Institutions, Organizations, and Nations Transcendent of Time, Space, and Petty Arguing

Ok... so you are probably reading this because the long, bizarre name intrigued you. That's the same reason why a lot of people aren't reading this post! haha! Let's begin!!!

Recently, I underwent change of denominations. The majority of my life I spent my time in the pews of a "Church of God" (Of Cleveland, TN). Toward the end of my college experience, God began pulling me out and away from the denomination I grew up in, and he used some pretty intense things to do that! (That's another tale to be told at another time...feel free to ask me about!) For several months I went from church gathering to church gathering, I even took the opportunity to visit denominations that I knew little to nothing about so that I could experience a variety of the Christian expressions! Greek Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Anglican, Independent Pentecostal (YIKES!), Messianic Congregation (5...hours...long...and that with me skipping the last part!), Presbyterian, a neo-calvinistic/non-denominational/charismatic church, and Evangelical Free....am I forgetting one???

I grew a lot from this experience, but it also drained me quite a bit. Wandering is not healthy for one's spiritual life. The lack of fellowship and community was also very difficult. After some time I began to be partial to the Anglican community while I was still living in Chattanooga. I also visited the Episcopal church on occasion (primarily to daily Eucharist with my good friend Milez). This leaning led to a lot of questioning and raised eyebrows from friends and family. One member of my family in particular did not seem to happy with my participation with the more "high-church" communities and often said things that conveyed disapproval.

Upon moving to Knoxville I visited several more churches (including a local Anglican church) that caught my fancy, but in the end I landed my choice with a local Evangelical Free Church! To learn more about the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America), visit this website! While I do not label myself an E. Free Christian, I do regularly attend and E. Free church. The Anglican Church was a close second.

So why visit so many denominations you may ask.Why choose the denomination I'm in now, you may also be asking. Why do you ask so many questions?!

Well, I do not believe that there is a perfect denomination...ANYWHERE! At the same time I am anti-nondenominational. In fact, I think nondenominationalism (as it is expressed in America) is more unbiblical that denominations. Stick that in your eccleisological pipe and smoke it! The reason being that I believe that denominations help to keep together what nondenoms are destroying...structure and unity.

In the end I could care less about what denomination I am in, so long as the church I attend is seeking to fulfill it's role as a member of the body of Christ, holds to the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds, and that allows me to work within my gifting to edify others. Sure, I have some theological preferences, and I looked out for stuff like that when I was searching for a church, but more because I wanted to be in unity with those I am worshiping with than anything else. How can I be of the utmost use when I theologically disagree with absolutely everything I am hearing from those around me or from the pulpit???

In the end, I chose the E. Free church because in addition to being theologically sound and having, what I would say are, strong biblical foci, as well as plenty of opportunities for me to serve. Additionally, it appeared that this is where God wanted me to be. I found it sad that when I told people where I was going the only question that they thought to ask me was "Do they speak in tongues?"...I'm so glad that people care so much about my spiritual well being enough to ask the REALLY important questions. Forget missions, outreach, community, worship, or whether they are a cult or not...so long as they speak in tongues. Has our understanding of "church" become so shallow? Have we so forgotten our purpose and our function? What has the church become...I think God weeps over us.

Despite my choice to attend an E. Free church, I find myself not telling everyone that they need to go to an E. Free church. Quite frankly, I don't want to be like so Christians out there who evangelize their church more than they do their faith. I know people who are more likely to evangelize you into attending their denomination rather than into the Christian faith as a whole.

"You're Baptist? Oh, well you should come visit my church! It's great"

"You're a Catholic?! I'm just going to assume you're not Christian and in need of Jesus. Let me start by telling you everything about Christ that I know you don't know, because you are obviously so focused on Mary that you probably don't know that she isn't the Christ! Let me start by telling you about this little thing called grace..."

"Oh...you're Church of Christ? My church has real worship!"

"Presbyterian? Did you know that there is this person known as the Holy Spirit?!"

"Church of God...I'm going to just say that you're heretical. Additionally  I'm not going to bother learning anything about you or what you ACTUALLY believe. So take take your modolistic, snake-handling, and unintelligent but to a traditional church that teaches the Trinity." (I experienced this one first hand when I went to college, but not verbatim)

Hopefully you get my point. We are supposed to be of the one and only holy, catholic (universal, not Roman Catholic) church! We are hundreds of thousands of people who are all a part of this nation (kingdom in the more traditional language) of people from hundreds of cultural backgrounds, etc. The Church (notice the capital "c") is a Kingdom of humanity that is not bound by political borders and expressions, time, space, and so on. It exists despite our human flaws and out theological disagreements. there is ONE Chruch with many denominations. Not a thousand Churches. Christ is King over this Kingdom (something that even the Pope will claim), and we in our sin have began to do the same thing that the Apostles did in the presence of Christ-bicker and fight about who is greatest in the kingdom. Who gives a horses patoot?!?!

