Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Challenging A Cherished American Dogma

I decided it would be helpful to blog occasionally about those things God is impressing upon me during my sabbatical.

So, I begin by acknowledging the main take away for this second week has to do with the importance of listening to the Spirit. In other words, I need to lead others by means of being led by Him. This is not only much more fruitful and effective than trying to lead merely or mostly on our own, it removes much of the stress and pressure.

This insight also makes me think of another take away for this week—the one that gave rise to the post’s title and also one that flows out of what I just shared.

God has not only been impressing upon me for three years now to lead by being led and he has not only been reiterating that during the sabbatical, but he also drove this truth home to me this past weekend as we attended Christ Community Church in Greeley, Co. In a sermon out of Luke 24 Pastor Alan Kraft very helpfully and powerfully encouraged us to listen to the Spirit when it comes to evangelism and discipling. In other words, God met me in a powerful way through His Word, delivered by Alan, when we assembled together with other believers.

This also was true the previous week when we were at the Evangelical Free Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming and heard Pastor Dave Carlson preach on Romans 15.

Both of these experiences, coupled with my missing our faith family (and thinking much about the impact they have on my spiritual health) and also my current reading through Hebrews reminds me just how important fellow believers (aka the Church) are to our growth and spiritual health. Hebrews certainly makes it clear that our salvation and perseverance in that salvation are found in Jesus Christ alone (e.g. Heb. 2:1-18; 7:19-28; 10:10, 19-23). Yet, the way Christ grows us and unleashes that transforming and persevering grace in us also involves fellow believers. Consider just two examples: 
·         “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (3:12-14)

·         “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (10:24-25)

On this second week of sabbatical I am more convinced than ever that I could not do this life, especially this life of following Christ, if it were not for fellow believers. Yes, it is true that no Christian and no local church is perfect and yes it is true that we hurt each other. But, it is equally as true we need each other.

A cherished American spiritual dogma goes something like this: “I am a Christian, but I just don’t need (or don’t like) the church.” That is one we need to rethink. It is simply not true! 

Joyfully on sabbatical, but also honestly in need of our faith family!

Tom






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