I stand amazed at the Christian community ... a group of potential 'world-changers' who have themselves had a life change by the power of Christ's cleansing blood and the indwelling Holy Spirit. But 'world-changing' has taken a back seat to completely other focuses.
For example, a recent Twitter post by a real sweet lady in Nashville speaks loudly: sitting in starbucks, listening to pastors "disagree" nastily about their church. so glad a room full of people get to see grace this way... ! Get my point? Christians, whether pew warmers or leaders are so out-of-focus of the mission Jesus began, that the Twitter post mentioned above is an example of what's been going on before a watching world for decades.
Another example of Christ's family out-of-touch with His mission is the use of the word "ministry". I have been closely around a 'Christian' organization that proclaims itself involved with and actively performing 'ministry'. I don't think they know what their talking about. In reading the Scripture, especially in the original languages, I find the word 'ministry' actually means 'serve'. 1 Corinthians 4:1 (KJV) says, Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. The word for minister is huperetes which literally means 'under-rower'. It was a nautical term referring to a ship's three levels of slave-rowers. These rowers were directed by a slave driver who made certain the slaves rowed in unison and all were indeed rowing. In fact, the galley slaves (those in the lowest level) labored the hardest, and these were the 'under-rowers' ... huperetes ... KJV 'ministers'. I looked at 4:1 in the ESV, NLT and TNIV and they translate the word 'servant'! The other Greek word used for minister is dikiaos ... often transliterated 'deacon' but often translated (and correctly so), servant.
An observation of this organization's so-called ministries display little or no service. Offering the use of buildings for lodging and feeding can be done by any type of organization. The thing that separates such an offering from being a business to being a service (in the biblical ministry sense) is the motivation. Matthew 6:24 (TNIV) says, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money". If the motivation is money ... that you are a business and that is your master! If the motivation is God ... then ministry occurs (even if the service offered is free!). Jesus said in Matthew 10:8 (TNIV), "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (emphasis mine). And Luke 6:38 (TNIV), "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." The message of Jesus in both of these texts are pointing to MINISTRY ... SERVE ... not "Oh, is this going to make money or even lose money?". If money is the motivation, ministry is absent.
My words here are not to condemn but to awaken. The vision of "ministry" and "Christianity" has lost it's purpose and power. The focus is NOT the dollar or the lack of it ... the focus for ministry, the church, Christ-followers is to be the KINGDOM! If the Kingdom is the focus -- the King is in control! If the King is in control the resources will pour out. Matthew 10 and Luke 6 are not just words but REALITY!
So WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? Are we saying ministry when service is absent and we're looking into the eye of bankruptcy? Are we saying we're Christians, but we bicker loud enough that those who have called us hypocrites continue to call us hypocrites? We say God is BIG with our mouth but show He's SMALL with our actions!
The 70's band, Petra, led by Bob Hartman sang a song in the 90s that apply today over a decade later called THE SLEEPING GIANT GETS A WAKE UP CALL!
SLEEPING GIANT (Words by Bob Hartman - Based on Romans 13:11, Isaiah 60:1)
Whoa, sleeping the night away
Darkness enclosing the world so desperate for day
We're under the spell of disunity
When will this giant awake and stand and be free
Now the hour has come
To awaken and redeem the time given to the night
Curse this darkness and stand in the light
(Chorus)
Can you hear the alarm echo down the hall
The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call
Awake from your sleep 'cause it's time to stand tall
The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call
The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call
Whoa, been sleeping so long, yeah
How can we hope to discern the right from the wrong?
The gauntlet is thrown in the face of denial
Each time we sleep through an inch we're losing a mile
We will get this rude awakening to reality
And arise in unity
It's been dark for so long night is almost gone
Always darkest before the dawn
Sunlight soon appearing, a new day it will bring
Do you feel it?
The King of the Kingdom is compelling His subjects to wake up ... live what we know in His power and show Jesus to be real, alive and loving! People want to see truth!
For example, a recent Twitter post by a real sweet lady in Nashville speaks loudly: sitting in starbucks, listening to pastors "disagree" nastily about their church. so glad a room full of people get to see grace this way... ! Get my point? Christians, whether pew warmers or leaders are so out-of-focus of the mission Jesus began, that the Twitter post mentioned above is an example of what's been going on before a watching world for decades.
Another example of Christ's family out-of-touch with His mission is the use of the word "ministry". I have been closely around a 'Christian' organization that proclaims itself involved with and actively performing 'ministry'. I don't think they know what their talking about. In reading the Scripture, especially in the original languages, I find the word 'ministry' actually means 'serve'. 1 Corinthians 4:1 (KJV) says, Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. The word for minister is huperetes which literally means 'under-rower'. It was a nautical term referring to a ship's three levels of slave-rowers. These rowers were directed by a slave driver who made certain the slaves rowed in unison and all were indeed rowing. In fact, the galley slaves (those in the lowest level) labored the hardest, and these were the 'under-rowers' ... huperetes ... KJV 'ministers'. I looked at 4:1 in the ESV, NLT and TNIV and they translate the word 'servant'! The other Greek word used for minister is dikiaos ... often transliterated 'deacon' but often translated (and correctly so), servant.
An observation of this organization's so-called ministries display little or no service. Offering the use of buildings for lodging and feeding can be done by any type of organization. The thing that separates such an offering from being a business to being a service (in the biblical ministry sense) is the motivation. Matthew 6:24 (TNIV) says, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money". If the motivation is money ... that you are a business and that is your master! If the motivation is God ... then ministry occurs (even if the service offered is free!). Jesus said in Matthew 10:8 (TNIV), "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (emphasis mine). And Luke 6:38 (TNIV), "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." The message of Jesus in both of these texts are pointing to MINISTRY ... SERVE ... not "Oh, is this going to make money or even lose money?". If money is the motivation, ministry is absent.
My words here are not to condemn but to awaken. The vision of "ministry" and "Christianity" has lost it's purpose and power. The focus is NOT the dollar or the lack of it ... the focus for ministry, the church, Christ-followers is to be the KINGDOM! If the Kingdom is the focus -- the King is in control! If the King is in control the resources will pour out. Matthew 10 and Luke 6 are not just words but REALITY!
So WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? Are we saying ministry when service is absent and we're looking into the eye of bankruptcy? Are we saying we're Christians, but we bicker loud enough that those who have called us hypocrites continue to call us hypocrites? We say God is BIG with our mouth but show He's SMALL with our actions!
The 70's band, Petra, led by Bob Hartman sang a song in the 90s that apply today over a decade later called THE SLEEPING GIANT GETS A WAKE UP CALL!
SLEEPING GIANT (Words by Bob Hartman - Based on Romans 13:11, Isaiah 60:1)
Whoa, sleeping the night away
Darkness enclosing the world so desperate for day
We're under the spell of disunity
When will this giant awake and stand and be free
Now the hour has come
To awaken and redeem the time given to the night
Curse this darkness and stand in the light
(Chorus)
Can you hear the alarm echo down the hall
The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call
Awake from your sleep 'cause it's time to stand tall
The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call
The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call
Whoa, been sleeping so long, yeah
How can we hope to discern the right from the wrong?
The gauntlet is thrown in the face of denial
Each time we sleep through an inch we're losing a mile
We will get this rude awakening to reality
And arise in unity
It's been dark for so long night is almost gone
Always darkest before the dawn
Sunlight soon appearing, a new day it will bring
Do you feel it?
The King of the Kingdom is compelling His subjects to wake up ... live what we know in His power and show Jesus to be real, alive and loving! People want to see truth!
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