Full stewardship taught v. Don’t get too personal

What is New Testament Christianity all about? The four gospel accounts tell the story of Jesus; Acts tells the story of the apostles He sent out; and the rest of the New Testament are letters of instruction to Christians. What kind of instructions are in those letters?

It’s all about relationships. First, our relationship with God; second, our relationships with people. It teaches us about our stewardships here on earth, including: how to govern ourselves; how to have a successful family; our relationship with civil government; our responsibilities within the church; plus, work ethic, financial stewardship, time management, and more.

Full stewardship is best taught through personal example and timely counsel, which requires the authentic relationships described in the New Testament. The first century church was continually devoted to fellowship (Acts 2:42), because making disciples is a hands-on job. Jesus demonstrated it for us. Paul demonstrated it for us. This is needed today as much as ever!

Christians should be involved in the daily lives of each other, and those who are more mature should help others to mature in all of the areas mentioned above. People helping people. Families discipling families. This is how the meat of the word can really get taught. The milk of the word, The Good Story, is often preached publicly.

Paul reminded the elders of the church at Ephesus, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ… Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God… Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” (Acts 20:18-31)

Christianity is personal. Organized religion is not.

Organized religion shrinks from declaring anything that is not profitable for the organization, and admonishing each one with tears isn’t usually a crowd-pleaser. They can’t afford to admonish people because they usually have mortgage payments and a board of directors. So they find a niche and tell people what they want to hear. Some even conduct surveys to find out what people want to hear. Read 2 Timothy 4:1-4 if you want to see Paul’s version of this warning.

When I share with people the New Testament’s description of an assembly (Each one has a psalm, a teaching, etc. – 1 Cor 14:26-40), those accustomed to organized religion often get a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on their face and they instantly form various mistaken assumptions.

Organized religion thinks that the clergy/professionals are supposed to put on a show for the laity/customers at specified times, and that Christianity revolves around these shows. This distortion keeps them in business, but it’s far different from Biblical Christianity.

Real Christian leaders aren’t in show business. They are personally involved in people’s lives to help them mature in all of the areas mentioned above. They lead by example and admonish each Christian, equipping them for unique works of service. Disciples start as spiritual children, but they are not to remain that way. Healthy development results in mature saints who can not only participate in the assembly, but who also use godly wisdom in all of their stewardships.

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11)

Our relationship with God comes first. Our relationship with one another, second. God gave us each a gift to serve one another, and we are to put our gift to work. Two examples of gifts are speaking and serving. Romans 12 lists seven different gifts. Leaders should help you discover and develop your gift. Nonetheless, each one is responsible for his stewardship.

The formal, hands-off approach can never equip the saints as well as the informal, discipling approach. Organized religion produces perpetual immaturity; the laity are always dependent upon the clergy. Power-hungry people like it that way.

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Matt 20:25-28)

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Freedom in Christ v. Divisive laws invented

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1)

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Gal 3:23-27)

The Law is a tutor to lead you to Christ. It let’s you know of your need for a Savior. Through faith in Christ you are freed from the law of sin and death and given a new image. As you walk by faith, not by sight, the Holy Spirit empowers your transformation.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:22-24)

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Gal 2:20)

If this isn’t making sense, please find out if you received the Holy Spirit. It’s all about mindset because mindset determines your behavior (See Romans 7-8). Law and legalism sets your mind on fleshly desires and how close you can get to the line without crossing it. Faith and freedom sets your mind on your new image, the Holy Spirit, and how much love you can demonstrate.

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (Gal 5:13-15)

There are risks involved with freedom (someone might misuse it), but it also promises the greatest reward of all: the glories of heaven. Freedom requires 100% personal responsibility. If you don’t walk by faith, you will suffer the consequences. If you walk by faith, you will receive the reward.

Counterfeit Christianity is Not Your Ticket to Heaven

Some think Christianity is just a new set of laws to replace or add to the Old Testament set of laws. These legalists search for regulations to keep and restrictions to impose, and end up inventing divisive laws to enforce. Like the Pharisees before them, they bite and devour, looking to condemn.

Not trusting themselves or others with freedom, they depend on coercion to try and control behavior. They missed the fact that 1500 years of law produced Pharisees, at best, who condemned Jesus for not keeping their invented rules. (Matt 12:1-14) He rebuked them, saying, “It is lawful to do good.”

Law produces superficial changes, but it does not change the heart for the better, which is what God is interested in. Jesus called the legalists hypocrites, which simply means actor. They put on a superficial religious show at the right times. Yes, there are a lot of hypocrites today.

“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’” (Matt 15:7-9)

Organized religion deceives people with a false-sense-of-security. People can mindlessly ‘keep the law’ by going through the motions their entire life, and not be saved by faith. Jesus didn’t suffer on the cross to coerce us into dressing up and playing church. He paid the ultimate price for our life, and our life is what He wants.

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) Get the word of God into your heart and let it teach you to love others the way Jesus loved you!

Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. (Mark 7:8)

If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) – in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. (Col 2:20-23)

Throughout history, power-hungry people have used religion to control others. You may not understand some people’s lust for power over others, but Jesus did. He exposed them in His day (Matthew 23), and we should follow His example and expose them in our day. One clue is when there’s a select few, or just one, who monopolize the teaching and discourage serious questioning.

