything in this day and age I believe that Jesus Christ wants His Body back. The long term results we've been getting demonstrate that we can't run it for Him. We need to find the way to give Him back His Body.
In American law, the corporation is an artificial person. It is granted many of the privileges of real persons, such as the ability to open bank accounts and hold property in its own name. It can also be granted tax exempt status if its purposes meet the legal criteria for non-profits and charities.
However, there is a dark side to the corporation. Believers are warned in Scripture of the dangers of the world system. The Greek word "Kosmos" used in the New Testament means essentially "the way things are done" - and by implication, apart from God. It can be seen Biblically as an invention of Satan that accomplishes two of his main goals:
1. It offers human beings the means of living apart from dependence upon their Creator; and
2. It creates a number of paths that, when followed, take individuals in directions that pervert or destroy the purposes for which they were created.
The corporation is an artifact of the world system. In its DNA are all of features necessary to accomplish the satanic goals listed above. Perhaps the most diabolical feature is that it works, and in the short term creates results that we tend to view as good and beneficial.
Dr. Leonard Sweet begins his book "So Beautiful" by telling the story of a World War II medication called the "APC” pill (for Aches, Pains and Complaints). It was extremely effective, and as a result very popular, and became standard issue for the US Military. It was a combination of drugs, one of which was discovered to cause cancer with long term use. Even so, it was very hard to get people to stop using it, and after it was banned a black market version was still available for quite some time.
Dr. Sweet's point in sharing the story was to note that there are aspects of our belief systems and church practices that are very popular and seem to be extremely effective in the short term. In the long run, some of them can kill us spiritually. I submit that corporation culture is one such practice.
The corporation does not accept the complete human being, only those aspects that are useful and profitable in the fulfillment of its task or mission. It insists upon the person using a subset of behaviors that are referred to as “professional”. This encourages the creation of a persona that is not fully representative of God’s creation. Thus, the corporation teaches human beings to reduce and divide themselves.
As an artifact of a system hostile to God and man, the corporation provides a large number of situations that are destructive. For those who can be destroyed or corrupted by ambition and accomplishment, the corporation provides paths to that end. For those who can be destroyed or corrupted by wealth or power, there are provisions for that, plus the opportunity to negatively interact with those who can be destroyed or corrupted by the abuse of power. Those who can be destroyed or corrupted by poverty are likewise victimized by the corporation, whether they inside or outside of it.
The hierarchical structure of the corporation stands in direct contradiction to the words of Jesus:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 ( NIV )
Who were the rulers of the gentiles? One can imagine Jesus speaking these words to the disciples as a troop of Roman soldiers marched by in the distance - certainly there was no doubt in their minds as to the reference. The Romans were the supreme organizers of the ancient world both militarily and administratively. They organized their conquests and their society so that the few could successfully rule over the many through the exercise of an authority that was virtually unassailable. If you wanted to live in the empire and avoid punishment or execution, you lived under the hierarchy.
The corporation is organized in precisely the same way. Jesus said that His people were not to do this among themselves, and yet the corporate mindset leads us in that contrary direction. When we fail to heed His command and organize ourselves along the lines of the world system, we get the world's results.
Consider the observations of Jeffrey Nielsen, a management consultant dealing with the results of rank-based leadership:
“Consulting with dozens of companies from every industry, I have made two observations you can take to the bank:
• Genuine communication occurs only between equals
• Secrecy frequently breeds corruption and abuse of power
In the absence of equality, you’ll seldom have honest, open communication. You tell those above you only what you think they want to hear, and you tell those beneath you only what you think they need to know. This creates not only low levels of trust between individuals, but a growing gap between business reality and the world of the top executives, a gap that is endemic in almost every corporation today.
Similarly, with the lack of genuine communication, organizations become obsessive about controlling access to information, and secrecy comes to dominate corporate life. With secrecy, positions of power seduce even good people into taking undue advantage and abusing their privileges. This is important to remember – even good, decent people can get caught in this dynamic. It’s not a character problem as much as a context problem. And the context, as I have come to discover, is that of rank-based power and authority.”