Lastly, there are many Christians out there that are preaching against Church structures and Church government. Just sit down before you hurt yourself please. You are rebelling against God and are twisting scripture to meet your biased opinions. I'm sorry that you got hurt by some pastor or that the Church of America is not being persecuted to the point of having to meet underground for fear of being slaughtered. Etc, etc, etc. Christ established Church government when we appointed the Apostles, and if I wanted to I could go much deeper into the biblical text and argue further, but chances are you wouldn't listen anyway.

There is a piece of my recent journey as well as my thoughts on denominations. Thanks for reading :)

Peace be with you,

Stephen

"In a Hole in the Ground..."

"..there lived a Hobbit."

For years, the story of Bilbo Baggins has ignited the hearts and imaginations of children and adults alike! Good and evil, Elves and dragons, and unlikely hero on an unlikely adventure. There is a beauty to the story of Bilbo that many tales of heroes and villains lack these days...depth. 

I recently re-watched the "epic motion picture" and was overtaken by a need for adventure! Life IS an adventure, though. I forget that sometimes. It is easy to forget the reality around you and to be caught up in all that one doesn't see or what one can't hear, feel, taste, or experience. Greed and covetousness for the experiences and lifestyle
s of others is an unhealthy way of going through existence; a misuse of the time that God has allotted to us. 

Recently, it has come to my attention that I dwell on the "what could be" and miss out on the "what is." Additionally, I do nothing to change "what is" to achieve the "what could be" and as a result I lay in self-imposed misery...missing out on life and missing out on opportunities to grow closer to God and to serve the Church and the world. 

Do not think that I am saying that desires to see the world or to have better things is a bad thing. Do think, however, that I am saying that we need a greater appreciation for what we do have and enjoy life as it is rather than be miserable in the thoughts of how it could be. As I have previous written about in an earlier post..."be present"

On the flip side of things, we should not become so caught up in the comforts of "what is" that we miss opportunities to step into peoples' lives and to experience the unknown, the new...and maybe even be a force of good that stumbles across the Ring of the Dark Lord, therefore becoming the gateway to saving the world form eternal darkness and despair! 

O.k. maybe a little far-fetched there, but you get my point. Bilbo was a happy fellow because he was able to enjoy the present and see the good that he had, but he also had the courage and drive to let go of all that he had to go out and be a part of something scary, challenging, and potentially life threatening. One of the most vital scenes in the movie (or so I believe) is toward the beginning when Gandalf and Bilbo are discussing the quest (see right). Gandalf states, "You will have a tale or two to tell when you come back." "Can you promise that I ever will come back,", asks Bilbo. Gandalf replied, "No...but if you do...you will not be the same." That was the point in which I found myself ready to jump on a plane to Africa! 

I think that God has a duel desire for humanity to find joy in their surroundings, but to also to not be enslaved by the possessions that we have and the lives that we run. Perhaps St. Francis of Assisi had a better understanding of what God desired for humanity than most of us do...maybe.  

I realize that I've jumped around a lot in this post, but it truly reflects my reflections (hehe) that came about from my watching the movie. 

Be grateful and work in the place that God has placed. Make the most of what you have! 

Be ready for when the call of duty comes and beckons you to do more and to be courageous for the sake of the Kingdom and for Christ our Lord and our King (who lives and reigns with the Father and with the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen). 

Peace be with you all,

Stephen

"What's in it for me?"

Have you ever asked this question? Of course you have! Even if it wasn't spoken aloud, at one point or another this question entered your thoughts and, more than likely, affected a decision or two. Self-centeredness is a critical flaw in humanity, and is often a factor in our lives.

So why are you a Christian? You might be like the majority of the American Christian society and just be a self-centered follower; just wanting to get out of Hell and hoping for a bit of health, wealth, and prosperity on side. If you are going to church and serving God for these reasons, then you are not honoring God and living the full Christian life. Now, before you get all defensive, let me say that I do not believe that your sorry butt isn't saved or covered by Grace. I'm saying that you are a fallen creature and are in need of correction and spiritual growth.

I must, therefore, pose this question: if there was no promise of Heaven or eternal life, would you still serve and love the one, true God of the universe? Would you worship the One who is worthy of worship even if He didn't give you what you wanted?

