We really do place more faith in ourselves and our institutions than we do in Christ. If such were not the case we would do everything very differently, and the whole world would display the difference.

Judging others is a failure of love, a direct result of original sin, and it keeps us bound to ‘religion’, not to real loving relationships – perhaps this is one of the reasons why Jesus spoke so often and so harshly about the sin of judging.

I believe that Jesus established a few things that are simple, reproducible and able to carry a message that expands His kingdom and changes lives. These practices are transferable methods that anyone can do and they are meant to be set lose.

Part of the problem is that the institutional church, from at least the days of Constantine, used baptism as a sacrament that empowered the church and its leadership over the people.

Source: Cole-Slaw by Neil Cole
I think we are guilty of protecting new believers from depending on God. If we were to follow Christ’s example and deploy new believers immediately in ministry, we would see how quickly they are forced to pray, trust in God, listen to the Holy Spirit, and find answers. This would solidify [...]