Every individual in every generation should question the traditions of men, comparing them with the word of God. Every church has the freedom to establish its own traditions, provided they don’t violate Scripture. But what is profitable this year in this place, may not be profitable every year in every place.

Beware of implying that everyone is expected to follow any traditions not specified by Scripture. Otherwise, those who don’t conform get ostracized. This has happened with academic church schools, Sunday school classes, Bible colleges, music styles, meeting times, church buildings, and many other traditions of men that are not specified by Scripture. If it’s not specified, don’t ostracize.

For example, if an academic church school is provided, it easily becomes a wedge issue since it is competing with free enterprise. Any entrepreneurs who want to start a school or any parents who want to home school are immediately at odds and competing with the establishment.

Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. (1 Peter 2:16)

It’s also worth noting here that some people habitually misuse the word legalism to label anything they don’t like. You can probably imagine the contempt in their voice as they say, “You’re a legalist if you believe that Scripture.” My response is, “Label me whatever you want, but I believe the word of God over the word of man every time!”

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Love feast v. Formal ceremony

Jude called it a love feast (Jude 12), Peter used similar terminology (2 Peter 2:13), Luke called it the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42), Paul called it the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:20) and said, “Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast…” (1 Cor 5:7-8)

It was during the Hebrew celebration called the Feast of the Passover that Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19) While growing up, He traveled with His family to Jerusalem every year according to the custom of the Feast (Luke 2:41-47), which is when, at the age of twelve, He got left behind and they came back and found Him debating the teachers in the temple.

If you’re not familiar with the origins of the Feast of the Passover, just read Exodus 11-12 real quick. Passover was a yearly celebration in remembrance of God delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. It included a full meal with lamb, unleavened bread, the fruit of the vine, etc.

Our Passover

On the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), the day Jesus rose from the dead, we celebrate our deliverance from slavery to sin, our death and resurrection with Christ (Rom 6:1-11), and the love of Jesus which we are to imitate. It’s not a funeral (the impression you get in some places) for Jesus isn’t dead. He rose from the dead, guaranteeing our resurrection! Therefore let us celebrate the feast…

The first Scriptures mentioned above indicate that the first Christians enjoyed a full meal together. It was an informal assembly of Christians in someone’s home, and each one would share a psalm, a teaching, or an exhortation.

After a couple decades of this practice by the growing, spreading Christian movement, the apostle Paul wrote to the church he had planted in Corinth, rebuking them for immature and fleshly behavior. Divisiveness and factions were evident during the time they should have come together for the Lord’s Supper. “Each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.”

Paul instructed them to eat the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine during their assembly, and to eat their full meals apart. (See 1 Cor 11:17-34) Immature behavior often brings temporary restrictions on freedom. I haven’t found any reason why this wouldn’t have been the case here, nor have I found any reason to think that any other congregations were similarly restricted.

Each congregation has lots of freedom in determining the way they want to do things. The situation at Corinth lets us know that it’s alright to celebrate the memorial feast by eating just the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, or to enjoy them as part of a full meal (if your group can behave themselves).

Modern Application

A full meal doesn’t seem realistic when considered from the later developed, widely practiced, formal ceremony perspective. With three thousand converted after the first preaching of the gospel (Acts 2:42-47), how did they all break bread in someone’s home? They didn’t. They were “breaking bread from house to house.”

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matt 18:20)

Don’t be deceived by people on power trips who condemn anyone who doesn’t meet under their roof. First century Christians met from house to house, even in the same city. The home environment is ideal for a joyful family gathering where authentic relationships can be developed and meaningful conversations can take place over a meal.

Organized religion has really given Christianity a bad image. Over a thousand years of rigid ceremonies and superstitious rules has convinced many people that they already know about Christianity and they don’t want anything to do with it.

Many modern sects have reacted by creating a competing entertainment-driven version that is delivered to the masses with a slick marketing package, just like a franchised box store. In either case, it’s basically just a show put on by the clergy for the laity.

After experiencing the superficialness of big religion, I have learned to be content following the New Testament pattern. It’s alright, and really more authentic, if it’s just a few families assembling together. They hold each other accountable and truly become ministers of God.

They get to dig into the meat of the word together, rather than huddling with the malnourished masses who are served up watered down milk every week. They can work together to plant additional congregations in their community, surrounding region, and send preachers all over the world, just like the first century church did.

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Why Hasn’t EVERY Voter Heard About This?!

This video is partly a wake up call to believers and partly a defense of Christianity, because of those who are perverting it. It is also a wake up call to Americans and a defense of the Constitution, because of those who are perverting it.

Dr. Paul’s total military donations of $249 thousand in the final quarter of 2007 are almost as much as the $260 thousand of combined donations received by Obama, Clinton, McCain, Huckabee, and Romney during the same time period.

Scriptures References: Jesus, James and John (Luke 9:51-56) The Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15) Turn the Other Cheek (Matthew 5:39) The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)

http://RonPaul2008.com
http://Jesus4King.org
http://jbs.org/freedom
Paul v. Huckabee: One Christian’s Analysis