(The Myth of Leadership by Jeffrey S. Nielsen, pages 4 – 5)
What is perhaps most fascinating about Nielsen's observation is that he notes that even good people can be corrupted by the system. Good people – godly people – men and women with good intentions seduced and corrupted by what the system has to offer. For church leaders this is a critical observation.
Having served in churches as small as 40 and as large as 4,000, as well as having been an employee in secular corporations ranging in size from 10 to 80,000, I can only conclude that Nielsen’s statements do not merely apply to the secular setting. In touching a number of church employees and ministers through Logos Educators Network and other organizations I've been associated with over the years, I can sadly report that these observations are completely true within the church, and within Christian para-church organizations.
Pastors become and senior leaders can and do become disconnected with the realities of their churches or organizations. Lower echelon leaders, employees and congregants become discouraged and crushed as their gifts, desires and concerns are pushed aside in order to accomplish the organizational goals. Sometimes some will rise up in opposition to the system, cause a split, and eventually start or become part of a new work only to adopt the same structures and methods.
When the church adopts the world system's methodologies, it gets the world system's results - ALL OF THEM. There may be numerical and financial success in the short to medium run, but in the long run there is also the corruption and destruction that accompanies the system. Like a mold, the system shapes the raw materials poured in, and whether they are jello or concrete they take on the characteristics of the mold into which they were poured.
The result makes perfect sense. Satan has a set of problems that must be solved if he is to kill, steal and destroy. He is not omnipotent, omniscient or omnipresent, and so he is personally limited. Fallen angels and demons do not breed, so his resources are finite. The world system is an elegant solution that allows him to exercise influence over large numbers of people through a relatively small number of actual actors.
So, how can this dynamic be addressed? The answer is not to surrender to chaos, which is as bad or worse with faster results. I don't claim to have many answers, but I have a few points for consideration.
Form Follows Function. There are things we decided to do that obligate us to certain forms. If we want to be tax-exempt, for example, we become obligated to adopt the forms dictated by the government. Since living human beings are not granted tax exemption under US law, a corporation or similar organization must be created to apply for status, hold bank accounts and receive donations. And while individual human beings can own real estate, only a non-profit can be exempted from property taxes.
So then if we choose to engage in activities that require the existence of a corporation, we must squarely face the consequences of that action. The very institution creates a predictable set of problems, or to use the vernacular – it’s the structure, stupid. We can’t just hope that we will be better people than those who have come before and we will learn from their mistakes. The system is too well designed for that.
Some will choose to abandon corporation-like organization in favor of a primitive simplicity, and for them it may be the God-ordained solution. For others, it is wise to treat the corporation or other legal structure as an interface into the world system rather than as the identity of the living church. Its functions should be limited to those necessary, and its board members should have no power beyond the ability to enforce compliance to the civil law. As the American founding fathers said about government, it makes an unruly servant, but it is a fearful master.
Life vs. Legacy. Someone once said that churches pass through four phases. They begin with the vision and calling of a man, grow into a movement, are refined into a machine and ultimately fossilize into a monument.
Long ago a group of people said “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4). There is a deep desire to create permanence on the Earth, to leave something behind to those who follow after. Contrast this desire to those who are referred to in Hebrews 11 as the heroes of the faith.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 ( NIV )
If God is building a living church, made with living people, then there are aspects of life that we must take into account. Living things are born; they grow, reproduce and ultimately die to make room for the new generations. The Lord is in the process of gathering a people for all eternity, but until the final ingathering all other dwelling places are temporary.
Life is Self-Organizing. God created the human body, which is one of the most highly organized entities in the world. Yet, its organization is organic and un-self conscious. It doesn't come with a constitution or articles of incorporation and by-laws. Its component parts understand their mutual relationship and interdependency by nature.
The church is the Body of Christ, and for the most part the seductive nature of the corporation has stolen His immediate headship from its day to day life. The move of His Spirit is seen in terms of breaking in and interrupting rather than as indwelling and incarnating. And if we're really honest about it, our services are so well structured and programmed that He doesn't need to show up for us to have a pretty good meeting. That is tragedy of cosmic proportions.