I believe we should show thanks and gratitude for what He has done for us, for if He had not saved us we would not be able to worship Him and love Him because sin would have overtaken us. If, however, that was all God chose to do, if He never promised a "here after" would you still be "Christian."

If Joel Osteen is finally and His heretical teaching are brought screaming into the Light of Truth, will you falter? Will you serve?

Again, I'm not saying that if you came to Christ with a mindset of "I want to be saved from Hell" that are not saved. I'm saying that we must now move past that and on toward true love and devotion of God that is selfless. It is a goal that I think is all but impossible to reach, but I hope to be able to reach it one day. Let us strive together as one body to rid ourselves of our sin and to move towards purity of heart and soul. For there are a thousand reasons why people have yielded to the beckoning call of Christ and all are in need of the transforming work of the Spirit. God Did not call us to get pure and then come and be counted as the redeemed. No, we were counted among the redeemed and then God said "come to me and be made pure."

The Darkness Within

A friend of mine recently introduced me to a band called "Imagine Dragons" and I immediately fell in love with three songs in particular. I would advise listening to their songs "Radioactive" and "Bleeding Out", but the song that I am currently most compelled by is the song "Demons." As a courtesy, I have add the link to the song via youtube for your listening pleasure, as well as a point of reference to what I am now writing about.

This song pulls upon my desire for perfection and reminds me of the overwhelming reality that I simply am incapable of reaching perfection. I am full of darkness and I am prone to greed, pride, deceit, and failure. This is the reality of the human condition; we are ever seeking greatness but always falling short because of the sin that taints our souls.

Those of us who have been Church leaders (whether voluntary or paid staff) can deeply relate to the words of this song as is screams of a need to be there for others and the "need" to hide the demons that lay just beyond the surface of our skin. Church leaders are often too concealing of the faults and sinful natures for a variety of reasons. While it is not possible for a Priest, Church leader, or volunteer to be completely transparent about their sinfulness, it is necessary that a certain level of transparency be maintained.

Despite the fact there is always going to be a measure of sin within our hearts (until the final purification, at the end of all beginnings) we can stand in the comfort that the True and Holy One knows and understands all and has deemed it is a meet and right and joyful thing to shower grace upon humanity and upon His redeemed. We can never be perfect, but that does not mean we are not useful or that we have lost our value as God's special creation on Earth!

I hope that you listen to the lyrics of this song and that it moves you in such a deep and wonderful way; that you will allow the Holy Spirit to speak to through the words of another.

Be intentional in all action, attentive in daily encounters, and be present in life.

Peace be with you,

Stephen 

#ChristiansAndTheirWeirdNeedToMakeStatementsInHashtags

I love culture. Its complex, it's beautiful, and its the structure in which society functions and operates. Culture is full of wonderful and hideous elements of humanity, but it is essential. Culture is the stumbling block of Americans...and the Church. Americans often are insensitive to cultures other than theirs. Christians typically are either far removed from culture to the point of irreverence or they try so hard that they make it awkward.  Why is this? I haven't a clue.

                     (The above pic can be found on http://www.stuffchristianculturelikes.com/2008/08/15-believing-that-america-is-christian.html)
It is important to understand that the Church is a creator of culture, but to some degree must be aware of the culture that it indwells. Never to conform to the culture and give in to sin or be lax on doctrine, but adaptive none the less. To be apart of culture does take some thoughtful effort, but it should not be such a strain. There is such a thing as..."overkill" (or should we call it "overtweet"?).

Not a day does by that I do not see a picture or some text on Facebook that makes me "smh" (shake my head). I am appalled by the "Share if you love Jesus! Don't if you love Satan" posts. What point is there to this? To manipulate people's weak consciences and emotional states to get them to post something? Does reposting a picture bring some sort of legitimacy to your love of God? You may not think this is a big deal...but what happens when statements like these leave the confines of Facebook and simple matter of reposting and enter into the Church -culture in the real world? What happens when pastors and/or youth pastors start making these kind of statements to get people to do what they want them to? It's a dangerous place to be.

Along the same lines of the previous paragraph, why do so many Christians leave weird hash-tags?

#ChrsitansLivinItReal
#GodLovesMe
#LivinTheBlessedLife (I laugh every time)
#Truth
#TheWord

..and the list goes on. I'm not saying it's wrong to say these things or that the statements are untrue. I'm simply questioning our overuse of these statements and what appears to be a need for people to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you #LoveJesus or that your #BlessedAndHighlyFavored (I actually hate this one for a variety of personal and theological reasons). What I'm saying is go and be real. Be "in the World but not of it" in such away that you are light in the World and salt to the culture.

#PeaceBeUponYou (lol)

Stepheno Verde