The church has both structure and leadership, but not in the mold of the world system. More than anything in this day and age I believe that Jesus Christ wants His Body back. The long term results we've been getting demonstrate that we can't run it for Him. We need to find the way to give Him back His Body.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
LOGOS SATURDAY SEMINARS
Saturday Seminars are BackMore and more of our students are taking advantage of fast-tracking their program. Our Saturday Seminars allow you to participate in a compressed presentation of an entire course in one day. Students earn 3 credit hours for participating in the Seminar and successfully completing the post-class project.
The 2009/2010 seminar schedule includes the following courses. You may take one course or you can take as many as you want. For more information, contact our offices at 904-273-4452
September 12, 2009 - OTS221 JOSHUA - with Dr. J.L. Rivera
September 26, 2009 - NTS202 ACTS - with Dr. Charles Travis
November 14, 2009 - PTH202 DISCIPLESHIP - with Dr. J.L. Rivera
December 12, 2009 - THE332 Spiritual Gifts with Misty Lapinski
March 13, 2010 - PRE201 Preparing a Biblical Message (Homiletics 1) with Dr. J.L. Rivera
March 27, 2010 - NTS110 Gospels with Jason Huffman
Check back regularly as more classes will be added.
For those of you who live in the Jacksonville area, we are also offering classes in the evening through one of our affiliates, Celebration Leadership College, on the campus of Celebration Church. These are more traditional classes meeting once per week for 13 weeks. Any registered LOGOS students may take these courses to fulfill their program requirements. Call us for more info.
November 14, 2009 - PTH202 DISCIPLESHIP - with Dr. J.L. Rivera
December 12, 2009 - THE332 Spiritual Gifts with Misty Lapinski
March 13, 2010 - PRE201 Preparing a Biblical Message (Homiletics 1) with Dr. J.L. Rivera
March 27, 2010 - NTS110 Gospels with Jason Huffman
Check back regularly as more classes will be added.
For those of you who live in the Jacksonville area, we are also offering classes in the evening through one of our affiliates, Celebration Leadership College, on the campus of Celebration Church. These are more traditional classes meeting once per week for 13 weeks. Any registered LOGOS students may take these courses to fulfill their program requirements. Call us for more info.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Logos Christian College and Graduate School Graduation 2008/2009
Plan to join us for graduation in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Our Graduation for the 2008-2009 year is being hosted by the great congregation of Christ the Redeemer in Ponte Vedra Beach on Saturday June 6, 2009. Visit our website for all of the information.
The ceremony starts at 12 noon with a quick rehearsal and a class picture. It will be followed by commencement at 1 PM with a refreshment reception immediately afterward.
If you are planning to be a part of the festivities (we strongly encourage our graduates to participate as it is an accomplishment worth celebrating!) call the College offices at 904-273-4452. All who received degrees in 2008-2009 are being invited as well as those who are 16 credit hours or less close to finishing their programs.
You will have to act quickly as the graduation date is rapidly approaching.
Caps and Gowns
Note: Students are responsible for ordering and paying for their graduation wear. Your graduation fee does not cover graduation wear. Your graduation wear is to be delivered to your home or business address.
Students are to order their caps and gowns from:
American Cap and Gown Inc.
1-866-700-GRAD
1. If you are graduating with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree:
- Black standard gown
- Black standard mortar cap
- Red tassel / Gold graduating year
2. If you are graduating with a Master’s degree*:
- Black standard gown
- Black standard mortar cap
- Red tassel / Gold graduating year
- Master’s hood* –
· Field color – Gray, silver, or pewter (Logos School color)
· Chevron color – Burgundy or wine (Logos School color)
· Velvet color – Scarlet (Theology)
3. If you are graduating with a Doctoral degree*:
Black or silver gown
Black tam (cap)
Tassel - gold
Doctoral hood *-
· Field color – grey, silver, or pewter (Logos School color)
· Chevron color – Burgundy or wine (Logos School color)
· Velvet color – Scarlet (Theology)
*To insure that your cap and gown will be delivered on time, ORDER NOW.
Don't miss this great opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments.
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